The North Carolina Secular Organization paid for this billboard on N.C.'s Billy Graham Parkway: They are fighting to exclude the words "under G-d" from the Pledge of Allegiance. They want to change it back to what it was before 1954. Which was... So, the atheists billboard was vandalized to include "under G-d" ... But, the most amazing part of this whole story is that the atheist group claims that the the NC State constitution requires belief in G-d to hold office. I think that's at the heart of this whole conflict. At first, I couldn't believe it! But, it does appear to be in this state's constitution. In this fight, I think the atheists will "win". What do you think?
Rebecca, I'd say the state constitution is in violation of the federal constitution granting freedom of religion to all, including Atheists. Besides, an open Atheist would have a very difficult time getting elected to the office of Governor NC and most other states. The whole battle to get the words under god removed from the pledge of allegiance is just another idiotic attempt of a minority to oppress the majority. Atheists in America need to get over the fact that they are a minority, and I'm not talking about a 49% or even a 40% minority. They are an extreme minority. They should go push their religion on someone else or focus their attention on the many legitimate and overwhelming problems the country has.
I want comments from all religious experts at DP about what kind of punishment the OP will get for calling God G-d ? Will the person be allowed to enter He-ven or the person will get into H-ll What does your religion say about punishment for calling God as G-d ?
The Christians who have changed the language did so per their latent interpretation of the proper role for mans remittance. i.e. man is expelled by God and in no way under the deities charge - and have no right to assume the association described much less impose it on anyone else.
Really? Well the burgers which feast on our mayonnaise have no opinion on the wheels which turn our pictures to darkness. We must first turn on the lights of darkness and drive the sprinklers to the garden.
It appears that the North Carolina state constitution is not just in violation of the federal constitution, but seems to contradict itself as well. From the NC state constitution: From what I was reading, there are still 6 states that require the belief in G-d to hold office (AR, MD, MA, NC, PA, SC, TN & TX) still written in their state constitutions. HOWEVER, in 1868 they ratified the federal constitution article 6 - amendment 14 which effectively nullified that section of the states constitution. So, basically that section of the state constitution will not stand up to legal scrutiny, and any attempt to enforce it would fail. It looks like there have been attempts at that. This was an interesting article: Attack On North Carolina Candidate Focuses Attention On State Constitutional Bans On Nonbelievers In Public Office. I suppose it's not that big of an issue. But, it does seem that these states should probably change their constitutions for accuracy and to reflect modern times.
That looks like an attempt by members of various religions to get together and circle the wagons against Atheists.
The North Carolina state constitution was written a long time before the Atheists got their panties in a twist about this. It was actually drafted 15 years prior to the First Amendment which made some of it's clauses unconstitutional. Odd that it was never revised. Speaking of Atheists with their panties in a twist, in a stroke of irony it seems a county in Florida has banned the bible from being handed out for free to it's school students on Religious Freedom day. Perhaps they should add the bible to a list of other books they dislike and have public book burnings.
The North Carolina state constitution had a major revision in 1971, and for whatever reason, did not remove the part where you can be disqualified for office if you "deny the being of Almighty G-d."