Under God

The snippets of ART. (all from this thead for full context)

>Words, lacking definition, context, and full knowledge
>of the intent of the writer have no meaning,

>As I have pointed out the word God can have many
>meanings, so it can have no one particular meaning
>unless it is defined in context.

>The word God is like saying the word love. It has no
>specific meaning unless attributed to it, unless it is
>defined further.

>People can think of the word God as love, power,
>military strength, or whatever they want.

>Words only have meaning when we place meaning
>on them.

and THEN, the best and most recent. ROFLAO!!! Drum roll please!!!

ART to Stu:
>Remember, the English language is precise.

The ET alias clown does his thing again.

JB
 
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"
I don't see the word endorsement, do you? Can you endorse a religion, without establishment of it? Sure you can.

So you see the letter a in a sentence which doesn't have the letter a in it. A religion . How strange that is.

Remember, the English language is precise.

LOL then don't add a's where thar ain't none.

Just before, you said a word in the English language had no meaning until a meaning was put to it by the person reading or hearing it. The English language has developed leaps and bounds in just a few hours it seems.

If your argument is that he pledge is an establishment of a new religion, good luck

It isn't. It's only you suggesting that.

If your argument is that the pledge is an establishment of an existing religion, you will have to show that the pledge belongs to a particular religion. You can do this easily, just show me some scriptures of an established religion, or a even a new religion, that uses the pledge as part of its rituals.

It isn't . Not an existing or a particular religion. Can you not read? Why do you keep inserting words which are not there, into wording of the Constitution, which is there?

You have yet to make a proof or offer a proof that the government has made a law respecting establishment of religion, because they have not.
How do I know?
I look to established religions.

Then you are wrong
You are wrong to look to established religions. Established religions are not the same as establishment of religion...."Remember, the English language is precise."

They all have lots of beliefs, creeds, dogmas, rules, punishments for not following the rules, commands, etc.....none of which which are present in the pledge.

Irrelevent to the First Amendment. No wording in the Amendment provides any reference to any of that.

The pledge itself does not constitute religion in general, nor a specific denomination, nor a state sponsored religion, therefore no religion has been established by the Government by endorsing the use of the current pledge.

The First Amendment says no to law respecting an establishment of religion. The government made law respecting the establishment of religion. They did it when they inserted "under God". God is a religious word. "under God" is respecting an establishment of religion. The words show that very thing, Read them without inserting your own personal extra letters words or meanings here and there as you do.

The name Allah is to the word God what sturgeon is to fish.

Tell it to the Mullah baby. Allah is the Muslim name for the one and only God. Government law, purposely worded to say "under Allah", inserted within a public Pledge, is the government making law ,which is respecting an establishment of religion. Same goes for God. Same for Christ same for Jehovah same for Almighty. Words which are commonly used for being religious. Religion is a noun. Religious is a noun and adjective concerned with religion English language remember?

So, clearly the pledge doesn't establish either an existing God, a new God, or the God as defined by the atheists. The pledge is silent on which God it is under.

It doesn't matter anyway. Irrelevant to the First Amendment and the argument. The word God, in common meaning, in the English language, is a religious word. Whether theists atheists or whatever give whatever descriptions of it. It's common meaning is to do with religion. Government should not pass laws respecting an establishment of religion.

blah blah
rest already covered.




From what I gather these are the words (apart from God & Allah which you try to wiggle from) you are now struggling with.
Let's use the common meanings of these words to examine any reasonable meaning of them.

According to the First, Congress should make no law ...

respecting ( as a preposition: in regard of or in relation to. As a verb: regarding highly or showing respect towards),

an establishment ( as a noun: the act of forming something OR To cause to be recognized and accepted ).

I notice how you seemed to choose to circle around only on one of establishment' s equal and common meanings. Where the word can or does mean in context either of those descriptions (it does), then the law makers will violate the Constitution.
 
