Are all 50 states wrong?

[HyPer50]

(copied from another forum)
No, I didn't write this, but good nonetheless.

"It is in the man of piety and inward principle, that we may expect to find the uncorrupted patriot, the useful citizen, and the invincible soldier—God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both."
—Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon



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America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions.

Somewhere along the way, the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court have misinterpreted the U. S. Constitution. How could fifty States be wrong?



Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution ...

Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska,_grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land ...

Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution ...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government ...

California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom ...

Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe.

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy ...

Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences ...

Florida 1885, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty ... establish this Constitution ...

Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution ...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... establish this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings ...

Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government.

Iowa 1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings ... establish this Constitution.

Kansas 1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges . establish this Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties ...

Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine .. acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of_the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty ...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe ... in the course of His Providence, an opportunity .and devoutly imploring His direction ...

Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom ... establish this Constitution

Minnesota 1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings

Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness ... establish this Constitution ...

Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty. establish this Constitution ...

Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .. establish this Constitution.

Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish this Constitution ...

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors ...

New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty ...

New York 1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those ...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain ...

Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common ...

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this ..

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences..

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing ...

South Carolina 1778, Preamble. We, the people of he State of South Carolina. grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution ...

South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ... establish this ...

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI, Sec. 3. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.

Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution ...

Vermont 1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to ... enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ...

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI. Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator ... can be directed only by Reason ... and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other ...

Washington 1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution ...

West Virginia 1872, Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia . reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility ...

Wyoming 1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties .. establish this Constitution ...



After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!



"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship."
—Patrick Henry

"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."
—William Penn

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions... upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
—James Madison, 1778

"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever."
—Thomas Jefferson

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
—John Adams

"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under."
—Ronald Reagan

[Jaimecbr900]

Hmmmmmm.......interesting isn't it fellas????........ ;)

I wonder what the rebuttal to this one is..... :D

Great post BTW. :goodjob:

[NEONRACER]

Once again these are words written by man. I am not sure what this proves at all. Yes the word god is used but what does that matter? These passages were written when the world was huge, before science discovered evolution, before carbon dating was discovered. Yes all 50 states can be wrong.

Answer me this question. Why are there people in this world who do not know who "our" god is? Why does it take "our" books and teachings for these people to of ever heard of god? Why are we the ones who spread the word of god? If god exists then why don't these people know about him without our intervention? These people do not know who jesus was, they do not believe in heaven and hell, they live there lives the same there people have for thousands of years. The Native americans didn't believe in our god, look at the gods before christianity came onto the scene. There were humans around way before christianity, did these people just get thrown away and not admitted to heaven, even though they had know idea it existed? That seems like a cruel joke to me. Before the bible humans lived by a different set of rules not all of which would be civil, is this why man created the bible to fix the problems within the human culture. Look at the world today and how man has become, looks more and more like the ways of the romans and the middle ages, just in a different form. Could it be that with our new found knowledge that we are eliminating ourselves off the planet by not adhering to the rules set fourth by our fore fathers in the bible. Like I said before unfortuantely religion is a very needed part of human society, without it the fear of doing things that are wicked is not there. The human race would of been elimanated long ago without it by ourselves if we had no fear of the consequences of our actions. Look at how the muslim religion has been skewed to make war and murder ok. The religion was based on peace but now it is used has a means for war. I could go on but i am going to stop now.

[rolling_trip]

great thread

[Jaimecbr900]

Once again these are words written by man. I am not sure what this proves at all. Yes the word god is used but what does that matter? These passages were written when the world was huge, before science discovered evolution, before carbon dating was discovered. Yes all 50 states can be wrong.


I believe this discussion was started to discuss the separation of church and state and not IF God exists or not.

If so, then who wrote it actually has everything to do with it because if the original founders and authors of the Constitution in their own words express their intentions and beliefs, then how could we 200+ years later totally change around what those words said?

In other words, how can a court determine that the word "G-O-D" has to be removed from any document that remotely graces the view of any public domain under the pretence of "separation of church and state under the Constitution" when the authors themselves say otherwise?

[NEONRACER]

ok I did get off topic.

The separation between the two is very important. The writers of those document slived in a different time, when religion said to be true, and god had no reason to be disputed. Of course they used god, that is what they knew. Could you imagine a US society that lived under religious law? Look at the society's that live under religious law and look at where they are now. The religious people want evolution taken out of school books because they say it false yet they want the bible to be taught, which has less proof to exist than evolution. We simply cannot live under religious law, church and state must be separated and neither one can affect eachother. Look at the society's that combine both and look at how well they are doing.

