Christians just don't seem to get it. Let me spell it out in a new way. This will require you to use your imagination.
Imagine if I was elected dictator of the United States, with absolute power. I know, that's your worst nightmare-- an outspoken atheist in charge of this country, but just imagine it for a moment. I have the power to do anything I want.
I have the power to make all children who go to public schools recite an 'atheist prayer' every morning that says "There is no god". But, and this may surprise you, I wouldn't do it. Because I believe, like Thomas Jefferson, that government's power should extend only to people's actions, not their opinions. The government has no power to tell citizens what their religious beliefs should be. How would you, a christian parent, feel if your child was forced to say such an atheistic prayer every morning? Well that's how I feel right now.
For the same reason, I would not insert the phrase: "One nation, WITHOUT a god, with liberty and justice for all" into the Pledge of Allegiance. How would that make you feel? Really, I want you to take a few seconds and imagine your child standing in a public school classroom, saying THAT alongside all the others. You feel pretty angry, I imagine. Marginalized-- pushed to the side. But instead of making kids say that, I would remove the reference to "God" altogether, and restore the Pledge to its original form as it existed for most it's history.
How about if I put the statement "There aren't any gods" on brass plaques on the walls of courthouses and city halls? How would that make christians feel? Think about that one for a moment. You would feel that you've entered a building that is not on your side, that doesn't represent you, that's hostile to you and what you believe. You guessed it... I wouldn't do that either. I would remove religious references from government buildings. They simply have no legitimate reason for being there.
I would also have the power to stamp "In God we Doubt" on all the money of our country. I wouldn't do that either. Every time you hand a dollar bill to someone else, the government makes that statement on your behalf. Do you really think that's right?
When Christians have the power, however, they take advantange of it. They see no problem with pushing their beliefs, forcing everyone else in this country to pretend that they are christian too. They act like they are the only ones in this country and only their beliefs matter. A few centuries ago (yes, on this soil) they even outlawed beliefs other than their own, punishing people with branding, boring through the tongue and death! People were being punished for "blasphemy", a religious crime, well into the 20th Century.
Some Christians just don't give a damn about the feelings of non-christians-- not just atheists, but jewish, muslim, hindu, native, etc. They think that just because they are in the majority, they get to have it all their way. Well, no, that's not how our country works. The First Amendment to the Constitution requires that our government (and all of its entities, like public schools) stay out of the business of promoting religion.
Someday, Christians will not be in the majority in this country. They will be the ones calling on the protection of the First Amendment. Think about that.