establishment (_____________).
[f. as prec. + -ment. Cf. OF. establissement (late AF. establishement), Fr. établissement.]
I. Action or means of establishing.
1. The action of establishing; the fact of being established: in various senses of the vb.
1596 J. Norden Progr. Pietie (1847) 117 An establishment of concord amongst ourselves [is] to be sought and heartily prayed for.
1688 Col. Rec. Penn. I. 226 That such Sanction and Establishment may be as Effectual and binding as any Law.
1739 Butler Serm. Wks. (1874) II. 225 The bare establishment of Christianity in any place_is a very important and valuable effect.
1788 W. Gordon (title) The History of the rise, progress and establishment of the United States of America.
1851 D. Wilson Preh. Ann. (1863) II. iv. i. 192 The establishment of Christianity in Scotland.
1871 Figure Training 38 A most awkward and clumsy figure is in a fair way towards formation and permanency of establishment.
1875 Fortnum Maiolica 37 The establishment of the ducal court at Urbino.
2. esp. The _establishing' by law (a church, religion, form of worship). (See establish v. 7.)
_ a. In early use, the settling or ordering in a particular manner, the regulating and upholding of the constitution and ordinances of the church recognized by the state.
_ b. In 17th_18th c. occasionally the granting of legal status to (other religious bodies than that connected with the state).
c. Now usually, the conferring on a particular religious body the position of a state church.
a.
1640_1 Ld. Digby Sp. in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1721) IV. 172 A Man_that made the Establishment by Law the Measure of his Religion.
1706_7 Act 5 Anne c. 5 Securing Ch. Eng., Acts of Parliament now in Force for the Establishment and Preservation of the Church of England.
b.
1731 E. Calamy Life (1830) I. v. 401 The allowance of the law is of necessity a sufficient establishment [of dissenting worship].
1792 Coke & Moore Life Wesley ii. iv. (ed. 2) 355 Mr. Wesley's great desire to remain in union with the Church of England_would not allow him to apply for a legal establishment.
c.
1662_3 Addr. of Commons to King 27 Feb. in Cobbett Parl. Hist. (1808) IV. 262 In time, some prevalent sect will_contend for an establishment.
1788 Priestley Lect. Hist. v. lvii. 449 There is no place where there are more forms of religion openly professed, and without the establishment of any of them than Pennsylvania.
1792 Burke Let. Sir H. Langrishe Wks. VI. 318 The perpetual establishment of the confession of Faith, and the Presbyterian church government.
1813 Mrq. Lansdowne in Ho. Lords 8 Mar., They [Catholic Petitioners of City of Limerick] asked for no establishment of their own Church.
_1832 Mackintosh Causes Revol. Wks. 1846 II. 227 Toleration_was sometimes sought by Dissenters as a step to_wards establishment.
1886 Earl Selborne Def. Ch. Eng. i. iv. 77 All such relations of the Church to the State as those which are summed up in the term _Establishment'.
_ 3. a. Established or stable condition; settlement, permanence; also, settled condition of mind, calmness, confidence. Obs.
1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 15 For it is merueilous, how great establishment groweth hereof.
1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 228 A succession of three good Princes together doth notably contribute to establishment, and felicity of a Kingdome.
_1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xvi. (1704) III. 603 If God shall be pleased to add Establishment and Perpetuity to the Blessings he then Restored.
1674 Owen Holy Spirit (1693) 69 Our Permanency and Establishment in the Truth.
1777 Priestley Mart. & Spir. (1782) I. Introd. 6 Truth will_gain a firm establishment in the minds of all men.
_ b. Manner in which anything is established; organization, _footing'. Obs.
1799 Wellington in Owen Disp. 106 The improved establishment on which he had placed their garrisons.
_ 4. A means of establishing; something that strengthens, supports, or corroborates. Obs.
1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 17 So many and so notable miracles_are euen as many establishments of the law.
1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 210 Truth is the piller and establishment of the church.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iii. xx. 155 Their hornes_being a weake and hollow body, require some inward establishment, to confirme the length of their advancement.
5. a. Settlement in life; formerly often (now rarely) in the sense of marriage.
1684 Prideaux Lett. 12 Nov. (1875) 138, I_wish with that you had all the other satisfactions you can desire, especially a good establishment in England.
1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. IV. ix. 345 You owe_to them, birth, nurture, education and establishment.
1769 Robertson Chas. V, III. xi. 365 To acquire an establishment of such dignity and value for one of his sons.
1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. I. iii. 259 Her chief solicitude was to procure an affluent establishment for her daughter.
1815 Jane Austen Emma ii. vi. 173 Whenever he were attached, he would willingly give up much wealth to obtain an early establishment.
1825 Lytton Falkland 16, I saw in the notes of the mothers their anxiety for the establishment of their daughters.
b. Settled income, provision for a livelihood.
1727 Swift Gulliver's Travels (1731) 104 His Excellency, who had the sole Disposal of the Emperor's Revenue, might easily provide by gradually lessening your establishment.
1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. I. xviii. 484 For each of these princes a suitable establishment was provided.
1776 Cowper Wks. (1837) XV. 34 It will afford me some sort of an establishment, at least for a time.
1832 H. Martineau Life in Wilds vii. 94 Providing a permanent establishment for the captain as their chief magistrate.
6. establishment of a port
[Fr. établissement d'un port]: (see quot.).
1833 Herschel Astron. xi. 337 That deviation of the time of high and low water at any port or harbour, from the culmination of the luminaries_which is called the _establishment' of that port.
1875 Bedford Sailor's Pocket-bk. v. (ed. 2) 168 The time of high water at any particular place is the same on the days both of New and Full Moon, and is termed the _Establishment of the Port'.
1886 H. Godfray Astron. App. (ed. 4) 200 The interval between the instant of the moon's transit across the meridian on the day of new or full moon, and the subsequent high water, is called the vulgar establishment of the port.
 
