Like Joe Plumber, I see a lot of projection here. The closest thing to the Taliban I see in America are those attempting to batter down the wall of church and state, and require religious observances in what ought to be our shared secular space. ACLU is pro bono in the sense that, where it finds worthy causes, it offers the client (in this case Jessica Ahlquist) its services, and only takes compensation from court awards for attorney fees. If you've priced legal assistance lately, you'd find $173,000 a bargain for the amount of work they'd done.

As the judge's extraordinary 40-page ruling found, the prayer banner was illegal. It has been removed not because of any "secular-cleansing" or "social-engineering," but because it violated the basic Constitutional rights of all students.

Those who fought to keep the blatantly illegal banner up always had the opportunity to adhere to the US Constitution by removing it, and avoid incurring any fees. They now reap what they have themselves sown.

-

The city would not have had to pay a dime if they had been in the right. It's like a slap both cheeks moment.

I so agree with you. Sniff....sniff... that's the smell of the ACLU BS. They used this teen as a pawn for their own gain. That Stephen Brown has no legal expertise, he is NOT a lawyer. He's just the mouth piece for this organization that causes nothing but trouble. I love how they use our Constitution to protect illegal immigrants. This organization never backs any interest that would protect Americans, only a certain few. Also, this teen claims she was doing this to draw attention to what she interpreted as a lack of sep. of church and state. I'd like to know if she's willing to give to charity the money that people have been putting aside in a so-called scholarship. If this was all about "doing something right" than she really shouldn't get any money from it. But in the end, we all know WHY she did it.

Obviously, there are a large people commenting who know nothing about the U.S. Constitution, the ACLU, or the law. There is absolutely no doubt that the hanging of this banner on school property violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That result is compelled by at least a century of Supreme Court precedent. The Establishment Clause does create a freedom from religion, that works in tandem with the Freedom Clause, which provides for the freedom of people to follow their own religion without undue restriction. As to the ACLU, its function is simply to enforce the Constitution and the civil rights laws -- nothing more, nothing less. It is not attempting to secularize the U.S. It has protected, and continues to protect, the rights of persons whose freedom to practice their religion has been infringed.

As to those objecting to the ACLU's attorneys' fees being paid by the taxpayers, a federal statute specifically provides that when a plaintiff prevails in this kind of case, including by settlement, the plaintiff is entitled to have its attorneys fees paid by the responsible government. And this specifically applies to pro bono groups, whether "liberal" groups or "conservative" groups, which are entitled to fees at the same reasonable rate as private firms.

ACLU extorsion at work again. There was nothing illegal about the sign. It was part of the school's history. There was no endorsement of religion involved. This is the USA, not the old USSR. Freedom of speech and religion, not from them.

It is amazing that many will say "we don't need government endorsing religion", and many of you don't have God in you'll lives. The Devil once again has added fools like you'll into his Kingdom. I want MY God and His Son in my life 24/7 no matter were I am.
Now I can understand why the Islam religion is the fastest growing in the world, but mainly in the U.S.A., and projected to surpass christainity by 2020.

Wake up America!!! In twenty years you will not have a country. You will be governed by the Islamic beliefs and than you will have no rights. You will do as they say. Again wake up America, no one should come here and take away our Christian values that this country is based on. Again wake up America!!!!!!!!!!

WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IT HAD A FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!!!WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?!
Somthing like it would onlt happen in the communist country where I came from!!!!!

The banner is pat of the school history..if you don't like it...don't read it...

The banner is pat of the school history..if you don't like it...don't read it...

The banner is not illegal nor is it unconstitutional.....freedom of religion....not free from religion?????

well who ever you are what about my rights to have god in my life anywhere i want just because you don't believe doesn't mean you should get your way once again your rights or mine !!!! and if we are wrong so what . If trying to be a good person and do good things and if it turns out to be know heaven i have nothing to lose but if there is a heaven and hell well i think i would rather be in heaven. and if your wrong well firer is hot enjoy

Justice will be served. Right after you breath your last breath. I just pray you are not looking up and saying "Oh God I messed up". It's not religion, it's a relationship. The religious will be saying the same thing. The ones with the relationship will be saying "Oh God, Thank You,"

@It's Real

They will grovel and give thanks, while their loved ones scream in God’s torture chamber, grateful they’re not broiling with them, caring only for their chosen selves.

@SET FREE

“Christians are motivated by love not fear.” So why do they get all testerical, saying same-sex marriage will bring a fall of civilization? Also, have you met Joe The Plumber here? Nope, ain’t buyin’ it.

“Experiencing God's love is beyond what I could explain in words.” We have plenty of mundane ways to feel that ecstasy you mistakenly associate with God. Some people get that high listening to music, others get it from enjoying nature. There’s nothing supernatural about it.

Nicely said set free...

Have you read the Old Testament? There was a whole lot of fear in there. A lot of those psalms are begging the lord not to hurt them. A lot of christianity is based in fear of a false deity and hoping they are worthy of such abuse.

1. You seem to ignore the fact that there are billions of people who are neither Christians nor non-believers.

2. From my experience, there seems to be an awful lot of focus among Christians on Hell for a religion that is not motivated by fear. If you want a religion that really does not motivate by fear, try Judaism. Better yet, don't.

Just because of one girl....I think her parents should homeschool her if they hate GOD THAT MUCH!!! She needs Jesus!!! Find him before it's too late !!1

Set Free...Awesome. I totally agree.

This comment is directed to Marc and all other who are religious, non-believers. Remember the Christianity is NOT a religion, but a relationship with our Lord & Savior Christ Jesus. And, 'Set Free' said it very clear as well "Christians are motivated by love not fear. Experiencing God's love is beyond what I could explain in words." Grace, Love, Faith comes from & through God, but religion comes from men. Marc & other, I pray that the Lord, through His Spirit is reveled in your life. GOD Bless you!!!

Just because of one girl. If she didn't like what she saw, she should just go to another school or stay home with her parents. And yet, us "religious" taxpayers are the ones paying for all of this and her schooling too. I think our politically incorrectness or correctness is really getting out of hand just like the ACLU's actions. Enough already.
We have to watch everything we say because we might just hurt someone else's feelings. Where is our freedom of religion or speech going? I guess if one is not a liberal ,you don't have the right. Such a shame and only in America. Other countries would say, you don't like it, go back to where you came from.

Why are they taking God out of school, when we need God more then ever these days?

LOL your god must be pretty weak if removing a banner from a school takes him out of that school.

I thought he was "everywhere"?

LOL so lame

I wonder if the ALCU and non-believers would still object if this prayer had started off with "School Wish" instead of "School Prayer" and "Parents" instead of "Our heavenly Father". How sad to see what this once great country has now become. I am fortunate to have had my children raised in a school environment where they were taught to be men and women for others. My gratitude to the Jesuits and the Sisters of Notre Dame. AMDG (For the Greater Glory of God) Amen

Separation of church(religious facilities/religion in general) and state(public schools, such as this one) is a wise and powerful law, and one that MUST be upheld. Many people forget there are other religions, such as Hinduism, Pagans, Wiccans, etc...Why must any specific god be shoved in our faces? Either put up an equal share of banners for EVERY religion, or keep religion out of our schools. Simple as that. Believe in what you like, and let others do the same. K? Thanks.

amen <3

God is real just as hell is! Has anyone put together the shootings in the schools that are happening now. Why? has anyone asked the question. Because they took prayer out of the schools. Bring it back and all will stop!

Wrong! Christians are motivated to adhere to their god and his belief system for one reason and one reason only: The selfish pursuit of PERSONAL salvation. Love has absolutely nothing to do with it. And when you claim to love your god this is also false since it is impossible for a human being to love someone or something he cannot see or touch. We require visual and tactile stimuli in order to feel the emotion of love or build bonds predicated on love.

