Michael van der Galien
Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Constitution: "Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven."
Lord our Heavenly Father, High and Mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these our American States, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent on Thee, to Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give; take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle! Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst Thy people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. all this we ask In the Name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.
Amen."
The First Prayer offered in Congress
September 7th, 1774 by Jacob Duche in Carpenters Hall, Philadelphia
They have prayed from the very start. To remove it saying it is in breach with the U.S. Constitution requires a whole new interpretation and a twisted disregard for history and tradition.
If you're atheist, you consider the prayer cultural at best, silly at worst, but nothing to ban considering that you don't believe they are praying to anything. Only an atheist extremist would advocate dropping the inaugural prayer considering its long standing tradition, cultural and, to many, religious significance.
Atheists can just be quiet, look the other way for a couple of minutes and... done.
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