II. Something that is established.
_ 7. a. A settled arrangement; a settled constitution or government. Also, a legal enactment. Obs.
1481 Caxton Godfrey (E.E.T.S.) 42 Helde a counseyl_of the prelates of ytalye at playsance, where he made_establischemens tamende the maners of the Clergye.
1596 Spenser State Irel. (J.), Bring in that establishment by which all men should be contained in duty.
1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. iii. (1628) 63 Aduanced to the honourable titles of Earles and Lords, with Establishment for the continuall remaining of these titles.
_1655 Vines Lord's Supp. (1677) 418 Not that I would encourage any man to break a wholsom order or establishment.
1714 Fr. Bk. of Rates 5 That so much talk'd of Establishment, call'd the Tariff of 1664.
1793 Smeaton Edystone L. _134 Our establishment respecting seamen was as follows.
b. spec. in Fr. Hist. (transl. of Fr. établissement).
1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1872) I. 244 When St. Louis enacted that great code which bears the name of his Establishments.
1873 G. W. Kitchin Hist. France I. iii. viii. 343 The royal _Establishments' or codes of law.
_ c. The _estimates' for public expenditure. Obs.
1672 Earl of Essex in Essex Papers 31 Aug., Upon the closing of the Establishment for this Kingdome [Ireland], five hundred Pounds a year were reserved with intention that if I should find cause to move the King in behalf of this City of Dublyn, it should be restored to them agen_I desire that I may have an order to insert them [the _500] into the Establishment.
8. a. The ecclesiastical system established by law; more fully Church Establishment. Hence the Establishment often occurs as a distinctive name for the established church (esp. of England, Scotland, formerly Ireland), in contradistinction to the non-established churches or sects.
[1667 J. Corbet Disc. Relig. Eng. 28 The Setling of a Nation may be made up of an Establishment, a Limited Toleration, and a Discreet Connivence, etc.]
1731 E. Calamy Life (1830) I. v. 469 There was a variety of sentiments amongst those out of the Establishment, as well as those under it.
1786 W. Pitt in Ld. Stanhope Life (1879) I. 252 It is certainly a delicate thing to meddle with the Church Establishment in the present situation of Ireland.
1795 J. Aikin Manchester 241 Chaderton contains a chapel of the establishment.
1806_31 A. Knox Rem. (1844) I. 93 These teachers have generally been found_within Establishments.
1824 Syd. Smith Wks. (1859) II. 51/1 America_has no Establishment.
1829 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 22 Half the people in England dislike the church establishment.
1869 Times Ann. Summary 306 The Irish Church Establishment has been abolished.
b. Esp. as the Establishment: a social group exercising power generally, or within a given field or institution, by virtue of its traditional superiority, and by the use esp. of tacit understandings and often a common mode of speech, and having as a general interest the maintenance of the status quo. Also attrib. Hence establishment-_minded adj., -_mindedness. Cf. anti-Establishment (anti-1 4).
Quot. 1955 is the locus classicus for this modern sense though occasional earlier uses are recorded.
1923 R. Macaulay Told by an Idiot ii. xiv. 117 The moderns of one day become the safe establishments of the next.
1936 H. Pearson Labby x. 260 They spoke the common language, the Esperanto, of the Establishment.
1945 D. Goldring Nineteen Twenties i. viii. 110 It was a head-on collision between two acknowledged leaders of the literary avant-garde and the powerful forces of what Ford Madox Ford used to call the Establishment.
1955 H. Fairlie in Spectator 23 Sept. 380/1 By the _Establishment' I do not mean only the centres of official power---though they are certainly part of it---but rather the whole matrix of official and social relations within which power is exercised.
1957 Ld. Altrincham in National & Eng. Rev. Sept. 108/2 He delivered his well-known attack on _the Establishment', a term generally taken to denote those elements in society and politics which are self_satisfied and opposed to all radical change.
1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 17 Jan. 26/3 Sir Maurice Bowra, in his dexterous résumé of what might be called the Establishment view of the ancient Greek world.
1958 Listener 6 Nov. 716/1 In Russia, Mr. Khrushchev has been trying with some success to shake up an ossified Communist Establishment.
1958 C. P. Snow Conscience of Rich xxxiv. 254 _That gang' meant the people who had the real power, the rulers, the establishment.
1959 Encounter Dec. 57/1 The charge of being Establishment-minded.
1959 C. Hollis in H. Thomas Establishment 181 The power of the Establishment_comes_from the fact that there is in all of us a degree of establishment-mindedness---that we feel it right that the opinions of such persons should have attention paid to them.
1962 Listener 8 Feb. 269/1 Always ready for a dig at the musical establishment.
1969 Mind LXXVIII. 26 Where scepticism is thorough and pervasive it is usually directed against some entrenched intellectual Establishment.
1969 Oz May 19/1 The Establishment is IBM, Xerox, the Kennedys, the London and New York Times, Harvard University, LSE, the Courts.
9. a. An organized body of men, maintained at the expense of the sovereign or of the state for a specific purpose; orig. said of the military service, but applied also to the naval and civil.
b. The quota of officers and men in a regiment, ship, etc., complement. Also in peace, war establishment; cf. 3 b.
1689 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 518 What forces shall be sent to the Low Countries_shall be continued in English pay, and on the English establishment.
1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 266 The support of the civil, military and naval establishments.
1800 Dundas in Owen Wellesley's Disp. 558 The establishment does not seem to have exceeded eighty thousand men.
1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 69 The usual establishment of officers for ships of the same class.
1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 295 These gallant brigades_had been placed on the English establishment.
1853 Stocqueler Mil. Encycl., Peace Establishment is the reduced condition of an army suited to a time of peace. War Establishment is the augmentation of regiments to a certain number_to meet war exigencies.
1884 Pall Mall G. 12 Sept. 10/2 Lieutenant-Colonel ---- formerly H.E.I.C.S., Bengal establishment.
10. An organized staff of employés or servants, often including, and sometimes limited to, the building in which they are located:
a. A public institution, a school, factory, house of business, etc.
establishment hand (colloq. stab hand): among printers, an employé on weekly wages as distinguished from one on piece-work.
1832 G. Downes Lett. Cont. Countries I. 188, I now perceived_the high road passed close to the establishment [Pestalozzi's schools].
1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. iv, We don't consider the boys' appetites at our establishment.
1842 J. Bischoff Woollen Manuf. II. 33 The British manufacturers_have been compelled to seek markets, and form establishments in_the most distant parts of the globe.
1845 Stocqueler Hand-bk. Brit. India (1854) 74 Of these establishments the Bishop's College Press, at Calcutta, unquestionably stands at the head.
1851 D. Wilson Preh. Ann. (1863) II. iv. i. 192 The religious establishment founded at Iona.
1873 Act 36 & 37 Vict. c. 76. _6 The_insufficiency of the establishment for working such railway.
b. A household; a family residence.
separate establishment: a phrase often used when it is indicated that a married man maintains a paramour.
1803 Mod. Paris, Two or three families long connected with mine, have still establishments here.
1828 D'Israeli Chas. I, II. i. 3 Even long after this period, the poverty of the royal establishment was observed.
1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. vii. 174 Her establishment was broken up, and she was sent to reside_in the household of the Princess Elizabeth.
1862 Trollope Orley F. i, His wealth would have entitled him to the enjoyment of a larger establishment.
_1891 Mod. Newspaper, Everybody but his wife seems to have known that he had a separate establishment.
 
