Columbus knew that there was no religion in the New World because there were no church spires to be seen in the villages.

Christian missionaries are still out in the world converting others to their religion, even if it means convincing hunting/gathering societies to sit still and grow sugar cane (that they won't eat) for money to buy things they don't need.

I've always viewed those who simply must convince others to convert to their way of thinking as pretty uncertain of their own beliefs, and needing external validation. The "leap of faith" they require is that made by someone else.

I stand silently during the pledge, and sit during prayers before meetings. Here in the South they abuse my good nature regularly by praying at governmental meetings. I told my kids to drop the "under god" part of the pledge, or to just stand quietly.

DougR, where are your statistics about the U.S. population and their beliefs? Polling the checkout line at Walmart? I want to see some credible numbers. There are more people in the United States who believe the pledge should stand as it has for the past half century than there are who don't. You mix your references to the point that none of your arguments can be accepted or in fact argued. Statements about the majority in this case vs the majority in the Gore election are non sequitur.

SRS