The Freedom of Religion

We were all taught in school that our forefathersthe world, but I can tell you that it doesn't take
left England to escape religious dictatorships. Okay,much research to see that they're all very much
there was a lot more to it then that, but it was athe same. Get past which church uses which
big enough deal that they made sure it gotsecret handshake and which rule book you should
honorable mention in our rulebook. They clearlyfollow, and you find that they're all teaching us to
made the point that we were to have freedomrespect each other, to love each other, to
of religion here in America. They also used theconduct yourself with honor, and to be good to
word "God" in some of their formal paperworkthe planet and animals that we're blessed with.
and even on our money. I don't want to argueThe rest is all dogma and debatable. Nobody has
politics here, but rather semantics. They didn't sayany real concrete proof that their particular form
"freedom of Christianity," they said "freedom ofof God is the only one. Who's to say that God or
religion." The boys who wrote up all of our formalJesus isn't wise enough to visit more than once
paperwork were wordsmiths and they debatedusing different names and different forms?
long and hard to find the perfect set of words toWouldn't it make sense given the size of the
govern ourselves by. It wasn't decided that weplanet that the rest of the world would need to
had the freedom to choose whichever form ofbe given a fair chance at knowing about God too?
Christianity that we liked, but whichever form ofIs Buddha so very different from Jesus? Their
religion. Religion is in and of itself a much broaderteachings are incredibly similar. Why limit God to a
concept then Christianity. "God" can mean a lotconcept that only fits what your particular culture
more then just the Christian definition too.No, Ior region of the world knows about?Another thing
don't agree with all the bickering and arguing overthat always puzzled me is why prophets and
whether or not there should be prayers in schoolseers are allowed to channel holy books and tell
or if the Pledge of Allegiance is constitutional. Youof the Messiah's coming, but then we're told by
can't stop someone from praying whenever orthe churches that being psychic is demonic? It
wherever they choose. Nor can you force aseems a bit contradictory to me. Every psychic
prayer out of someone either. It's a dumb thingI've ever met lost power over their visions if
to argue about and not worth being offendedthey weren't acting in the highest good. Most of
over either way. I think it's important to teach outthe psychics I've met believe very deeply in a
children what our country's Pledge of Allegiance is,form of God or some sort of a higher magical
but I don't know that it's right to force anyone toloving guidance over us. They're visions into the
state a pledge, especially children. Seems a bitother side created that belief. There's nothing
dictator like and kind of like brainwashing. Teachquite like chatting with the All-Mighty to make a
them what it means. Teach them what prayerbeliever out of you. Isn't prayer in and of itself a
means. Teach them what making a pledge of anyform of telepathic psychic connection with the
kind means whether it's a pledge of one'sother side?It just seems to me that if we quit
allegiance to their country's flag, a pledge ofarguing over what words, labels, and names we
fidelity to a spouse, or a pledge of loyalty to agive these concepts and quit arguing over
boss. But also teach them that in this country wemethods of prayer and such that we'd see that
have the freedom to make pledges or not. Teachwe're all so much more alike then we are
them that in this country we have the freedomdifferent. I've known three different Catholic men
to pray to whoever or whatever we like and thewho fell in love with the Buddhist faith because it
freedom not to pray. Teach them just howso beautifully highlights the teachings of Christ. I
important that freedom is.I'm saddened when Ireally believe that is what we're meant to do. All
hear of Pagan's being persecuted for their spiritualof the holy books tell us to love one another. You
beliefs in this country. Did the Sunday schoolcan't truly love someone if you don't take the
teachers forget to mention that using the colorstime to really get to know them and what they
green and red for Christmas is Pagan? Did theystand for. Shouldn't we learn about each other
mention that Christmas lights, yule logs, andfrom a place of love rather than from a place of
wreaths are all Pagan? Did they mention thatjudgement? Nobody can prove that anyone else's
almost every single Christian holiday is celebratedreligion is wrong and nobody can prove that theirs
ironically on top of a Pagan festival? Why do youis right. Too many translators over the course of
think we have bunnies, baby chicks, and prettyhistory to be able to be 100% sure about
flowers as part of our Easter celebration?anything any more. We can't really assume that
Because it coincides with the Pagan's celebrationsthe others are completely wrong and we can't
of Spring's renewal. From what I can see, Pagansassume that our own religion is completely right.
aren't all evil ugly witches anymore than allReligion and God is so much more than we can
Christians are white supremacists.I don't have afully understand at this time.
deep knowledge of all of the different religions of