respect (________), v.
[f. L. respect-, ppl. stem of respicere to look (back) at, regard, consider, or ad. the frequentative of this, respectare. Cf. F. respecter (16th c.), Sp. respe(c)tar, Pg. respeitar, It. rispettare.]
_ 1. trans. To respite; to put off, neglect. Obs.
1542_3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, c. 16 _ 2 Soondrye soomes of money been respected to many persones, whiche haue ben Shirieffes_vpon theyre accomptes.
1549 Duke of Somerset in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) II. 292 We_addressed our letters to you for due execution to be don_upon Paget_: which, as we be informed, is not don but respected.
1613 Purchas Pilgrimage 194 If he respect washing after these, if he be learned, he shall forget his learning.
1620 J. Wilkinson Coroners & Sherifes 10 There they respected execution of him to the intent they might procure his pardon.
_ 2. To regard, consider, take into account. Obs. (In common use c 1560_1660.)
1548 Geste Pr. Masse 76 Is it not a deadely remorse to respect the worthy clerkes in thys realme and ye greate number of them and yet not one to wryte agaynste hyr?
1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osorius 139 Not bycause it is of itselfe nothyng (if you respect the substaunce of it).
1606 G. W[oodcock] Hist. Ivstine ii. 13 For if ye respect the king, he had a great deale more wealth then valour.
1668 Culpepper & Cole Barthol. Anat. i. xvii. 45 The Kidney is shaped_like an Asarum leaf, if you respect the plane surface.
_ b. To heed, pay attention to; to observe carefully. Obs. (Frequent c 1575_1630.)
1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 317 b, I respected nothinge els, than that_I might enjoy the inheritance of the heavenly kingdome.
1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love 16 b, The cunnyng Archer respecteth more to hitte the marke, than the curious watchyng of the clouen ayre.
1614 Meriton Chr. Mans Assuring-ho. 34 He little respecteth where he clappes himselfe downe.
1662 Playford Skill Mus. (1674) 29 Respect not the fourth below, but look to your fifth above.
_ c. To regard, consider, look upon, as being of a certain kind, etc. Obs. rare.
1592 Marlowe Massacre Paris ii. v, Her gory colours of revenge, Whom I respect as leaves of boasting green.
1598_9 B. Jonson Case Altered iv. ii, To whom my father gave this name of Gasper, And as his own respected him to death.
1602 Warner Alb. Eng. xiii. lxxviii. 322 Corruption not Production should we Euelnesse respect.
3. To be directed to; to refer or relate to; to deal or be concerned with.
1563 Homilies ii. Fasting i. (1859) 284 For, when it [sc. fasting] respecteth a good end, it is a good work.
1598 Bacon Sacr. Medit., Miracles, His doctrine respected the soule of man.
1663 Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxviii. (1668) 323 The greatest wits want perspicacity in things that respect their own interest.
1704 Hearne Duct. Hist. Pref., The two parts of Knowledge which in a more eminent degree respect the Common Good and Convenience of Mankind.
1759 Johnson Rasselas xxx, Even love and hatred respect the past, for the cause must have been before the effect.
1819 G. S. Faber Dispens. (1823) I. 183 The primary question_would obviously respect the nature of that serpent.
1866 Reader July 676 The remaining part of the book respects man's position.
b. In pres. pple. With reference or regard to.
1732 Pope Ess. Man i. 51 Respecting Man, whatever wrong we call, May, must be right, as relative to all.
1782 Paine Let. Abbé Raynel (1791) 73 Respecting Canada, one or other of the two following will take place.
1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xii. 95 He could not agree with him respecting the price.
1874 Green Short Hist. ii. _8. 103 The legislation respecting ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
_ c. To resemble. Obs. rare1.
1604 T. Wright Passions (1620) 219 The heart_of man triangularly respecteth the blessed Trinitie; every corner a Person, and the solide substance your common essence.
_ d. To relate to, as regards the effect or result produced. Obs.
1614 Latham Falconry (1633) 95 This scowring_resisteth rottennesse, also it greatly respecteth the head.
1655 Culpepper, etc. Riverius Printer to Rdr., For the use of these Books respects chiefly the Poor of this Nation.
1700 Floyer Cold Baths i. ii. 36 Moistening respects the Skin, but heating and cooling shews the Effects it has on the Humours.
4. To treat or regard with deference, esteem, or honour; to feel or show respect for.
1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 34 b, He did not one whit respecte the highnes or dignitie of any parson.
1595 Daniel Civ. Wars iii. xxxviii, Which meaner wights of trust, and credit bare Not so respected could not looke t' effect.
