Posted on 04/15/2010 6:19:07 AM PDT by Kaslin
Such was our founder’s belief in the preeminence of God that when the First Continental Congress convened in 1774, Massachusetts delegate Thomas Cushing suggested to the assembly that together they pray for divine guidance and protection. The historical events that would forever change the world were preparing to unfold: war loomed on the horizon; the Declaration of Independence would be signed, and a nation “conceived in liberty” would be born. In this moment, men of varied religious beliefs -- Presbyterians, Episcopalians, some Quakers, others Baptists or Congregationalists – were led in prayer by an Episcopal priest in an appeal to the almighty that was described as “extraordinary…filling the bosom of every man present.”
It would not be the last time the founders appealed to the Almighty God.
James Madison acknowledged God’s favor in our founding in Federalist 37 referring to “a finger of that almighty hand, which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.” I dare say that men like Madison and Cushing would not recognize the America of today, filled with politicians afraid to confess their faith or educators fearful of offending the sensibilities of their students with any mention of God.
Math teacher Brad Johnson of Westview High School of the Poway School District in San Diego, California, is a case in point.
In 2007, Westview Principal Dawn Kastner ordered Johnson to remove banners hanging in his classroom because they contained the words “God” and “Creator.” According to media reports the banners, which had hung in his classroom for 25 years, measured approximately 7 feet long by 2 feet wide and carried the phrases: "In God We Trust," "One Nation Under God," "God Bless America," "God Shed His Grace on Thee" and "All Men Are Created Equal, They are Endowed by Their Creator."
Kastner objected to the banners, claiming that they promoted a Judeo-Christian viewpoint and might make some students feel uncomfortable. The school district agreed. Oddly enough neither Kastner nor school district officials were concerned with posters hanging in other classrooms containing Buddhist, Islamic, and Tibetan prayers or those containing anti-religious messages that might make Christians uncomfortable. What remains unclear is why those that preach diversity and tolerance seem incapable of practicing those same virtues when it comes to Christians and the role of Christian faith in our American history.
Kastner and Poway district officials might argue that they are simply enforcing the Constitution’s wall of separation between church and state. The U.S. Constitution, of course, recognizes no such wall. There are roughly 4,500 words in the original unamended document and not one of them was written to imply that God – specifically the God of Abraham – should be hidden from school children.
The Bible – Old and New Testament – was the most common piece of household literature of the time; it was the primary textbook from which children and adults learned reading, writing, and morality. The first American dictionary contains biblical references on just about every page.
Moreover, the founders believed religion and religious teaching to be essential to the maintenance of a free society. The great patriot Benjamin Rush of Pennsylvania wrote, “All its [Christian revelation] doctrines and precepts are calculated to promote the happiness of society, and the safety and well being of civil government.” Therefore, reasoned Rush, “the only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.” In short the founders recognized not only the nexus between virtue and happiness, but also virtue and liberty.
We should not be surprised when those that endeavor to erase God from our history also seek to shackle us to the administrative state. Man will “either be governed by a power from within or controlled by a power from without.”
In his farewell address, George Washington said, “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. 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.”
The founders would find the mushy multi-cultural political correctness of the 21st century to be outrageous.
The first round of the legal battle was won by Johnson. U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez delivered a scathing rebuke to the Poway School District, correctly reasoning that “recognizing that God places prominently in our nation's history does not create an Establishment Clause violation requiring curettage and disinfectant for Johnson's public high school classroom walls. It is a matter of historical fact that our institutions and government actors have in past and present times given place to a supreme God."
Not content to leave well-enough alone, the Poway School District has appealed the decision, which will be heard by the liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Heaven help us!
You won’t read this in current history textbooks.
I think Original Intent by David Barton explains a lot.
You are far more likely to see Barack Obama in our classrooms.
People should minimize their production, maximize their saving and self-sufficiency and walk away as soon as they can.
There is NOTHING in the Constitution that even remotely suggests that government ( on **ANY** level) should be in the education business.
I dare say that men like Madison and Cushing would not recognize the America of today, filled with politicians afraid to confess their faith or educators fearful of offending the sensibilities of their students with any mention of God.
If Madison and Cushing could see the monstrosity of single payer, socialist-modeled, cartel, monopoly schooling that is forced upon American taxpayers and their children, they would be **APPALLED**!!!
Madison and Cushing would immediately understand that it is impossible to have a religiously, culturally, and politically neutral education.
Madison and Cushing would immediately see that government schools would do only one thing well: CAUSE CONFLICT. Government schools inevitably cause groups of citizens to wage political warfare as each attempts to have its religious, political, and cultural worldview enshrined in the government temples of indoctrination!
Governments schools are a First Amendment and freedom of conscience abomination! They have **ALWAYS** trampled First Amendment Rights and freedom of conscience.
Solution: Begin the process of privatizing universal K-12 education.
I imagine they’ll start doing in classrooms what they did in the Soviet Union.
The teachers would ask the children to pray to Jesus to give them candy. Of course, no candy.
Then the teachers would tell the children to ask Comrade Stalin for candy, then candy would start falling from the ceiling.
“What remains unclear is why those that preach diversity and tolerance seem incapable of practicing those same virtues when it comes to Christians and the role of Christian faith in our American history.”
It’s very clear to me, a Christian —
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh to the Father, but by me. - John 14:6
Anyone who opposes the truth will accept any form of falsehood.
Socialists don't want you to look to God for Salvation and as provider. They want you dependent on government.
Yes ...
tossing to and fro
in life they go
Truth to them is whatever feels good and instantly gratifies them. Pleasure heads the list.
No kidding ... some have POTRAITS of Obama in their homes.
He’s become a shrine of sorts.
“Prayer in Government Schools”—a total waste of time.
Spending time, money, and energy on this issue is like fighting to get Prayer in Brothels or Prayer in Extermination Camps.
The only worthwhile objective, with regard to Government Schools is SHUT THEM DOWN.
Like in any good communist dictatorship.
Onama would love to replace god.
Recall the cheap looking styrofoam pillars that dazzled his idiotic supporters.
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