Growing up in a Christian
family, I was introduced to the idea that this is a Christian nation, based on
the fact that was the original intention of our forefathers, and that any
deviation from their plan would be sacrilege to our creator and to our forefathers.
Americans who identify themselves as Christians have very strong feelings on
this issue as well as other controversies such as separation of Church and
State, prayer in schools, posting the Ten Commandments at court houses, and
other such debates. However, why is this a debate when clearly this is the
wrong mentality.
Firstly on the first claim that
this is a Christian nation, which would suggest that Americans uphold the
virtues of the Holy Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Contradictory to this
assessment, this nation also claims that there is freedom of religion. Are we
only free to worship Jehovah within the different sects of Christianity?
Whenever the debate the
Separation of Church and State surfaces, those against are quick to say that there
is no mention of this phrase within the Constitution or any other living
document of the United States. True that the constitution does not use this
phrase but anyone who is even reading the document poorly will come across the
First Amendment, yes the very first amendment, which states: “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.” Not only is it the First Amendment but it's the first
mention within the Amendment. It clearly states that congress, our government,
shall not establish a religion nor inhibit the practice thereof. If only there
were simpler language to describe this, perhaps “Separation of Church and
State.”
Previously, it mentioned that
“no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or
public trust under the United States,” which I've went out of my way to find
for those who have difficulty reading long documents without coloring pages in
between. There are as well several documents from Thomas Jefferson, one of our
precious forefather, from United States Supreme Court cases which he implores
that such a device should be put in place to be sustain a free country.
Concerning the forefathers,
critics of separation of Church and State will quickly point to the forefathers
being Christians setting up a Christian nation for future generations to enjoy.
Once again, they fail to put any research into this as the majority of the our
forefathers are actually proclaimed deists, which is a fancy word for the
belief that a creator formed the heavens and earth, then went off to catch
Saturday morning cartoons and could care less about us insignificant humans.
It's a metaphysical belief that atheists and agnostics alike would be all right
with, not wild about it but they wouldn't be angry either. This is not to say
that there were not any Christian forefathers but to say that the vast majority
of the forefathers would surprise Christians.
Proposing that the Christianity
right wing still have a leg to stand on, they'll continue to state that their
children aren't allowed to pray or read the Bible in schools. Firstly, if they
were concerned about this, send your children to the schools where they teach
children the earth is only four-thousand years old and that Moses led the
Jewish people to the promise land on the back of a triceratops. Secondly, these are not
prohibited as your child is still able
to read his or her Bible during recess and can talk to God when no one else
wants to play with them. True that the school will not designate time for
prayer and Bible reading during their regiment, after all nap time is much more
important. This is to uphold Separation of Church and State as to not offend
the other children who may hold other values different from your family.
This is no way in shape or form
to offend the Christian religion, even though its a guarantee that they'll be
offended anyways and reject any of the information provided, but to show that
there is no established religion in the United States and it certainly is not
Christianity, nor should there ever be. There even more evidence that I could include
in here to support separation of Church and State. But why does this even
matter? Isn't Christianity and any other religions uphold morals that we can
all agree upon? Yes, however, there are others that are restricting us such as
prohibiting homosexuals getting married and stem cell research. It's
frustrating that when presented truth and factual evidence, religious
supporters will call with their Bibles, which they have not read thoroughly,
and misconceptions, such as the ones discussed, and hold this nation back.
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