>Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in
>most public schools anymore because the word “God” is mentioned
The original pledge, written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy was a patriotic oath, not a prayer. It had no mention of God: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, “under God,” to the Pledge.
>…. a kid in Arizona wrote the attached NEW School prayer. I liked it….
This poem has been around for more than a decade. In fact, back before the web became popular, there was a Xeroxed version going around dated 1/85.
It's not very likely that it was written by a student in Arizona, or Boston as some versions claim.
http://www.snopes2.com/language/document/newpray.htm
>Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this
>great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd.
“This great nation under God” isn't, actually. Many of the founding fathers were Deists, not Christian, and upheld a firm separation of church and state. What this means, is that there is not to be an official, state sanctioned religion. That is the very idea that we came to this country for – freedom to believe what we wish.
John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli (June 7, 1797). In this document, article 11 states: “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”
He also said, “…Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.”
Thomas Jefferson said in a letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814: “Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.”
The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States addresses religion. It states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
This means the government cannot say “Christianity is the religion of the United States.” It also means that the government cannot persecute nor harass anyone for believing in whatever they *choose* to believe in.
When the Constitution was being hashed out (and if you believe in *freedom* you'll thank whatever god you believe in that it's not being drafted today) there was a proposed amendment to insert the words, “Jesus Christ…the holy author of our religion”. Thomas Jefferson reports that it was rejected “By a great majority in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindoo and the Infidel of every denomination.”
Clearly the framers of the foundation of this country of ours believed deeply that the people should be free to believe what they wished – or to not believe.
“But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” – Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.
Indeed, this is Jefferson's interpretation of the first amendment in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association (January 1, 1802): “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State.
>If you aren't ashamed to do this, please pass this on.
>
>Jesus said, ” If you are ashamed of me,” I will be ashamed of you before
>my Father.”
That's Luke 9:26: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
How about Matthew 6:5-6?
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ”
Jen
—
“Question with boldness even the existence of God; because if there be one, He must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.” – Thomas Jefferson
http://www.robandjen.net/
(original email text at the snopes link above)