1612 Bacon Ess., Fortune, Fortune is to bee honoured and respected, and it be but for her daughters, Confidence and Reputation.
1657 W. Rand tr. Gassendi's Life Peiresc ii. 181, I can truly bear him witness, that he most dearly respected them all.
1727 Swift Let. to Gay 27 Nov., I always loved and respected him very much.
1780 Cowper Nightingale & Glow-worm 33 Respecting in each other's case The gifts of nature and of grace.
1828 D'Israeli Chas. I, II. 298 Who could imagine that such a patriot would not be respected even by his enemies?
1879 R. K. Douglas Confucianism iv. 96 If he should be unable to govern with dignity, the people will not respect him.
refl.
1784 Cowper Task ii. 377 To such I render more than mere respect, Whose actions say that they respect themselves.
_1862 Buckle Misc. Wks. (1872) I. 112 When any class of men cease to be respected by the nation, they soon cease to respect themselves.
_ b. To esteem, prize, or value (a thing). Obs.
1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 134 Shall these papers lye, like Tel-tales here? If you respect them; best to take them vp.
1613 Purchas Pilgrimage vii. xii. (1614) 712 Iron they had not: Gold they respected not.
1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 177 They did respect gemmes more than to mangle them with cutting.
c. To treat with consideration; to refrain from injuring or interfering with; to spare.
1621 T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard 146 Death respects neither babe, young nor old, man nor woman, rich nor poore.
_1721 Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) I. 4 Who_respectest none, And neither spar'st the laurel, nor the crown!
1745 Pococke Descr. East II. 152 In the excursions which they make for pleasure they are commonly respected by the Arabs.
1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 17 Lewis had, like James, repeatedly promised to respect the privileges of his Protestant subjects.
1877 A. B. Edwards Up Nile xii. 316 A dynasty that not only lightened the burdens of the poor but respected the privileges of the rich.
_ d. To toast; to drink the health of. Obs. rare.
1708 J. Philips Cyder i. 519 Whoever tastes, let him with grateful Heart Respect that ancient loyal House.
1766 A. Nicol Poems 50 (E.D.D.), Good ale and usque ga'd about In healths, as they respected Their friends that day.
_ 5. To expect, anticipate, look (for). Obs. rare.
1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 285 b, He would in no wyse assente to that,_& herein respected no daunger.
1601 B. Jonson Poetaster ii. i, Gaine sauours sweetly from any thing; He that respects to get, must relish all commodities alike.
1623 Pemble Wks. (1635) 1, I verily suppose there is none among you, who respects to heare his owne praises; if there be, I come not hither to give satisfaction to such.
6. a. Her. Of charges: To look at, face (esp. each other).
1562 Legh Armory (1597) 46 A Lyon_is returned from his pray and taketh his rest, respecting his enemies.
1610 J. Guillim Heraldry iii. xxii. (1611) 169 Fishes are borne hauriant, both respecting each other and also endorsed.
1688 Holme Armoury iii. 28/2 A Philip and Mary shilling hath a Man and Womans head respecting each other.
1780 Edmondson Heraldry II. Gloss. s.v., When beasts, birds or fish, are placed in armory to face each other, they are, by some mod. Heralds, termed respecting each other.
1847 [see respectant 1].
_ b. To regard; to look upon. Obs.
1567 Trial Treas. (1850) 28 God doth so guide the hartes of the juste, That they respect chiefly the celestiall treasure.
1596 Thanksgiving in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1847) 668 Graciously respecting us in the merits of thy dear Son.
1620 E. Blount Horæ Subs. 115 Wise men will not view such persons but with scorn, nor respect them but with dis_esteem.
_ c. To look towards (a certain direction); to face (a specified place). Obs.
1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 4 Upon the south side it respecteth Germanie.
1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 795 That side of Malta which respecteth Sicilia, hath in it many good harbours.
1668 Culpepper & Cole Barthol. Anat. i. xvii. 47 With their sharp and lunary part they respect the kidneys.
1707 Mortimer Husb. (1721) I. 374 The Rooms that respect each particular Coast,_as those Rooms_that regard the East.
_1734 North Lives (1826) II. 104 The latter stands on a sharp cliff respecting the north.
d. intr. To face or look to or towards. rare.
1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. iv, These Ilands by a small diuision of the Sea, respect towardes the South and North.
1612 Brerewood Lang. & Relig. (1635) 96 The_east side, that respecteth toward Europe.
1864 Boutell Her. Hist. & Pop. xxxii. (ed. 3) 470 An eagle rising and respecting to the sinister.
 
