Key Issues

Please correct me if I am wrong, but that phrase "One Nation Under God" was inserted during the 1950's when Ike was in office. The original pledge went "One Nation, Indivisible". So....under God was added later, during the cold war era when we were doing everything we could to distinguish ourselves from the "godless" communists.

No, I am not a christian, or a believer of any kind, but the phrase does not really bother me, because the word "God" is a generic term, kind of like referring to Beer instead of "Budweiser" or "Samual Adams". One Nation under Yaweh, or Christ, or Allah would be a different matter. God can mean anything you want it to mean, or nothing at all.

Werbinox

lol... Oh, Come on Werb. How could you be wrong? I've already admitted to you that I hate research, or was that Jack I copped that to?

Either way, one could argue the definition of history, but I won't. That was only the lead in... It's resolved, well, for now anyway. What's your take on the second bit?

(And please tell me you don't like this worm!)

I am mostly indifferent to Newdow and his crusade. He is definitely the type that gives atheists a bad name (Ha!) as if they didnt have a bad enough reputation already. His attempt makes me think of tilting at a windmill, or declaring war and charging a gopher mound. Nothing is to be proved by his attempt, and all he will accomplish is pissing a lot of people off. Then christians of the paranoid variety can justify their claim that satanic forces are trying to eradicate their rights
The "paranoid" bit is not aimed at you, Key; I do not think you are paranoid. I work with a guy who thinks christians are about to be rounded up in boxcars by the UN, and that is paranoid.
As far as praying, I dont think anyone can ever take away your ability to do that. If God exists as he is portrayed by the major religions, he will hear you in your mind. No one can stop you from praying anytime and anywhere you want, provided you dont do it for show and stand on a chair and shout at everybody. A child can say a private prayer in school whenever she wants, if she truly believes God will hear her. This being said, we must not allow the government and its totalitarian inclinations to erode any more of our freedoms. Enough have been lost already.

Werb

For the record, I am not an Atheist. An atheist say's that God does not exist in the same way a believer say's God does exist. In reality nobody knows, and I wish they would just admit it. Faith is an admission that knowledge is lacking, so it attempts to bridge the chasm by believing, and does so because it chooses to believe, or thinks that it must. Hey, that is fine with me! People are free to believe whatever they want.
A belief is a thought in your head, and if we condemn people for thoughts in their head, we are advocating a new class of criminals - thought criminals (which is, incidentally, part of my problem with the christian God - He condemns me for a thought in my mind - not believing in him!)

When it comes to the Judeo Christian God, or Allah, or any other invention of religion, I can call myself an Atheist because I do not believe in those versions of God. But is there something out there that is a primary source of all creation (like cosmic DNA) that could be labelled "God"? Maybe....I do not know...and no one really knows. What we choose to believe is such a personal matter, and it should be viewed as undignified to fight about it.
I respect your right to believe whatever you choose, and would go to war to defend that right. Without it, none of us would be free.

Werby - Clause

I hope I meet this guy in a dark, back alley some cold night. I have a Louisville Slugger hidden in the back of my closet that I'd like to limber up over his bones as I hear each of them break and splinter. I'll be praising the Lord with every swing of the bat for giving me such an opportunity.

I love to meet "real" christians and representatives of God's love such as yourself.
Are you for real, or are you just a bullshitter?

I do hope to meet you in the way you propose. I will take that bat and stick it stick it up your @$#%$%& and turn you into- a popsicle; and then we will make violent love.

Werbinox

I apologize, Key, for whatever I have done to inspire such a foul little imp to desecrate your site with his impotent brain sewage.

Some bleeding heart shrink let monkey boy out way too early.

Randall P MacMurphy

WOW, baseball bats, violant love and lots of words about a really stupid human. Newdow is just looking for a quick buck, and I wouldn't waste my time with a baseball bat, bullets are cheaper and faster. Werbinox, I am not a die hard christian but I am sick and tired of worthless ass holes like Newdow wasting the countries time with a lawsuits that are total bullshit.

Werb, I think Vulg was talking about Newdow, not you.

Yeah, you are probably right. My paranoid megalomania got in the way and saw it differently. How could he not be talking about me, I asked, when I deserve his hatred? Am I itching for a xxxfight in a dark alleyway?

.....naw, I replied, I need a real enemy, one who will soften me up with friendship and beer and cigars before delivering the fatal blow. Friendship is where they really get ya!

Werbinox S. Burroughs