With all the talk and controversy over the recent court decision on Congress' 1954 tampering with the Pledge of Allegiance, the issue of the US government respecting an establishment of religion is all over the news now.
There is no doubt that the US government has respected an establishment of religion on several fronts; specifically the Christian religion.
For starters, let me make it absolutely clear, I am not "Christian Bashing" nor am I anti-Christian. Secondly, it needs to be reinforced that the United States was never founded on Christianity and was never meant to be a Christian nation. It just so happens, that, over time, Christianity has become the predominate religion in America. And that's fine. As long as I'm alive, Christianity will have a place in America; as well as Judaism, Islam, atheism, paganism and every other religion, "ism", "anity" or otherwise! I'll fight for all religions being able to practice their faiths (as long as they don't try to pass laws based on those faiths to force others to comply).
America is for all religions! And that is why the government cannot make laws based on certain religion's viewpoints. But they have. And across the board, those laws originate from current objections from the Christian religion. For example:
Some American Indians use Peyote in certain of their religious ceremonies. The US government has outlawed that practice. Ever think the government would outlaw wine during Christian services? (And no, sacramental wine was not outlawed during Prohibition).
Rastafarians use marijuana in their religion. The US government has outlawed that practice. Very few Christians have a problem with this law--because alcohol, not marijuana is their drug of choice for their rituals.
Certain states in the US still have "Blue Laws" that outlaw the sale of alcohol and even cars on Sunday. Ever wonder why Sundays? Friday is the Holy Day for Muslims, Saturday is the Holy Day for Jews, and Sunday is the Holy Day for Christians. Beginning to see a pattern here?
Nude dancing and other forms of "adult entertainment" is heavily regulated and/or outlawed by the US government. The only reason is for religious reasons-specifically objections from the Christian religion.
Gambling? The majority of Christians are against it. Result: It is illegal nearly everywhere.
Prostitution? The majority of Christians are against it. Result: It is illegal nearly everywhere.
Certain sexual acts between consenting married couples are illegal in several states. The only reason for their illegality in the first place is Biblically based. The last time I checked, the Bible was the Holy Book of Christianity.
Remember the failed social experiment of Prohibition? Guess who was behind getting that passed into law? The Christian temperance movement.
And whether you choose to accept it or not, when the Congress of the United States introduced a bill, and the President of the United States signed that bill into law mandating the words "under God" to be included in the Pledge, then that was respecting an establishment of religion. It may seem petty. But from a Constitutial stanpoint, it is true. The same Constitutional nitpicking that saw to it that Bush prevailed as the lawful President of the US applies across the board-even to items and events you may not agree with.
Churches, homes, private businesses and individuals can have all the religion they want. No one is saying they can't. And if the government ever does try to say they can't, I'll be on the front line fighting for your rights! But once government gets involved in the religious business of telling people what they can and can't do from a faith-based criteria, then history has shown no good can come from that-either for he government or for the religion (and especially not for anyone unlucky enough to have the "wrong" faith!)
Once again, I must stress: I have nothing against Christians. I will be the first to admit that the Christian religion has done many, many fine things, and continues to do so. The same temperance movement that helped ban adults from imbibing in a drink now and then can also take the credit for helping to end slavery. Modern day Christian churches offer charity programs that rival any welfare program by the federal government. Christian and religious schools outperform every single government school in the nation. Christian churches offer support, counseling and other much-needed social services that are better than any government agency. Those are fantastic, worthy and noble endeavors. My hats off to them and all Christians for the many fine things they do for society and humanity.
The only time a problem arises is when any religion uses the police power of the state to enforce its religious doctrines, feelings, and morals on everyone else, including people who may not be of that religion. It was my understanding that Christianity was about peaceful, voluntary acts. Since when is using the police power to force others to obey certain religious doctrines very peaceful-or Christian?
How would Americans like it if Jewish legislators banned people from eating pork?
How would Americans like it if Muslim legislators passed a law forcing all American women to cover their faces out in public?
I know that since the vast majority of Americans are Christian, they either can't see or refuse to see anything wrong with the US government endorsing several aspects of their religion. But Christians are making a deal with the devil when they ask the government to pass laws based on certain Christian tenants. It may feel good to know that your one religion is being tacitly endorsed by the government. But don't think for an instant that the government will always respect your doctrines. Just look at history:
Remember the Christian church of the Branch Davidians? Look at what the government did to them. Lesson? The government will always supercede your religion--with deadly force if the goverment so decides!
Churches which, as 501(c)(3) tax exempt entities, are not supposed to engage in political activity or else they lose that tax-exempt status. However large, mainstream ones like the Presbyterians can lobby every election year for more and bigger government control without the government saying a word. Yet smaller independent churches that try to lobby for less government, get their tax exempt status yanked in a heartbeat. Lesson? If your church go against the government, your church loses!
So to all Christians (and everyone else), please think twice about having the government mandate your religion and its tenants as law, using the government to enforce them. Like it or not, the US is a secular nation when it comes to our government. And that simply means that you are allowed to practice you religion along with all the others that decide to practice theirs here as well-and the government can't force your religion on others. Because if they do that today, then that just means that tomorrow, they may be forcing a different (or no) religion on you!
What can I say? Life is a b*itch, and then . . . you die!
Seriously, you have managed to hit on the theme of hypocrisy re religion quite well, and you began to tickle the lack of religious freedom in practice. Yet, you miss a few things. For example, it is becoming undesirable to have a tenant who would dare to hold a two-hour weekly Bible study, and I know that when I was a dismissed teacher in a federal court trying to get back my position, re what I said to a religious student privately, the judge asked, "How does that advance educational goals?" Flip a coin: it is becoming increasingly obvious that we never know when and where we will find corruption in the good old U.S.A. Therefore, we can expect 1) a series of misinterpretations of the Constitution's preservation of religion and 2) the powers that be's perversion of its practice. The new move in America is intrusion.
