Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.
Monday, May 25, 2026
Op-ed:
Ignoring 'Separation of Church and State'
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot
Factor This
an opinion piece, my opinion alone, and does not necessarily
represent the views of blogspot.com.
“I
pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands,
one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” - These
were the words of America's original “Pledge
of Allegiance” written on August 1892.* In
it there was no mention of the word “God.”
And when the “Pledge of
Allegiance” is thrown into this “rededication” mix
we find religion itself actually encroaching upon “separation of
church and state”...a founding principal of our nation...the
very principal that defines who we are as both Americans and as a
nation. Religious embellishments are not needed to define us for
embellishments are not tangible nor proven facts, but instead, in
this case, are but words of bravado masquerading behind a facade of
pretending to be facts...a dangerous and at times divisive religious
based “good vs. evil” scenario indeed.
And that, dear
reader, is indeed a fact as witnessed by proven cause and effect
scenarios that have played out in our nation's history itself. So
here let's start with the fact that no matter what some say...no
matter what some want to believe...the United States of America is
not...I repeat not...a Christian nation nor was she ever intended to
be a Christian nation. And while, in part, Christianity did help shape early American culture and ensuing morality, what was to become the actual legal
framework for our nation was most decidedly secular in nature, and
rightfully so as “separation
of church and state,” was
indeed a key factor in our nation's founding.
And so these very wise
men...and some modern day presidents as well (like JFK and Reagan) ...did deem “separation” to
be the means by
which to help ensure a stable and more diverse “Republic”...a
“Republic”
for
“all the
people” free from
the confines of what are truly overly religious zealots, rhetoric, dogma, and of
course drama. And it's drama that today tends to see certain
branches of the Evangelical movement entwining
itself not only into partisan politics,
but calling those who do not share their faith or their political beliefs
“heretics,
infidels, and evil,” while
at the same time damning them to hell, of which I myself have been a
target of.
And this is also one of the
reasons why our “Founders
and Framers” were
so adamant in their “separation”
convictions, so adamant that when the Constitution was being drafted
these same men made sure that no one religion...Christianity
included...was ever to become or even hope to become the official
religion of our nation. And this is witnessed by the fact...yes
fact...that the words “Christian,”
“Jesus,” or
“ God” appears
nowhere in either the“Declaration
of Independence” or
in the “United
States Constitution.” In
fact, the only time an official document used the word “Christian”
in relation to our new nation, was in the text of the 1797 “Treaty
of Tripoli,” signed
by then President John Adams which stated these
exact words, “the
Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense,
founded on the Christian religion.”
These men...again
these patriots...did indeed have a more what was at the time called a
“rationalist”
approach to faith itself for they jointly rejected the so called
“supernatural
elements” of
traditional Christianity while at the same time affirming a belief in
what they deemed to be but a benevolent “Creator.”
And
said “Creator”
remained
unnamed...no
words to the effect of “God”
let
alone
“Jesus”...just
the word
“Creator”
who they and their fellow “Deists”
believed
revealed himself
through “acts of
nature” solely
driven by logic and simple reasoning alone. Sounds to me like our
“Founders and
Framers” were quite
science driven in their thought processes...which again is why the
words “Christian,
Jesus, or God”
appears nowhere in any of our founding documents.
But I will say
that as a Constitutional Republican I firmly believe in the
“separation of
church and state,”
after all we as a nation never were officially dedicated to “God”
in the first place, Constitutionally or otherwise. And the words “In
God we Trust”...which
appears on our paper currency...is in no way a “dedication,”
but merely hope and wishes for divine protection...whatever protection that might be.
Earlier this month, on Sunday May 17th, at the National Mall, our nation's capital hosted an event for folks to come together in “prayer, worship, and the reading of scripture” ahead of our nation’s “250th Birthday,” to “Rededicate our Nation to God.” And while there is nothing wrong with the saying of prayers for our nation, there surely is something wrong when the “rededicating” seems to be focused on but one particular religion's view of who and/or what“God” is.
Why so...because, in my opinion, a “rededication” of this type tries to put religion not just above what is our Constitutional rule of law, but also has a possibly dangerous undertone of trying to combine a given religious ideology with power...power manifesting in some folks wishing that our nation would become a modern day version of a Christian based theocracy.
