I'm with you, Bill on a couple of points. Whenever they takes polls in this country it seems like 80% of the people interviewed say they believe in God. For some (maybe many) that's where it stops. It's not a lot different than saying that you believe the sun is going to rise tomorrow morning. Maybe the follow up question to "Do you believe in God?" should be "And therefor?" Just believing that someone created the Universe doesn't give me much of an idea why I'm here, or what I should be doing with my life.

I also don't see the need of posting the Ten Commandments in a public place. It's not that I would be offended if they had a religious writing of Muhammad or Buddah hung on the wall. I might or might not
read it, and if I did, I might find something in it worth reflecting on. I just think the focus is all wrong. Rather than being concerned about public prayer, if you believe in God, you should make His presence known in your home by the way you live. As they say in the black churches, "You gotta walk that walk, not just talk that talk." The way you live is the best testimony for your beliefs, whether you believe in God or not. I know many people who don't believe in God who have a strong sense of righteousness, honesty and responsibility who pass that on to their children because they live their belief.

I also think you're right that belief comes first, faith for most people takes living to grow strong.

Jerry