Freedom of (and from) religion essential to our national vibe
America is not a "Members Only" club
Recently, the Texas legislature passed a bill requiring public schools in the state to display the 10 Commandments in a prominent location in every classroom.
The King James version, that is, which is different from the Douay version adhered to by Catholics. It’s not the Talmudic version observed by the Jewish faith. Neither is it the version taught by the so-called orthodox denominations.
Just the KJV version, the one observed by protestant evangelical churches.
Also missing from the Texas lawmakers’ legislation is any mention of the five precepts of Buddhism (prohibiting the killing of humans or animals, theft or fraud, sexual misconduct, false and malicious speech, and intoxication), or the five pillars of Islam (profession of faith, prayer, giving to charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca).
What the Texas legislature has done is proclaim a protestant Christian interpretation of the rules handed down by God as being the only version acceptable.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the 10 Commandments, whichever version your religious tradition teaches. They are good rules to live by.
But Texas Republican state Sen. Phil King said, “(The bill) will remind students all across Texas of the importance of the fundamental foundation of America.”
Was Christianity really the foundation for our nation? Were the “founding fathers” Christian?
That depends on what is meant by “founders” and “Christian.”
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, most were baptized, listed on church rolls, married to practicing Christians, and frequenters (or at least sporadic attenders) of services of Christian worship. In public statements, most invoked divine assistance.
That being said, the truth of the matter is that most of the “founders” adhered to a philosophy known as “theistic rationalism,” a belief system holding that the main factor in serving God was living a good and moral life, that promoting morality was the central value and purpose of religion, and that religion was indispensable to society because it engendered morality. They believed that virtually all religions fulfilled that purpose – not just Christianity. That is why they promoted freedom of religion. Theistic rationalists rejected most of the fundamental doctrines of biblical Christianity, including the deity of Christ, the Trinity, original sin, the atoning work of Christ, justification by faith, eternal punishment for sin, and the inspiration of Scripture.
In a paper written by Dr. Greg Frazer, Professor of History & Political Studies at The Master’s University, a college teaching what they call a “biblically centered curricula”, America was never intended to be a Christian nation.
“Not a single Founding Father made such a claim in any piece of private correspondence or any document. If they had, it would be blazoned above the entrances of countless Christian schools and we would all be inundated with emails repeating it,” he wrote.
Rather, he suggested the founders were religious men who wanted religion – not necessarily Christianity – to have significant influence in the public square.
Religion is a personal matter. It is not something to be thrust down the throats of people who hold different beliefs. Americans have a constitutionally guaranteed freedom to worship, or not worship, as they choose.
Lawmakers who promote a specific religious viewpoint in public arenas like schools violate the very spirit of freedom of, and from, religion on which this nation was created.
America is a free country for Christians of all denominations, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Shintoists, Druids, Atheists, Agnostics, and everyone else.
It’s not a “Members Only” club.
Freedom of (and from) religion essential to our national vibe
I wouldn't belong to a club that would have me as a member.