How Atheists (and Satanists) are Flipping Right-Wing Christian Bigotry on Its Head | Alternet

With a bit more strength in numbers, non-believers are more boldly challenging conservative Christianity’s encroachment on U.S. law. And organized religion has handed them a weapon: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, recently made infamous by Indiana and Arkansas. The acts are intended to protect Christians from serving gay couples and other potential nightmares, but conservative lawmakers may have overplayed their hand, passing laws that enshrine access to atheists, Satanists, Wiccans and others.
 
As one Wiccan leader recently said, “I think these bills are horrible, but if they are going to open up this can of worms, we are going to shove it right in their face.” Atheists (and Satanists and Wiccans) across the country are doing just that.

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Newdow’s strategy depends on whether atheism is defined as a religion for the purposes of pluralism, or whether by opposing religion it sits beyond religion’s constitutionally enumerated protections. Whether atheism in fact counts as a religion is less than clear, and is being adjudicated on a case-by-case basis at the local level. Two recent conflicts—both, coincidentally, from the upper Midwest—have indicated a lean toward yes. 

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The Satanic Temple’s theory that it could use Hobby Lobby decision to boot the government out of women’s healthcare decisions sounded half like trolling when it was first made last summer. But,,, 

Mary (a pseudonym) told her doctor upon her first visit that the waiting period violates her beliefs. “I regard a waiting period as a state sanctioned attempt to discourage abortion by instilling an unnecessary burden as part of the process to obtain this legal medical procedure,” Mary’s statement read, per an interview with the Riverfront Times. “The waiting period interferes with the inviolability of my body and thereby imposes an unwanted and substantial burden on my sincerely held religious beliefs.” When the doctor denied the procedure, the Satanic Temple filed suit against the state.

How Atheists (and Satanists) are Flipping Right-Wing Christian Bigotry on Its Head | Alternet

Should the Pledge of Allegiance include "under God"? : News : UpNorthLive.com

A Michigan lawmaker is making sure the words "under God" will remain in the Pledge of Allegiance by introducing a resolution to protect the statement.

Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, will introduce Senate Resolution 108 this month to recognize the 60th anniversary of the words "under God" being added to the Pledge of Allegiance by a Joint Resolution by Michigan natives in 1954.

Senate Resolution 108 urges Congress to keep the words preserved in the nation's Pledge. It also identifies that the words "under God" were inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance by a Joint Resolution that was introduced by Michigan natives, Congressman Charles Oakman, R-17th District, and U.S. Sen. Homer Ferguson, R-Michigan, before being signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.

What I find so comical about this pledge debacle (which reminds me of Rick Saccone's 2013, National Motto Act) is the total disregard of the history of the pledge. First, it was written by Francis Bellamy, a Christian Socialist influenced by the writings of Edward Bellamy, his cousin and author of the American socialist utopian novels, Looking Backward (1888) and Equality (1897).

If one were to read both Francis' sermons and Edward's writings, you would discover that Christian Socialism is about how the middle class could create a planned economy with political, social and economic equality for all. This ideology, which is antithetical to current GOP tendencies, according to Bellamy, was part of the teachings of Jesus. You know that whole Jesus was a socialist thing, well here is one root of that thought. Come to think of it, didn't the Pope just say something similar, I know Rushbo was up in a lather about something along this line of thought.

Ever hear of the Bellamy Salute, take a look at the photo and tell me what ya think and ponder why that is not talked about in this current situation,,,

The Bellamy salute is the salute described by Francis Bellamy to accompany the American Pledge of Allegiance, which he had authored. During the period when it was used with the Pledge of Allegiance, it was sometimes known as the "flag salute". During the 1920s and 1930s, Italian fascists and Nazis adopted a salute which had the same form, resulting in controversy over the use of the Bellamy salute in the United States. It was officially replaced by the hand-over-heart salute when Congress amended the Flag Code on December 22, 1942.

The inventor of the saluting gesture was James B. Upham, junior partner and editor of The Youth's Companion.[1] Bellamy recalled Upham, upon reading the pledge, came into the posture of the salute, snapped his heels together, and said "Now up there is the flag; I come to salute; as I say 'I pledge allegiance to my flag,' I stretch out my right hand and keep it raised while I say the stirring words that follow."

The Bellamy salute was first demonstrated on October 12, 1892 according to Bellamy's published instructions for the "National School Celebration of Columbus Day": (From WikiPeida)

Lets see, how many times has the Pledge been changed?

• Original: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'
• 1892: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and *to* the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'
• 1923/4: 'I pledge allegiance to **the Flag of the United States of America** and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'
• 1954: 'I pledge allegiance to the Flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation **under God,** indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'

Now from my understanding this resolution even if passed, has no force of law,. All it would do is express an opinion by the Michigan legislature about what the U.S. Congress ought to do. So in essence a waste of time and money!!

Should the Pledge of Allegiance include "under God"? : News : UpNorthLive.com