@Lisa WRONG!!! They were bullied, picked on and teased, mostly for being gay, or not being christian, like those who bullied them to no ends. Had such hate and fear mongering NOT been pushed on them, they would have NEVER attacked anyone. All they needed was someone to comfort them and listen. No one did, and they were hated beyond repair...attacked to a point where they snapped, and that is what caused school shootings. Lack of faith and religion is the one thing this world needs most. Without it, bigots wouldn't run the place.

@Logan5. You are so wrong. Until you accept Jesus into your heart and TRUELY mean it you will not experience what us believers have. "The selfish pursuit of PERSONAL salvation" you say? Every believer wants nothing more than to bring others to salvation so we can spend eternity TOGETHER!!! We help others in the name of our God so they may feel a smidge of the love that we feel. And to say that in order to love you must be able to see or touch? He sent his ONLY Son to earth to die so we can be freed of our sinful nature. A sacrifice I could never imagine. Yes...I do LOVE Him. I pray that someday you may feel this agape love.

SATAN IS RULING. THESE ARE THE END DAYS. I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE LEFT BEHIND TO EXPERIENCE THE WRATH OF GOD. THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT NOT TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES AFTER ALL THEY EVOLVED FROM A MONKEY AND NOT MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. SO SAD

@HopeforJohn ...You're...kidding...Right?...RIGHT?! Seriously, I once believed, I thought I had all the answers, but I was NEVER whole until I realized science, logic, evidence, and PROVEN fact were all that mattered. I was finally whole, I have a total peace of mind and a complete heart, knowing there are legitimate answers and reasons for things, and it's not just "God did it"...You can say what I'm telling you isn't true all you like, but that doesn't make it true, just as proving the bible by saying you believe it or by using the bible is no more correct than if I said the same of Harry Potter, which is a made-up, man-written story, JUST like the bible. Neither one has proof to back it up, nor do they have any basis in fact. There is NO evidence Jesus ACTUALLY existed, only hearsay, which is not used in the justice system for a reason. It doesn't mean a thing. Science has evidence to back it up, god does not.

We have been served notice by the ACLU. Be quiet or pay up. Each and every time something like this occurs and we stay quiet, for what ever reason, we are guilty of treason, both to our Lord and Saviour. and this ONCE great country. I have been told in the last few years to be careful of what I say as a S.S. teacher about certain issues, I am not ashamed of the gospel or of my Lord. No matter the cost my soul shall not be lost!

[My earlier response to this comment has disappeared.]

@SET FREE claims

⁃ “Christians are motivated by love not fear.”

Ain't buying that, I know too many Christians. Counterexample: Those people in testerics that same-sex marriage will bring the fall of civilization.

⁃ “Experiencing God's love is beyond what I could explain in words.”

We have plenty of mundane ways to experience that ecstasy you mistake for God's love. Some people get that high from listening to music, or from enjoying nature, or from having sex. There’s nothing supernatural about it.

you are spot on here...and what beautiful words above....I couldn't have put into words how I feel about being an atheist better than you did up there...well said.

well put

Hey Occi
You forgot one. Jesus motivated by love died on the cross for you and your sins.

nobody died on a cross for me. it wasnt even his choice. the christians killed him because he was a jew. and you celebrate that every year. its funny how most of the hate comments are from the religious people. why would you want to worship someone that wants you to fear him? religious people are trained to not think for themselves by their parents and catholic teachers so i understand why you resist thinking for yourselves. you're scared of what you were told would happen. sad thing that religious bullcrap

I will make a bet that on your death bed you will be calling Jesus to help you not a monkey.

looks like you have read the good book , what happened in your life to turn away from his love ? someone hurt ?

Nah, just realized it was all a fairy tale for adults.

I established an intimate relationship with REALITY.

Wow, you really are way out there. Maybe you should re-read that Bible passage again and try to interpret the correct way this time.

Get out of the Gospels and down the Revelation, how many times is love written do you want the unsaved to be lost????? I bet if it was a verse in the koran they would not have pulled it down. Want to make a bet?

What? Joe has to keep his religious belief private but you can shout your anti-religion from the mountain tops? You are so over the top stupid!!

Then why are not all religions banned like the musulim population who have prayer mats in school so they can pray there and the celebrate Rahmadan, and oh by the way just for historical referance this country and it's largest universaties were founded on Judeo Christian beliefs not kill the infidels

Are you so arrogent that you think that this universe and all the other systems were a accedent ??? When you can tell me where the particals that came together in the big bang THEORY came from and where that came from etc. Then you may have something worth reading. But so far all I have seen of your posts is ignorance on this country and if founding and the reason why people came here.

Amen Michael.

Amen!

@michael
'Cause repainting a wall seems so similar to a crucifixion.

I would be more pissed at the idiots that don't know the law and don't know the constitution, that decided to go to court with the ACLU.

They had no case. The banner was illegal and unconstitutional.

THOSE are the people responsible for the legal bill. If they had informed themselves on the laws of the country they live in, they would have realized the banner is illegal.

Bunch of idiots. Don't even know the laws of their own country.

Don't you know that every case the ACLU wins the loosers pay and the Tax payers alos pay. It is time for all Christians to Stad up and be counted stop sitting on the couch saying oh that is awaful and how sad Turn the other cheek. You also need to see Christ turning over the money lenders tabels in the Temple and telling his disciples to dust the dust from thier feet when they leave a town that would not hear the good word. That it would be better to have been Sodom and Gamora than that town. Now is that all fuzzy warm love? The US Declaration of indepence state that we are endowed by our CREATOR no MONKEYS that we have the right to Life, Liberty & the Pursut of happiness. If their is no creator then the above rights don't apply to us.

This really is sad. Our schools have really improved since the government has taken Christianity out of them haven't they?

Occidentalist if there is no God the you don't have the right to life liberty and the pursuite of happiness. Think about it. When it is time for you to leave this world or a family member is on the brink of dealth let's see who you pray to Everyone who is a Christian should donate to ACSJ The American Center for Law and Justice these are Christian attornies fighting for our rights in in cases just as them. They are totaly supported by gifts from thier members. Since we are the majority we should easily beat the ACLU. It's time to go onward Christian Soiders

Thomas, interesting idea. What if the "Heavenly Father" and "Amen" stay but are done in a way where you can't read them unless you look through a special pane of glass or filter. That way you would have to voluntarily look through the filter to read the whole prayer. That being said, I think the prayer should stay as it was written.

Amen to that!

i disagree they will stop when the time comes and they will fall on thier knees and confess jesus is lord . to bad it will be to late .for the bible saids all will fall down on thier knees and confess jesus is lord .

We're not attacking religion. We're defending the Constitution. We are patriots, standing up for the vision the Founding Fathers laid out.

Christians are acting like domestic terrorists, disobeying the Constitution.

lol

This is why we have separation fo Chruch and State. Intelligent well meaning people understand this!

So true,,,,someday soon all will bow down and confess that Jesus is Lord!!! They can take the banner down,but can't stop the students from praying!!! If my kids went there I would start a group that would have all the christian kids come and pray out loud...right where the banner was!!! Don't let that girl win christians....PRAY TO JESUS!!!

if you believe in nothing you have nothing to defend or keep sacred. therefore stomping on others beliefs is easy. They now no joy only empty pleasure of the flesh , There is no happiness greater than serving others , and the smile on the face of a child given a toy at Christmas that could not afford one . I say to all that think christian should fade away , what good works do you do and what a sad world it would be.

we're not angry at the fairy tale you believe in.

we're angry at Christian attempts to circumvent the Constitution.

Learn the difference.

Occidentalis thire is no where in our constitution that seperates Church & State. It says Congress shall make no law regarding religion and the free worship of it. The lack of education shows you read what others say about the constitiution. The wording seperation of the Church and State was stated 2 places in a Letter written my Thomas Jefferson assuring that the Government would not be invoiled with the rights of Christians. The other place is in the Russion Communist party. Please get educated in the USA and how and why we were formed.

amen to that

If you are so secure in your faith then why should it matter what others think? Why even would you fell the need to attack non-believers. Obviously you have some problems.

ITS the work of the great deserver

Silly wolf, we’re not angry with or scared of God. That’d be like getting angry with Voldemort. He doesn’t exist.

