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.

... beyond silly ...

January 28,2004

Why should I, as an intelligent American citizen be subjected to all these superstitous whack-jobs' belief in some "god?" More to the point, why should I be forced to affirm a concept so antithetical to rational thought at seemingly every public venue involving a representative of the United States government?

Seriously, a lot of people believe in Santa Claus too, but we don't go around saying "Santa Claus bless you, and Santa Claus bless America." This whole god thing has gotten WAY out of hand. I find it beyond silly. It's hugely offensive to those of us who rely on our own ethics.

Thank you for this forum,
ahansen

... disconect oneself ...

January 28,2004

To say that political leader should not let religious beliefs intrude in public life seems unhealthy and unreasonable. To not speak of beliefs so cental to ones life would disconect oneself from it own being.

... stop pushing your agenda ...

January 28,2004

I still have no real explanation as to why religion or standards to live by is a threat. Having a belief system makes a positive society. Why change the basis of what obviously made America what it is today? Some standards to live by or religion gave & still gives moral structure to our society. Without it, we are definitely in trouble. I can see our world changing, a lot of time, not for the better. BUT I also think these small groups aren't going to win this battle. If you choose not to have some sort of religion in your life, good luck, there is not much purpose, also creates fear of death depicted heavily by our media today and many other negative effects. I will do what I can and hope for the best now. It seems the children are changing too. You can stop pushing your agenda on them and making their lives more complicated. GET OVER IT!! Move on to something that actually benefits & makes us better people. Think about it...Stop thinking about only yourselves...

... set up ritual ...

January 28,2004

"Religion" connotes human beings attempts to set up ritual and structure to reach God. It's not the religion the plays a role in my life (I happen to be Presbyterian), it's my faith in Jesus. It's not the teaching of "my church" that really matters, it's the teaching of Christ, Paul, and others in Scripture. My church and American "presbyterianism" may pass into history someday like many other churches and religions, but Jesus and his Word are eternal.

... astrological musings ...

January 28,2004

The Judeo-Christian faith is based upon astrological musings of human pre-history, heavily censured and rewritten to fit with the political aims of the church leaders. None of it holds any truth.

... STRONG RELIGIOUS ...

January 28,2004

I DO HAVE A STRONG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ANDI DO MAKE MOST DECISIONS BASED ON RELIGION

... misguided people ...

January 28,2004

The American founding fathers had more than 1,200 years of written history regarding the church/state union in Europe. It was corrupt, oppresive and intolerant toward anyone who chose to worship other than the dictates of the church.

For this reason they wrote, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". In other words no official state religion will be allowed. And, "...or prohibiting the free excercise thereof". which means people can worship, or not, as they choose.

All of the founders, while having religious differences, believed in a Creator God and there is nothing in the 1st amendment that tells us otherwise.

A high price has and is being paid for the attitude that the universe is completely materialistic, that everything is either matter or energy with no spiritual presence. Remember people can easily hide thier mischef from government and it's laws, while nothing can be hidden from God.

Making something really easy to understand seem complex and argumentive is the work of misguided people attempting to push through their personal agendas.

... root of all hatred ...

January 28,2004

Religion is the root of all hatred and conflict in our World.

... not man's word ...

January 28,2004

For those whom have taken the time to actually study the bible. Jermiah 10:23 states: It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.

The problem is that if we follow what churches tell us to do, then we are following men, that is why the world is in the mess that it is. One needs to study the bible with an open mind and question everything in it until an accurate understanding of it is achieved. Then one will follow God's word, not someone who claims to have all of the answers. I follow God's word, not man's word. I make all (not most) of my decisions based on God's word, the bible.

... express my beliefs ...

January 28,2004

Thank you for this opportunity to express my beliefs and my values. How wonderful to be able to speak out in this United States of America founded for freedom and by founding fathers who had faith in God.

... attended church regularly ...

January 28,2004

American was founded as a secular nation, not a Christian one. In 1790 only 10 percent of the pop. attended church regularly. The founding fathers were intellectuals who understood that most gov't.s failed when religion co-mingled with with the gov't. An extreme example of course is the theocracy of Iran. The right wing Christians would turn American into a theocracy if they had the chance and they are fighting for that now.

... for spiritualism ...

