One Nation Under God

June 28, 2002.

One Nation Under God

By T.S.Khanna

Introductory courses in law teach us that it is the intent of the law, not the letter of the law, which is important. At the time of any controversy, the attention should be focused on the intent. Some of the Federal Courts judgments seem to have ignored the intent and jolted the American society by violating the common sense of the prevailing culture. In our recent memory, the federal courts have declared that under the “free speech” burning of the American Flag and pornography are constitutional and “the separation of religion and the State” make God unconstitutional.

It shows an utter disregard for some decent human values.

The judges are well paid and respected for their knowledge of the laws; the origin and intent of the laws. Their judgments are expected to unify the diversity in the nation by their learned explanations of the origin and the intent of the Constitution and its amendments. However, as I see it, they seem to be ignoring the intent and interpreting the letter. Federal courts are becoming a centrifuge instead of a unifying force for the nation.

Every religion seems to have four aspects: the philosophy, the myths, the ceremonies, and the customs and symbols. The philosophies of most religions, based on God, tend to unify humanity. The other aspects of religions tend to politicize religions. God is considered as supreme and ultimate reality. For better comprehension of the common man, God is the personified image of natural and supernatural forces beyond human knowledge and control. However, as human knowledge increases, jurisdiction of God decreases.

Belief or disbelief in God does not make a person religious or irreligious; his/her actions and behavior with God's creation do. Not believing in God is not being conscious of the natural and supernatural forces. That is only a lower level of consciousness. The different religions profess various interpretations of God. An atheist has a right not to believe in any of those interpretations but if a person denies the existence of God, he/she only shows lower level of consciousness in as much as he/she is unable to explain the creation of the planet and the Universe. A person's concept of God may differ but the denial of God's existence in the state-of-the-art of the human knowledge is not justfiable on rational basis.

Every nation exists under God. I wonder if the decision whether the USA exists under God or not should be under the jurisdiction of our courts.

Your comments are most welcome.

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The United States of America is not a phenomenon of a single blood, a single religion, or a single race. It is a nation of diverse people and cultures interacting together in a constructive and positive manner. It is a process, always complete but never finished. “One nation under God” is not in conflict with “the separation of religion and state”. It is a symbol and a force of unity and encouragement for the diverse people under a common American Flag.

Let us uphold the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us salute the Flag.