As Americans we are all connected to each other about the way we
do one thing: how we govern ourselves. The three dominant
religions in the world are also about one thing: how we govern
ourselves. In other words, there is a connection between
religion and government—therefore national and international
politics; therefore war—that will not go away. In other words,
religion lies like a force underneath the major wars we have
going on today, and those brewing. Studying the history of
government, the founders of our country found that, one way or
another, people always seemed to end up directed by a thumb not
their own. Thumbs were even found directing what God was heard
to say! The founders were determined to reverse this condition.
They wanted to create a country made up by people with the
ability to lift themselves out from under a directing thumb.
They devised a set of rules to live by that would give them that
ability. The rules were devised to keep the thumb in its place.
As Americans, we pledge allegiance