justin syder said:
Mainly to Americans, do any of you feel offended by "Under God" in the pledge of allegiance or "In God we trust" in our currency or the prayer in the inauguration address??
That depends.
If students HAVE to say the under God part, or if they suffer consequences if they don't then I don't think that's right.
I wouldn't be particularly offended by it merely being said in a classroom (although technically I don't think it belongs there).
The fact that "In God we trust" is on currency doesn't bother me that much, but again I find it a bit curious.
What would bother me is if any type of public funding is spent on something that is religious (especially if it funds one particular religion and not others).
The ten commandments in public places I find a bit curious as well.
If it is put there with public funding, I'm against it.
If it is put there with private funding, then I think that is OK, as long as any other religion (or atheists for that matter) can put their beliefs in the same place with their private funding without being harassed.
I guess what bothers me the most is the whole evolution theory not allowed to be taught in some schools.
Even if you believe that it isn't a fact, then present it as a theory, but not allowing it is a bit "
" in my opinion.
If you do teach creation theory in schools (which is a religious theory), I think it also has to be presented as a theory, and I believe theories from all other religions would need to be taught then as well.
So in other words, I believe schools should either teach scientific theories only, OR teach scientific theories plus ALL religious theories.
justin syder said:
Same here. I've been a catholic and a Jehovah's Witness. Neither were my choice by the way. The parents decided that for us. Now I don't give a rats ass about religion and, like ESPNSTI, I probably mostly atheist than anything else.
In fairness, you dont really have a say in how your parents want to raise you. They dont have a debate on how to punish you when you were a kid. To say that religion is forced upon you is wrong. Your parents raised you a certain way and now you choose not to be religious.
Yah I have no problem with my parents making me go to church and things like that, they never made me do anything particularly awful.
At most I was bored, so I have no problem with that.
justin syder said:
No one is bound to religion. It is a choice.
I'd agree with that for in part, there is such a thing as brainwashing you know.
Dr. Woo said:
To say you know there is no God is as much of a stretch as to say you know there is one.
It's faith either way, folks.
The "I don't know" position which I subscribe to, is not a matter of faith.
One of the best arguments for believing in a God that I've seen came from the movie 'Contact' (can't explain it, you'll have to watch it).