And this is why I find it odd that certain “of name” politicians today... politicians who relish in wearing religion on their sleeve only when pandering for votes at or near election time...have suddenly embraced the “God rededication,” and hooked it into our nation's upcoming “250th Birthday” celebration. Simply, we as a nation do not need to “rededicate” ourselves to “God” for to “rededicate” means we were already “dedicated to God” which, in actuality, we as a nation never were.
How so? Folks tend to forget, or simply chose to ignore the fact that a number of our great “Founders and Framers”...including Thomas Jefferson and James Madison...saw “separation of church and state” as actually being necessary to protect religious freedom, while at the same time helping to prevent government overreach into ones personal and/or religious life.
I do tend to think that both Jefferson and Madison believed then, as I have always believed, that when an individual’s private beliefs...religious or otherwise...invades what is to be civil governance that its intention is to be` divisive, and thus work to destroy instead of uniting “We the People” together.
And so the truth is that these men...these patriots...understood at the time of our nation's founding what we all should understand today, but foolishly many do not. And that is by keeping religion out of “secular” government it in turn should mean keeping government out of religion, Remember, our “Founders and Framers” hoped to assure that the new “Republic” being formed would never fall into the trap of, or morphing into, a theocracy...the very form of government that did not serve the “Old World” well...the very form of government some not so silently hope America would turn into today.
And it is this not understanding the logic behind the “separation” concept itself...coupled today with an unhealthy dose, for some, of what is but an indoctrinated fear of “hell and damnation”...that has led a multitude to want religion...in this case their particular version of only the Christian faith... brought openly back into both the public and political discourse, as well as into America's public schools.
Don't believe me...go read those very documents for yourself...go research the actual religious beliefs and practices of those men who put pen to our founding papers for it will surely surprise you...apologies accepted...as will the fact that many of our “Founders and Framers” were actually “Deists,” and not Christians in what we today consider to be the classical sense. In fact, some famous “Deists” at the time of our nation's founding included the aforementioned Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, as well as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, John Adams (who outwardly rejected orthodox Christian doctrines like the “Trinity” and “original sin”), Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and even George Washington himself who, while attending church is said to have avoided the key element of “communion.”
These men...again
these patriots...did indeed have a more what was at the time called a
“rationalist”
approach to faith itself for they jointly rejected the so called
“supernatural
elements” of
traditional Christianity while at the same time affirming a belief in
what they deemed to be but a benevolent “Creator.”
And
said “Creator”
remained
unnamed...no
words to the effect of “God”
let
alone
“Jesus”...just
the word
“Creator”
who they and their fellow “Deists”
believed
revealed himself
through “acts of
nature” solely
driven by logic and simple reasoning alone. Sounds to me like our
“Founders and
Framers” were quite
science driven in their thought processes...which again is why the
words “Christian,
Jesus, or God”
appears nowhere in any of our founding documents.
And so here let me say that I personally do not believe or feel we need to “rededicate” our nation to “God”...to what is now being deemed by most to be only the Christian version of “God” meaning in the sense of “Jesus”...for I am not a Christian nor do I want to be one, but know I am not an atheist either. My personal religious beliefs are mine alone, I find no need to make them public for I believe one's religious beliefs, or lack thereof, should be between them, their “God,” and their conscience.
However, the words
“a nation
under God“ as
stated in our
in
our current “Pledge
of Allegiance”
is not an issue, for
it is not a “dedication”
nor a “rededication”
per se, for I see it as a “reaffirmation”
to return our nation
to the Constitution...the true law of our land...the very document
whose words have been ignored and corrupted by too many for far too
long. Word semantics I know, but sometimes word semantics do need
both a semblance of justification and hence “reaffirmation.”
Case closed.
__________________________________________
Footnote
* The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by Baptist minister
Francis Bellamy (1855-1931) who understood the importance and need for a separation between church and state, and was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892.
Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Memorial Day Weekend Could Mark Next Chapter in U.S.-Iran Conflict
Scott McClallen / Townhall Tipsheet
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he couldn’t attend his son’s wedding this weekend in the Bahamas because of “circumstances pertaining to Government.”
“While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and
the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina,
circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United
States of America, do not allow me to do so," Trump wrote. "I feel it is
important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House
during this important period of time.”
