Yes, Virginia, There is a Separation of Church and State

Bill of Rights Day is December 15th.  

I support the constitutional separation of church and state.

No state should ever officially endorse any particular religion, including any denominational strain within any religion.  Because, let's be clear - those who wish to impose Christianity upon the state and nation don't mean Christianity as a whole.  Almost all of them are referring to a right-wing White Evangelical version of Christianity, one that may bear little resemblance to what many of the rest of us would recognize as Christianity.

There is prayer in school.  Just not teacher-led or class-led prayer.  That would be an endorsement by the state for a particular faith.  And that would be wrong.  Again, the prayer that many want to insert is not even Christian prayer, but a Christian Right prayer.

An earlier fervor to impose religion on the government occured in the 1950s, a reaction to challenge atheistic communism.  In God We Trust was placed on our money.  The Pledge of Allegiance had "under God" inserted in to it (ironically originally written by a Baptist preacher who did not include a reference to God).  Should a religious declaration be included in a civic pledge?  No. probably not.  I simply do not say that part of the pledge when I repeat it.  That may upset some people.  Too bad.  It upsets me that it's there, but I consider it a de minimis  intrusion of religion, and not worth the political capital to challenge.

Religious leaders are gaining more and more traction to express themselves politically.  The current administration have relaxed rules that prevent this interference, at least from their side of the aisle.  Religious institutions get tax free status.  This is hard to swallow when they are allowed to endorse and promote specific political parties.  One church around here, one that prides itself on being more "hip" and "modern" and supposedly tolerant than some, passed out a voting pamphlet that made it clear that godly people should find it next to impossible to vote for a Democrat.

It's also hard to justify the tax-free status when you see church leaders purchasing luxury jets,  building expensive cathedrals, or denying service to the poor and disadvantaged (especially during a natural disaster like a hurricane).  But you know, theoretically, there is that separation.

This is not to say that religiously inspired moral thought should not be a part of the civic society.  Religion shapes our morality, and that is reflected in our laws.  We want to punish and rehabilitate those who commit crimes. We want to aid the poor and disadvantaged.  We want to see the government work to make a better society for all.  To paraphrase from President Reagan (and the Bible), we want to build that shining city on the hill, and we want to extend it around the entire world.

What we cannot endorse is discrimination and hate in the guise of religious liberty.  It is a direct violation of the constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our sense of civic decency.

It's true.  My own sense of faith does not accept that kind of discrimination - mine is a faith of tolerance, openness and love.  So, for me, it's a no-brainer.  That may not be true for you.  That's too bad, because you still can't impose your religious will on others.  At least, you shouldn't be able to.  That, my friends, is NOT a de minimis intrusion of religion.


Here's a special thought.

Had the founders been inclined to allow the infusion of church and state, I can tell you what the majority of states would have chosen as the state religion - Anglican.  Which is identified as  Episcopalian in America.  Which is my denomination choice.

You're welcome.