NationStates Jolt Archive

Although I am not religous, I found this interesting...

HOW COULD 50 STATES BE WRONG?

Somewhere along the way, the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court have misinterpreted the U. S. Constitution. How could fifty States be wrong?

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING! Be sure to read the last two paragraphs.

America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions:

Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor_and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution ...

Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska,_grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land ...

Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom ...

Colorado 18! 76, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy...

Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences ...

Florida 1885 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty . establish this Constitution...

Georgia 1777 , Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... establish this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of t! he State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secur! e its blessings ...

Illinois 1870 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851 , Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government...

Iowa 1857 , Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our Dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings ... establish this Constitution

Kansas 1859 , Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges ... establish this Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...

Louisiana 1921 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy...

Maine 1820 , Preamble. We the People of Maine .. acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of t! he state of Maryland,grateful to Almighty God or our civil and religious liberty...

Massachusetts 1780 , Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe ... in the course of His Providence, an opportunity...and devoutly imploring His direction ...

Michigan 1908 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan,grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom ... establish this Constitution.

Minnesota 1857 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota,grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings...

Mississippi 1890 , Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work...

Missouri 1845 , Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profoundreverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness ... establish this Constitution ...

Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty. establish this Constitution...

Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .. establish this Constitution...

Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish this Constitution...

New Hampshire 1792 , Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey,grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on ourendeavors ...

New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty ...

New York 1846 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York,grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure itsblessings...

North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for Our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those ...

North Dakota 1889 , Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...

Ohio 1852 , Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote Our common ...

Oklahoma 1907 , Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this...

Oregon 1857 , Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences..

Pennsylvania 1776 , Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and Humbly invoking His guidance...

Rhode Island 1842 , Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble. We, the people of he State of South Carolina, grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish This Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil! and religious liberties ... establish this...

Tennessee 1796 , Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.

Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution ..

Vermont 1777 , Preamble. Whereas all government ought to ... enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man...

Virginia 1776 , Bill! of Rights, XVI ... Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator ... can be directed only by Reason ... and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other ...

Washington 1889 , Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington, grateful! to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution ...

West Virginia 1872 , Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia.. reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God...

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility ...

Wyoming 1890 , Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties ... establish this Constitution...

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.” William Penn

Wow, it's almost like, in 150 years, the opinions of people have changed.

New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty ...Grr, the instant I can, I'm lobbying for a change to that wording.

Oh no, they meant "separation of church and state" to be 'you won't be prosecuted for whatever religion or non-religion you choose to follow'... they didn't mean 'our government shall have no mention of any religion whatsoever'.

Although I, for one, think we would be much better off without it.

Ahhhh!!!!!

*Blockes the arugment that never ends with the shield of STFU*

You overlook the intent. It is not to cut God out of the country.

It is to have a goverment that is supposed to be Religous Neutral!

The Founders still remembered the Religious wars of Europe!

Or maybe you're confused. It's "church and state," not "God and state."

Sorry, but the word "God" isn't the exclusive property to any one religion.

Yes.

"In matters of religion, I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general government. I have therefore undertaken on no occasion to prescribe the religious exercises suited to it; but have left them as the Constitution found them, under the direction and discipline of State or Church authorities acknowledged by the several religious societies."--Thomas Jefferson, 2nd Inaugural Address, 1805.

No, states aren't wrong unless they proclaim a state religion. The founding fathers never disputed the existance of God, but made plain their desire and vision that no one sect or theology should take precedence over another. And while you're quoting Penn, remember that he was a member of the Religious Society of Friends. While advocating for God, he also advocated strongly against injustice, religious persecution and stood staunchly for the ideals of freedom, liberty and equality.

Or maybe you're confused. It's "church and state," not "God and state."

Sorry, but the word "God" isn't the exclusive property to any one religion.

Then whats the problem with "Under God" in the pledge.

It wasn't originally in there?