So taking down a sign is removing your god from school? Is that all it takes to remove your all-powerful god from school? Just taking down a sign? I thought he was all-powerful and omnipresent?

Wow some of you folks really don't use your brains.

they might as well get god out of thier lives now and get used to it cause god won't be with them in hell.

Occidentalist please quote the constution and then a interpretaion of it and not what someone told you one the news etc. Also the Declarations of Independence was formed and writting acknowleding the Fact that the is a CREATOR.

It will be way tooooo late when they go to hell!!! Get Jesus now people!!!

Amen!!!

Vote doesn't matter.

Prayer in school is anti-constitutional and thus, illegal.

Sorry, the Founding Fathers say, "YOU LOSE!"

I agree a ballot should be put out for the voters to decide I am tired of the US Supream Court making Law when they are strictily forbidden to do so their job is to interpret the law not make it Oh how we have sat by and let our freedoms and liberty be taken away from us one by one

Even Jesus Was Against School Prayer
"Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing
in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be
seen of men...
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast
shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." - Matt. 6:5-6

Our public schools are for all children, whether Catholic, Baptist,
Quaker, atheist, Buddhist, Jewish, agnostic. The schools are supported by
all taxpayers, and therefore should be free of religious observances and
coercion. It is the sacred duty of parents and churches to instill
religious beliefs, free from government dictation. Institutionalizing
prayers in public schools usurps the rights of parents.
School prayer proponents mistake government neutrality toward religion as
hostility. The record shows that religious beliefs have flourished in this
country not in spite of but because of the constitutional separation of
church and state. However - I learned a long time ago there's no arguing with ignorance.

The Supreme court has many times rules it is NOT about majority rule but the rights of the people unclouded by religion, race, sex, age and many other attributes which make the difference between you and I are not to be concerned. Thats what makes the country GREAT!

I say to you...take all the christian kids out of plublic school then...you know what you got then? All stupid kids!!!

i vote yes to prayer in the schools too our kids need it because some don't even hear of it at home i just wish that the word of our jesus would spread everywhere into everyones life may jesus be with everyone in this day and time of need because it won't be long before he comes to take us believers home

No one cares what you people vote.

It's against the law and against the constitution.

Too bad. It's illegal and anti-constitutional.

Why don't you pray about it and ask your god to put the sign back?

I bet he is unable to do that.

Lori- Staggering willful ignorance. First, the Founders knew that they were trying to create a country for everyone, not just the majority. If they had injected religion into the government which is what you want and left each of your groups to persecute each other if they were in the majority. You wouldn't have a state and we wouldn't have a country. Why is that so hard to get. Jessica didn't DEMAND anything. She asked that your community follow the law. The courts DEMANDED that you follow the law. I applaud her parents for raising an intelligent knowledgeable child. Were I your parent, I would think I had failed miserably in my job because you haven't grasped anything correctly.

Don't even read Occidentalist. He has not read the constitution and the Bill of rights. They don't say what he says they say. Congress shall make NO LAW regarding religion and the free exersise ther of. It does NOT SAY seperation of Church and State, This was written as the founding Fathers had come to America to escape persecution of religious beiiefs where the governments restricted thier religious rights and they wanted to make sure we did not have that problem here. I truly believe that this turning from God has made the US to become what it is today. A society of consumers that produce nothing even Most Orange Juice an Apple Juice is made in China. That is what the liberals have brought this nation to.

Offensiveness was never the issue. Jessica didn't request its removal because it was offensive to her, but because it discriminated against her. And it does not matter how many in the community favored breaking the law.

Because you feel entitled and you are spoiled rotten

In the years and decades that follow many more incidents will change the landscape insofar as what America was and is to become. You have banning images of animals or people as school mascots requested by American Indians because they insult their ancestors. You have burial crosses being requested to be taken down on public lands and also on public property the portrayal of Jesus and Mary during the holidays. ALL of these things noted become discovered by someone who is offended and seek a legal remedy to make it right. Theres going to be always a uproar because said violation has been there since the dawn of time. But it doesn't matter the item noted - once supposedly legal - is now to be changed by the law of the land. It's that simple .

For REBECCA MCNEAL

I agree with what your saying but as far as your statement that we are turning from God does not sit right for me as there are all kinds of Gods and they represent different things to different people. The one you perhaps refer to is the God of Money. A most powerful entity. But unfortunately that God has chosen to manufacture those items bought here to be made in China because the labor is so much cheaper. What $1.78 Hr? You can make it there and ship it here and make more profit in the process. That process has been going on for years first Made in Japan then Taiwan, Korea and now China. Once Vietnam gets its light industry they will also join in the economic boom. Soon they will be replaced by other nations who are not quite there yet, The evolution of business is itself a "force" of kind and has its own worshippers as well.

God wasn't in ANY part of our money, our pledge, or our word until the 1950's and with good reason. This country is based on freedom of religion. We can believe anything we believe. The problem is, when fact, evidence and logic stare religious followers in the face, it is all ignored for the sake of their faith...blind belief in something that may or may not exist. I honestly think the ONLY fair way to keep that prayer up, would be to post Pagan, Wiccan, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, even Scientologist, and any other religions exist, whose prayers were NOT on the walls of that school. If one religion is posted, so should ALL others. If not, than none shall be shown as some reigning champion for people who don't have such faith to see. That's like giving candy to all but one person, or, in this case, recognition to all but one religion. It's not right, and it's not fair, equal treatment of the population. NO religious posters or propaganda should be allowed without TOTALLY equal representation for ALL religions/lack thereof. End of story.

@Dion Kraft
I don’t know of banned animal mascots, but mascots offensively caricaturing American Indians should draw complaints. I haven’t heard of anyone actually requesting grave crosses be removed, though a chain e-mail was circulating a story that falsely claimed the ACLU demanded Arlington National Cemetery do so. When in fact, the ACLU sued Arlington to let Wiccans put pentacles on their gravestones.

Sorry you're wrong. This country was not built on Christian beliefs.

This is from the Treaty of Tripoli, 1797, signed by John Adams, one of our Founding Fathers:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

You lose. You know nothing about the beginnings of the country you live in.

@jaime

Go ahead and say “Merry Christmas”, nobody's trying to stop you. (And if anyone ever did, the ACLU would come to your defense.) However, I do see Bill O’Reilly taking testerical offense that solemn places of worship like Walmart and Sears would dare group Christmas with Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year’s Day, and rallying Christians to wage a War on “Happy Holidays”.

In this case, angry Christians demanded a public school show favoritism towards Christianity, catering to a Christian majority over religious minorities. No, our government’s job is not to cater to *you*. Our government institutions must remain neutral and protect the freedom of *all* religions, not just yours.

NO one is stopping you from saying Merry Christmas! The situation is that the school cannot officially say those things, have functions with that theme and reference them officially on the school grounds or any publicly owned properties. If you have a merry Christmas function you have to have a Jewish function as well and an Arab celebration and so on - ITS ONLY FAIR! This country was founded on the belief that it is best to separate the church and state so that a segment will not over power another and impose their will directly or indirectly.

Honey, you don't seem to realize...this country was founded on the basis of FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!! It is not a theocracy, nor has it ever been or will be...This country was founded on getting AWAY from the Catholic/Christian reign of England. It was made to be a place where people can worship fairly, equally, and without fear of repression under any one religion. If one religion is represented, so must ALL others or none at all, unless in private/religious institutions. Public schools, like this one, who do this are doing something ILLEGAL, and you need to understand that, as an Atheist, I am not against your beliefs. I'm ONLY against a lack of equal representation. If that is not upheld, NO religion should be posed as the religion of a public school. End of story.

Read the 1st Amendment and the Treaty of Tripoli.

This is from the Treaty of Tripoli, 1797, signed by John Adams, one of our Founding Fathers:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

As it turns out, YOU are the one who doesn't know anything about the foundation of this country.

So sad. You know nothing of the country you live in.

