Maybe I'm not exactly the right person to begin replying, but I don't see anything wrong with having off for the holidays (ALL of the holidays, including Yom Kippur, or Kwanzaa, or Soween, or...) and keeping God out of things like schools and currency and such. Why? Because it pleases the most amount of people. No, I did not say that it pleases the majority or the minority, but the most amount of people.

First, schools and such. As much as it is your religion, and a part of your lives, not everybody is Christian, and not all Christians are as religious as Pentecostals. For schools, having prayer in school would be forcing so many children into worshipping a God perhaps they don't believe in (look at my signature), and perhaps influencing their ability to think for themselves and discern for themselves what their religious beliefs are.

For the "under God" part of the Pledge of Alliegance, where does that leave atheists? Muslims? Wiccans? Anyone who doesn't believe in a diety specifically called "God"? And besides, we are not "one nation under God." The First Ammendment, reinforced by the Fourteenth, gives us freedom of religion and ensures that no one is denied rights or anything because of it.

And, so money doesn't mention God on it. So what? Thinking about it, it's kind of strange that it would be there in the first place. I mean, it's just currency. Not exactly the Godliest thing I can think of. And, anyway, isn't one of the Commandments saying not to be greedy, yet the money just enforces that?

Second, the holidays. As much as it might seem, not all holidays are religious occasions. For example, my (Jewish) family would have get togethers and parties each Christmas, not in relation to Jesus or anything of the sort, but to celebrate the holidays (and also a birthday party for my Grandpa, who was born on Christmas).

It's nice to have a vacation every once in a while, even for the important people. If you want to work all year round, hey, go right ahead. No one's stopping you.

I'd go more into it, but I have so much stuff to do... >_< But, yeah, that's just my opinion on everything ^_^;

~Charlie

"For the "under God" part of the Pledge of Alliegance, where does that leave atheists? Muslims? Wiccans? For the "under God" part of the Pledge of Alliegance, where does that leave atheists? Muslims? Wiccans? "

I don't care where it leaves them.  If they don't like "under God" being in our pledge, let them go to another country.  If they don't like "In God We Trust" being on the money, they don't have to use our money.  The Constitution says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  Putting the ten commandments on a courthouse wall is not making a law.  Making a holiday for Christmas isn't respecting any particular religion because everybody gets off, not just the Christians or whoever believes in Santa Cl - whatever his name is.  If you have a religious holiday that is not a national holiday, you can get that day off; it has been done.

There has always been prayer in schools.  They can't keep it out, but I do think the students should pray when they get up before they go to school.  The problem with a school prayer is them telling us how to pray; we don't need a school teacher or principal deciding how we pray. 

Where to start.  Pray in school all you want.  There is no law against it.  The school is not allowed to lead prayer or be invlovled with it durring school hours.  You can pray, but if you disrupt the class, you can be expected to be thrown out, so be respectful.

 In God we trust is out motto.  That can be quickly changed to something else.  I do wish it wasn't, but it can be.  I do not see that happening.

Under God, i do not see that being taken out either.

Holiday's are no longer reffered to as christmas, easter breaks.  They do not take of christmas, they take off winter break, so there is the loop hole.

So be it.

In case someone thinks my response was a bit harsh (I don't care where it leaves them) I just want to explain that I don't think we should have to hide our religion.  Even people that hold an elected position still have a right to their religion.  People that are not Christian don't want to be offended, well if you are offended by a public prayer to God, you can just get ready to be offended some more.

It's funny that atheists are offended by a God they think does not exist.

 Okay, first off, its their country too, so to your first post, they do not have to go anywhere, and if you actualy stand by that statement, you have no tolerence.  Very FEW are trying to take away your right to pray.  Many are not offended because you pray over your food, they just do not want to participate in that prayer, that is why PUBLIC schools are not allowed to lead prayer.  They are not offended by prayer at the flagpole, but rather prayer at their ankles.  I would be upset if they said a muslim prayer at school to start out each day.  If you want a school to lead with prayer, go to a private school.  They are not offended by God, but rather you.  Open your eyes.

"Okay, first off, its their country too, so to your first post, they do not have to go anywhere, and if you actualy stand by that statement, you have no tolerence. "

I wasn't saying they have to go somewhere else, I just don't think they should be able to tell us to hide our religion, which some of them do, what I was saying was if they don't like the way we do things, they don't have to stay here, and there are some that are offended by prayer.  I wouldn't mind the least bit of someone wanted to say a Muslim prayer; it would not affect me at all.  I'm not trying to force anybody to be a Christian. 

"If you want a school to lead with prayer, go to a private school. "

Go back and read the last sentence of my first post above. 

I'm checking to see if I got the quote thing right.