We have received feedback on this issue from people all across America. Review the graph to the left for a quick snapshot of the responses received to date, or read the responses below.

... call on the name of the Lord ...

January 27,2004

God is a part of my everyday life. Any decision or anytime I have a problem I know I can call on the name of the Lord and it will be solved. Without God there would be nothing. Emptiness. I wouldn't want someone who is empty and without Gods values and love to represent anything. God is everywhere and deserves the ultimate respect.

... because we put God first ...

January 27,2004

Let's be serious we Americans know our country was and is a Christian nation. Never in our past have we ever had a problem with it. Now a "few' with no religion, are trying to change this country to fit themselves. Why do you think we have been blessed as a country from the get go, because we put God first as a country and he blesses us, very simple. The others should go to France.

... I couldn't imagine living other way ...

January 27,2004

Each major decision I make and my family makes is influenced greatly by prayer and through the Bible. I couldn't imagine living other way and God has NEVER

... is not for me to dictate ...

January 27,2004

My faith is very important to the choices I make but it is my personal faith. It is not for me to dictate what others may choose.

... given to me by my parents ...

January 27,2004

The underpinings that assist me in making decisions were given to me by my parents, religion or a belief in God had nothing to do with it. I'm grateful I was never taught to discrminate against other religions as if there is one that's better than another.

... founded by God ...

January 27,2004

America was founded by God, thus we should recognize this and not believe the dilluted view that "history" books give us.

... my decisions on "the Laws of Nature" ...

January 27,2004

I Make most of my decisions on "the Laws of Nature" as cited in the Declaration of Independence.

... no good without God ...

January 27,2004

God is an important part of our lives. There is no good without God. God loves all of us and wants to be part of our lives and help us through.

... the aspect of fear ...

January 27,2004

I do not believe that being religious makes anyone a better person mentally or morally. I believe it is the aspect of fear that religion plants in the back of the mind that drives people to conform and be religious.

... guiding me in my daily decisions ...

January 27,2004

It is my faith in knowing that God's governing orgranizational principles and structure are true, full of mercy and provides great comfort in guiding me in my daily decissions that I must make as a US citizen, daughter, granddaughter, wife and parent.

Likewise, I believe the founding Fathers of the United States took comfort in God's principles and governing organizational structure and used it as a template for the formation of our wonderful governing body. That is from God's governing body - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; our founding Fathers derived - Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and Judicial Branch. Therefore, Jefferson's statement - "In God we trust..." giving credit to his source of guidance.

... morality need not be based on religious ...

January 27,2004

While spirituality is an important part of my life, it is not based on affiliation with traditional Judeo-Christian religions. Ethics and morality need not be based on religious values and I do not need a Priest or Pastor to translate the words of a particular philosophy.

... corrupts that tenet ...

January 27,2004

This discussion highlights the most important feature of American society - the value of the individual's right to her/his own belief and its influence in her/his own daily life. Religious persuasion by those in power, particularly by invoking personal belief as a justification for public policy corrupts that tenet, declares a lack of confidence in America's unique gift to democratic ideals and attacks America at its soul.

... must remain an integral part of government ...

January 27,2004

While it is highly unlikely that a corporation CEO or a powerful politician ever seeks guidance from God before making decisions that affect the lives of many others, the fact remains that among the people belief in a higher being is deep and therefore must be catered to by all who enjoy a high visibility in public life. It is unknown to what extent a religious leader, no matter how high his/her ran, really shares the beliefs he/she assiduaously propagate among the people, the fact remains that without the "moral" influence of a higher spiritual being the people would quickly become unmanageable. God, therefore, is and must remain an integral part of government, if not overtly, at least as a silent understanding for the sake of political, social and moral stability. This has nothing to do with the validity or invalidity of the moral assumptions upon which this modus vivendi rests.

... destroy too much ...

January 27,2004

I think humanity wastes too much time believing in a fake(god) and probably created by some wacko sadistic misanthropist. We(humanity) should be focus on our planet and keeping it healthy so we have a place to live. Religious wars, ie terrorism, destroy too much..

... Religion holds no place in Government ...

January 27,2004

In my view if you give Religion, a Political Power, then you Corrupt the Religion and stand to do Atrocities like all that have come, In the name of “God”, many Native Cultures have been beaten and down trodden Native Americans where beaten in and killed as godless savages. They had a Religion and they where killed and beaten because they did not worship "God". The Romans Empire used “God” as a reason to kill off the Pagus; or the backwards, The Spanish Church killed Jews in the name of “God”, and so did the Nazi’s. I believe Religion holds no place in Government save in Tyranny over those that are not the of the same belief.

... basis of ethical principles ...

January 27,2004

The wording of the question and my particular religion make me have to choose "undecided" in order not to give a wrong impression. I try to make decisions on the basis of ethical principles such as freedom, love, justice, honesty, respect for others and myself, forgiveness, integrity, and courage, and my religion, which focuses on ethics rather than worship of any supreme being, supports me in this.

... the FREE expression there of. ...

January 27,2004

The amendment should be considered by its entire text and phrase and not disected to recognize part of it and not the whole of it.

The first amendment is a complete statement that identifies a form of seperation and at the same time fully supporting religious endevors .. ie and the FREE expression there of.
A simular statement is referenced in the amendment that protect freedom of speech .. ie .. say what you want, when you want as loud as you can.

GET the points.

... feelings of hostility ...

January 27,2004

I was, so to speak, not born with a religion, and throughout my life so far I have received nothing but feelings of hostility from those who call themselves "men of faith", even if in only minute degrees.

... a lot more Atheists ...

January 27,2004

Reality check... not everyone believes in the same fairy tales you do. There's a lot more Atheists out there than you realize. Your values are not mine or anyone else's. Keep your faith to yourself and keep it out of law.
When religion ruled the world, they called it the "Dark Ages"

... from other perspectives ...

January 27,2004

For me, religion is not a major part of my life, all though it used to be. I was an alter boy until I was 18 years old. I do have my moral background from religion, but I also learned it through education. After all, almost all religions have the same rules for spiritual behavior. However if someone uses their religious belief to help them make everyday decisions, that is fine. It is when those desisions purposfully favor one religion over individuals. We must look at things from other perspectives because we need to remember that someone else whith different beliefs may be in charge and you may not want his religious belief dictating policy.