Once again Occidentalits is wrong, A treaty has no basis in fact of what the founding fathers built in the Declaration of Independence we were given our right due to a creator. So if you don't believe in a creator maybe your rights should be taken from you and put you in a zoo with the rest of the apes. The bill of right and the constitution protect RELIGION John Adams was stating that America is not just one religion but all religions have the right to exsist. But what do you find so distasteful about the Christian beliefs of Do not steal, do no lie, do not kill, do not commit adulery, do not lust ( want what others have ) etc. Or would you have us running around doing all this without consequenses?

You are a shrinking minority. Your church pews have fewer and fewer on Sundays. The majority who do not profess your faith is growing rapidly. This will in all probability lead to a colapse of some sort. No one can say for sure. The problem lies in the tenants of faith. It is not easy to have faith. It can not be bought in six packs at 7eleven. It requires you to have an imaginary freind who knows all and sees all. A freind who tortures children by inflicting them with horrible deseases that cause horrible pain and suffering, because he loves them. Faith in that sort of entity who leads children to church where they are sexually assaulted by the chosen leaders of the church, that would be called a pimp by any other group or organization. Families who pimp their children to the priests are not the people one would want to be inclosed in a building with. Your religion is doomed by the ones who pimp it.

Occi, the Treaty of Tripoli has Articles. You clearly do not know anything about that treaty or Article 11. It was only stated like that to make it known that the pact was between two sovereign states and not religous powers. The founding fathers were religous men but wanted people to have the freedom to express themselves. Translation shows that Article 11 in the Arabic and English versions are different.

lol judgement day

I bet the Muslims say they would hate to be you on their judgement day.

And Jews would hate to be you on their judgement day.

And Hindus would hate to be you on their judgement day.

LOL

They are not against religion; they are just against it being showed in schools presented by the school. It is not fair to show signs of only one religion in school will the others cannot. If all religions and beliefs were presented equally then there would not be as much of an issue. Instead we have one religion shown that will have unequal access to students there. I bet if someone wanted to put a script from the Koran or any other religious script Christians would be against it because they believe their way is the right way and only they should be able to reach children. All ACLU is doing is making sure everyone has the same liberities and are protected by them. IT IS A SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

The aclu and all its followers are fagets and should get back in the hole they came out of.AMEN

Occidentalist get off a treaty and get back to our rights as written in the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Delclaration of Independence it was written expressly for people like you to keep you from treading on religious freedom !!!

Occi, if I may nitpick: Hinduism has karma and reincarnation. The Judgment Day myth belongs to the eschatology of Abrahamic religions.

Perhaps what you meant to say to Christina was: “And Hindus would hate to be you in your next life.”

You simpleton. The ACLU very often DEFENDS religion and Churches. Please don't display such ignorance openly.

Agreed Robin but let's face it. We're not actually dealing with intellectuals here.

It's anti-constitutional and thus illegal.

Learn more about the laws of the country you live in.

Would you say the same if a muslim pray was hanging up or any other religion that you might be against? I mean it wouldn't be doing any harm either and no one has to read it. No offense but how do you know what something is without reading it. People are curious by nature so to say she didn't need to read it is nonsense. That is like saying if you see an advertisement you don't have to read it. How do you know it is an advertisement until you started reading it?

"Never paid much attention to it"....enough said:-) Separation of church and state..look it up!

@Maureen Flynn

If this prayer was so insignificant, why did the school board defy the law and go to court over it?

The American Humanist Association’s scholarship drive for Jessica Ahlquist raised not $10,000, but $48,353. Scholarship money is used for college.

From this court case, she received damages of $25. She has posted that she intends to give that back to the school.

AMEN!!!!

No, you didn't get it right.

The LAW and the CONSTITUTION have a problem with a prayer banner in a public, taxpayer funded school.

Keep your prayer banners in private Christian schools where they belong.

Just to reiterate: YOU ARE WRONG.

amen!!!!!!!!!to that

@Robert Shaw

Churches are not government buildings. She probably would not have a problem if a church was telling people how to pray.

She's one person(correction)

Rot in Hell.

LOL that "Christian Love" is wonderful.

You Christians are hateful, violent, nasty people.

If you don't believe in GOD....that's where your going....HELL!!!!! So Mr. Occi or whoever you are.....hope you enjoy hell along with this student!!!

Sorry, don't believe in your hell either. LOL

"Separation of church and state" ring any bells. It is the first amendment and the last time I saw the Cranston High School West is a public school not a Catholic school. That is why schools devoted to a certain religion exist because the government cannot "play" favorites with any religion. Though they still do at times.

Terry the good old days were back when parents insured their child was in church where the preist could molest and rape them. Preists were there on a mission from God to further torture kids,because it wasnt possible to inflict all kids with a desease that causes pain suffering and death like cancer. God wants all little kids to suffer because he loves them. He wants all parents to pimp their children to the preists. Your God loves without question. I choose to avoid your loving God.

Occi, you will when you get there. lol

@Terry

Ah, the good old days when schools still led students in the Lord's Prayer, and all students worried about was who to play with, riots over racial integration, the all-time high teen pregnancy rate...

Because the law and the constitution are on our side.

That's why the school district is now paying the legal fees for the ACLU. Because the justice system agreed that the sign is ILLEGAL and ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL.

Grow a brain.

@Maria Vermes Labrie

Because we in United States of America have a Constitution which protects everyone’s rights so they may not be trampled by a tyrannical majority.

That option was unanumously rejected by the school board. They refused to remove those words, still do. It is their stance that the prayer should be imposed on all who enter. The Constitution strictly forbids that.

You would think that would be the logical thing to do but it looks like the school district really thought they would prevail. Surprise!!! They went for the no compromise mode and they fell down on their face. Paid attorneys fees, took down offending item and now I wonder is it legal to have it stored on public property? All a LOSE LOSE. As you said if they had agreed to plaster over the two words all would have ended well. Well ended in the best interests of both parties. I just wonder what the schools attorneys were thinking when they decided to fight this all the way? Interesting...

Sure there is and the winter rates are very reasonable. Travelocity has vacation packages to paradise on sale in fact. Heaven is only a short flight away. Fly United to your favorite destination!!!

aman

The fact that the banner was condoning hard work, and academic achievment should be taken into consideration. If the God of the Bible supports that, Amen! We should keep it. My God says because we are made in his image, we should strive to be like him and do our best in all things. Atheists say we are nothing but mutant apes that do things based on our environment and animal-instincts. And yet somehow God is dangerous and dumbs people down.......

This is from the Treaty of Tripoli, 1797, signed by John Adams, one of our Founding Fathers:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

"In God We Trust" was put on money in 1956.

"One Nation Under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1957.

This was all a result of McCarthyism fear tactics.

This country was not founded on Christian beliefs.

Sorry, you are wrong and it's so sad that you don't know the origins of the country that you live in. Pathetic.

The first amendment was in force long before you were born. So you have never had freedom to impose your religious beliefs on others on public property. No freedom was removed here. Freedom was vindicated.

So what? I've read books about Storks delivering babies.

Just like those books, the bible is just a book written a long time ago by a bunch of anonymous authors.

If you want to follow some dusty old book, go ahead. I like living in reality.

He does say that, but that is not the right verse.
I actually love Jeremiah 29:11...its one of my favorties:
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future."
:)

A book written by men for the purpose of controlling others. Your argument is moot due to the invocation of a work of fiction. It can not be proven that it is not fiction.

Wrong.

The LAW and the CONSTITUTION forcing you to adhere to it.

Very sad that you don't know the laws of your own country.

Your jerks forcing their will on the majority, were the Founding Fathers. They are the ones who produced the Constitution. They are the ones who made it where you or any one else could not impose your beliefs on others. The ACLU has protected the freedom of us all in this case.

We don't want to snuff it out Ed. No one has a problem with you gathering in your churches or praying at home. No one cares if you hang prayer banners in PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS.

However the Constitution and the laws of this country state that there can be no religious displays in PUBLIC schools.

And don't worry, if one day a Muslim tries to put a prayer banner in a public school, we will be there to fight them too.

