Reference to God

[Chancellare]

Why do many Americans want to eliminate all reference to God in public? I’m referring to cases like removing prayers, ten commandments and other objects reminding people of God from public places. In the case of Thanksgiving Day, this is a fundamental American tradition that shows that this nation was founded by people who believed in God as the source of all good:

George Washington’s Proclamation in 1789 said: “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country…for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed…and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually…To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”

We will also see the day when people will petition the Supreme Court to delete all words in Washington’s proclamation that refer to God?

 

[Newbie2]

Hope not.

I’m not sure it’s that “many Americans” want this to happen, but rather a relatively few, but significant number, that have the political power to make it happen. Also, we have to take into account the apathy of Americans, who have been conditioned to such changes like the frog in the pot on the stove; slow increase in heat, the frog doesn’t notice that he’s being cooked to death.

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, does this signal a religious persecution to come? Are we being (or allowing ourselves to be) slowly cooked into atheism as a national “religion”? After removing all references to the Almighty on coinage and in government, the next logical step is to go after religion in the private realm.

On the other hand, such a possibility is expected; Jesus told us in so many words to expect it. And though serious religious persecution will probably not happen in my lifetime, I’d hope to follow the example of the white-robed army of martyrs before us. In that aspect, it doesn’t matter what our government does about religion; we’ll keep our faith unto death.

But I share your concern…it is distressing that it continues to happen.