religion (_________). Forms: 3_4 religiun(e, 4_5 -ioun(e, 5_6 -yon(e, -ione, 7 relligion; 3_6 relygyon, 4 -un, -ioun, 5_6 -ion; 4 riligioun, 6 relegioune; 3_ religion.
[a. AF. religiun (11th c.), F. religion, or ad. L. religion-em, of doubtful etymology, by Cicero connected with relegere to read over again, but by later authors with religare to bind, religate (see Lewis and Short, s.v.); the latter view has usually been favoured by modern writers in explaining the force of the word by its supposed etymological meaning.]
1. a. A state of life bound by monastic vows; the condition of one who is a member of a religious order, esp. in the Roman Catholic Church.
_1200 Vices & Virtues 43 Ðo ðe ðese swikele woreld habbeð forlaten and seruið ure drihten on religiun, hie fol_ið Daniele, ðe hali profiete.
_1300 Cursor M. 23049 þai_went Þaim in to religiun,_For to beserue vr lauerd dright.
1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ix. 82 Dobet_is Ronnen in-to Religiun_And precheÞ Þe peple seint poules wordes.
1390 Gower Conf. III. 317 In blake clothes thei hem clothe,_And yolde hem to religion.
_1449 Pecock Repr. v. ii. 484 In oon maner religioun is_a binding vp or a bynding a_en of a mannys fre wil with certein ordinauncis,_or with vowis or oothis.
_1500 Lancelot 1300 Non orderis had he of Relegioune.
1528 Roy Rede me (Arb.) 66 Ware thou never in religion? Yes so god helpe me and halydom, A dosen yeres continually.
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 126 Forsweare thou nothing good, but building of Monasteries and entring into Religion.
1663 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxviii. 111 Those of the country [China] repute him for a Saint, because he ended his dayes in Religion.
1765 H. Walpole Otranto iv, My father_was retired into religion in the Kingdom of Naples.
1825 Southey in Q. Rev. XXXII. 364 We must enter into religion and be made nuns by will or by force.
1886 H. N. Oxenham Mem. R. de Lisle 6 The two others_are in religion; the former entered the Order of the Good Shepherd in 1863.
transf.
1535 Lyndesay Satyre 3673 Mariage, be my opinioun, It is better Religioun, As to be freir or Nun.
_ b. man, etc. of religion, one bound by monastic vows or in holy orders. Obs.
_1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 49 þis loc ne haueð non to offren bute Þese lif-holie men of religiun.
_1300 Cursor M. 29285 Qua smites preist or clerk,_or ani man of religion,_he is cursd.
13_ E.E. Allit. P. B. 7 Renkez of relygioun Þat reden & syngen.
_1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 7 _if Þei seyn Þat Þei ben most holy and best men of religion.
1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 3192 Somme folkys of relygyon.
1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 12 To become a man of religion.
_ c. house, etc. of religion, a religious house, a monastery or nunnery. Obs.
13_ Sir Beues (MS. A) 4613 An hous he made of riligioun, For to singe for sire Beuoun.
1340 Ayenb. 41 Huanne me bernÞ oÞer brekÞ cherches_oÞer hous of relygioun.
?_1400 Arthur 488 In Abbeys of Relygyoun þat were cristien of name.
_1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. xix. (1885) 155 OÞer kynges haue ffounded byshopriches, abbeys, and oÞer howses off relegyon.
_1535 in Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. cxxi. _95 (1611) 773/1 Spoiled in like maner_as the housys of Religion hath bene.
1568 Grafton Chron. II. 144 Many houses of relygion within the Citie_were searched for goodes of aliauntes.
2. a. A particular monastic or religious order or rule; _a religious house. Now rare.
_1225 Ancr. R. 4 Rihten hire & smeðen hire is of euch religiun, & of efrich ordre Þe god, & al Þe strengðe.
_1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 52/192 Seint Edward cam_To an holi man Þat Þere was nei_ in an oÞur religion.
13_ E.E. Allit. P. B. 1156 His fader forloyne_feched hem wyth strenÞe, & robbed Þe relygioun of relykes alle.
_1400 Rom. Rose 6352 Somtyme am I prioresse,_And go thurgh alle regiouns, Sekyng alle religiouns.
1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 426/1 Saynt Rygoberte_ordeyned a relygyon of chanounes and clerkes.
1528 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 322 The exchaunge to be made bitwene your colledge in Oxforde and his religion for Saundforde.
_1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 143 This priest_was receiued into euery Religion with Procession, as though the Legate had been there.
1568 Grafton Chron. II. 194 This Religion of Saint Iohns, was greatly preferred, by the fall and suppression of the Templers.
1631 Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 114 If any professed in the said Religion were negligently forgotten.
1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 12 A Dagger, which the King of Spain sent as a Present to the Religion.
1769 Ann. Reg. 147 Some ships of the religion of Malta.
1858 Faber Foot of Cross (1872) 70 There were several false and counterfeit religions, which had troubled the church about this time.
transf.
1497 Bp. Alcock Mons Perfect. B iij, As hymself for his pryde and enuy was cast out of the holy relygyon of heuen.
_ b. collect. People of religion. Obs.
1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2812 þanne Þe religion & holi chirche worÞ ef sone ybro_t al adoun.
1375 Barbour Bruce xx. 162 Till religioune of seir statis, For heill of his saull, gaf he Siluir in-to gret quantite.
_1450 Holland Howlat 190 Alkyn chennonis eik of vther ordouris, All maner of religioun, the less and the mair.
_ c. A member of a religious order. Obs.
13_ Cursor M. 22001 (Gött), Quatkin man sum euer it es_Or laued or religiun.
1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 7557 Specyaly Þat comandeÞ he_ to bysshopes, and persones, To prestys, an ouÞer relygyons.
_1325 Chron. Eng. 527 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 292 That on partie he sende_To thilke that were povre in londe; That other to povre religiouns; The thridde to povre cleregouns.
3. a. Action or conduct indicating a belief in, reverence for, and desire to please, a divine ruling power; the exercise or practice of rites or observances implying this. Also pl., religious rites. Now rare, exc. as implied in 5.
_1225 Ancr. R. 10 Cleane religiun_is iseon & helpen widewen & federlease children & from Þe worlde witen him cleane & unwemmed.
_1250 Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 29 þer were vi. Ydres of stone_wer Þo gius hem wesse for clenesse and for religiun.
_1300 Cursor M. 12676 þis iacob_was o gret religiun, Hali liue he ladd al-wais.
1382 Wyclif Lev. xvi. 31 The holiday forsothe of restyng it is, and _e shulen traueil _oure soules thur_ perpetuel religioun.
1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 27 They eate that fleshe with great religion.
1577 T. Vautrollier Luther on Ep. Gal. 151 They that trust in theyr owne righteousnes, thinke to pacifie the wrath of God by their_voluntarie religion.
1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iii. i. (1614) 232 They vsed yet some Religion in gathering of their Cinamon,_sacrificing before they beganne [etc.].
1667 Milton P.L. i. 372 The Image of a Brute, adorn'd With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold.
1726 Leoni tr. Alberti's Archit. II. 21/2 The Ancients used to found the Walls of their Cities with the greatest religion, dedicating them to some God who was to be their guardian.
1788 Gibbon Decl. & F. xlix. V. 89 The public religion of the Catholics was uniformly simple and spiritual.
1900 R. W. Dixon Hist. Ch. Eng. xxxvi. (1902) VI. 5 The religions of the religious orders_were swept away under the condemnation of superstition and abuse.
_ b. A religious duty or obligation. Obs.
1537 St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. ii. 557 Thei thoght a religion to kepe secret, betwene God and them, certayn thinges.
1549 Latimer 5th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 135 The dutye betwene man and wyfe, whiche is a holy religyon, but not religiouslye kepte.
 
