Church and State

At the same time that there is a general call for separation of church and state, the majority of the nation seems to think they are tied together - and quite a bit.

Mitt Romney, Republican Governor of Massachusetts, is running for president. He also happens to be a Mormon. And his religion is becoming an issue in the campaign. In 1960 another Massachusetts politician running for president was having his religion becoming an issue in the campaign. He was a Catholic, and no Catholic had ever been elected president.

If there ever was a time when something is brewing on the horizon, of epochal nature, that time is now. To some, perhaps even most of this worlds peoples, the sun is nearing it's last setting--lending to their notions and superstitions that 'dooms day' is near, very near.

Allow me to preface this post by saying, of course you can't trust everything you read. That does not stop one from reacting vehemently when one reads something abhorrent.

A friend of mine directed me to this article, written by a British reporter who decided to take a cruise sponsored by the National Review (a conservative publication) in order to "find out what American conservatives say when they think the rest of us aren't listening."

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Does that sound familiar?  Well its missing a certain part at the end.  "So help me god."  Those little words have been added to almost every presidential oath since 1800.  However they are not and have never been part of the constitution.  (The constitution has lines that outline exactly what a president must say when taking office;hint its the first lines of this blog.) 

My main complaint about President Bush is his constant outward affirmation of faith.