... even offer the affirmation "so help me God" any longer, Phyllis. And it is absolutely not required of anyone who objects.

As for the other things you mentioned, none are required in public schools, therefore cannot be subject to the kind of lawsuit brought with respect to the Pledge of Allegiance.

I doubt that most atheists would even suggest that churches should be closed. The objection in this case is to the compelled reference to "God" in a public school setting, not in a volitionally attended church. Such compulsion does appear to be a violation of the first clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution (regardless of whether one believes in "God" or not).

Although the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Baptist minister Francis Bellamy, the phrase "under God" was not added to it until 1954.

----- jim o\-S