A Christian Nation?

The First Amendment :


"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
 
There is a major debate in current American politics over the “Wall of separation” that is believed to be established in the Constitution. However, I find no such use of the words concerning religion in my reading of the Constitution. I do believe that our Founders had no intention to establish their religion, for they just rebelled against a tyrannical country that had done so. However, there is a fine line between establishing a religion and acknowledging God. I believe that all people, even those in authority, have the right to acknowledge God in public, and see no crime committed in doing so.

First, I will agree with Washington, as he says, “happily the government of the United States ... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. ... Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.” He makes a very valid point and sets the precedent that those that are persecuted can seek safety and those that persecute will be brought to justice. I see no problem in the government protecting the right to a person’s religious beliefs and even going to the point of punishing others for harming them. I see great promise in a government that will allow me to worship freely and protect me from the persecution of others.

Next, I believe that people should be able to acknowledge God in public circles. In many of the Founders’ opinions, they sought that they should acknowledge God in public, but this was not establishing a religion as some may say. In Washington’s inaugural and farewell addresses he opened with an acknowledgement of God, prayer. He also added “So help me God” to all of the oaths administered to those in public office. James Madison also expressed his confidence “in the guardianship and guidance of that almighty Being, whose power regulates the destiny of nations.” There is a clear desire that the state should acknowledge God, but not establish a religion in doing so.

Finally, I see no problem in displaying the Ten Commandments in public circles. There are many that disagree and claim that it is breaking the Establishment Clause, but there is no religion established in doing so. In the cases I have seen, the Constitution did not apply to the public officials on trial because they were Supreme Court justices, and the law only applies to Congress. Also, this is not religion that we are speaking of, it is the foundation of moral law. On the monuments I have seen, the text is stated as, “The Laws of Nature and Natures God,” which should not be problematic, for the words are pulled straight from the Declaration of Independence, the very document from which the Supreme Court came to the conclusion in 1892 that we are a Christian nation.

In conclusion, I believe that everyone, including civil magistrates, should be able to acknowledge God in public circles. I find it interesting that our Founders had no problem in the acknowledgement of God and even put their beliefs into practice. I believe that there is a misunderstanding all too often of the definitions of acknowledgement and establishment, and people should be made aware of the fact that these two mean totally different things. I fully disagree with establishing a religion, for this is one belief our country was founded upon. However, this does not take away the rights of the people to acknowledge God. We need to continue to stand for our Founders’ beliefs and uphold their convictions, for even those apply to us today.