I thought this was pretty interesting. A US Federal Court has ruled that because of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, it is unconstitutional as it "amounts to a government endorsement of religion in violation of the Constitution's Establishment Clause, which requires a separation of church and state. "

I personally think this is a good thing; it usually bugs me when I see heads of state start waffling on about God and religion - I think we've socially evolved to the point now where political decisions that have both domestic and international ramifications should be made more or less independently of religion (look at all the trouble that is caused when religion comes into things!@#). It made me a bit uncomfortable to see Bush talking about God when he was doing some press statements after Sep11 - pouring petrol on the fire, sort of thing.

ps, people saying 'americans are stupid' will be unequivocally nuked

the pledge itself isn't unconstitutional, forcing school students in public schools to say the pledge is unconstitutional.

It made me a bit uncomfortable to see Bush talking about God when he was doing some press statements after Sep11 - pouring petrol on the fire, sort of thing.

The only comfort people would have after 9 11 would be god because no one else could save them, also its pretty plain that bush likes war and is trying to insight war @ every oppunity.

the less references to god/reliigon in the world around us the better i say

ps, people saying 'americans are stupid' will be equivocally nuked

close bobba ...lol

I agree with Spook.

It is not required that God or religion enter into diplomatic relations.

It is not required that God or religion enter into diplomatic relations.

ever heard of this place called Israel....

I agree. The whole christian God situation in America and how he's mixed up in politics disgusts me. "In god we trust" is written on all the American money, and you have you place your hand on the bible to prove you aren't lying in court. Though I've heard recently people have had the choice to place their hand on [insert object of worship here], but it's still a weird tradition.

You can take an oath of truth instead of placing your hand on the bible. Its only really a formality so that if you lie in court they can turn around and buttf*** you for perjury.

But you can see how it came to be that politics and religion are so closely related. People's opinions about religion have always been matched by their thoughts about politics.
The Government is a means by which to control the masses. They are in power because they used weapons and man-power superior to those that the citizens had to get to that position.
Before leaders had the ability to threaten their people with weapons and armies if they disobeyed the law, they had tales of hell and heaven to control the behaviour of people if they disobeyed moral laws.
Religion itself was once politics, and to many it still is.

I went to a private school and religion was compulsary and I think that's just f***ed in the head. I can't stand religion, it s***s me to tears and it's boring and anyone who trusts the bible is, um...dunno. Gotta be careful what I say.

But yeah, putting your faith in a book that was written eons ago and before that was only spread by word of mouth. For f***s sake, it would've been like chinese whispers back then. How much stuff would've been taken the wrong way and changed around or whatever. Religion sucks but that's my opinion and if you don't agree that's cool.

And I take the Lords name in vain probably everyday. But hey, what's a n***** to do?

I agree. Religion shouldn't even enter the equation when talking politics. Religion should be something done in privacy, and if not, should not affect people who are not religious, at all.

Ofcourse it is nice to see America seeing it that way, I can understand with a country that big, and most people in power (and most civilians too) being christian, it took a while.

It's easier to say "under God" than "under my chosen deity or lack thereof" :)

And down with religon!

blah, this post didn't start anywhere near the amount of s*** I was hoping! you're all boring!

lol. I guess even a lurker like me would have to post now that trog has spoken. :D

It's easier to say "under God" than "under my chosen deity or lack thereof"

Um, that kind of assumes monotheism (I think that's how it is spelt... basically meaning one god religion, as opposed to multiple deities). So it should really be "under my chosen deity, or deities, or lack thereof".

I too have a big thing against religion, especially how the government often just implicitly assumes that if you are religious, you must be christian.

Crap. I tried to start an argument but it seems everyone must agree with me.

Anyway, if there's a heaven and hell I'm sure i'm the express elevator to Hades.

8-)

blah, this post didn't start anywhere near the amount of s*** I was hoping! you're all boring!

It's because you're not allowing us to pick on the Seppos :)

So it should really be "under my chosen deity, or deities, or lack thereof"

Fine! Be Pedantic :)

i think the words "In God we trust" (on the coins) is in fact a Deist statement...

it is less religion/religious than it is philosophy.

it is not christian at all.

maybe were just sick of finding different ways to say americans are stupid trog!

hell no..

whats to argue?

its a good decision (made by the americans)

found this in my travels

Subject: Re: Pledge of Allegiance Found Unconstitutional
From: degroof@mindspring.com (Steve DeGroof)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.cecil-adams

lalbert1@aol.com (Lalbert1) wrote in message news:<20020627001703.16740.00000050@mb-cn.aol.com>...
>
> "..... one nation under Green Eggs and Ham..." ?
>
Maybe make it a fill-in-the-blank thing: "...one nation under ___"
- God
- Allah
- Vishnu
- Yahweh
- educated
- employed
- mined
- pants

And, for that matter: "...with Liberty and Justice for ___"
- all
- some
- few
- rich fat old white men
- gotten
- feited
- merly known as Prince

Nah, the reason this didn't start anything is because this is Australia, and most of us shouldn't give a s*** about this sort of thing. It's not like all milk will catch fire because of it...