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.

... If a person truly beleived ...

January 27,2004

It is my opinion that only a very small percentage of Americans would agree with this statement if they were telling the absoulute truth based upon actions. If a person truly beleived in this statement you would think we would have a much more tolerant society.

... WE CAN TRUST OUR COURTS ...

January 27,2004

THIS DISCUSSION IS WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS COMING TO AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE A STAND NOW. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN TRUST OUR COURTS AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE THAT STAND TOGETHER FOR OUR KIDS.
GOD CAN BE A LIFE STYLE.

... what we think is right ...

January 27,2004

We all have a system of beliefs that we base our decisions on. Whether we choose to say it is God or not. Whether belief or unbelief We ALL make decisions based on what we think is right. The sad point of it is that one of the two points of view is blind and don't know they can't see.

... religion is a social construction ...

January 27,2004

I believe that being deeply religous is a sign of a lack of inteligence. We must recognise that religion is a social construction. Instead we should try to follow many of the basic moral principals that are in all world religions. Only then can we make the next great step to world peace and universal human rights!

... over-Christianized government ...

January 27,2004

I consider myself a spiritual person first, and I am a Buddhist, having taken vows and joined that particular tradition. My non-theistic religion definitely informs everything about my life, however, I do not feel our country recognizes most religions other than Christianity as "valid". I would consider living in another country if our country continues down the path toward an over-Christianized government.

... absurd to base modern decisions ...

January 27,2004

It is absurd to base modern decisions on the needs of an embattled set of desert tribes formulated 5000 years ago as expressed in "scripture".

... MUST be part of our lives! ...

January 27,2004

God MUST be part of our lives!

... I choose not to base ...

January 27,2004

The troubles uncovered in the Catholic church is why I choose not to base my values primarily on church leadership and religous dogma.

... not our place to judge ...

January 27,2004

However, we are directed to be IN the world, not OF the world (how many "born agains" do we see out to seek worldly power?), not to judge others, and let the Lord make His judgements where and when he will. It is not our place to judge others. We are to follow the greatest commandment, to love one another.

... an eternal law ...

January 27,2004

There is an eternal law that supercedes the laws of men.

... I pray for guidance ...

January 27,2004

While faith is incredibly important in my life and I pray for guidance, the answers God gives me are not the same as those as often thought of by the mainstream evangelical types.

God says love God first and then your neighbor as your self. That means health care for all, job programs for those who need it, restricting abortion and supporting all committted couples gay or straight. The 'outspoken' religious folks of this country have it all backward.

... decisions based on how God guides ...

January 27,2004

I agree but disagree: Religion does NOT play a large role in my daily life. A relationship with Jesus Christ, the maker of the universe, is what plays a HUGE role in my daily life. I make most of my decisions based on how God guides and directs me through prayer and through the Bible, rather than the teachings of my church, because my church is made of imperfect humans, the clergy is imperfect and just as sinful as anyone. That's why I look to God, Jesus Christ, for everything. He's so great and awesome and fair! I know this because I KNOW HIM, do you? (John 3:16, Romans 10:9)

... turn the other cheek ...

January 27,2004

Religion is one of the most important aspects of my daily life. Without the Lord in my life I would not be able to face peer pressure and other teenage problems. Because of what the Bible has taught me I'm able to turn the other cheek when jokes are cracked about me wearing long skrits.

... I do pray daily ...

January 27,2004

While I feel my religion is a private matter, I will share this in the forum: I do pray daily but I also disagree with the position that my church holds on some social issues, including abortion. So I tend to combine my own personal beliefs with my church's policy when making an important decision, and come to a conclusion that I feel is moral and ethical, even if it may not follow the exact teaching of my church. On the other hand, I know people who pray about every event in their life ("I don't know what the Lord has in mind for me about where I will move after I retire," was a remark made to me recently). That is not me!

... God as the starting point for all my decisions ...

January 27,2004

I believe that God has disclosed Himself through the Holy Scripture. He has revealed that He is the central fact of the universe. My purpose for life is glorify and enjoy Him forever. This means that I take what the Scripture has revealed about God as the starting point for all my decisions--what I wear, what I eat, how I interact with others, etc.

... our founding fathers would be horrified ...

January 27,2004

In the Declaration of Independence our founding fathers laid out their belief that "...all men were created equal and endowed by their Creator with "life liberty and the pusuit of happiness." Yet many of the life issues that face the United States today clearly violate this precept. Children who are not wanted are declared "a choice" and killed through medical abortion even up to moments before they are delivered, and those whose lives are seen as not "quality" are incorrectly assumed better off dead. I believe Thomas Jefferson and our founding fathers would be horrified to see the way the Judicial Sytem has used it's power to thwart the will of the people and what used to known as common decency and sacred honor amoung our citizenry. What used to be considered a family duty and loving sacrafice is now looked at in terms of convience and money, we must change this callous thought, each human being has it's own inherent dignity and must be treated with respect.

... I resent being told ...

January 25,2004

I resent being told by conservatives how I should believe/act, & that the courts, etc. should have the 10 commandments.There are 613 commandents in the Hebrew Bible;of which 365 are negative commandments. In the NT, Jesus says,in Jn 15:12,
"This is my commandment:love one another as I have loved you."

... nor have any use for theology ...

January 25,2004

Religiously based ethics play an indirect role in my life, having been born and raised in the predominately Judeo-Christian land that is the U.S. That said, I do not rely on, nor have any use for theology. Looking at human history, religion mainly amounts to attempts to explain things and processes we don't understand at a given point, and is an impediment in our pursuit of knowledge. Thank you.

... religion as a human construction ...

January 24,2004

It is precisely at the moment that one identifies religion as a human construction--an institution of moral, political, and economic authority--that its genuine influence over human thought/action becomes moribund. Plato demonstrated that it's very difficult to go on living in the cave once having seen the world outside it.

... God gave us a brain ...

January 24,2004

God gave us a brain to think for ourselves!