Other outlets have reported that national security teams have canceled their plans for this weekend.
Earlier this month, Trump slammed Iran's response to a peace proposal. He said that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. See Xs and videos here.\
Friday, May 22, 2026
Op-ed:
On Memorial Day...And Always
By: Diane Sori / The Patriots Factor /
Right Side Patriots / Right Side Patriots Radio
Monday is Memorial Day and while many will go to the beach or enjoy a
hearty barbecue, let’s not forget the real reason for this most special
and solemn of days…a day to remember and honor those who put their lives on
the line for our beloved country…a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice
for a purpose they believed was greater than themselves…a purpose of
keeping "We the People" safe and free at home.
And while political battles continue in D.C. and across the nation, Memorial Day offers us the chance for all Americans…no matter our race, creed, color, religion, party affiliation, or whether this president is our president of choice…to unite together and remember the one thing we all we have in common...gratitude...gratitude for those who served…gratitude for the brave men and women who proudly wore but sadly died wearing our nation’s uniform…gratitude so that we can go to that beach and can enjoy that barbecue.
On Memorial Day there should be no hyphenated Americans (nor should there ever
be)…just Americans bowing their heads together in prayer as the flag of
these United States is raised throughout this great nation, and then
as it's solemnly lowered to half-staff. On this day let us remember the more
than one million American patriots who gave their lives in service to this
country. And when the flag is once again raised high at noon we must
also remember to not allow their sacrifice to be in vain for a nation that
forgets its true heroes is a nation that loses its soul.
Memorial Day is a day when we should teach our children the importance of the sacrifices made by so many to ensure their freedoms and the freedoms of generations to come.
Memorial Day is a day when many Americans will visit cemeteries or memorials
nationwide to place small flags at the base of the headstones of the
fallen to let them know they are not forgotten nor will they ever be.
Memorial Day is a day to honor the remains buried at the Tomb of the "Unknown Soldier" for while he, brave soldier whomever he may be, is home resting on American soil he is not with his loved ones, but serves as a reminder of the many who never made it home, and should remind us that there are still some left behind who must be brought home.
Memorial Day is a day when the "Pledge of Allegiance" should take on a renewed
meaning, and should reawaken in us all the realization that we do live in the
greatest nation the world has ever known, and remind us that some things are
indeed worth both fighting and dying for.
Memorial Day is a day to honor courage for while those lost in battle knew fear, they sacrificed with courage of heart and strength of conviction, something that must never be forgotten for without knowing fear there can be no courage and without courage there can be no victory. Those who gave all deemed their love of country and duty to freedom were of greater value and more important then the fears they faced in dying.
Memorial Day is a day to also honor the very freedoms those lost in battle gave to each and every one of us…the freedom we have in our beloved America to act, speak, and think as we so choose without hindrance or restraint…a freedom we intend never to lose…a freedom we will fight for with just as much passion, dedication, determination, and courage as those who sacrificed before us…for we will not allow their sacrifice to be forgotten nor will we allow our freedoms to be taken away.
No…we will never allow their sacrifice to have been in vain.
Memorial Day is a day for prayers for those lost…a day for honoring their
memories not just with tearful remembrances but also with a smile…a day
to rediscover the meaning of what our military fights and dies for…our
liberty, our safety, our individual rights guaranteed us under our
Constitution, and the continuing American story of which we all play a part in.
So on this Memorial Day I will bow my head in solemn prayer and thank and remember those who made that ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation free…and pray to God that someday…"nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)
Someday…someday soon I pray. And may God our Father Bless America today, tomorrow, and always.
Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.
(I originally published this article Memorial Day Weekend 2018.)
This
an opinion piece, my opinion alone, and does not necessarily
represent the views of blogspot.com.
Monday is Memorial Day and while many will go to the beach or enjoy a
hearty barbecue, let’s not forget the real reason for this most special
and solemn of days…a day to remember and honor those who put their lives on
the line for our beloved country…a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice
for a purpose they believed was greater than themselves…a purpose of
keeping "We the People" safe and free at home.And while political battles continue in D.C. and across the nation, Memorial Day offers us the chance for all Americans…no matter our race, creed, color, religion, party affiliation, or whether this president is our president of choice…to unite together and remember the one thing we all we have in common...gratitude...gratitude for those who served…gratitude for the brave men and women who proudly wore but sadly died wearing our nation’s uniform…gratitude so that we can go to that beach and can enjoy that barbecue.