[malfeas99]

Or you could go with what Jefferson wrote:

I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State

Or, you know, the first amendment.

Do you people really want religion (which, by it's nature, is completely irrational) meddling in politics?

[Jaimecbr900]

Or you could go with what Jefferson wrote:

I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State

Or, you know, the first amendment.

Do you people really want religion (which, by it's nature, is completely irrational) meddling in politics?

The separation of church and state has been debated since it's inception more than 200 years ago. The contention has always been the same, "what'd they mean when they wrote that". The left says one thing and the right says another. Personally, I've seen far more quotes from the authors of the Constitution itself where it is clear they were not trying to be so literal about it.

The "chuch" of England, where our founding fathers came from, controlled everything. Not only religion, but also taxes, laws, gov't, everything went thru the "church". This is one of the reasons people migrated to the "new world" in the first place, to find their own freedom. This is the basis of the rationale for them wanting a "separation" of church and state.

I don't have issue with keeping them apart. My personal issue is with all the freaking ultra liberals that have taken everything 15 steps further and are removing plaques, words from the pledge, subjects out of books, books, etc. all in the NAME OF separation of church and state. It's not that religion is being taught in a public school setting. It's that a WORD or a PICTURE offends some wussified liberal and they invoke the good ole church and state crap. THAT to me is another example of how political correctness is ruining this country by taking the backbone out of people.

You know what? There are far more offending words and subjects being taught as part of the public school system's curriculum than if the WORD G-O-D appears in the pledge of alligiance. I don't see what the big deal is. You don't want to SAY the word G-O-D in school, then have at it and don't utter it EVER. What's the big deal?

People need to grow up and get a backbone. All the ultra liberal wussified pansies now want everything THEIR way, THEY are smarter than everybody, THEY know what's good for EVERYbody. :2up: Kids learn far more dangerous things and much much worse things in public schools than the WORD G-O-D. Instead of spending so much time worrying about their child SAYING the word G-O-D at school, they need to worry about that child learning how to do drugs, have unprotected sex, and even get shot at that same school now-a-days. Get a life already.

[malfeas99]

The separation of church and state has been debated since it's inception more than 200 years ago. The contention has always been the same, "what'd they mean when they wrote that". The left says one thing and the right says another. Personally, I've seen far more quotes from the authors of the Constitution itself where it is clear they were not trying to be so literal about it.

The "chuch" of England, where our founding fathers came from, controlled everything. Not only religion, but also taxes, laws, gov't, everything went thru the "church". This is one of the reasons people migrated to the "new world" in the first place, to find their own freedom. This is the basis of the rationale for them wanting a "separation" of church and state.

I don't have issue with keeping them apart. My personal issue is with all the freaking ultra liberals that have taken everything 15 steps further and are removing plaques, words from the pledge, subjects out of books, books, etc. all in the NAME OF separation of church and state. It's not that religion is being taught in a public school setting. It's that a WORD or a PICTURE offends some wussified liberal and they invoke the good ole church and state crap. THAT to me is another example of how political correctness is ruining this country by taking the backbone out of people.

You know what? There are far more offending words and subjects being taught as part of the public school system's curriculum than if the WORD G-O-D appears in the pledge of alligiance. I don't see what the big deal is. You don't want to SAY the word G-O-D in school, then have at it and don't utter it EVER. What's the big deal?

People need to grow up and get a backbone. All the ultra liberal wussified pansies now want everything THEIR way, THEY are smarter than everybody, THEY know what's good for EVERYbody. :2up: Kids learn far more dangerous things and much much worse things in public schools than the WORD G-O-D. Instead of spending so much time worrying about their child SAYING the word G-O-D at school, they need to worry about that child learning how to do drugs, have unprotected sex, and even get shot at that same school now-a-days. Get a life already.


I agree with about 100% of what you say here except for one little thing: The Pledge.

The pledge never originally had the words 'under God' in it. It was inserted in the 50's and it was -specifically- stated that the goal was to furnish the acknowledgement of God's and his role in the country, it's people, etc. That's the only problem I have with it.

[Mike4831]

Very interesting, good post.

[Jaimecbr900]

I agree with about 100% of what you say here except for one little thing: The Pledge.

The pledge never originally had the words 'under God' in it. It was inserted in the 50's and it was -specifically- stated that the goal was to furnish the acknowledgement of God's and his role in the country, it's people, etc. That's the only problem I have with it.

I know, but how many people have died from saying "under God" 65 gazillion times since the 50's??? Not one.

