This country was founded by people who could be called “religious”, however, that is a general term that is vast in scope and meaning. The beliefs of the founding fathers could be classified as deism, which means they believed in a transcendent Creator who does not intervene with the world. These were wise men that possessed a general spirituality, they had a knowingness of the necessity for a higher order of existence. They had enough wisdom to realize the irrationality of a state official claiming God’s endorsement for a public policy. They knew it was not possible for a separation of spirituality and state, but they wanted there to be a separation of church and state.

I am going to divide the broad term “religion” into two different types. There is extremism and there is spirituality. There are people out there who will violently express anger because something will cross the line of what is acceptable according to their interpretation of whatever book of old fairy tales they subscribe to. A perfect recent example of religion interfering with the lives of other citizens of this great land is within this exert from a four paragraph letter about marriage. “The church's teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and the formation of families is central to the Creator's plan for His children. We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to ensure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman," They spent 22 million dollars to ensure the preservation of “the sacred institution of marriage." They choose to widen the schism of us and them, of separation rather than unity. How much happiness I wonder, could have been spread by using this huge amount of money to help people in need? Also, another interesting thing to think about is that according to “God” polygamy was legal until 1890. I guess He changed his mind.

That is an extreme, and any form of extremism tends to be unproductive because of the closed minded nature inherent to it. There is another group of people who believe in God that are capable of rational discussion and debate. People who can consider other human beings views without absolutely accepting them. People who acknowledge the known facts about how the world works while at the same time accepting that all facts are not known. People who choose to work together for the advancement and greater good of mankind while having various beliefs and a multitude of different viewpoints.

It is great that there are laws in place that prohibit teachers in public schools from molding a child’s mind towards their unsubstantiated beliefs. Unfortunately there are plenty of other institutions that can legally do such a thing. These institutions tell people what to do and think using guilt and fear to drive them towards the goal. They are herded this way for their entire lives. When a priest endorses a political candidate, everyone in that church is going to vote for what they were told to vote for because they have been conditioned to follow the shepherd where ever he my lead them. This not only limits the life experience of the sheep, it also messes with the lives of people who want nothing to do this brain molding. The only way to move beyond these boundaries is with the dawning of a new age of enlightenment, and I pray this light will soon come.

I agree, as the late great Carling put it "Keep thy religion to thyself".

"Nobody, certainly, will deny that the idea of the existence of an omnipotent, just, and omni beneficent personal God is able to accord man solace, help, and guidance; also, by virtue of its simplicity it is accessible to the most undeveloped mind. But, on the other hand, there are decisive weaknesses attached to this idea in itself, which have been painfully felt since the beginning of history." Einstein

Seems most of the problems regarding God are to do with human attempts to ascribe personality and character to the indefinable. We seek almost intuitively for spiritual knowledge such that it suggests a deep knowing, an instinct perhaps?

Roll on enlightenment:) for sure, but; is it a new age? Or part of a cycle? An eternal cycle of knowing and forgetting in an infinite existence?

There is alot of evidence to indicate that we, as a species, are evolving spirtually.

Such as: most civilized countries have outlawed capital punishment; most civilized countries have universal health care; slavery has been greatly reduced, although it is still practiced in about forty countries (including the US); in the US, more and more metaphysical books are hitting the best-seller lists, and various spiritual foundations and whatnot are coming into being; the Catholic Church is losing credibility, power and influence; ditto the extreme right-wing prods; racism, while widespread, is no longer socially acceptable.

It was not that long ago that even respected scientists thought that black folks were inherantly inferior to whites.

There is alot of evidence to indicate that we, as a species, are evolving spirtually.

Such as: most civilized countries have outlawed capital punishment; most civilized countries have universal health care; slavery has been greatly reduced, although it is still practiced in about forty countries (including the US); in the US, more and more metaphysical books are hitting the best-seller lists, and various spiritual foundations and whatnot are coming into being; the Catholic Church is losing credibility, power and influence; ditto the extreme right-wing prods; racism, while widespread, is no longer socially acceptable.

It was not that long ago that even respected scientists thought that black folks were inherantly inferior to whites.

evolving?

I think you mean devolving.

the history of mankind is the history of our slow down fall