In ? we Trust - or - One Nation Under Dog

"I Pledge Allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." - The original Pledge of Allegiance, 1892

Statement:
We need to get back to the Christian ideals that this country was founded upon.

That statement, or a variation of it, is used countless times by the fundamentalist Christian right in this country. It's become a catch all cure of sorts for everything they consider wrong with society today. Abortion, the Gay Rights movement, the secularization of our public schools, and if you ask Oklahoma state senator Sally Kern, the economic state of this country. Quite possibly the most offensive example of this attitude occurred on the September 13th, 2001 episode of the Christian television show, The 700 Club. Pat Robertson, Founder of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) and the Christian Coalition, interviewing Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, where both men agreed that the attacks on 9/11 might have been allowed by god due to moral decay in this country.

It's a sentiment that annoys me like nothing else. I hear it repeatedly from christian friends, read it in research, see it on TV and in the newspapers spewed by conservatives religious and political alike. A prime example of Christian dogma and revisionist history. While I will concede that the majority of this country is of the Christian faith, that simple majority should, in no way, dictate the kind of change and blatant disregard for the Constitution that that has been allowed to happen. Again the arrogance of the western judeo-christian faith rears it's ugly head. It seems too many of them fall prey to that old axiom that if you repeat a lie enough times, people are bound to begin to believe it.

FACT: Nowhere in the Constitution are the words God, Jesus, Christ, Christian or Bible found. Not even in the Amendments.

Don't you think if the intention was to establish this country as a "Christian" nation that one or two of those might have been thrown in there? This was intentional. If you define Christianity as one who believes in the divine works of Jesus Christ, then one could say that some of the more prominent founding fathers were not Christians at all. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were outspoken Deists, believing in a "supreme being" who doesn't concern itself with the daily lives of humans or communicate with humans in any way. Nor did they believe in any of the supernatural events (miracles or revelations) described in the Bible and lived without a need for faith or organized religion. George Washington and James Madison were also Deists, though both went out of their way to avoid religion in most matters. Thomas Paine was also described as a Deist, though became much more of an atheist in his later years. John Adams was a liberal Unitarian, though in much of his writings seems to share many of the themes of Deism. Jefferson even went as far as re-writing the Gospels without any of Jesus' superpowers called "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth". He was once quoted as saying "The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." Unfortunately, that has not yet come to pass.

FACT; The 1797 U.S.A. treaty with Tripoli George Washington writes that the United States was "in no sense founded on the Christian religion". This treaty was presented to and ratified unanimously by the US Senate and signed under the presidency of John Adams.

FACT: The Constitution of the United States declares that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." (Article 6, section 3) ensuring that no single religion could make the claim of being the official, national religion, such as England had.

FACT: The Very amendment to the Constitution that allows us all freedom of speech addresses this as well. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. Thus preventing there from being government sponsored religious practices or activities. The Basis for the principles of Separation of Church and State. In his letter to the Danbury (Conn.) Baptists Association shortly after his election, Thomas Jefferson reiterates "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & 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 & State."

FACT: Our Nation was founded in 1776 but "In God We Trust" doesn't appear on U.S. coins until 1908, and paper money not until 1957 in an act of religious and political propaganda to counter the threat of those godless communists. Thank you Joseph McCarthy . The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 and was just fine "God" free until 62 years later in 1954, when ‘under God’ was added at the behest of the Knights of Columbus (A Catholic fraternal organization) who felt it wasn't right that it was left without reference to a deity like other countries in Europe.

FACT: Supreme Court Decision Engel vs. Vitale (1962) found that Any kind of prayer, in public school districts, even nondenominational prayer, is unconstitutional government sponsorship of religion on the basis of the First Amendment.

When reviewing all that, remind me again why Christians still believe their repeated rhetoric? I understand that they contend that their faith is based on the "one true god". Don't you Christian's understand that we are both atheists, I just happen to believe in one less god than you do? Your arrogance and sense of entitlement aside, does it mean anything to you that the fact remains that that this country was based in a spirit of freedom from religious oppression with guidelines meant to strictly maintain those boundaries, while still allowing you the right to believe and worship any god you chose in any way you chose so long as those boundaries are respected? Obviously not or we still wouldn't have to worry about fighting the attempts at public displays of prayer in schools. Read Matthew 6:5-6. In it Jesus states “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say ... Read Moreto you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you”. Obviously not or my children wouldn't have to say the phrase "under God" every morning in school. Obviously not or I wouldn't have to see the phrase "In God We Trust" on ever piece of money I touch. In a sense, we agree on one thing...that this country needs to return to the basic fundamentals on which it was formed. Only problem is that my desire is based in historical fact, backed by the Constitution of these United States of America. While yours is based in the same fairy tale make believe land inhabited by your god.

