The American Freedom Network

Hated for His name’s sake

December 30, 2008 – 7:12 pm

You will be persecuted and they shall hate you for his name’s sake.  Many are surprised at how Christian practice of (the VAST MAJORITY) American citizens is constantly under attack by a tiny minority.  Christian Believers shouldn’t be surprised though.  Many things are shown in scripture related to His name’s sake.

 

We wonder if our atheist or agnostic friends have the wherewithal to read this until the end.

There are questions they can help us with.

A large part of this is the deliberate and systematic misinterpretation of the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  The text is simple and clear.  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.  However those who don’t want faith in any public square, school, building or anything associated with any level of government rely on a couple of myths (strange for those who deny spirituality).

1. “Separation of Church and State”.  The Constitution doesn’t mandate this and doesn’t even suggest it.  “Establishment” means the State setting up and requiring adherence to a particular religion.  This phrase was pulled from a letter of Thomas Jefferson to a Danbury Connecticut Baptist church to reassure that the government would stay out of CHURCH affairs.  Praying in school or other government office/institution isn’t an “establishment” of religion as long as people aren’t forced to participate.  All that is prohibited by the amendment is government setting up and running or mandating one particular religion/denomination (not faith).  Here is an excellent and detailed analysis of this point.  Here is more.

2. The first amendment guarantees “freedom from religion”.  This is also false.  The prohibition is on “establishment” of a State religion and a specific prohibition on government interfering with the free exercise of religion.
Not the free exercise only in a church or your home
Not the free exercise unless you hold a government job
Congress (and the Federal Government) may not require people to participate in prayer as that would violate the amendment.  However preventing others from participating is JUST AS MUCH a violation of the amendment.  So, a Coach invites his players to pray, it doesn’t “violate the Constitution” because free exercise of religion is specifically protected.  It also doesn’t “violate the separation of Church and State” because there is NO SUCH provision in the Constitution.  The Constitution doesn’t speak to perceived “endorsement” of religion by government officials (example: George Washington said while President; “The people know it is impossible to rightly govern without GOD and the BIBLE.”  Washington is clearly endorsing Christian faith and no one objected.  That is because the prohibition is ONLY on government(s) establishing a state religion.

My tenets of faith make clear that you “can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink”, so I have zero interest in requiring prayer, belief or religious practice from and for those who don’t want to do so.  In the same vein, I have no interest in having my free exercise of religion (prayer, faith, etc.) limited or prohibited by government.  In the case of coaches (teachers, judges or other government employees) they are clearly prohibited from the free exercise of religion in today’s climate.

Here is the challenge to our liberty loving friends who are atheist or agnostic (or of any faith tradition).
1.  How does being exposed to prayer harm you?  Being prohibited from prayer harms people of faith because government is prohibiting them from spiritual comfort that is important to many people
2. Other than personal selfishness, what reason do any people want “freedom from” religion.  By the way, everyone is free from religion unless they choose to participate or are unconstitutionally coerced into participation.
3. Since the historical evidence of faith and religious practices is pervasive throughout American history, why would anyone want to change it?
4. How can you justify the infringement of the rights of many for the personal preference of one (or very few).  Seems to me that would be an immature, selfish and control oriented behavior.

Dispute any or all of these.

• Teachers (or any government employee) praying doesn’t “establish” religion.  It is Congress and and State legislatures that are constrained from establishing a State religion.
• Preventing, limiting or prohibiting prayer by individuals in ANY WAY violates the Constitution.
• Chaplaincies don’t “establish” a State religion even if said chaplains are employed by government bodies.
• In God We Trust and “Under God” do nothing to “establish” a State religion.
• Christian belief is very diverse and denominational with much theological disagreement so belief in God, stating such belief isn’t an “establishment” of a State religion.  If the Congress passed a law that said all Americans will practice the Baptist Church flavor of Christian belief is what would be an “establishment” of a State religion.

Despite what the activists against Christian practices in the public sphere say, most (nearly all?) people of faith (particularly Christians) don’t:
1. want a “State Religion”
2. Want to force anyone to believe anything (because that is impossible)
3. hate people who don’t share their faith

When you “prohibit” things that do no harm because of your own selfish interests (“comfort” is the common one) you demonstrate your disdain and contempt for individual liberty and American Freedom