After the 2004 presidential election various people have been discussing ways in which many of the deep divisions in the country might be healed and some measure of unity achieved. Most suggestions have involved one side reaching out to the other; some involve one side stomping on the other.

In the Statesman-Journal, Dale Z. Kirby writes:

Our nation's pledge of allegiance contains the phrase, "one nation under God." I'm convinced the only way to national unity is for our citizens to conform their lifestyles to principles that come from deity. Some would have all Americans accept their no-faith-in-God secularism. They want the acceptance of many forms of immorality, calling on us to be "diverse." I acknowledge their diversity, but I refuse to align myself with those who call evil good and good evil...

Of course, there is no generic "deity" that has "principles" to which people can conform their "lifestyles" to. Kirby's ideas here only make any sense if we have some particular conception of "deity" and this means: a specific religion, a specific aspect of that religion, and some specific religious "authorities" to tell us that their religious tradition has to say on the matter.

Can it really be expected that everyone will voluntarily submit to what a few self-proclaimed religious authorities tell them that their god wants? No — which means that the only way that such a "national unity" can come about is through force. Thus, it seems that either Kirby expects force to be used in order to ensure that everyone follows a specific sent of religious beliefs (his, presumably) or this is just a sarcastic way of saying that national unity is impossible.

Which do you suppose is most likely?

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