4. a. A particular system of faith and worship.
_1300 Cursor M. 18944 In Þat siquar was in Þat tun Men of alkin religioun.
1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4522 þe Iewes and cristen men,_Sal Þan_Assent in Crist als a religion.
1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 92 b, They neyther allure nor compelle any man unto their Religion.
1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iv. xi. _2 The church of Rome, they say,_did almost out of all religions take whatsoever had any fair and gorgeous show.
1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. ii. i, I wonder what religion he is of.
1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ ii. vi. _15 Whereby we plainly see what clear evidence is given to the truth of that religion which is attested with a power of miracles.
1732 Berkeley Alciphr. iv. _25 The Christian Religion, which pretends to teach men the knowledge and worship of God.
1791 Paine Rights of Man (ed. 4) 79 If they are to judge of each others religion, there is no such thing as a religion that is right.
1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 65 All religions were the same to him.
1862 Max Müller Chips (1880) I. ix. 186 All important religions have sprung up in the East.
transf.
1849 Longfellow Kavanagh xvi. 78 The memory of that mother had become almost a religion to her.
1872 Liddon Elem. Relig. i. 23 We hear men speak of a religion of art, of a religion of work, of a religion of civilization.
_ b. the Religion
[after F.]: the Reformed Religion, Protestantism. Obs.
1577 F. de Lisle's Legendarie G viij, There was a noise raised that the Admiral had endeuoured to expel the Masse, and to plant the Religion in France.
1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. 106 They againe are deuided into 13 Cantons, 8 whereof are catholike, the residue of the religion.
1642 Howell For. Trav. (Arb.) 46 They of the Religion, are now Town-lesse and Arme-lesse.
_1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xv. _153 Those of the Religion possessed them_selves with many arm'd Men of the Town-House.
c. religion of nature: the worship of Nature in place of a more formal system of religious belief.
1902 W. James Var. Relig. Exper. iv. 91 In that _theory of evolution' which_has within the past twenty-five years swept so rapidly over Europe and America, we see the ground laid for a new sort of religion of Nature, which has entirely displaced Christianity from the thought of a large part of our generation.
1961 D. G. James Matthew Arnold i. 22 The essay itself is given up chiefly to a warm exposition of her religion of nature.
5. a. Recognition on the part of man of some higher unseen power as having control of his destiny, and as being entitled to obedience, reverence, and worship; the general mental and moral attitude resulting from this belief, with reference to its effect upon the individual or the community; personal or general acceptance of this feeling as a standard of spiritual and practical life.
_1535 in Burnet Hist. Ref. (1679) I. Rec. iii. 140 That true Religion is not contained in Apparel,_singing, and such other kind of Ceremonies; but in cleanness of mind [etc.].
1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 46 b, Amonges the Suyces encreased dayly contention for Religion.
1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxv. _16 The tribe of Reuben_were_accused of backwardness in religion.
1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 20 True Religion is the right way of reconciling and reuniting man to God.
1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. xii. 52 There are no signes_of Religion, but in Man onely.
1704 Nelson Fest. & Fasts ix. (1739) 587 It keeps a lively Sense of Religion upon our Minds.
1776 Adam Smith W.N. v. ii. (1869) II. 459 So slender a security as the probity and religion of the inferior officers of revenue.
1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley iii. 45 The best part of religion is to imitate the benevolence of God to man.
1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 176 About two thousand ministers of religion_were driven from their benefices in one day.
1877 Sparrow Serm. vii. 90 True religion, in its essence and in kind, is the same everywhere.
personified.
1597 Shakes. Lover's Compl. 250 Religious love put out Religion's eye.
1607 ---- Timon iii. ii. 83 Religion grones at it.
_1652 Milton Sonn. to Sir H. Vane, Therfore on thy firme hand religion leanes In peace, & reck'ns thee her eldest son.
1717 Pope Eloïsa 39 There stern Religion quench'd th' unwilling flame.
1781 Cowper Expost. 492 Religion, if in heavenly truths attired, Needs only to be seen to be admired.
1844 A. B. Welby Poems (1867) 72 'Tis then that sweet Religion's holy wing Broods o'er the spirit.
b. to get religion: see get v. 12 d.
_ c. Awe, dread. Obs. rare1.
_1642 Bedell Erasmus in Fuller Abel Rediv. (1867) I. 78 He took a general view of most parts of Italy as far as Cumae, where (not without some religion and horror)_he beheld the cave of Sibylla.
6. transf.
_ a. Devotion to some principle; strict fidelity or faithfulness; conscientiousness; pious affection or attachment. Obs.
1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. ii. 93 When the deuout religion of mine eye Maintaines such falshood, then turne teares to fire.
1600 ---- A.Y.L. iv. i. 201 Ros._ Keep your promise. Orl. With no lesse religion, then if thou wert indeed my Rosalind.
1630 B. Jonson New Inn i. i, Out of a religion to my charge, And debt profess'd, I have made a self-decree.
1640 Habington Edw. IV 182 The ancient league observ'd with so much Religion betweene England and the Low Countries.
1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. I. Pref., An old Word is retain'd by an Antiquary with as much Religion as a Relick.
b. In phr. to make (a) religion of or to make (it) religion to, to make a point of, to be scrupulously careful (_not) to do something.
(a)
1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. ii, Let mortals learn To make religion of offending heaven.
1622 Peacham Compl. Gent. 44 Nor bee so foolish precise as a number are, who make it Religion to speake otherwise then this or that Author.
(b)
1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. v. ii. 199 By your command (Which my loue makes Religion to obey) I tell you this.
1869 W. M. Baker New Timothy 199 (Cent.), Its acidity sharpens Mr. Wall's teeth_, yet, under the circumstances, he makes a religion of eating it.
_ 7. The religious sanction or obligation of an oath, etc. Obs.
_1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. i. vi. _2 (1622) 42 Vnder the religion of an Oath.
_1645 Howell Lett. (1650) II. 117 According to the rules and religion of friendship.
_1694 Tillotson Serm. (1742) II. xxii. 65 If the religion of an oath will not oblige men to speak truth, nothing will.
1704 J. Blair in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. (1870) I. 107, I shall under the same religion of an oath acquaint your Lordships with_what I remember.
8. attrib. and Comb., as religion-complex, -dresser, -game, -making, -mender, -monger, -shop; religion-arousing, -infectious, -masked, -raptured adjs.;
_ religion man = sense 1 b.
1957 J. S. Huxley Relig. without Revelation (rev. ed.) vii. 174 Potential *religion-arousing objects.
1922 Brit. Jrnl. Psychology Oct. 117 Such complexes clearly exist in the normal mind with perfectly free access to consciousness, e.g. the _*religion complex'.
_1640 Day Peregr. Schol. (1881) 72 This new vicker was made out of an olde ffrier that had bene twice turnd at a *Religion-dressers.
1961 J. Wilson Reason & Morals ii. 120 Thus J. R. Lucas_even puts in a good word for the *religion-game.
1706 A. Shields Inq. Ch. Communion (1747) 51 Such as are_*religion-infectious, like to spread and leaven all in communion with such a congregation.
1888 Mrs. H. Ward R. Elsmere xlix, We are in the full stream of *religion-making.
_1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 57 *Religioune men alwey wonnyng in the Court,_It may wele ryme, but it accordith nought.
1633 Ford 'Tis Pity v. iii, Your *religion-masked sorceries.
1824 W. E. Andrews Crit. Rev. Fox's Bk. Mart. I. 380 The irreligious and blasphemous pretentions of those *religion-menders.
1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 366 The Antiquaries_who have searched more narrowly into this up_start *Religion-Monger.
1718 Entertainer 253 The Fathers [are represented as]_a Parcel of old passive Religion-Mongers.
1796 Southey Lett. fr. Spain 341 The fervid soul of that blest Maid, *Religion-raptur'd.
1811 L. M. Hawkins Countess & Gertrude (1812) II. xxvii. 79 Well may scoffers talk of the *religion-shops of London.
 
