The best way to understand where we are today, and where we might be headed tomorrow, is to look at where we came from yesterday. That is particularly helpful for all parties in the ever-growing argument as to whether America is, was, or will be a Christian nation.
Of course, as we all have experienced, religion, and especially Christianity, has been used as an excuse for putting others in their place, as a call to arms, and as a justification for getting what we want from those less strong and not part of a particular brand of Christianity. Catholics, Protestants and Evangelicals all have ideas on how the world should center on their own beliefs and interpretations.
Christianity in America has served numerous political causes since July 4, 1776. These have included both legalizing persecution by some and aiding runaway slaves by others. We fought Nazis, Communists and their ilk, because it was the Christian thing to do.
Going back to America’s formative years during colonization, every type of religious group came to America so that each could practice its own religious beliefs without the threats of kings, popes and other strong-arm European and Asian leaders. Then, of course, rivalries among these same groups sprung up across the new land.
When the Constitution was written, it was based on Christian principles, but not the practice of Christianity or any other religion. In fact, the First Amendment to the Constitution states that everyone in the United States has the right to practice his or her own religion, or no religion at all.
Our country’s founders were of varying religious backgrounds and felt that the better way to protect religious freedom was to keep the government out of religion. That’s the reason for the First Amendment to the Constitution and its guarantee of separation between church and state.
This separation has served us well. Other countries have had to deal with armed conflicts between various religious factions, but we have avoided much of that in the U.S.
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The First Amendment has two major clauses.
The first is the Establishment Clause that prohibits the government from encouraging, promoting or establishing religion in any way. That’s why Christianity is not the official religion of the United States, and why our government may not give financial support to any religious organization, including school voucher programs that favor schools that promote religion.
The second is the Free Exercise Clause that gives us the right to worship or not as each of us chooses. The government can’t penalize us because of our religious beliefs.
Our American freedom of religion has been challenged repeatedly throughout our history. In 1801, a group of Baptists felt compelled to lobby president-elect Thomas Jefferson complaining about having to pay fees to support the Congregationalist majority. These Baptists felt compelled to lobby for religious freedom in spite of the Constitution’s guarantees. They argued to make all religious expression in America a fundamental human right and not a matter of capricious government approval at will.
This resulted in Jefferson writing that the First Amendment’s original intent established a “wall of separation between church and state.” This phrase has for 200 years become a major constitutional bulwark. Jefferson was clear about his support for religious freedom, “(I)t does me no injury for my neighbor to believe in twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
Differing views of Christianity erupted in the arguments over slavery which came to a head and resulted in our Civil War. Today’s ideas about America’s founding as a Christian nation originated from these efforts during the 1800s to overcome secular principles and constitutional guarantees that were essential to America’s founding. And as communication methods began to mature in the 1950s, so did the arguments for Christian nationhood particularly among evangelicals.
It all seems so simple. But it is not. The Supreme Court decreed in Lemon v. Kurtzman three tests to determine when a government act or policy unconstitutionally promotes religion. To pass muster, a policy must have a non-religious purpose; not promote or favor any particular set of religious beliefs; and not overly involve the government with religion. Not everyone is happy with the results.
We are pulling on various ends of the rope. Today the Supreme Court has veered to the right and could well threaten our freedom of religion. This would be to the delight of those who wish us to believe and worship as they would dictate. Others continue to push for the status quo of religious freedom.
A smattering of what’s at stake can be put in real terms.
Is it OK to teach religion in public schools? Public schools are run by the government and must follow the tenets of the First Amendment and can not promote religious beliefs or practices.
Is it OK to start a day, meeting or class with prayer? Anything that promotes religion violates the First Amendment. However, individuals have the right to pray whenever they want provided others are not disrupted or forced to pray.
What happens if a community unanimously votes to include religion in school activities? Every one of us is guaranteed rights under the Constitution. And one of these rights is freedom of religion. Nothing changes that except a change to the Constitution.
The Founding Fathers did not want the American government to be Christian or any other religion, for that matter. They made it clear in the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli.
The Treaty of Tripoli announced clearly and succinctly to the world that “the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” The document was initiated by George Washington, signed by John Adams, and ratified unanimously by the Senate, which included a majority of signers of the Constitution.
Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, Shippensburg University Trustee, and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. eLynxx software coordinates and drives communication, specifying, approval, procurement or production, reporting and activities necessary to obtaining direct mail, marketing materials, promo and all other printing. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at [email protected].
