So far, we're still allowed to pray in public

Michael Newdow claimed that a prayer at President George W. Bush’s inauguration would violate the constitution by forcing him to accept unwanted religious beliefs.

Chief Justice William Rhenquist disagreed, so for now a prayer will be included in the inauguration.

Two lower courts also rejected Newdows request to ban prayer, according to Yahoo! News, stating that he could not prove actual injury by hearing the prayer.

People never cease to amaze me.

In what way does Bush’s freedom to express his own beliefs at his own inauguration force Newdow to accept unwanted beliefs?

I don't think people mocking God in more and more TV shows and movies is forcing me to accept unwanted beliefs. Despite barely being able to watch anything that doesn't insult my intelligence for believing in God, I manage to maintain my beliefs just fine.

Newdow's belief system must be pretty weak if the simple act of hearing someone pray - which is optional by the way. It's not like you're chained to the TV - will force him to accept anything.

Before I get a comment from my totally unbiased reader, Toad734 - who hates my columns so much he finds the time to read every one of them – let me just say this. If we ever elect a Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish or atheistic president, then I will be more than happy to let him pray to whomever he chooses and in whatever fashion (unless it includes stoning me for not having my hair covered) without claiming he is forcing my conversion.

I will also not accuse him of trying to establish a theocracy (that is unless makes Islam the national religion, in which case I won’t have much say anyway – I’ll be too busy trying to raise 10 kids from under my veil, while splitting chores with my husband’s other two wives).

Really that’s not the point of this article though. I’ve come to a realization.

We will win a few points for our religious freedom, and our opponents will win a few points in their quest to stifle it.

People will continue to do cruel, tragic things to other people. People in general, however, will continue to love good. Insane people will still win sometimes, no matter how illogical or tyrannical their arguments may be. The world will continue on its path to destruction.

I sincerely believe that in the near future one of two things will happen. One by one we will lose our religious rights – therefore weeding out those of us who are not serious about our faith, and awakening others to its importance – or there will be a huge revival.

And then we will lose our religious rights. We’ve already seen that it only takes a few to suppress thousands. It doesn’t matter that much what the majority thinks.

We’re nearing the end, and in the end, Newdow’s knee will bow right along with the rest of us. But he will be having considerably different feelings than I will at that time I imagine.

So what do we do in the meantime?

We must continue to strive for revival, reach out to the lost, gather the harvest and above all love each other deeply, for love covers over a multitude of sins.