Got this chain letter from my sister who normally knows better. (in fact she probably sent it to me hoping I would respond)
I AM NOT ASHAMED TO PASS THIS ON!! I AM PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE 86%!!! (Although the names don't show, this has been sent to thousands of people ,I hope you all agree to forward it to your friends)I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! I was asked to send on if I agree or delete if I don't.Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God! We Trust' on our money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance. I believe it's time we stand up for what we believe! If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. I AGREE !!!! PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PASSED IT ON BEFORE!!
Well, I probably should not have done this but I went and replied.. to every person in the chain. (Yeah, I'm just asking for spam)
But here's what I sent...
Hmm, a few things.
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.
First of all, which God, whose God and what version of God are you talking about too? And why would believing in a God require that one have it printed on money and forcing school children to say it every morning?
I believe in a God. But my faith hardly needs for the word "God" to be in a pledge or on money. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that expecting others (including my government) to have to acknowledge my beliefs on things that don't even pertain to religion as a weakness or insecurity of faith. If there is a Deity watching over us, such a being knows what's in my heart. He/She/They don't need a quarter from the US mint to figure it out.
Secondly, what about the other 14% of Americans? The beauty of the bill of rights is that we all are suppose dot be equal to our government regardless of things like religious belief. So why do you think you have to get the government to give your beliefs special consideration over theirs? Are you going to have separate but equal pledges and money? ( One nation under Allah, one nation under Gaia, one nation under the Hellenistic Pantheon, one nation under no one in particular?)
And thirdly, you do realize that the whole "under God" in the pledge wasn't put there until the mid fifties.? Certainly the socialist Francis Bellamy who wrote it didn't feel the need for the words "under God" even though he was a Christian. and despite those words not being in the pledge or on our money, we survived a revolution, Canada burning our Capital, a civil war, two world wars and a great depression. And somehow I doubt that atheists were more plentiful a century ago.
You may believe whatever you wish. It's the beauty of America and our ideals. But belief doesn't' necessarily make things true and I personally would rather concentrate on things that would benefit us all, not just .. maybe ... 86% (and probably closer to zero. If they did remove the word "God" from a secular pledge and secular money, I can't for the life of me see how this would negatively impact anyone. Not having the words is hardly the same as the government saying there is no God.)
Thanks for thinking of me in sending this. but I am afraid I cannot in good conscience or rationality accept the argument below.
Richard
“The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views...which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.”
The Doctor
Just thought I'd share and see what you all thought.
