Bill,
Please don’t refer to atheists as nonbelievers. They are believers in the nontraditional religion(1) of atheism and many are angry their religion does not have the cultural momentum that tradition religion has. Thank you for reminding us that this is changing. They are gaining secular converts among our youth, as your random survey shows the youth favoring of “Holiday Tree” over the “Christmas Tree.” What will their next secular evangelism attack?
Jerry Kelley
Colorado Springs, CO
Note 1: Our Founding Fathers used the word “religion” both to denote a denomination (See Constitution, First Amendment) and a philosophy (Northwest Ordinance, Article III). This means that our Founding Fathers wanted Christian principles/philosophy in government, but not the favoring of any denomination by Congress. Atheists rightly understand that someone’s philosophy will be favored by the government. We are seeing their secular transformation in government and society today. We need to be honest and admit that Christianity has been our nation’s history and that a religious philosophy of some type will always be in government. There are no philosophical vacuums. We need to educate Americans before the “progressives” completely reprogram us all.
Northwest Ordinance, Article III
Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.
Do Americans remember what religion (philosophy) our Founding Fathers favored?
Unfortunately, the secularists have programmed Americans to think that the Constitution’s First Amendment refers to the elimination of governmental or public expression of any traditional belief. The phrase “Separation of Church and State” is used to promote such error. This phrase is not in our Constitution, nor is the modern day secular interpretation. In light of the Northwest Ordinance, Article III and any unbiased review of our history, is it clear that this is a serious mistake. Our Constitution’s Framers wanted to prohibit the government favoring a religious denomination not the Christian philosophy. They knew it was hopeless to inspire youth in moral teaching without the Christian God as the foundation.
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports.
In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens.
Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
Excerpts from George Washington’s Farewell Address, September 19, 1796 Source: America’s God and Country, pg. 661, by William J. Federer
Note 2: The First Amendment only prohibits Congress. Yet even with this, the Senate has a paid chaplain to this day because of Benjamin Franklin. The Constitutional Convention was about to breakup and Franklin suggested that prayers be offered each day before each session began. Why may the senators pray, but the children are prohibited?