SEARCHING FOR GOODNESS IN A GODLESS WORLD...

No, not That Goodness. Though that does remind me that I need to add some Goodness and Hammerbox to my Seattle bands music collection. Love me some Carrie Akre, but I digress...

Goodness, by definition is the state or quality of being good; moral excellence; virtue; or a euphemism for God: "thank goodness". A reoccurring theme in my reading and research this week has been repeated examples of discrimination against atheists or agnostics or at the very least questioning the ability of a "godless" person to possibly be a good person.

At least 8 states' (TX, AR, MA, MD, NC, PA, SC and TN) Bill of Rights or state constitutions still contain exclusionary language that would deny an Atheist, Agnostic, or Non-theist from holding any elected or appointed state office and in some cases not allow them to even take the stand as a witness or serve as a juror in a court case. All because they would have denied the existence of a "supreme being" and in some cases even using the phrase "Judeo-Christian Deity". Thankfully the Supreme Court had a moment of clarity and declared these blatant forms of religious bigotry unconstitutional on the basis of the 14th amendment which requires individual states to provide equal protection under the law to all people within their jurisdictions, however the clauses were never removed. The arrogance that the absence of belief and or faith would somehow make one less reliable of a witness, or have thrown out their abilities to serve in public office along with their Bibles and the proverbial bathwater is staggering. A 2006 Study by the American Sociological Review found that 40% of respondents characterized atheists as a group that did not "at all agree with my vision of American Society". And that 48% of them would not want their child to marry an atheist. Both percentages portraying a disapproval of atheists above that of Muslims and Homosexuals. that was in 2006 after 9/11! WTF??? You do realize that what happened on 9/11 was done in the name of a deity right? That brings us to my personal favorite target this week. The beloved Boy Scouts of America. Yes, I just said the Boy Scouts of America. Can he really be that much of a prick you ask? Yes, Yes I can. Most of us are all aware of the public denial of membership by this organization to homosexual boys or scout leaders / volunteers, but are you aware that they also deny membership to anyone that refuses to "do my best to my duty to my God and my country...The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgement of his favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizen and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members." That as an atheist or even the son of an admitted atheist a young boy would not be allowed membership. An organization that on more than once occasion has been documented referring to their discrimination as the "Three G's" Gays, godless, and Girls. The three largest financial sponsors of Boy Scout Troops in the United States are the Mormon Church (controlling as much as 40% of the organization), the United Methodist Church, followed by the Catholic Church. As a privately funded, not for profit organization they certainly have the right to discriminate any way they see fit, though that doesn't make them any less of a bigoted hate group (Hitler's Youth anyone???). They had just better stick to their 2005 agreement to remove themselves from any government funded facility or support, and that includes the public schools I help pay for.

The underlying arrogance in all of this is faith based. In his book "Letter to a Christian nation" noted author Sam Harris says, "One of the monumental ironies of religious discourse can be appreciated in the frequency with which people of faith praise themselves for their humility, while condemning scientists and other non-believers for their intellectual arrogance. there is, in fact, no worldview more reprehensible in it's arrogance than that of a religious believer: The creator of the universe takes an interest in me, loves me, and will reward me after death; my current beliefs, drawn from scripture, will remain the best statement of truth until the end of the world; everyone who disagrees with me will spend eternity in hell..." The belief in a supreme creator, going to church three times a week, believing a collected work of mythology is the literal voice of said creator, or wearing your super powered spiritual underwear, has no measurable bearing on goodness. The fear that society would descend into the depths of "hell" if left in the hands of non believers is asinine. What are they afraid of? Oh right, all the things I think would make this a much more plesant place to live in. Gay marriage, Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, A woman's right to chose, true equal rights for all citizens regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation, diplomacy without a religious agenda, legalization of pot, or wild sex parties on the white house lawn? hmmm...did I go too far there? Ok, maybe not the sex parties in the Rose Garden...maybe ;) I don't need 10 rules etched in stone by some invisible man on a mountain in order to have some kind of moral compass. Don't we just need one? DON"T HURT ANYONE! And if that was the case, we all break that one from time to time, believer or non-believer alike. Sure I am a contradictive hypocrite, opinionated, moody, and confrontational at times...but I love and adore my wife and children, and I think they along with my close friends would characterize me as a good person albeit with flaws. I don't mind being ridiculed for my beliefs, as long as I'm not prevented from expressing them.

