Normally, twelve to eighteen months before a presidential election, politicians begin to jockey for position. And at times it can become an embarrassing fiasco that probably leaves people in other nations wondering if all Americans are crazy.
The topic of religion always seems to be high on the list of candidate qualifications and I have found myself asking if this should be a deciding factor?
America is a nation that was founded on the freedom of religion, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. So should the religious affiliation of a presidential candidate make a difference?
Setting out to find the answer to this question, I found that there are misconceptions which are held by a great number of American citizens. I would like to address a few of these ideas and lay some of the mistaken beliefs to rest.
By large, the greatest misunderstanding that seems to be held by the general public is that the United States is a Christian Nation. This is a fallacy and I will explain why.
The United States was not founded upon Christianity; the predominant religion in America is Christianity. This is demonstrated by the First Amendment to the Constitution which reads as follows:
"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."
This is not the only example which demonstrates that the nation was not founded on Christianity. Actually there is another example that does not leave room for interpretation.
The Barbary Treaties 1786-1816
Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796
ARTICLE 11
"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
Now that we have established that the United States was not founded on Christianity. We should look at the religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers.
Thomas Jefferson wrote: "The God of the Old Testament -- the God which Christians worship - Jefferson pronounces "a being of terrific character - cruel, vindictive, capricious, and unjust" (Works Vol. IV. page 325).
"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." (Works Vol. IV. page 365).
Jefferson was not the only founding father to hold a religious view known as Deism. The list is to include George Washington, James Monroe, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison.
This is not to say that these men did not attend church at all or even that they despised Christianity. On the contrary, George Washington accompanied his wife to church quite often according to historical record. But Washington would leave before communion and there is no record of him ever participating in the ceremony.
Knowing that the Founding Fathers worked diligently to insure that there was a wall built between church and state. I believe that they would hang their heads in shame if they could see that we have not maintained that barrier very well.
Today we have politicians that hold prayer meetings during their campaign for election. Mingling their interpretations of biblical doctrine with what they feel public policies should be.
There are groups that accuse the current president of being Muslim, as if he does not have that right, if he so chooses. As long as he separates his religious beliefs from his governmental duties this should not be an issue.
We have Christian and Jewish groups that lobby our government on a daily basis. Most of which are demanding that the U.S. Government give full and unwavering support to the government of Israel. While the government in question works hard to maintain an Ethnic Democracy in that country. This is a form of government that treats people of other religions as second class citizens.
I do not believe that the Founding Fathers of our nation would support or assist any foreign nation's government in establishing an ethnic democracy, based on Old Testament ideologies. This would go against the principles that they put forth and undermine the idea of the separation between church and state.
This wall that our forefathers built between the church and government should not be viewed in the same light as the wall which once stood in Berlin. This wall is something that we should embrace and reinforce on every possible occasion. Tearing it down will not unite a people but rather it will destroy a nation.
The thirteenth president of the United States offered some words of wisdom that perhaps we should reflect upon.
"I am tolerant of all creeds. Yet if any sect suffered itself to be used for political objects I would meet it by political opposition. In my view church and state should be separate, not only in form, but fact. Religion and politics should not be mingled." Millard Fillmore (1809-1865)
So to the great nation of America I say, enjoy the freedoms that you have. Worship the God of your choosing, in the manner you see fit. But please honor our Founding Fathers and check your religion at the door before you enter the arena of our government.
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