There is much debate about what the First Amendment means, and what the Framers intended.

Some will take the words as fits their understanding and agenda, and will ignore the wishes of the Framers.

If the English language was as exact and unforgiving as an arithmetic formula, or a computer program where there are no alternatives for completing and executing a program except what is written in code, the the language and intent of the Framers of the Amendments to the Constitution would not have been the subject of debates by legal scholars for hundreds of years.

Is it right to follow the intent of the Framers (if that could be known) directly or indirectly, or is it right to apply the words of the Constitution and subsequent Amendments to modern day thought and the changing values of our society, and perhaps to support the whim of a particular group of people who feel their rights are abridged?

Does a rise in atheism mean that we should reshape the words and intent of the Framers because they don't like the words? Should we bend the words to fit our agendas, or should we make every effort to hold sacred those words and exhaust ourselves fully to rise to the level of the Framers? Who among us has demonstrated the level and depth of knowledge and understanding that the Founding Fathers did?

I firmly believe that the Framers would not find the current Pledge of Allegiance, which is optional and not mandatory, to be in violation of the establishment clause in the first Amendment were they suddenly transported into the present from the late 18th century.

If the Pledge were mandatory, which it isn't, that would be a different matter.

I do not view the Pledge as a prayer, an act or worship, or a ritual of religion, but rather a custom and personal choice which is but a manifested expression of nationalism.

I am providing a link below to a scholarly work on the "Intellectual Origins of the Establishment Clause."

I believe this article has value if we truly want to properly follow the wishes of the Framers, who valued the rights and freedoms of human beings, those rights granted by God (their words in nearly all of their writing and thought at that time) at the highest level. The central theme of the Establishment Clause was to protect the liberty of conscience from the coercive influence of government, an idea usually first and primarily attributed to the writings of John Locke.

Any action by Government that would abridge these rights of conscience, would be prohibited.

The central issue of Constitutionality of the Prayer has to do with the preservation of rights, as the Bill of Rights is just that, preservation of rights.

Someone may state their opinion that the pledge, including the phrase "under God" violates their rights, but I have yet to see what personal right the optionally recited Pledge violates.

The Supreme Court will likely focus most on what they believe the spirit of the Founders was when they ratified the establishment clause in the first amendment, and the spirit of that clause was supporting the right of liberty of conscience.

In those days, conscience was very lively in our Founders. That was a time when a man's word meant something, when morality meant something, when God was worshiped reverently by those who were of the Fundamentalist variety, or who favored Deism.

No one would argue that the Framers and Founding Fathers were not men of strong conscience and principle.

Additionally the article shows there were no atheists among the Framers as evidence by their writings and arguments.

These men believed in God of some variety, and believed that man was inherently free to practice his own beliefs without intervention by the Federal Government.

They held the truth to be self evident, that all men are created equally endowed by their Creator with the right of religious choice.

The Constitution protects that right, the right of conscience, and the optional recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in no way abridges that right of religious freedom.

Those who eventually bring this case to the high court to remove the words "under God" will not be successful if the court adheres to the will of the Framers in my opinion.

Below is the link to the article mentioned above. It is in PDF format, and well worth the read to get a scholarly review of the evolution of the Establishment Clause up till the time of ratification.

Read the article objectively if possible, and attempt to place yourself back in those days, and then decide if the Pledge really does violate the spirit of First Amendment.

If nothing else, the article is a great lesson in a very important slice of American History, something that is most valuable to both American Citizens, and those who are not who continue to voice their opinion on this subject.

http://www.nyu.edu/pages/lawreview/77/2/feldman.pdf
 
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