In today's society, we are faced with many complex issues. Debt, security, safety, freedom, guns, and religion are some of the hot buttons that spawn numerous responses. The founding fathers when they constructed the Constitution, had debt from the revolutionary war that they dealt with by paying it off. They were a fledgling nation and as such made the alliances necessary to preserve the safety and security of the new republic. Freedom was a driving force behind what they fought for, so they forged the document to preserve it as best as they knew how. And guns, well everyone had them, used them and saw the value of preserving the right to have them. Religion is a topic that when it comes up is likened to politics, and should not be discussed between friends.
Why are we uncomfortable talking about religion? Most people have an inner belief in a higher authority. There are also that choose not to participate and those that deny it altogether. What is common to most people is a desire to believe what they want and not have to defend or argue it. Where it gets even more interesting is when the government decides to get involved. Religion and its place in modern society, especially when government is involved, is an uncomfortable subject because of the variety of opinions. Because it involves opinions it is often difficult to come to a consensus and often invokes emotion in both parties.
The phrase "separation of church and state" comes from a letter from Thomas Jefferson over concerns that the federal government would allow religions to be forced out by a religious majority. While it has been quoted by courts, the term is not found in the body of the constitution and is covered by both the establishment clause and the free exercise clause. The legislature "should make no law respecting the an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
Thomas Jefferson wrote "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time" and asked ‘Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God?’". He believed in a higher power and argued a separation.
Modern interpretation of this amendment has moved into a direction that bans all things associated with religion from things and locations associated with the government. This invocation of a separation of church and state has prompted an attempt to remove God from our currency, our courts, the national anthem, and all things associated with government. The fallacy here is that this is a nation founded on the right to believe. The Declaration of Independence states that, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights". Creator is capitalized by the writers because it represents a higher power. The foundation of our freedom and ability to debate comes from a power higher than ourselves. The magnitude of invoking a Creator give a weight and supremacy to our rights that will not allow governments or men to deny us.
God as a term is found nowhere in the Constitution. This does not mean that the founders were atheist or nonbelievers, but that they were creating a document that they hoped would last and could be referenced by countries where other faiths and belief structures were found. And once the freedoms found in the Bill of Rights were adopted the people would enjoy the freedoms found there. To invoke Judeo-Christian traditions would limit the historical power of the Constitution as those traditions would not translate well to other faith based countries. The importance of the Constitution to the world still being felt today. Iraq used it as a reference when drafting their Constitution.
The argument that persists is the the government should not endorse Christianity over another religion and therefor should not have any references to Christianity. There are people trying to get crosses off highways, 10 commandment references out of courts, In God We Trust off the money and the Pledge of Allegiance out of our schools. The Constitution does not create a separation of church and state but rather prohibits and establishment of a government sponsored religion. It does not guarantee freedom FROM religion but rather a freedom OF religion.
Once again friends and families should never discuss religion or politics, especially if there are conflicting views. This is because when it comes to religion, it is faith based and therefor has no clear cut right and wrong position. And politics because if one is not conservative, they are wrong, and liberals don't like being wrong. :)