January 28,2004

I'm not against religion. I'm for spiritualism, which is the post-graduated stage of becoming truly religious. The goal of religion is to love God and His complete creation...which include all creatures...and all humans that may belong to other religious faiths. I think that religion is misguiding people if pursue the goal of not letting people to develop the faith in God to that level that they relinquish a particular faith. Like going from kindergarden to school, and then college or University, the path od religion is temporal, but essential to open the doors to spiritua realization. What is spiritual realization of the fisrt degree? That God is One. That God is definitively Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu....and what not! In this way, is God who must play a large role in my daily life, and not religion. When you graduate from school or University, it is not the school, whose teachings brought you to become a professional, that substain your daily life, but your established understanding of your carrier and how you continue to develop your life. If going to a religious meeting makes you to become narrow-minded about God's identity, it is better to leave it.

... faith with morality ...

January 28,2004

A minister in the last segment of Tuesday's program seemed to equate faith with morality. I believe that love motivates true morality. Iwas reminded of James Leigh Hunt's poem about Abou Ben Adhem, who was told by the angel that his name was not written among those who loved the Lord. He then asked the angel to write him down as one who loved his fellow men. The next night, the angel "showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest!"

... have been oppressing ...

January 28,2004

I am not impressed by people or institutions that attempt to bolster their personal opinions by claiming divine authority. Religion in general and monotheism in particular have been oppressing and manipulating people for thousands of years. Witness holy wars, slavery, witch trials, and the subjugation of women. I have a mind of my own and I make my own decisions.

... so much harm ...

January 28,2004

With all of the scientific discoveries made in virtually every science and the hundreds(if not thousands) of documented, conflicting statements of events told in the Bible it is beyond me how people can take "God" seriously. Examine Genesis chapters one and two. The order and description order creation are not the same! Look at the 2 given geneologies of Jesus. They do not match and give Joseph (Jesus "stepfather") two different fathers! Take the 5 or so descriptions of the Easter event and try and make a coherent story out of them....can't be done.

Religion has caused so much harm in our societies down through history that it should be seen for the human construction that it is and discarded!

... practical distinction ...

January 28,2004

I am a minister of the Universal Life Church, a church where all religions are welcome under the same roof. My beliefs guide the way I live my life everyday, in every way. I believe in the separation of church & state as the only way to maintain the integrity of both religious organizations & government.
James Madison, 4th President of the US & one of the main contributors to the Constitution, stated in June 3, 1811
"Having always regarded tile practical distinction between Religion and Civil Government as essential to the purity of both and as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States."
I think what is happening in the US with the blending of church & state is very disturbing & very wrong. Government must stay out of religion but more importantly, Religion Must stay out of government. No religion has the right to impose their morality or religious opinions upon We The People.
The President is very wrong to use our tax money to support religious groups to do public & civil work normally done by secular organizations. James Madison vetoed such faith-based funding in 1811.
I believe it is illegal for the President to go around Congress (who vetoed the faith-based initiative) by executive order to fund religious organizations with our tax money.
I believe it is an atrocity to have a person who is in need, at a vulnerable time in their life, go to a government funded program run by a religious organization to be bombarded with religious propaganda in order to receive benefits. That is a violation of that person's Constitutional rights.
To finish, there is no data available to prove that faith-based programs are any more successful than secular programs in any way.
I am a minister whose life is completely guided by my spiritual beliefs, who firmly supports the separation of church & state in order to honor the Constitution & maintain the integrity of the USA.

... MUST involve my creator ...

January 28,2004

I believe that Jesus Christ is the ONE and ONLY true God. I have been saved by His divine grace for which I am very thankful. Therefore, the decisions I make in my daily life MUST involve my creator.

... respect not follow ...

January 28,2004

This Pluralistic Society is growing so fast that I am afraid we will not only have a God but Multiple Gods. However, the God of our founding fathers is who everyone should respect not follow.

... enjoyed the remarks ...

January 28,2004

I enjoyed the remarks of the person who said that if the God promoted were true then we would believe naturally--like breathing oxygen. I enjoyed also the person who wrote that people can believe in their brand of God, a Santa Claus. What I want to say is that the God that led us into the Iraq war is a god of bloodthirst and vengeance, hence this paternal Right hand that is called Almighty God is not one I'd be proud to call my moral leader. Those of us who worship Goddess, and those of us who worship the Christ who called Jehovah a murderer from the beginning and practiced civil disobedience to show a better way than Jehovah's eye for an eye vengeance are not served with this masculine, vengeful persona that has for too long been thought of as the good guy. How he can be thought of as the good guy is beyond me and I'd like to see a trend where he is finally put in his place.

... basis for my life ...

January 28,2004

My belief in God is the basis for my life decisions. The Bible is my everyday guide, otherwise my choices would be based selfishly on how I feel, or what is best for me, rather than what God sees as best for me.