"I think it is absolutely ridiculous about how some people are trying to stamp out any reference to God when the government is connected to it," said Rep. Joel Hefley, Colorado Republican and another former Scout. "Here's a character-building group that has done so much good. ... We need more character-building organizations for young people, rather than discouraging it."

I very much agree with this statement, however I don't feel that that oath recognizing God at all aids in the building of character. I don't feel it degrades character either, don't get me wrong, I just don't see how it has anything to do with being a boy scout. By trying to remove the reference to God in the boy scout oath, they are not in any way threatening the boy scouts existance, they are simply saying that because this is a government run organization it should show religious neutrality.

Contrary to common beliefs this country's law was not founded upon christianity. It was founded upon religious neutrality BY christians. Simply because our forefathers were christian doesn't mean they wanted all those who who were within this wonderful country to be christian.

Now I know that being christian isn't a boy scout entrance requirement, but look at it from a young Hindu boy's perspective. This young man truly wants to be a boy scout just like all his friends. But, in taking the boy scout pledge he is told to take at the beginning of each boy scout meeting, he is forced to say something he does not feel, that being that there is only one higher being, or he is punished for it. The first ammendment is freedom of speech and I for one don't feel this young Hindu boy should have to conform to christianity just to enter a wonderful, character building group such as The Boy Scouts of America.

What if it were the other way around? What if in order to enter some government run youth-program you had to say "... and under Gaia we will ..." ((gaia being the earth goddess in some religion or other)) Well, it would never happen. Why? Because it would be such a blatant form of trying to manipulate the minds of our youth.

I don't think this is a serious issue.. but I definately don't think it's outrageous. But, now that it has been brought to the attention of our government, it should be quickly taken care of.

So what is the necessity of our government referencing God? All it does is raise controversy. Stamp our references to God and all this silliness will soon end. I can honestly say I won't miss the small black print on my dollar bills that I never read.

You know, in my old high school, if you didn't say the pledge in it's complete and full form, as in... no leaving out "one country under God" you got sent to the office? Now THAT is an outrage. That means EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DAY OF THE YEAR we are forced to recognize christianity as the one true religion. Don't read that much into it? Well those christians who are saying it do, so I feel I should as well. I want to support the words that come out of my mouth. And if I'm not christian ((which I am.. of sorts.. I believe in God.. just not sure of which variety. ^.^)) I don't support it. Should children be forced to say things they believe to be false? 180 days of the year for 12 years of their life? That's 2160 times that someone is forced under threat of punishment to say something that they do not believe. I believe there is a word for that... it's brainwashing.

Wow, I realize I just went on a rant about a completely different subject. But the same applies to this situation I believe. I remember when I was a Cub-Scout ((a grade-school Boy Scout)) there was this kid who wouldn't say the oath every single time and him and the "Den Mother" would always get into little shout wars over it, and in the end he'd have to sit out crafts and other activities merely because he "wasn't dedicated to the pack." ((We were bear cubs, so we called it a pack, not a troop. ^.^))

If in the oath he wasn't forced to verify the truth of one religion or another or say anything else that is not supposed to be verified by the government, then of course I see the point in his punishments, but because of that I think it's quite cruel to force a youth into seperation from his friends merely because of his religious beliefs.

I don't think the government is hating on any religion, ESPECIALLY christianity. If anything, I think it should be blatant to all those with vision to see that our government in fact FAVORS it over any other religion. This in itself is unconstitutional. Our fine democracy was built upon religious 'open-mindedness' and so should it remain. We made a couple mistakes by letting our government representatives show their religion on our money, in our boy-scout oaths, in our pledges of allegiance to our beautiful land, flag, and country. Now it's time to correct those errors.

- Encatuse

Edit: Holy cow.. that's long.