God and the Oath of Office

I have an idea how we can help the economy and at the same time put theists and atheists on equal footing. How about we start forcing religious institutions to pay property taxes to the municipalities they are located in just like the rest of us? Imagine how much extra cash could be generated to help the poor, whom these very organizations claim to always want to help? Residents and businesses in every municipality are currently forced to pay more than their fair share of the tax burden to make up for the fact that some of the largest properties in their city or town generate no tax revenue whatsoever, because religious organizations are exempt from paying property taxes. I'd be more than happy to agree to let the president say "God" when he takes the oath of office if he agreed to force those block-long churches and temples in my town to pay their taxes based on the size of their lot just like I have to so I wouldn't have to pay so much. I'd gladly pump the money I saved back into the economy. It's only fair, isn't it? An alternative would be to allow me to start an Atheist Academy, buy a 40,000 square foot building to hold my meetings, and not charge me a penny in property tax. I'm OK with either alternative, as I am an open minded free thinker.

Religious fundamentalists?.......You mean those wild-eyed fanatical shrieking, victims, er MUSLIMS, that want to kill us, who practice that religion called Islam, that means peace? Those religious fundamentalists? This country was based on Judeo-Christian ethics, y'know, thou shalt steal, murder, bear false witness(lie) etc. not pluralism. Funny reading that a ONE WORLD ORDER person, like yourself, there Lisa speaking of, what was that?.........Pluralism? Give me a break!

Those who want to take prayer away, should just not listen. I, for one, stand for a good christian prayer.

The only wall between church and state is the ACLU - self anointed kangaroos.

Lisa Miller refers to "religious fundamentalism abroad". Ahem. You mean MUSLIMS? She thinks if she controls her language she controls offense. I say cast off this nonsense and speak the darn truth Lisa.

"People pray. Sometimes in public. Deal with it."

I like that, even though I'm a Christian who supports separation of church and state. Why? Because politics always corrupts true faith...always. There is no more dangerous scenario than operating on the assumption that God supports your political actions, or favors one group of believers over another.

As one wag has noted in the past, "Mixing religion and politics is like mixing ice cream and manure. You destroy the ice cream, but have no noticeable impact on the manure, which ends up none the worse for wear."

With that said, we should keep in mind that the Constitution doesn't promise to keep people from being exposed to religion, but only that it won't use its powers to favor one over the other. It promises freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Big difference.

And with that thought in mind, any Christian should be comfortable with the ceremonies including a Muslim cleric, a Buddhist, a Rabbi, or whatever...anything less is hypocrisy, as another poster has already noted.

I'm just disapointed in society that they've come to the conclusion that God is not part of our every day lives. And I'm sick and tired of these atheists that have the audacity to call themselves an atheist. Kind of hypocritical if you ask me. Athiests belive in absoutely nothing. So tell me, why do you even care what's said or if we belive in God. I don't think an Athiest should have the legal right to file any kind of lawsuit about any religion. You belive in nothing so you really have nothing to complain about then. Obviously something is scaring you.

How hypocritical all you so-called "believers" are. You're all so quick to defend your right to have YOUR religiious beliefs printed on money, displayed in courthouses, taught in our schools, etc. I wonder how loud your opposition would be if someone suddenly decided that the dollar bill should have "Happy Kwansah" or "Happy Hanukkah" printed on it? I think we'd suddenly see that your idea of being free to express one's religious is limited only to those who express YOUR religious beliefs..

Since when does a Christian minister saying a public prayer have anything to do with the kind of religious fundamentalism that you are invoking? You confuse fundamentalism with fanaticism, and religion with spirituality. I guess I just don't see how Christians like Rich Warren are tearing apart the threads of our society and provide a legitimate threat to the "safety" of our country. Now if Warren were calling for the murder of "infidels" around the world you might have something there. At it is, however, this is a classic case of a "straw man." The statement that "pluralism and moderation" have "made this country great" also begs the question. The author writes with a tremendous amount of bias. I don't mind that the author makes the argument, but she should be more honest in her attempt next time.

Separation of Church and State does not mean there should be a separation of State and God. Freedom of religion doesn't mean we should be free of religion, in fact, that idea promotes the embracing of religion and the value it provides to the American family. Mark Price, Sibley, MO

reality it's the more us turn back from god the worts the country will be, is not religion its a lyfestile, no one can't understand that untill you lived, one nation under god.

It should be the choice of whoever is being sworn in to the presidency. (and holy crap are you ignorant, logres. divorce rates are the same across the board.) just because a person goes to church does not make them more moral than one who does not. There are plenty of church-going hypocrites, rapers, murderers, child abusers, thiefs, etc.

President Obama should state "so help me God" because if he actually asks God for help, God will guide him while he is in office. We are about to see the rapture of the church soon. Israel and the Gaza Strip is the start of the shaking of this world and will escalate to the rapture, antichrist rising, and return of Christ with all the church back to earth after seven years of severe tribulation. Obama will most likely become born again through this time period. Right now he needs to seek out the Lord and become reborn, but it will not happen until the tribulation. The United States of America was founded on a Christian platform that was truly under God' s helping hand. Look how it prospered so long. Look at us now when the powers of darkness are trying to get less and less of God in our government. Our country should be backing Israel completely because they are the apple of God's eye. Obama will be better off to get reborn as soon as possible as well as all others, that really need Jesus.

Facilitator of God