Keep it private where it belongs.

Wow Ed - what a screed! Mumbo-jumbo abracadabra and allakazam!
Makes as much sense as most of the gibberish and magic words these xian bleating buffoons like to use. I'll never understand how it is that the most un-christian behavior is ALWAYS on display from the so-called christians themslves. What hypocrites they are ... miserable, judgmental, uneducated, intolerant hypocrites.

You've shown you don't understand anything about separation of church and state.

@Ella

Poor Christians, never getting any concessions in America.~ Do you think a Christian will ever be elected President?~

No one's trying to eradicate it.

Get a clue.

@Gale

Other things prophesied to happen before the end comes, according to Revelation 6-13:

• The sky will roll up like a scroll.
• 200 million men with breastplates of fire, mounted on fire-breathing lion-headed snakehead-tailed horses will kill a third of the earth.
• A red seven-headed dragon will sweep a third of the stars from the sky onto the earth with its tail.
• A seven-headed ten-horned lion-mouthed bear-footed leopard which rose out of the sea will become leader of the world for 42 months.

I doubt those will come to pass anytime soon. Or at all.

LionBearLeopard 2012~!

You have no idea what 1st Amendment rights means.

@Anndra

Do you “claim to be” a Christian, Anndra?

It’s not okay for a public school to violate a minority’s rights, and show favoritism to one religion over others.

Was that a sentence?

Jesus died LOL

It's amazing that these mouthbreathers can't grasp that simple concept.

Tell me where it says that. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Put your money where your mouth is.

C-dubs, I agree. I believe the first amendment says something like this, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." How is a banner a law? Wouldn't it be more of a free exercise? They try using separation of church and state to remove any forms of Christianity, but that only proves that taking it down was wrong.

fReAk, in order for a government action to pass an Establishment Clause challenge, it must not have the “purpose or effect of endorsing, favoring, or promoting religion.” This school prayer mural failed that test.

Judge Lagueux explains it all in his decision: http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=10811058226814137027

Separation of Church and state doesn't mean separation from religion?

Do you even put thought into the words that come out of your mouth?

Do you remember WHY the pilgrims came here? To escape religious tyranny!!

Jeez, some of you people are illiterate about your own country's history. So sad.

"Where in the constitution..."? It's in the First Amendment you poor little bleater!
"Any other religion ..."? A laugh!! You and people of your ilk would be crapping your pants if that happened to be a Muslim prayer or a Shintoist prayer!!
You don't know the laws of your own country and you don't know the creed of your own religion!
Jesus himself stated he wants you to pray in secret ... in your closets ... with the door shut ... and not to keep displays of prayer in public arenas.
Don't you pathetic sheep even know what your magic little carpenter wants you to do??

You're right about one thing...."You don't see..."

duh

PRACTICE IN PRIVATE!

You're missing that crucial point. Leave it in church or at home. It is ILLEGAL to bring it into a public, taxpayer funded, government institution.

Occi, Athiests brought it into public so they were wrong. Anytime an Athiest brings up religion, they are bringing their beliefs out into public. Take your own advice, think about things before you say them.

I'll be sure to bring a towel and some sun tan lotion. LOL

Aww what's wrong? No Christians want to answer the question?

Wouldn't bother me, they have a right to practice their faith also. As long as a Christian banner was there also.

In my high school, there is Hindu art of Hindu gods and goddesses. But noooooo....I can't put a cross on the wall of my school. Besides, Islam is not a very functional religion for a society. Violence is condoned in Islam. Not something I want in my school.

Pat Tillman was an atheist on a foxhole.

You are wrong.

See also: Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers, http://www.militaryatheists.org/

They're organizing a huge “Rock Beyond Belief” concert at Fort Bragg later this month.

Well said!!!

Because ACLU comes to the defense of the oppressed, not the oppressors.

This has no logic, your IQ must drop with every comment you leave. lol

Yet why do they use the Bible? Because it is the moral code (or at least was and still should be) of our society. Not the Humanist Manifesto, not the Koran, not Oprah's books. The Bible. I want the morals of the Bible in my school, not some terrorist's or atheist who believes we are monkeys.

thats it in a nut shell

Jesus has been "coming soon" for over 2,000 years now.

LOL don't hold your breath.

Occi. Jesus was born around 4 B.C. but lets round off to 5 B.C. and lived about 34 years, but lets say 30 years. As you can see, I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here. This would mean He died around 25 A.D. but lets just say 20 A.D. as you can see, you are delusional. The year is 2012, not 2020+. I sure hope your reason is better than your math. LOL.

Don't be fatuous jesusfreak. You knew what I meant.

Please explain how the free exercise of religion was prevented.

..or was it the establishment of the appearance of a State-mandated religion, to the exclusion of all other worldviews?

In this case - it is only the first part of your quoted test that needs to be acted upon.
You can't ignore the first part either. Schools are public - paid for by taxpayers.
The state is not allowed to promote any religious thought on public property.
It is the law of the United States of America!! You have a problem with being a citizen of the United States of America?? If you cannot adopt our laws - maybe you should leave!

Pagan? It was paying taxes for goodness sakes! Jesus and his disciples didn't hide in the synagogues, and I certainly won't. Bring the ruckus!

Jim:
At one time, 'separate but equal' also reigned in the US. Did that make it unquestioningly right?--or was it subsequently found to be unConstitutional?

This is the same evolution of understanding. The US is dealing with it now, and will be in the future as well--just like racial, gender as well as religious issues.

Reston: I have no doubt that an evolution of understanding is taking place. This is also a generalization that dilutes the response people have to actions such as this. Applying a broad response to a specific idea or action is nothing more than a mis-interpetation of the depth or the emotions surrounding the issue. To quote the great Alfred Noyes: At a certain stage in his evolution, man himself had been able to lay hold upon a higher order of things, which raised him above the level of the beasts that perish, and enabled him to see, at least in the distance, the shining towers of the City of God.

Great comment, Jim! Selling off a small piece of tax-funded "public" land is a good way to also go toward paying off some of the money lost in the lawsuit -- a win-win situation for both the school and the majority of the students who were offended to see the banner come down.

Idiot. You are scientifically illiterate. Please don't talk about things you are clueless of.

@Jackie Cargile

It seems your school failed to teach you both American history and basic science. The United States was intentionally founded with a secular government. Evolution is a process of incremental change, not your absurd idea of a human giving birth to a money.

If you’d like to gain some knowledge of science, Richard Dawkins’s book _The Magic of Reality_ explains evolutionary theory accessibly to your level of understanding.

Just wanted to add. If you think evolution is false, take your evidence, write it down, get it peer reviewed, and then collect your inevitable Nobel Prize for disproving evolution.

Occi- just wanted to add: If you think that heaven and hell dosen't exist, why don't you do us a favor and test your theory? Then you can either rest in peace or toast marshmallows for eternity. Either way, us 93% will appreciate your effort!

I'm hanging out and waiting for you to collect your Nobel Prize for disproving evolution. LOL

You first, Cletis! LMAO

I just wanted to add something as well Jim. One thing I fail to understand is this: If you and your made up number of 93% really believe that there is a heaven, what are you still doing hanging around on earth??? If I was absolutely convinced that there was a god and I was going to heaven, I would have checked out a long time ago. Look up reckless self-endangerment. I would be trying to figure out everyway possible to leave and hurry up and get to heaven. UNLESS I WAS SCARED THAT DEATH WAS THE END ALL BE ALL. When it comes down to it, you have a fear of death that Occi, Robin, and I don't have. That is why you will go to any end to convince yourself and others, even hang out with groups of similarly scared people at church, and dream about this awesome place that doesn't exist. Occi believes there is no heaven, so testing his theory would be foolish-to leave this place for darkness. You on the other hand have EVERYTHING to gain by testing yours. I highly encourage you to THINK.

You two are a couple of morons. Your 93% is a false number and a majority does not equal correctness. I wish you two a speedy journey to your heaven-that-is-not, but I have a feeling you are in no rush to get there. Fear and ignorance.