FACEBOOK "FRIENDS"

It's a frequently heard dilemma among Facebook users. Is it rude to ignore a friend request? Or the ever popular feeling of "Friend remorse". You know you didn't like them in high school, or know them for that matter, so why on earth did you accept their friend request, or even worse, send them one! Just scan through your friends list...you know there are people there that incite these thoughts. Hell, I'm sure I'm that guy for some of you.

I'll be the first to admit my addiction to the phenomenon that is Facebook. If you are my "friend" there this is no shock to you as I'm sure my frequent posts litter your home page. It's hard to resist all the familiar names you are bombarded by upon joining. Before you know it your friends list looks like a high school yearbook even though you've spent the past twenty years trying to forget high school. Don't get me wrong. There are many people that I am genuinely thrilled to have reconnected with via Facebook. Though much like high school, I've found myself too often caring that other people might be offended by something I say or do in the form of a post, be it a status update, link or note. At times even deciding not to post something because some of my "friends" might be put off by it. Even declining friend requests from an aunt and uncle because I knew I would offend them. Yes, that's right, what you might have seen of me on Facebook is me holding back to some degree! That is probably the biggest thing I've tried to overcome in the years since high school. I take a good bit of pride in the fact that other than my wife and kids, I don't really care what others think about me. I'm all too aware that I can be an opinionated ass with some pretty exaggerated views which have offended some. That was one of the reasons for this blog. I wanted another outlet for the things that I am passionate about without the text limitations of Facebook or even worse, Twitter. I don't have time to worry about offending anyone, or muddling through posts that I find offensive from people who I wasn't that close with (or only knew because of my Brother). If that's harsh, I don't know what to tell you. If it offends you, de-friend me. It won't hurt my feelings.

Now, Off to the park with the kids in search of something a bit lighter to discuss next time! Until then.

S

DENY YOUR MAKER...

I'm the man in the box Buried in my shit Wont you come and save me, save me
Feed my eyes, can you sew them shut? Jesus Christ, deny your maker
He who tries, will be wasted Feed my eyes now you've sewn them shut

-Alice in Chains- "Man in the Box"

Yep, just what the world needs. Another overly opinionated person thinking that his thoughts and feelings are important enough to post on the interweb for the world to read. I've been writing a lot in recent weeks and felt that I wanted another outlet. Some days it will be about family, while other days it will be my ramblings about things I find interesting, offensive or both. Regardless, I hope you find it worth the occasional read.

So why call it "Deny Your Maker"? Some of you have seen it before. I have this posted as a motto of sorts on my Facebook page alongside my declaration of religion as "atheist". Together these have raised more than one eyebrow among old friends that knew me as the bible thumping, Stryper t-shirt wearing "Jesus Freak" I once was. "Deny Your Maker" is a lyric from a song called "Man in the Box" by Seattle grunge legends, Alice in Chains. It's become rather symbolic for me of what you might call my spiritual journey in life.

For a long time I've held some resentment towards my mother for what I perceived as the unfair religious environment of my youth. I vaguely remember a time when we attended church as a family. Somewhere along the way, Dad stopped going, but I never felt like that was an option. Church was just a part of life. It's what we did every Wednesday night, Sunday morning and sometimes Sunday nights. I still remember the friends made there and the fun that we had with great affection. However, once I left for college and was able to look at it in a different light I began to ask questions and research many things that I'd just always been told were the definitive truth. I spent time with more than one campus ministry group and investigated many different christian denominations but always left them feeling like they didn't provide answers but instead only created more. All that compiled with the historical reading I was doing for classes led me to the eventual conclusion that I don't believe any of it. That the truths of my youth were nothing short of mythology or allegorical tales rather than the literal interpretation of the Bible or the basis for a religion. While I'll now admit that to resent my mother for feeling it was forced on me is probably unfair. That is the faith that she's chosen and if that's what makes her happy and brings some measure of peace to her life then great. I can respect that and be happy for her, it just isn't for me. There in lies the deeply layered meanings of "Deny Your Maker". It represents for me my denial that I have a maker in the spiritual sense, a denial of the truths that I was led to blindly believe by my physical maker in the form of my parents, as well as an emotional connection to the painful emotional lyrics of the Late Layne Staley so much so that they will probably be part of my next tattoo.

Until next time...

S