On Memorial Day there should be no hyphenated Americans (nor should there ever
be)…just Americans bowing their heads together in prayer as the flag of
these United States is raised throughout this great nation, and then
as it's solemnly lowered to half-staff. On this day let us remember the more
than one million American patriots who gave their lives in service to this
country. And when the flag is once again raised high at noon we must
also remember to not allow their sacrifice to be in vain for a nation that
forgets its true heroes is a nation that loses its soul.Memorial Day is a day when we should teach our children the importance of the sacrifices made by so many to ensure their freedoms and the freedoms of generations to come.
Memorial Day is a day when many Americans will visit cemeteries or memorials
nationwide to place small flags at the base of the headstones of the
fallen to let them know they are not forgotten nor will they ever be.Memorial Day is a day to honor the remains buried at the Tomb of the "Unknown Soldier" for while he, brave soldier whomever he may be, is home resting on American soil he is not with his loved ones, but serves as a reminder of the many who never made it home, and should remind us that there are still some left behind who must be brought home.
Memorial Day is a day when the "Pledge of Allegiance" should take on a renewed
meaning, and should reawaken in us all the realization that we do live in the
greatest nation the world has ever known, and remind us that some things are
indeed worth both fighting and dying for.Memorial Day is a day to honor courage for while those lost in battle knew fear, they sacrificed with courage of heart and strength of conviction, something that must never be forgotten for without knowing fear there can be no courage and without courage there can be no victory. Those who gave all deemed their love of country and duty to freedom were of greater value and more important then the fears they faced in dying.
Memorial Day is a day to also honor the very freedoms those lost in battle gave to each and every one of us…the freedom we have in our beloved America to act, speak, and think as we so choose without hindrance or restraint…a freedom we intend never to lose…a freedom we will fight for with just as much passion, dedication, determination, and courage as those who sacrificed before us…for we will not allow their sacrifice to be forgotten nor will we allow our freedoms to be taken away.
No…we will never allow their sacrifice to have been in vain.
Memorial Day is a day for prayers for those lost…a day for honoring their
memories not just with tearful remembrances but also with a smile…a day
to rediscover the meaning of what our military fights and dies for…our
liberty, our safety, our individual rights guaranteed us under our
Constitution, and the continuing American story of which we all play a part in.So on this Memorial Day I will bow my head in solemn prayer and thank and remember those who made that ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation free…and pray to God that someday…"nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)
Someday…someday soon I pray. And may God our Father Bless America today, tomorrow, and always.
Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.
(I originally published this article Memorial Day Weekend 2018.)
America 250: Veterans Group Calls Upon Americans to Reignite What Unites Us
Jennifer Oliver O'Connell / RedState
On Thursday, here in the great state of Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey (R) kicked off the America 250 celebrations at the Montgomery state capital, with performances from the 151st Army band, four F-35 fighter jets flying over the event, and the unveiling of a massive commemorative American flag which will fly between the columns of the capitol throughout the Summer.
Americans For Prosperity (AFP) and their sister organization Concerned Veterans For America (CVA) are doing their part for America's 250 with an initiative called “One Small Step.” Its goal is for Americans to renew their...Read more, see X, and video here.
Iran says no deal reached yet with US as Trump keeps military option on hold
Iran said Thursday that no agreement had been reached yet with the U.S.
despite narrowing gaps in negotiations over President Donald Trump’s
latest peace proposal.
Anders Hagstrom and Emma Bussey / FOX NEWS
Iran has been reviewing the latest peace proposal from President Donald Trump as he warned that further military action remains on the table.
The outlet also reported Iran’s uranium enrichment and Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz continued to be among the sticking points.
This came as a member of Iran’s Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee told state TV that Tehran could act first to break the ceasefire if it believed a U.S. base was preparing an attack.
Fadahossein Maleki, a member of Iran’s Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told state TV, “Anything is possible.”
“It could even come from Iran’s side, frankly. If we feel that something is happening from a U.S. base, Iran has the legitimacy to respond and prevent it,” he said, according to Iran International. Read more here, with updates as they happen.
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