by Stuart F. James
posted November 9, 2003
Justice Roy Moore is on a religious crusade supporting God’s Law. Justice Moore’s actions bring the issue of Government and Religion to center stage.
The controversy surrounding the issue of Government and Religion is causing an emotional debate. During this debate, many supporters of Judge Moore make two points. First, polls show that up to 78% of Americans do not have an issue with posting the Ten Commandments in public buildings. Second, many supporters of Justice Moore declare that the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the thoughts of our country’s founders establish we are a Christian Nation.
This Nation was never intended to be a Christian Nation. We are, however, a Nation of people who practice their faiths without fear of religious persecution, or government interference.
Our country is a place where people have freedom of thought, expression, and religion. The “founding fathers” did not, nor did they ever, proclaim this country to be Christian or non-Christian. Fleeing religious oppression by Government, the founders intended Government to stay out of the business of religion, allowing us to believe as we choose. The founders did, however, recognize the existence of God—a non-denominational God. This recognition of God appears limited, however, to one official document—The Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence states:
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
The Declaration recognizes God, but it does not proclaim any religion, any faith, any belief as the “official” belief of our country.
On the other hand, God is not mentioned in the Constitution—the document forming the foundation of our Government. It is a document granting rights to all individuals, it is a document establishing our right to be free, and the right to govern ourselves.
The ideals of the Constitution, and our form of Government, are clearly stated in the Preamble to the Constitution. The Preamble states:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The Preamble does not mention religion. The Constitution is not a religious document, it does not establish any religion as a national religion.
We are not a Christian Nation, but we are a nation where Christians can freely practice their faith. We are a Nation where Jews can freely practice their faith. We are a Nation where Muslims can freely practice their faith. We are a Nation where all people can practice their faith. We are a nation where people of all faiths, can coexist without fear.
Our Government is designed to keep Government out of religion. The founders clearly understood that Government and religion do not mix—the preservation of religious freedom requires government to avoid action establishing a religion as the religion of this Nation.
Under our system, we should not tolerate our elected officials proclaiming a religion as the official religion of our country, we cannot allow our government to pass laws establishing a religion as the religion of the United States, and we cannot allow our government to declare we are a Christian Nation.
Justice Moore’s actions can be interpreted as telling us that, as a Judge, he believes we are a Christian Nation. As an individual, he has the right to make such a declaration. As a Judge, he is clearly running “afoul” of the Constitution, the supreme law of the land.
As a Christian, I am thankful I live in a country where religion remains in Church, I certainly do not want elected officials, some who I did not vote for, passing laws, or taking governmental action, telling me how to believe in God, or in Christ.
I believe it is my right, under the Constitution, to believe in God, or Jesus, as I choose—not as my Government, or its officials, choose.
Stuart James
Sjames139@comcast.net
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