One last inauguration post: benediction ?

CoolMoD · January 2009

I'm not trying to tread on anyone else's religious beliefs, that's not my intention with this post. Do what you want, think what you want. But what ever happened to separation of church & state? Isn't that one of the founding beliefs of this country, that we can practive whatever religion we want, or don't want? Then why is God still included in this type of ceremony? We don't have a national religion. I'm not saying I think people shouldn't be religious or shouldn't believe in God, but I truly don't think it's appropriate in this situation. Your thoughts?

lilylow · January 2009

I think that it is such an old tradition before the seperation of church and state began. It's the same in courts. They make you swear on the bible.

izzy_n_jersey · January 2009

Probably because it was always done that way and it's tradition. It's also hard to separate church and state when our president isn't an atheist.

mrsbam0602 · January 2009

A benediction or prayer at the inauguration ceremony doesn't interfere with my rights or the governing principles of the nation so, eh, I'm okay with it.

beachbaby16 · January 2009

I agree with the other posts, it has always been a part of the ceremonies and as far as Im aware no one has challanged it. Yes we are supposed to have a seperation of church and state, but those lines are often crossed, especially if it has been part of a tradition for centuries. another example is all US Currency is printed with the words "In God we Trust" arguable inappropriate

leiakat · January 2009

lilylow:

I think that it is such an old tradition before the seperation of church and state began. It's the same in courts. They make you swear on the bible.

Seperation of church and state was before Washington's presidency. Iit was promoted by Thomas Jefferson during the Revolutionary War, and was in effect at the beginning of the country.

While the government can not support one faith (like the King being the head of the church), it can include religion in the law. This is also back when almost everyone in the New America was Christian, just different kinds. Later laws have pushed for all religion to be more and more out of the state, but that wasn't the origional intent of seperation of church and state.

cptnmorgan710 · January 2009

Amen

CoolMoD · January 2009

There are a lot of traditions surrounding government that have evolved over the years. Inaugurations used to be done in April to give people 4 months to get their vote in. When it was clearly not needed anymore, they updated it. I don't see why we can't do the same with this, standing on tradition isn't a good enough reason. If there's going to be a separation, then it needs to be clear, not a gray area. We can't say "religion and government are separate", and then refer to God in ceremonies that are purely political, it's totally contradictory.

MrsEvans2Be · January 2009

I think a lot of ppl are confused about this. Obama is a Christian and therefore chose the religious services he wanted at his inauguration.

Children are allowed to pray in school (I know as I have Muslim students who have to pray five times a day ?during Ramadan and we have to provide the place). I can not, as a teacher, ask them to or make them pray. THAT would be interfering with the separation of church and state.

The separation of church and state simply gives ppl the right to practice the religion they choose. ?

CoolMoD · January 2009

Thanks MrsEvans, I honestly didn't realize there was that much choice by the president himself. I'm perfectly fine with it if he requested it himself.

One last inauguration post: benediction ?

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