Because there are no laws against watching television.

Duh.

@Doris Smelser

Why should we believe what an ancient book of myths has to say? Would you be impressed if I quoted the Qur’an to you?

I notice you included the “unforgiveable sin” verses in there:

Matthew 12:31-32: Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The Holy Ghost is a fake, ill-defined nonentity whose presence in the Trinity makes no sense. Welp, looks like nothing you can do can save me now.

Wrong.

David the Buddhist - No the school district would not post your words - We are one nation UNDER GOD - for you Buddhist's that means: ALMIGHTY GOD and there is only one. Additionally we are a nation who believes: IN GO WE TRUST (again David, that means ALMIGHTY GOD, not some wooden diety or some dead diety. Do yourself a favor and read "The Bible", you will be enlightened beyond your wildest imagination. May God Bless YOU!!!!!

David the buddhist:
YES THEY SHOULD !!!!!!! Society comes from all walks of life. Not one is better than the other. I see things that I don't like but I don't say anything because I believe to each their own

No because athiests would fight it. Go figure.

nearby city*

You are awesome Sarah. It's so refreshing to see someone who can understand the 1st Amendment and be a faithful Christian.

Exactly, even sais in the bible to pray in private. Believe it is Matthew 6:6.

Sarah, Jesus was not private about his deity, and neither were his disciples. Why should we? As for your little Islamic comment, ridiculous. It was not Christians who started 9/11.....

Think about this, she was not forced to repeat the prayer, wasn't forced to believe it.

The Founding Fathers were majorally Christians by the way:

John Dickinson
Signer of the Constitution
Rendering thanks to my Creator for my existence and station among His works, for my birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedom, and for all His other kindnesses, to Him I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity.

Will of John Dickinson

I have more if you need them.

The word god is nowhere in our constitution. Neither is creator, jesus, or lord.

Try actually reading it sometime.

I read it, know what I found?

"done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,"

LOL

Yeah, how dare they infringe on our FREEDOM to break the laws we don’t like!~ Stop calling the cops on us and taking away our FREEDOM!~ This is AMERICA, you snitches!~

Jim,

Please tell me what group you are affiliated with and how you were prompted to post here. Thanks.

Maybe it was God.

Well, standing a naked man in the corner of the school cafeteria is illegal too but if we go by your ideals, then we should just tolerate him and not look at him.

If our system worked like that, employers could decide not to pay you if you were too poor to sue them for your wages, polluters could dump toxic waste on your property and drag it out in court until you were broke, and so on. Losers have to pay the winners’ legal fees for a reason.

Jim, I'm just trying to see why out of nowhere this thread is suddenly being commented on by new posters every thirty seconds, none of whom commented in the previous months of stories about the banner on the Patch. It's really an innocent question. Clearly someone organized this if only loosely. Is there some reason why someone can't say who started the effort?

Maybe it was God.

You do not have a right not to be offended, under our Constitution. Offensiveness was never the issue.

@kim

Because public schools are for everyone, not just Christians, and they should not show favoritism to you.

With all due respect, you seem to be evading the question. It's been national news for months. Someone clearly organized this effort to comment. Again, is there some reason why people shouldn't know who you all are affiliated with?

By the way, rather than post your reply as a new unaffiliated comment you can post it as a reply to your original comment to keep the comments in order. Thanks.

OneTwo:
Maybe it was God

If your jesus is coming as a theif in the night, I hope he's bulletproof 'cuz I'm going to blow a hole in his head with my .45 for trespassing.

@Occidentialist

Remember, when you’re shooting zombies, aim for the brain.

@Robin

Double Tap jesus! lol

Occi, your an idiot. Comments like these have taken away from any relevant information you have provided.

Whatever you say, Tom Timson! LOL

Pray to your jesus for me. Ask him to bring me some fries and a coke too and tell him DON'T BE LATE or I'm not tipping him.

A group did not post it “in front of their building”. Cranston West High School had a giant eight‐foot tall “School Prayer” mural painted on a wall of their auditorium, where, according to a trial deposition, children recited it during school assemblies in the mid-1960s.

That quote was meant for hypocrites only. He meant that public displays meant more to those particular people and that they attended prayerful meetings for all the wrong reasons, i.e., just to be "seen" so they can say they were there so are more "faithful" than their neighbors. He meant that people who prayed in silence with no desire to be "seen" have purer hearts.

@Louise Mello

Like when angry Cranston students and parents at local school committee meeting shout the words “UNDER GOD” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thanks.

@1-2. Give it up. No organizations. No Acorns, no Chicago style political organizers- just people who happen to belong in a faith family.I know people like you can't think for yourselves, so it's natural to believe that you need an organization or a organizer to feed your opinions. That being said, we only have one thing in common- OUR FAITH!

Actually, I haven't stated a belief about this issue one way or the other, so you're making a false assumption. I was genuinely just curious why there was a sudden flood of posts. So I asked. Now I know. Thanks to those who were kind enough to respond politely.

OneTwo: In answer to your question, I believe the majority of the new posters are people who saw this article come up on the AOL Home Page. Why does it matter, anyway? It's good to have fresh insight and perspectives from a number of sources.

OneTwo:
Maybe it was God

I figure it this way, if all people who have a difference of opinion about something posted on a public wall contacted the ACLU and sued whatever or whoever ticked them off - the lawyers would rule the world. The words on that banner weren't offensive, it was what they stood for that everyone is up in arms about.

"If you're living like there's no Zeus, you'd better be right."

If you're living like there’s no reincarnation, hope you like dung beetles.

lol I was having fun for a moment but the avalanche of ignorance is about to bury me. Can't keep up.

Peace RD, and keep fighting the good fight.

A Facebook group called “Preserve the Banner” did make T‐shirts like that, and was selling them for $5 each. (http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/01/cranston-preser.html)

$150,000 would be a hell of a lot of T‐shirts, especially when they sell them for not much above cost.

They tried that trick with the Mojave Cross in California, selling off a piece of the Mojave National Preserve to a veteran’s group to circumvent the law.

Atheists do not say evolution is how we came to be.

You are confusing evolution with abiogenesis.

Please read books and learn what you are talking about.

Also, confusing atheism with science.

Just wanted to add. If you think evolution is false, take your evidence, write it down, get it peer reviewed, and then collect your inevitable Nobel Prize for disproving evolution.

No one, since the introduction of the theory of evolution, has been able to disprove it. It's fact.

If you're offended by the sinfulness of society, maybe you need to pray to your god. After all, over 85% of people in prison are Christians.

LOL

Stand up and fight all you want. The law and Constitution of the United States of America will keep on smacking you down! LOL

LOL never happen..sell public taxpayer property to a church? lol....good thinkin there Bubba Stumblebum!

TO Occidentalist the reason the prisoners are Christians is because they are on death row. Over half of the inmates that first enter the prison system are atheists but when faced with death turn to GOD!!!! So there!!!!!

Pat Tillman was an atheist in a foxhole. LOL

http://militaryatheists.org/expaif.html

Well said the true meaning of the banner got lost in the AMEN and IN GOD WE TRUST. The words were meant as a form of encouagement but others or one in their hate only saw what they wanted to see instead of what they should have seen ..what a shame.

LOL

Oh Lily, you Christians don’t realize what a terrible risk you’ve taken with your immortal souls.

The Holy Qur’an says that for your idolatry of worshipping the prophet Jesus as a god, your judgment shall be a painful doom forever. You will wear garments of fire, and your food shall be to eat from the tree of Zaqqum which will burn in your belly like molten brass. You will have no appeal; Allah will not relax your punishment, and you will be speechless with despair. (Qur’an 98:1-8, 22:19-23, 44:40-49, 43:74)

What if you’re wrong, Lily? Eternity is a long time.

Genesis 12:3 says, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” God is my shield and buckler, so no matter what, Christians are covered by God. No curses will ever hurt us. Lionheart, may the scales fall off your eyes that you may see the truth and His Name is Isa al Masih.

