ering a religious question they cannot avoid imposing their own beliefs and intruding into matters which are better left to the church and parents.The Pledge of Allegiance, which is still to this day recited in public schools, is another example of the pervasiveness of religion in the education system. The Pledge states: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The Pledge was first published Sept. 8, 1892, but the phrase, "under God", was added by an act of Congress in 1954. The issue of school prayer may never be solved as long as there are so many different interpretations of the laws regarding it.Religion has always been a very strong factor in Presidential elections. In 1960 an overwhelming number of Catholics cast their vote for John F. Kennedy, rather then Richard Nixon. This is largely because of the fact that Kennedy was himself a Catholic. The majority of conservative Protestants, on the other hand, were turned off by his Catholicism and voted for Kennedy's opponent Nixon. Particular religions can also influence which way a voter will vote. Liberal Protestants are more likely to vote for a republican candidate, Conservative Protestants are more likely to vote for a Democratic candidate, and Catholics are also more likely to vote for a democratic candidate. Religious beliefs and political attitudes are also connected, in that a member of a more conservative religion is more likely to have a conservative political standpoint, and vice versa.Religion is so widespread in our government, that it even shows up in our National Anthem. The third to the last line of the Star Spangled Banner reads "And this be our motto: ‘in God is our trust.'" A reference to God made an appearance in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as well: "...that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and...
