Sarah Palin: National Day of Prayer and US Law

In reaction to the dust up over the National Day of Prayer, Sarah Palin made the not-so-surprising claim that this was yet another conspiracy to turn the country away from it's spiritual roots.

Check it out:


So, let's talk about why Sarah Palin is stupid (as if a discussion is even necessary at this point).

1) The nation was founded at a time when the presence of God was an assumed reality.  However, the country was not founded on religious ideals.  It was founded on the ideals of freedom (which includes the freedom to choose a religion and freedom from forced religious observance).  Hence the use of God in the founding documents is not a statement of a national belief in God, so much as it is a statement of a historically assumed fact.  At the time most of the founding fathers owned slaves, and slavery was an accepted norm for the time.  Should we also return to that tradition?  certainly not, and Sarah would probably agree with us there.  What Sarah is really saying is that we should pick and choose which "founding assumed truths" we are going to return to, and that her choice is the only one that makes sense.  Sorry Sarah, that's not democracy, and no matter how large a majority you build around that ideal it is still unconstitutional.

2) Discussion of history?  I'm sure that most academics, and probably even more Americans in general would love to have a discussion about the historical significance of religion.  However, NDOP is NOT a discussion.  Nothing about it is intellectual in any way.  If we are going to have a discussion, lets have a discussion.  But let's not pretend that a national day of prayer amounts to a discussion of religion, rather it amounts to national observance and preference for religion.

3) The protest against day of prayer is some people attempting to impose their views on the rest of us?  Actually you've got that backwards.  A national day of prayer imposes a religious view on America that does not exist.  As much as 12% of the population has no religious conviction, and I would guess that a staggering majority hold only loose religious convictions. So really, a national day of prayer is YOU attempting to impose your religiosity on the rest of US.

4) Payer is NEVER equality.  One of the arguments made over and over in support of the NDOP is that no matter what faith you are, everyone can pray to whatever they believe in.  Well, Atheists and non-traditional deists don't pray, and they don't believe in a "higher power."  So, actually they are left out, and forced to watch their country recognize and impose preference for religion over non-religion.  That is STILL unconstitutional, because people have the right to believe NOTHING and to have the view respected and supported by their government.

Now lets get back to Sarah's belief that the law should be based on the bible.  This is actually a topic that was addressed by Richard Dawkins in his work, The God Delusion.  The vast majority of Christians believe, as Sarah Palin does, that US law should be based on the bible.  It never ceases to amaze me how people who demand religious freedom, can be so cavalier in depriving it from others.  The use of the bible as the foundation for US law would be a clear establishment of national religion, because it would prefer biblical (Judeo-Christian) religion over ALL other religions and non-religions.  This is such a clear violation of the constitution that it's almost embarrassing that I have to explain it.  It is borderline treasonous!  We have a large group of politicians lead by Sarah Palin actively working to subvert the constitution and over 200 years of U.S. law!!  Sorry Sarah, there is no conspiracy against religion here, but you certainly seem to be conspiring against the rest of us.

Common Sense