'One nation under God'

\"One nation under God", as stated in the Pledge of Allegiance, has caused much debate around the United States. \nThe issue of prayer in schools, specifically the phrase of the pledge, is a widely known controversy. There have been several court cases that restrict the involvement of religion in a school's curriculum. One such case is Abington vs. Schempp in 1963, which struck down a Pennsylvania law requiring Bible reading and the Lord's prayer. As in many cases like this, the main argument was a violation of the First Amendment. Such cases have impacted the American society. Schools are no longer able to hold organized prayer within their walls.\nA statue outside of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington reads, "Our liberty of worship is not a concession nor a privilege but an inherent right." It is a United States citizen's right to able to practice his or her religion, whether that is in school or in private. The government should revoke no one's lawful right.\nSome argue that the court rulings are just. The Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." The common interpretation states that the government\ncannot institute a religion that all must believe. \nThis country was founded on religious freedom. In fact, the country's founders were all religious people. They believed in Christ and his teachings. They sought His guidance and protection when they fought for independence and ruled their country. \nThe Constitution gives at least two references to this religious guidance. It states in Article I Section VII, "If any bill shall not be returned by the president within ten days (Sundays excepted)," meaning the president respected the fourth of the Ten Commandments, which restricts work on the Sabbath.\nThe other reference is found in Article VII, paragraph two (the subscription clause) which reads, "done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names." The founders of the United States of America did not establish a religion, but they did express their religious beliefs. Their beliefs represented the consensus of the American population. \nThe main controversy in today's society is the role that prayer is given in schools. A Gallup poll concluded that about 70 percent of Americans want prayer in schools. In 1787, Congress adopted and passed the Northwest Ordinance to include every state in the Union. It was then ratified by every State in the Union at that point in time. Article 3 of the Ordinance states, "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, school and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." This gave schools the right to teach religion in their classrooms, which gives evidence that religion rightfully belongs in public education. This also gives teachers the right to educate and pursue religion as part of their teachings. The Constitution never mentions the role of government in public education; therefore ordinances such as this were passed to include school curriculums. The Northwest Ordinance has never been altered and is still considered law today. \nAs citizens of these United States we are governed by laws, and one of those laws states that religion is necessary for proper education. Since there is no law that establishes a public education system, there can be no lawful basis for the banning of religion in public schools.