@JL

And God’s word, Qur'an 98:6, says: “Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikun will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.” If only you had not rejected him to worship his prophet Jesus in his place!~

If you believe everything some ancient religious tome says, that is.

blah blah blah

you people are as impotent as your god

@MAx

If you want to live in a country whose government favors one religion over others, perhaps you should move to a country with less religious liberty. The USA may not be for you.

Hi Max! One thing I have found out is that I don't need to get mad with any unbeliever and how they perceive things. Remember, you and I were there once. Just state the facts as you know them, and if they will not accept it or respect it, do what Jesus told His disciples as He sent them out, namely, shake the dust off in testimony to them for they will have to explain in front of the Judge why they heeded not your words. Keep the peace, because as you and I know...GOD REIGNS, and all the haters will find out the truth, now or later.

You pray for me and I'll think for you.

LOL first of all the Ten Commandments is a ripoff. Take a look at the Egyptian Book of the Dead, page 125 and you'll find exactly where your ten commandments were copied from.

But let's just suspend reality for a second and say your ten commandments are real.

Well, if Moses was given them at Mount Sinai, that means before Mount Sinai, there were no Ten Commandments. So by your logic, before Mount Sinai the world would have been going crazy. Without the ten commandments, the Israelites who followed Moses to Mount Sinai would have been raping and kiling each other because there were no ten commandments yet to tell them how to behave.

Do you see just how silly that is?

Religion is a lie and you are drinking the kool aid.

Start thinking for yourself.

@Liz

So, you're suggesting that without the Ten Commandments, we wouldn't have those moral precepts? That before Moses came down the mountain with his slabs, no one had any idea that murder and stealing were wrong?

We worked those out long before the Bible was written.

done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names

Good thing you didn't say Lord wasn't in it. LOL

You really need to go back and relearn American History we were fonded as a Christian based country by those trying to escape religious persercusion. Does that ring a bell? Just because it's not in the constitution it was what our forefathers started this country for Freedom, Oh but you knew that right? I mean after reading all of your comments you are a self proclaimed intellegent man and us Christins are idiots.

This lunatic quotes from your loony book... you heathen amongst ignorant, misguided souls.

@MEGAN

Students have always been allowed to pray in school. But public schools are not allowed to tell students how to pray.

Thousands? Continuously sodomized? Source?

Google again... http://www.snapnetwork.org/
If you are not already aware of these incidents under the forgiving eye of your lord, perhaps one day you will be ...

It's called the Survivor's Network of Those Abused by Priests.

I think some research would serve you well. Fear and paranoia is the reason why "god" is printed on our currency. Perhaps that's indicative of the conception of "god" in any faith.

Smithers4ets
Fear and paranoia is the reason why "god" is printed on our currency> Source?

Majiqueman, I encourage you to use the power of Google to educate yourself next time...

In 1956, the nation was suffering through the height of the cold war, and the McCarthy communist witch hunt. Partly in reaction to these factors, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution to replace the existing motto with "In God we Trust." http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_mott.htm

LOL

Like Christians never killed each other.

ROFL

When has God not been controversial? When have wars not been fought over God?

@Mitchell Morrison

No, what a petty _school board_.

Because of their petty and arrogant refusal to take down a blatantly illegal school prayer, this school will be further impoverished (when they have already cut music programs, sports programs, and gifted programs), all because they put serving Christianity before serving children.

Committee members Frank Lombardi, Michael Traficante, Andrea Ianazzi, and Paula MacFarland were responsible, not a brave girl that stood up for the Constitution.

And offensiveness was never the issue. Public schools may not discriminate against minority students.

What about atheists who don't believe in any "heavenly father"?

Or Scientologists who don't believe either?

Or Hindu's who believe in many gods?

It's discriminatory. Sorry bub!

The federal judge ruled that it WAS unconstitutional.

You admit the constitution prohibits the est of a particular religion as a state religion. Yet you then go and claim the removal of the plaque from a STATE funded institution is a restriction on religious expression. A bit contradictory, don't ya think? And OK, let's say the phrase "Our Heavenly Father" is non-denominational. That does not mean it is non-religious in nature. The phrase is clearly a supplication to a higher power. You also agreed this supplication is open to a any recipient, yet you didn't name Sally, Bobby, or Johnny as recipients. You named several well known RELIGIOUS deities as recipients. Oh I'd say this makes it quite relevant indeed! And again, you admit our Constitution prohibits the est of a state religion and in the same breathe claim this idea is a "fiction." Confused, are we??

Because as intelligent beings, we are free to determine our own values. MOST people know right from wrong and those who don't eventually end up incarcerated. Those who can't determine right from wrong have the bible to fall back on... when they feel so inclined.

You are completely missing the point! And please stop and think before you go and accuse others of stupidity!

logan5. on a previous statment you said you cannot love something you cannot see or touch. I love the smell of roses, but I cannot touch or see it. maybe we need to leave well enough. The people who are so against religion are the same people taking Christmas off wpork and spending American money that says "in GOD we trust" It dopes not say in aethiest we trust

@ron smith

Christmas is my favorite pagan holiday. We only celebrate the non‐religious parts, so for us it’s just a holiday of gift‐giving and greeting cards, of Santa Claus, of getting together with the family and having a special meal, of garlands and wreaths and twinkly lights, of holly and mistletoe, of stockings, tinsel, and jingle bells. Completely different from your Christian Christmases.~

Some atheists simply cross out that divisive and discriminatory 1956 motto “In God We Trust” with a marker pen. GodOffMoney.com used to sell ink stamps for that purpose.

LOL your god doesn't exist. Just like Zeus doesn't exist. Or Thor, or Poseidon, or Dionysus, or Santa Claus, or the Easter Bunny, or Shiva, or Ganesh, or Osiris. I certainly won't be asking for salvation from any of those gods on my deathbed just like I won't be looking for it from your god. You know why? Because none of them exist.

They are myths. Fables. Lies. Fairy Tales.

I pity people like you who never grew up and learned to think for yourself. So sad to be mentally enslaved.

Oh obviously confused Jim,

"Woe to you hypocrites... First, cast out the log from your own eye,
so that you may see well enough to get the little splinter out of your brother's eye."
(Matthew 7:35; Luke 6:42 )

Occi. why is it that you try to tear believers from their god? Since atheists rely on reason so much, wouldn't reason suggest that whether we believe or not has no consequences to you? Christians are called to guide others towards God, but you have no reason other than to satisfy your own existence. I will pray that, in time, you can come to realize the enormous love that God has for you. You can't stop me. You can try to make childish suggestions like for a coke and fries, or maybe say something to disgrace our savior, but nothing will stop or falter my prayers for you and everyone else.

It's deeply disturbing. It would be enlightening if the people of Rhode Island understood their history. They are guilty now of the same injustice which led to the founding of their state.

Wrong Gloria.

USA was founded on the idea of religious freedom which means holding NO RELIGION above another one and no intertwining of religion and government. And that includes putting a CHristian prayer banner in a public school.

Honestly don't you people know anything about your own country? This country was founded by people who FLED England because they wanted to practice their religion freely without being under the yoke of the Church of England. Are you half-wits suggesting they came over her and setup a country based on ideas that they fled England to escape? Are you people nuts?

Just because you want to BELIEVE something is true doesn't make it true.

This country was founded on secular principles. The Supreme Court upheld those principles by demanding that Cranston School take down the prayer banner.

you people are WRONG WRONG WRONG and it's pitiful that you haven't got a clue about your own country.

You do that Jesus Love, and I will pray he's not an innocent altar boy sodomized under the light of your lord

Oh, Jesus Love! May you know how dearly loved you are by Poseidon! I pray He reveals Himself to you in power from on high.

Because the ACLU, a nonprofit organization, does not care about making money, they generously agreed to accept only $150,000 of their already discounted $173,000 in expenses from Cranston.

Once again ..... The federal judge ruled that it WAS unconstitutional

Now, now Brad.... that sounds like resentment

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful (2 Timothy 2:24)

Perhaps you can enlighten us as to how you have been unfairly persecuted. Your bible says that you are currently enjoying more freedom than you are entitled to.