Because it was added to make Americans feel like they were morally right against Soviet Russia. Anyone citing tradition will find that the traditional messages of the Pledge and our currency didn't have anything much to do with any sort of god, and they sure as hell didn't have us claiming to worship a flag.

I think America has gone off its fucking rocker. Since when are the athiests of the country so uptight about their lack of religion or so highly offended by religion that they have to remove any and all traces of it in every aspect of the government? When, in recent history, has our government made a decision (affecting the entire country, not just a few remote locations or people or groups of people) based on religious beliefs?

I think America has gone off its fucking rocker. Since when are the athiests of the country so uptight about their lack of religion or so highly offended by religion that they have to remove any and all traces of it in every aspect of the government? When, in recent history, has our government made a decision (affecting the entire country, not just a few remote locations or people or groups of people) based on religious beliefs?

Well, the decision about 50 years ago to include "Under God" in the Pledge of Alliegence. That's fairly recent history, right?

There WAS that whole "ban on gay marrige" thing that some people tried to pass...

I think America has gone off its fucking rocker. Since when are the athiests of the country so uptight about their lack of religion or so highly offended by religion that they have to remove any and all traces of it in every aspect of the government? When, in recent history, has our government made a decision (affecting the entire country, not just a few remote locations or people or groups of people) based on religious beliefs?

The bill that Clinton signed giving the power of marriage to the states (the DOMA, I think) who then made their decisions about gay marriage based upon religious beliefs.

who else realizes preambles dont hold any legal status

and yeah im pretty sure said foudners did intend for there to be a seperation of church and state, read the federalist papers and the letter from thomas jefferson to the dannbury baptists

Or maybe you're confused. It's "church and state," not "God and state."

Sorry, but the word "God" isn't the exclusive property to any one religion.
that is seriously naive when taking in context and history

you can say that all you want, but once yo uget around the word itself and look at history and context, its obvious its the christian god, play pretend all you want

I think America has gone off its fucking rocker. Since when are the athiests of the country so uptight about their lack of religion or so highly offended by religion that they have to remove any and all traces of it in every aspect of the government? When, in recent history, has our government made a decision (affecting the entire country, not just a few remote locations or people or groups of people) based on religious beliefs?
lets see
1) attempt at banning abortion outright
2) attempts at banning homosexuality outright
3) oh yeah i dare you to tell me bush's "faith based initiatives" are not based on religious beliefs
4) all the crap in the 1950s adding god to everything officially
5) oh yeah i think bush thinks god supported his war with the terrorists.

that is seriously naive when taking in context and history

you can say that all you want, but once yo uget around the word itself and look at history and context, its obvious its the christian god, play pretend all you want

Yes, Chess Squares can interpret context, anybody else is just playing pretend.

Wasn't the *point* that only mentioning the Christian god is unfair to all the non-Christians (not necessarily the atheists, I mean all the people of other religions)?

Or... am I just confused?

Oh, really? They put it in because they were talking about the Christian God? Ever heard of the Freemasons? Ever heard of the affect the Freemasons had on our society? Ever heard of the fact the Freemasons accept any religion as long as they believe in a "higher power"

Oh, really? They put it in because they were talking about the Christian God? Ever heard of the Freemasons? Ever heard of the affect the Freemasons had on our society? Ever heard of the fact the Freemasons accept any religion as long as they believe in a "higher power"
Is that The Great Architect of the Universe?

If they wanted it to be purely christian, they would use Jesus instead of God :p

Until then, sorry, but no go.

Although I am not religous, I found this interesting...

HOW COULD 50 STATES BE WRONG?

Somewhere along the way, the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court have misinterpreted the U. S. Constitution. How could fifty States be wrong?
<snip>
After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!

well, I'll be goddamned!


"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.” William Penn

I suppose you misinterpreted this quote to mean that the government and god should become interchangeable, however Mr. Penn was trying to make the point that the failure of the people to maintain a sort of basic morality would result in wide-spread corruption and spawn a necessity for tyranny.