76-12-B5
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Education and Religion
TranscriptDetermined to avoid the domination of government by a religious order or a situation where religious belief could be dictated by the government, the framers of our Constitution made sure that our new nation would enjoy a separation of church and state. They intended that individuals be free to worship as each chose; that government could not favor or discriminate against particular religions or denominations, nor could any denomination assume a role in government. I challenge anyone to prove that a clear and present danger to that Constitutional protection has ever existed, for even one moment, in all the years since the Constitution was ratified. And yet a few years ago, a suit brought by an avowed atheist, led to a Supreme Court ban on voluntary prayer in our schools. Have we, as a result, let some among us make atheism a religion and impose it on those of us who believe in our Judeo-Christian traditions? There is a fundamental difference between separation of church and state and denying the spiritual heritage of this country. Inscribed on the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. are Jefferson's words, -- QUOTE -- "The God who gave us life gave us liberty -- can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God"? -- UNQUOTE. Our coins bear the words, -- QUOTE -- "In God We Trust" -- UNQUOTE. We take the oath of office asking God's help in keeping that oath. And, we proclaim that we are a Nation under God when we pledge allegiance to the flag. But we can't mention God's name in a public school or even sing religious hymns that are non-denominational. Christmas can be celebrated in the schoolroom with pine trees, tinsel, and reindeers but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas. We have gone so far that it almost seems a rule, originally designed to guard against violation of the Constitution, has become an aggressive campaign against religion itself. And isn't that the very thing we set out to guard against -- domination of religion by the state? In this case by public school officials? A case in point: In an elementary school in St. Petersburg, Florida, two teachers came to class wearing lapel buttons which read, "I Found It". Such buttons, bumper stickers and even billboards are widespread around the whole country. There have even been spot-ads on television with people declaring, "I Found It". At any rate, the school principal inquired what the buttons meant and was shocked to learn the wearers were simply acknowledging they had found God. You would think this was a personal thing with each of the two teachers, but the principal didn't see it that way. She said, -- QUOTE - - "I feel if the buttons are worn in the school building and a child asks what they mean, it would be bringing religion into the schools". -- UNQUOTE. Well it would seem that not only is religion lacking in the schools -- so is common sense. I wonder what a teacher is supposed to say if a kid asks about those four small words on a dime -- "In God We Trust?" -- Or could it be that's why they aren't being taught how to read these days? This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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