Is the US headed towards a socialist government?

[--Pete]

Hi,

Bad PR. Over meddling by the ruling class. Focus on aspects which are irrelevant to faith. Intellectualism. Many many things contribute to peoples apathy.

You see "apathy", I see "enlightenment".

There is no protection from religion. . . . Do you feel the government interferes with atheism?

And therein lies the problem. We are as immersed in religion as a fish is in water, and often no more aware. Something as basic as our seven day week with a day of rest is a function of religion. That is not to say the idea itself is bad, simply that it was developed because of a particular belief and dogma. As far as I can tell, no other culture came up with that idea.

Now, the seven day week works pretty well, especially now that it contains two days of rest. But if we wanted to simplify the calender, one of the things we could do is take New Year's Day and Leap Year's Day out of the week. Make them free standing days, and we'd only need two yearly calenders instead of fourteen. No problem for the atheist, or, for that matter, the Hindu, the Buddhist, any of the followers of the native religions of the Far East or sub Sahara Africa. But to "The People of the Book"? There would be riots. Rabis, priests and imams would condemn it. Rational thinking would have to give way to ancient superstitions.

So, yeah, we can't get away from religion. In some cases, we probably don't want to.

But putting "In God We Trust" on our SECULAR coins? Putting "under God" in our SECULAR pledge of loyalty? Asking us to affirm our truthfulness, "so help me God", in our SECULAR courts?

Freedom of religion must include freedom from religion, for if it doesn't, then it is one step from no freedom at all. Simply, as the Catholic Church once did, define your religion to be the only religion and all others to be heresy and paganism. And then, we all become free to worship in your way.

I defend your right to your freedom, please show me an equal courtesy.

--Pete