I am embarking here on two topics of which I am far from an expert: religion and politics.
It is not intended to be anti-Christian or anti-any religion for that matter.
It is simply some thoughts I have on how much influence our Christian majority should have in forming the laws and policies of the United States.
I get it, the founding fathers were Christian.
"In God We Trust", "So Help Me God", "God Bless America", "One Nation Under God", etc.
But I also get the concept that this country was literally created on, and because of, the religious freedom it offered emigrants from the religiously oppressive European powers that were at the time - the church.
The founding fathers had this firmly in mind as well.
So, the question is begged: is this a Christian country by definition - a theocracy? Should everyone practice Christianity? No, not according to the words of the founders and the constitution, whether the founders practiced Christianity or not.
Freedom of religion was a key cornerstone on which this country was built.
The abuse of power that the church reigned over Europe with for hundreds of years was fresh in the minds of our founders and was not about to be continued here in our new free land.
Are most Americans Christian? Yes.
Do the majority, the Christians, get to override the constitution and spirit of the law to enforce Christian beliefs and morals as mandatory for citizenship in our new land of freedom? No.
The founding fathers were clever in invoking the republic system, as opposed to the popular vote system, in that, for any purpose, mass hysteria and a majority of emotionally charged people cannot initiate a "mob rule" mentality and, for all intents and purposes, change law.
Let cooler heads prevail.
Cooler heads to this day determine that this is a land of religious freedom.
We all have the choice to worship and believe how and what we want, to question our creation and existence, and, maybe, even choose not to believe in a religion or a god at all.
While each person's belief may morally condemn a person or group based on their religious ideas, or lack thereof, the state has set itself apart from such religious dogma and is run by a set of laws, not subservient to any particular religion's morals and beliefs.
This was the intention all along and this is one of the things that separates America from theocracies around the world.
It is not intended to be anti-Christian or anti-any religion for that matter.
It is simply some thoughts I have on how much influence our Christian majority should have in forming the laws and policies of the United States.
I get it, the founding fathers were Christian.
"In God We Trust", "So Help Me God", "God Bless America", "One Nation Under God", etc.
But I also get the concept that this country was literally created on, and because of, the religious freedom it offered emigrants from the religiously oppressive European powers that were at the time - the church.
The founding fathers had this firmly in mind as well.
So, the question is begged: is this a Christian country by definition - a theocracy? Should everyone practice Christianity? No, not according to the words of the founders and the constitution, whether the founders practiced Christianity or not.
Freedom of religion was a key cornerstone on which this country was built.
The abuse of power that the church reigned over Europe with for hundreds of years was fresh in the minds of our founders and was not about to be continued here in our new free land.
Are most Americans Christian? Yes.
Do the majority, the Christians, get to override the constitution and spirit of the law to enforce Christian beliefs and morals as mandatory for citizenship in our new land of freedom? No.
The founding fathers were clever in invoking the republic system, as opposed to the popular vote system, in that, for any purpose, mass hysteria and a majority of emotionally charged people cannot initiate a "mob rule" mentality and, for all intents and purposes, change law.
Let cooler heads prevail.
Cooler heads to this day determine that this is a land of religious freedom.
We all have the choice to worship and believe how and what we want, to question our creation and existence, and, maybe, even choose not to believe in a religion or a god at all.
While each person's belief may morally condemn a person or group based on their religious ideas, or lack thereof, the state has set itself apart from such religious dogma and is run by a set of laws, not subservient to any particular religion's morals and beliefs.
This was the intention all along and this is one of the things that separates America from theocracies around the world.