Snopes debunked this junk in 2006 here: https://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/capital.asp

DID YOU KNOW?

As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S. Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a carving of the world’s law givers. Each figure is facing toward the middle figure, who is seated and facing forward….it is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW?
As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on the lower portion of each door.

DID YOU KNOW?
As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall above where the Supreme Court judges sit. It is a display of the Ten Commandments.

DID YOU KNOW?
There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington, DC.

DID YOU KNOW?
James Madison, the fourth president, known as “The Father of Our Constitution” made the following statement: “We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

DID YOU KNOW?
Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists [sic] but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

DID YOU KNOW?
Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777.

DID YOU KNOW?
Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established orthodox churches in the colonies.

DID YOU KNOW?
Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would overstep their authority and instead of interpreting the law would begin making law .. an oligarchy … the rule of few over many.

DID YOU KNOW?
The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said: “Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers.” How, then, have we gotten to the point that everything we have done for 220 years in this country is now suddenly wrong and unconstitutional?

Thank you so much Jerry

*HOW COULD 50 STATES BE WRONG?
Somewhere along the way, the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court have misinterpreted the U.S. Constitution. How could fifty States be wrong?

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING! Be sure to read the last two paragraphs. America’s founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions:

Alabama 1901, Preamble.
We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution …

Alaska 1956, Preamble.
We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution…

Arkansas 1874, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government…

California 1879, Preamble.
We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.

Colorado 1876, Preamble.
We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe.

Connecticut 1818, Preamble.
The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy…

Delaware 1897, Preamble.
Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping [sic] and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences …

Florida 1885, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty … establish this
Constitution…

Georgia 1777, Preamble.
We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution…

Hawaii 1959, Preamble.
We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance establish this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings ..

Illinois 1870, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851, Preamble.
We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government.

Iowa 1857, Preamble.
We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings .. establish this Constitution

Kansas 1859, Preamble.
We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges … establish this Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble.
We, the people of the Commonwealth of grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties…

Louisiana 1921, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

Maine 1820, Preamble.
We the People of Maine .. acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler! of the Universe in affording us an opportunity … and imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble.
We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty…

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble.
We…the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe … in the course of His Providence, an opportunity .and [sic] devoutly imploring His direction …

Michigan 1908, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom … establish this Constitution

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings

Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention
assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble.
We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness .. establish this Constitution ..

Montana 1889, Preamble.
We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty. establish this Constitution

Nebraska 1875, Preamble.
We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .. establish this Constitution ..

Nevada 1864, Preamble.
We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish this Constitution …

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V.
Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors ..

New Mexico 1911, Preamble.
We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of Liberty

New York 1846, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble.
We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those.

North Dakota 1889, Preamble.
We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain…

Ohio 1852, Preamble.
We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common ..

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble.
Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty .. establish this ..

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2.
All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences..

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble.
We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance. .

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble.
We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble.
We, the people of he State of South
Carolina. grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble.
We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil! and religious liberties .. establish this

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III.
That all men have a natural and indefensible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience…

Texas 1845, Preamble.
We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.

Utah 1896, Preamble.
Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution ..

Vermont 1777, Preamble.
Whereas all government ought to … enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man .

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI
.. Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator .. can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other ..

Washington 1889, Preamble.
We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution …

West Virginia 1872, Preamble.
Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia . reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ..

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble.
We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility …

Wyoming 1890, Preamble.
We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties .. establish this Constitution …

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!

My response to the individual who posted this message to the list went like this:

And since when, precisely, did the word GOD become the sole possession of Christians?

Provide references, please. Inquiring minds want to know.

Regards,

me

This same list is responsible for promulgating some of the more heinous urban legends in the search for truth. When pointed out that Snopes.com had debunked nearly all (but perhaps one) of the urban legends in question, I was told that even if the messages were wrong, it was still good to circulate them, because they showed people cared about other people.

For pity’s sake, when did the circulation of lies become acceptable as a means for showing you care???

And I thought I was done ranting for the week.

Holy ****.

It truly saddens me that in all this time, so many people have so little understanding of the Religious Freedom part of this country’s founding. Why is it so easy to turn back and determine that the sole religion to which the founding fathers referred was Christian, and that all others may be excluded based on the religious upbringings of the founding fathers themselves?

We could argue the point for days that it’s because that’s what they were when the documents were written. I am no Atheist, but I still know the difference between a reference to God and a reference to Jesus Christ, and they are NOT the same thing. There are plenty of representatives of the Christian faith (in many denominations, not just Baptist), who would happily argue otherwise.

I could also argue that much of what has been said recently (as recently as yesterday) could be construed as fodder for neo-Fascists and neo-Nazis. It’s what keeps the KKK in business, and what makes it so very hard for folks to see a shared purpose to the organized government we call the United States of America.

What scares me most is that we aren’t all that far from the last Civil War, and the damage that could be done in the next could be considerably worse. And I don’t think it would take much to push some of these very public, governmentally sanctioned religious zealots over the edge.

I can hope for a little more moderation in the elections to come, but with our political swing so high to the right at the moment, it’s hard to imagine there will be a lot of change over the next two and a half years.

The best I can do right now, is be that voice in the wilderness. Maybe enough folks will hear me and be convinced. I can only hope…

I feel I should point out that believing that Jesus Christ is God is, more or less, the definition of Christianity. So try not to be too hard on those who want to argue that point. The problem is the way they do it.

And if you’ll indulge me for just a moment, here’s a little something from my faith tradition: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.”

There’s another one I prefer: “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.”

Sadly, there are too many people in this world who worship a vengeful God, rather than a loving one. And for whom “An eye for an eye” is the watch phrase and excuse for so many actions.

For me, the Bible is not a guiding document to be taken in literal form. I can understand that some people feel that it is, and my only objection is in being forced to agree with that opinion. I simply can’t. Not the Old Testament (which is all I am supposed to believe), or the New.

I am so Unitarian in approach and belief, that I should be a paying member of our local congregation. That I haven’t followed up yet to visit and see what they do and how they feel is more a tribute to the sheer amount of stuff we have going on here during the weekend.

A time is coming, though, when I will decide it’s time to go for a visit. They aren’t that far away, and it would be a good thing for my daughter, who has many more questions than I can answer.

So, I am not averse to the experience. I simply object to being forced to agree with it or “suffer the consequences.”