R A N D O M   R A N T S GOD AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT The 1st Amendment of the Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." This amendment clearly meant something far different to the Constitutional framers than many today assume it means. Jefferson began editing the New Testament in 1804 while a sitting president, attempting to make his version the U.S. government sanctioned version; thus insuring it would be read in every American classroom. After drafting the 1st Amendment, Madison stated it would aid in the spread of Christianity. Franklin, a self-proclaimed deist, complained the framers weren't seeking God's guidance enough while drafting the Constitution, the opposite of how deism is defined today. The term "church" in the 18th Century referred to institutional religion. This term does not equate with God anywhere within the writings of America's founders. And, the Declaration clearly defines a Creator actively involved in the affairs of humanity. Legitimate secular university polls report 80% American educators, 75% physicians and 50% U.S. scientists believe in God. Even though so many agree the evidence demonstrates design, the ACLU refuses to protect their credentialed scientific conclusions. Instead, the ACLU demands American educators deliberately lie to our children by omission, leaving out the fact that most major historical and nearly half of living scientists agree the scientific evidence demonstrates design. The "God question" is central to the scientific thought and inquiry of nearly every major historical scientist. Yet many today pretend God isn't a question for science, including some of the same 'progressives' angry over the one-sidedness of talk radio. To allow only one myopic view is to teach our children questioning what is true and presenting differing viewpoints isn't relevant to education. Many 'educators' do in fact, address the "God question". Any theory assuming universal reality is a result of unguided natural processes is claiming there is no Grand Designer, is non-verifiable and therefore, irrational. Our extremely tiny window inside such an immense fishbowl can't possibly determine the universal reality is either not created or unguided. Atheism has no more protection under the 1st Amendment than any other view. Is science really being served when our children are taught only one non-evidence based superstition? The Encyclopedia Britannica and most scientists today admit science doesn't know how life came to be. Life may predate our own sun. Thus, it is an obvious lie to state life came about by "natural", "totally unguided" processes, as the television series "Cosmos" grandly proclaims, without providing a shred of supporting evidence. Elsewhere this series contradicts itself, stating scientists shouldn't be afraid to admit what they don't know. If science doesn't know how life came to be, this is what American textbooks should teach our children. When 87% of Americans claim to believe in God, is it being reasonable or fair for textbook authors to pretend there is no Creator, as if they somehow would know? What evidence do they have for magically existing universes and, why should we believe them or entrust our children's education to them? Click Here to Go Back to Contents Click Here to eMail the Author Copyright © by Richard Aberdeen.  Copyright © by Freedom Tracks Records. No part of this material may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher and signed by the author. For inquiries, please contact Freedom Tracks Records.  The essays entitled Revolution and Revolution ~ Side B are open copyright and may be reproduced and distributed as desired.