There is No War Against Christianity!

It’s both exciting and frustrating to be a non-believer in our society, especially in the Bible Belt. However, I feel strongly that it is important to strengthen the separation of church and state, and encourage our politicians to support policies that end religious discrimination toward non-believers.

In spite of the vehement cries of the religious, specifically Evangelical Christian community, I just cannot see how there is an “attack” on Christianity in this country. The majority percentage of Americans claim religious affiliation, primarily Christianity. There are churches on every corner, and nearly every politician has “faith” in some sect of Christianity. Christianity rules this nation. We’ve managed to return to the wishes of our forefathers in some areas of our public policies, by supporting legislation that keeps government from interfering in religion, and vice versa.

It’s my belief that we benefit most from a primarily secular society. That is not to say we would presume to require anyone to be non religious, or that we would discriminate against those who do have religious affiliation. Rather, it is thought that to remain secular in our branches of government and our educational system is the best policy.

If a specific religion is allowed to make rules and laws, or have undue influence over government or government funded entities, we risk causing offense, even to the extreme, to people of other faiths and belief systems.

To desire a secular neutrality in our government seems like the wisest choice.

Why?

First, let’s look at the simple fact that even though the message of many religions is that they are loving and accepting, they get downright brutal even amongst themselves about interpretation, dogma and how their religion(s) should be practiced. How are we supposed to choose a single religion, much less a single sect within that religion to base our laws and lifestyle upon? The simple answer is that we cannot. Rather, let us choose our laws and rules based on what fulfills the dream of “life, love and the pursuit of happiness”. One of the founding fathers, who I feel had a clear grasp of what the role of religion in government should be, made a very strong statement:

“Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error
all over the earth.” - Thomas Jefferson (Notes on Virginia, 1782; from George Seldes, ed., The Great Quotations, Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1983, p. 363.) [Sullivan-County]

The men who signed our constitution understood that it was important to make sure that the government and religion were mutually exclusive. These men had experienced true religious intolerance, and saw the damage that could be done when religion and governmental power mix. They well knew that when the government started making laws concerning religion, that eventually, the government would be come religion and religion would rule. I strongly feel that they would have wanted to prevent this at all costs. They came from many different backgrounds and faiths, yet were able to agree on the following Amendment introduced by James Madison in 1791:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

We need to preserve and uphold this idea that was put forth by our forebears. We need to make sure that those who would turn this country into one that is ruled by a single religion, or would push agendas of faith are prevented from doing so.