These ultra liberal pansies need to grow a backbone and get thicker skin....."Can't drill for oil there because it will mess up the mating habits of the dung beetle"....."Can't spank your child because you need to talk to them to death first"...."Can't have this because you could get hurt if you stick it in your eye".... :blah: :blah: :jerkit: . The ultra liberals are all about control. Control over things, control over the gov't, and Control over US. Period. I'm so sick of the gov't or worse yet the wussified Liberals spending all their time trying to keep me from myself. People need to tie on their own shoes and if you fall down, get up and deal with it. Don't look for the gov't to put you on a pad everytime your pussy hurts because you are too stupid to do it yourself.

If I don't wanna say a WORD, I don't say a word. If it offends me, then I deal with it. If I don't agree with it, then I don't and move on. Political correctness is nothing more than an excuse for people to be a big fat sissy. Freaking grow up, suck it up, and deal with it. If you gotta kick someone's ass because they called you something you don't like, then kick their ass...that's dealing with it. Just don't turn into this spineless dweeb that only knows one way to deal with things.....whine until you get your way. I'm so sick of it myself.

Political correctness is nothing more than a crutch to life.

My :2cents: .

[malfeas99]

I know, but how many people have died from saying "under God" 65 gazillion times since the 50's??? Not one.

These ultra liberal pansies need to grow a backbone and get thicker skin....."Can't drill for oil there because it will mess up the mating habits of the dung beetle"....."Can't spank your child because you need to talk to them to death first"...."Can't have this because you could get hurt if you stick it in your eye".... :blah: :blah: :jerkit: . The ultra liberals are all about control. Control over things, control over the gov't, and Control over US. Period. I'm so sick of the gov't or worse yet the wussified Liberals spending all their time trying to keep me from myself. People need to tie on their own shoes and if you fall down, get up and deal with it. Don't look for the gov't to put you on a pad everytime your pussy hurts because you are too stupid to do it yourself.

If I don't wanna say a WORD, I don't say a word. If it offends me, then I deal with it. If I don't agree with it, then I don't and move on. Political correctness is nothing more than an excuse for people to be a big fat sissy. Freaking grow up, suck it up, and deal with it. If you gotta kick someone's ass because they called you something you don't like, then kick their ass...that's dealing with it. Just don't turn into this spineless dweeb that only knows one way to deal with things.....whine until you get your way. I'm so sick of it myself.

Political correctness is nothing more than a crutch to life.

My :2cents: .


Once again, I agree with your examples 100%.

However, the Pledge is sort of the exception to the rule, in my opinion. A historical item was specifically and deliberately rewritten to cram some religion down people's throats during the time when we were at the height of dealing with the 'Godless Communists'. It's not about result so much as it is intent. And the 1st amendment specifically states that you cannot make a law respecting the establishment of any religion. Inserting 'Under God' into the Pledge and stating with no room for doubt that you're doing it to put a little religion into people's lives is a direct and obvious circumvention of the law in both letter and intent.

Do I think it's harmful? Not really. Even as a Jewish-reared Athiest it's obvious it does very little. There's much bigger issues with what government needs to stop doing and get it's hands out of than two words in the Pledge. What we should both agree on, though, is that it's unconstitutional. Period.

[Julio]

Interesting.

[metalman]

Aknowledging a creator was all the founding fathers did.
While on one hand aknowledging God they agreed (rightly so) that our government should never establish a religion or interfere with a religion or the practice of such that was othwise constitutional. Indeed this also protects the atheist and any other minorty that don't choose to acknowledge a Creator. Complete seperation of the civil authority and relgious "authority" (ones own response to concience) the freedom OF religion and FROM religion.
I wouldnt confuse the pledge of allegiance to infer otherwise.

As for state consitutions, they too follow the same example...which is somewhat ironic given the fact that many states violate this very princple with their laws.

[FCguy]

EVERYONE USED to think the world was FLAT. Does that make them right? So since EVERYONE in the US belived in God does that by default make them right? NO!... Times change, people change, beliefs change.

I will not sit here and tell you god does not exist, but I will say the US is now VERY diverse and so is the rest of the world. I think that the government should have nothing to do with religion even if it was founded on it. Lots of things were different with each of the states succession (sp?) compaired to now. We used to hang people, we used to run indians off their land and claim it, lots of things were differnt. Don't be affraid of the change, and dont be jealous if your particular religion isnt the basis for a government anymore, losing it influence over it. I think all religions should be embraced and none of them should be included in the basis of our government.

All of this coming from someone who is half the time from the conservative side

[metalman]

I think all religions should be embraced and none of them should be included in the basis of our government.


Well said. And that is exactly what the founding fathers intended. Inclusion of all, exclusion of none, yet no religion should be either "restricted" or "upheld" by civil government.