God Does Not Equal Religion

For years now, atheists, the ACLU, and other agitators have been trying to strike every mention of God from anything even remotely related to the government.

They claim, among many other things, that having the phrase "In God We Trust" minted into a quarter is somehow infringing on their freedom of religion -- or freedom of anti-religion, as it were.

Now, we have professional agitator Michael Newdow -- clearly a man with nothing beneficial to do with his time -- trying to force his atheistic views on President-Elect Barack Obama.

Nedow, together with a handful of busy-bodies, including“UNNAMED CHILDREN;", does not want to allow Obama to conclude the presidential oath of office with "So Help Me God."

Newdow, apparently, feels that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court asking the President-elect to say God in order to be confirmed is endorsing religion.

Oh sure, sayeth Mr. Newdow, if Obama wants to say the phrase on his own, that would be fine with him; Obama just cant' be required to as part of the oath. We all thank you for your generosity and tolerance, Michael.

I have heard arguments on both sides of this debate, but I have never heard anyone getting to the most basic flaw of the anti-God people.

Mr. Newdow et. al., God does not equal a religion. Stating "So help me God" does not promote a specific religion, or any religion. Were the president asked to pledge "upon the basic tenets of my Lutheran faith" or some other recitation that mentions an actual religion, Newdow might have an issue. But in real-life, Newdow has no claim.

Belief in God does not mean support for religion. One can believe in a Higher Power, but not in the power of a particular church. All religions believe in a god, or gods, but belief in God can come outside of a religious environment. Just ask me.

Further, with federal U.S. courts deciding that Atheism is a religion, isn't preventing a president from uttering the word "God" a tacit endorsement of their "religion"?

According to this CNN.com report, the tradition was started with George Washington, and that most presidents have used the phrase. If presidents have been promising to uphold the Constitution "so help me God" for more than 200 years without a national religion being magically established, its not going to happen this time, either.

If anyone is showing religious intolerance, it is Michael Nedow and his fellow busy-bodies. If he thinks that anybody's life is going to be affected one way or the next by Obama saying "God," then he is a sad and sorry fellow indeed.

Mr. Nadow, do us all a favor and find better ways to waste your own time; drop your lawsuit, because the courts in this country have better things to do than support your selfish, petty, pathetic ideas.