1 Timothy 2:11-14 “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission

"Always have good intent?" Really? Really now? If you will not read your bible, I will read it to you...

Psalms 137:9
How blessed will be the one who grabs your babies and smashes them on a rock!

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

-- The First Amendment

So Smithers4est below is proving L.Cameron above correct. Interesting.

Majiqueman, clearly you have a both a literacy problem and a mental handicap which prevents your interpretation of information lucidly :(

Exactly. It cannot tell us what religion to practice. A religious banner (dictating religious beliefs) has no place in a public school as per The First Amendment - which is why it was deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge paid to enforce the Constitution.

The First Amendment says "Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion." That means if Congress would have allowed the banner to stay, they would be making law respecting the "establishment of religion." It doesn't matter how specific or non-specific the religious wording on the banner is. That is why they will have to rule in favor of the removal of anything similar forever... or until the Constitution is amended to allow it. The law doesn't care that it is Christian in nature and neither do I. The First amendment does not allow it.

@ellirbag o

Okay, so you weren’t offended by their illegal prayer mural. So? That doesn’t make it any less unconstitutional.

Incidentally, the Constitution is the supreme law of our nation, not the Declaration of Independence.

@tvnutt

Beliefs do not deserve automatic respect, people do. Treating you with respect means not treating you with kid gloves. And I respect you too much to pretend to respect your belief in an invisible imaginary friend you ask to grant wishes for you.

While I wouldn’t generally say so, since you bring it up: yes, believing in God is a lot like believing in Santa Claus. Grownups you trusted told you a beautiful story you wanted to believe, of a magical overseer who sees you when you’re sleeping, and knows if you’ve been bad or good, and will reward you if you’ve been good. However, most grownups never outgrow their belief in God.

I don’t say this to belittle you, but to treat you like an adult who can accept having your ideas criticized, tv.

@JTP writes

⁃ ...the 0.5% rabid militant lunatic atheist minority... *
⁃ I feel nothing but contempt for you...
⁃ ...your rabid atheist cult members...
⁃ The militant lunatic atheists from around our entire country (all 0.5% of them)... *
⁃ ...a small subset of the mentally deranged segment of our society that they fall into.
⁃ ...your true evil intentions and militant malevolent nature.
⁃ ...the rabid, angry, insulting atheists reveal more of their repulsive personalities...
⁃ The sole purpose of my comments is to coax stupid replies from lunatics like you and you crazy cult members.
⁃ The lunatic atheist cult members who really only represent 0.5% of our society... *
⁃ ... the entire population of 0.5% rude, intollerant, insulting militant atheists... *

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” — Paul

“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” — John

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” — Jesus

(*) Obligatory refutation of Joe’s constantly repeated lie: 12% — http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/files/2011/08/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf

Beware of false teachers who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are wolves and will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes or figs with thistles. Different kinds of fruit trees can quickly be identified by examining their fruit. A variety that produces delicious fruit never produces an inedible kind. And a tree producing an inedible kind can't produce what is good. So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and thrown on the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced. "Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but still won't get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven. At the Judgment many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.' But I will reply, 'You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.' ( Matthew 7:15-23)

"Believe in Darwin"? LOL

Even the Catholic Church has accepted evolution as fact.

It's 2012 and anyone who doesn't accept evolution, which has been proven on a macro and micro basis, is a mouthbreathing moron whose existence will be looked on as a poop smear on the underpants of history.

@Occidentalist

Although comparing belief in Darwin to belief in God or Buddha was an ignorant thing to say, I think it’s rather indecent to call tvnutt a “mouthbreathing moron” and a “poop smear” for that, and not conducive to having a polite conversation.

Joe why is it that the atheists that you so detest act more Christian and understand the Christian faith better then most of the so called Christians on here. You understand nothing about what Christ preached nor should you be calling yourself one of his followers.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

You think wrong. Atheists don't "believe" in evolution because evolution is fact. It stands on it's own merits. You're conflating distinctly different ideas into one and it's incorrect.

Faith is belief in something without evidence. Faith is attributed to god.

Buddha was not divine. He was just a guy who taught how one should live their life. He was basically what we would now call a "life coach". Also, he actually existed. His name was Siddartha Gautama.

Darwin also actually existed but no one prescribes any "belief" to him. Darwin the human is different than the theory of evolution.

This is how science works: First you start with a question. Then you begin trying to answer that question. Once you find what you think is an acceptable answer, it becomes a hypothesis. The hypothesis is then peer reviewed and scientists try to prove it wrong by recreating the steps you performed to come up with your answer. If another scientists proves it wrong, the hypothesis is scrapped and you start over. But if your answer cannot be falsified under extensive peer review, it becomes a theory. And a theory is the best answer we currently have for the question. There are plenty of theories you currently accept: theory of gravity, heliocentrism, flat-Earth theory, germ disease theory. So if you do not accept evolution on the basis that it's a theory, you are also saying you don't accept the theory of gravity, heliocentrism, that the Earth is flat, and the theory of germ disease.

Can you explain to me why you think Occidentalist is a troubled person? Simply because he doesn't share your beliefs? That makes absolutely no sense. How narcissistic is that... to believe that someone not like you is "obviously a very troubled person."

Ed... Are you anything more than a mindless follower? Proof?

@Jim writes “How narcissistic to think that one "knows" that evolution is the beginning and the end of human life.”

“Evolution is a fact. Beyond reasonable doubt, beyond serious doubt, beyond sane, informed, intelligent doubt, beyond doubt evolution is a fact. The evidence for evolution is at least as strong as the evidence for the Holocaust, even allowing for eye witnesses to the Holocaust.” — Richard Dawkins, “The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution” (2009)

For an introductory text on the subject, I recommend Jerry Coyne’s “Why Evolution is True”.

You're confusing evolution with abiogenesis. Two very, very different things.

Sorry bud, try again. I'd recommend learning a bit about science - specifically biology - before you make another dimwitted blunder like that.

Or we can cut to the chase, you religious folks can admit you're illiterate when it comes to science.

@Smithers

That was Dr. Gregory House in _House_ (season 4 episode 2).

LOL if God is all of the things you say, then why are you crybabies so upset over a banner? If he exists everywhere, then according to you he will be in that school whether the banner is there or not. Or perhaps the truth is that you are afraid your god and your faith in him is so flimsy that the removal of a school banner proves that he can't do anything about it. Proves even more that he doesn't exist if humans can pluck that banner from the school and your god does nothing about it.

Then again, maybe it's a part of his plan and right now you're going against his will.

LOL this stuff is hilarious.

In the end, your god is just a meaningless speck of dust when compared to the profound magnificence of Zeus. LOL

Joe this just shows the arrogance of most Christians to assume I am an atheist because I don't aggree with you. I am not an atheist I am also not a christian it's not just the atheists but all non-christians that are sick and tired of having your religious views shoved down our throats so that number is a lot higher then 0.75 of our society. 21.4% of the country does not self-identify as Christian.

...Hmmm, seems as though there is some dissention among the doctrinaires! Well, at the end of the day, you .07 percenters will have to live with the fact that your theories are nothing more than smoke and hyperbole. To quote Dr. Menton (Acclaimed biomedical researcher from Brown University): ...In conclusion, evolution is not observable, repeatable, or refutable and thus does not qualify as either a scientific fact or theory. Evolution must be accepted with faith by its believers, many of whom deny the existence, or at least the power, of the Creator. Similarly, the Biblical account of creation is not observable, repeatable or refutable by man. Special creation is accepted with faith by those who believe that the Bible is the revelation of an omnipotent and omniscient Creator whose Word is more reliable than the speculations of men. Both evolution and creation, however, can be compared for their compatibility with what we do observe of the facts of nature...we will see that creation by intelligent design is a vastly more reasonable explanation for the origin of the complexity we see in living things than is evolution by mere chance and the intrinsic properties of nature.

Amen Dr. Brown!