Marching Toward Theocracy

Marching Toward Theocracy

I know everyone has heard of the First Amendment of the Constitution: “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.”  The part I really want to concentrate on is the “establishment of religion” part.  I really believe in the concept of freedom of religion, but I also agree that this meant freedom from religion.  I know that a lot of my “conservative” or “religious” fellow Americans have a very different view, most insist that our founding fathers meant to establish a “Christian” nation.  

My response is but the first words are “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,”  so would the founding fathers put this in the constitution just to fuck with us?  (I apologize for the vulgarity).  I am no constitutional scholar, but it seems clear to be that our government on any level, should not establish an “official religion”.  Recently,  I finally read the Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421, 1962 case that ruled on public school prayers.  For those who don’t know it, the facts are that New York state law required that public schools start each day with the pledge of allegiance and a “nondenominational” prayer (.S. Courts.gov.).  The US Supreme Court voted 8-1 that this law did violate the “establishment” clause of the first Amendment. Justice Black, who wrote the opinion, stated “...that religion is too personal, too sacred, too holy, to permit it unhallowed perversion.” (Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421, 1962, https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/370/421) In other words, religion is too personal for many Americans for government to get establish a religion.  This, in my view, does not only include school prayers, but in applies to every aspect of American government.  We walk a dangerous line with establishment of any religion.

Today, I read that the Trump Administration wants to repeal the Johnson Amendment (1954), which threatens a religious institution’s tax exempt status, for promoting a candidate or political party.  Religious pundits and politicians argue that this violates “freedom of speech.”  Maybe they are right, Trump can “destroy” the Amendment as he stated and religious institutions can pay taxes.  Also, this denies the power that religious institutions have in our system any way, if not directly, indirectly.  Many of these institutions still promote a veiled preference to candidates or a political party and should have lost their tax status a long time ago. The dangerous part of “destroying” this amendment is the political power religion would directly have in our government, think of the current power corporations have, in shaping our government policies and liberties. This amendment was created to ensure separation of church and state, now repealing it would be the first step in an establishment of a state religion.

For those who are religious, you should know that I am not.  I do not like labels, but I guess you can say that I am an atheist or preferably a humanist.  However, I would never support a law or policy that would limit any one’s right to practice their faith.  I would not want to outlaw anybody’s religion, whether it is one of the Abrahamic religions or none at all.  It is understandable that most of our personal beliefs affect on what policies are best for our companies, but they have no business in government. Forcing one’s own religion’s beliefs such as public school prayers to create “God’s Kingdom”, however that is defined, is establishing a state religion. Whether that is through candidates or cabinet nominees (Betsy DeVos) any attempt to create a state religion  threatens the religious and nonreligious alike. The establishment clause and case law that has stood since 1962 in order to protect all Americans.  I know that many religious Americans feel that this would be ideal society, but for many us, it would be “hell on earth.”  Pun intended.

For those proponents of establishing “God’s Kingdom” in America, which religion would it be?  It’s safe to assume that it would be Christianity, as with the current administration it definitely wouldn’t be Islam.  Assuming that it is Christianity, what sect?  Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, or Jehovah Witness?  (Of course from what I was taught, Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in participating in government, so less likely).  Should you expect your fellow Americans to pray to the same god in the same way?  Some Christians do not believe in medical science, so I guess the question of a health care system for all is out of the question.   Would our government punish or persecute those who do not comply?  When raising my sons who attend public schools, the way I want, I should have the state impose religion upon my sons?

When discussing this issue with some American Christians, the answer is often that the religion would be a “non-denominational” religion.  I know, as well as they do, that this means Christian, in general, with as Justice Black stated, excluding other groups.  No Muslims, no Hindus, no Taoism or any other religion would be accepted in public spheres, let alone public schools.  It is difficult to believe that if a state religion is established, that everyone would be tolerant of other religions.  I mean we do not have a theocracy now, and judging from some “conservative” views, the other Abrahamic religions (Judaism and Islam) are barely accepted now (See Muslim ban), which are related to Christianity. (Personally, I think the other two hijacked Judaism, and then came up with reasons to hate Jews, which I guess if I wanted to return to one of the desert religions, I would become a Jew.)    As Justice Black stated, “Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects? That the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?”

Again, I am not religious, I do not believe in a god or gods, or dogmas.  I try to keep my mind free and fair, and question everything. In my life, and raised in various Christian faiths, I have determined that religion does not seem to have room for this type of questioning. I’d rather question the universe and everything in it, including ideologies, and even if there is a “higher power” or “fate.”  But I do not believe in praying to anyone or anything.  For me, I wish to raise my sons in such a way, also, but any move toward a theocracy needs to be eliminated.  If a state religion was established this would infringe on my right to not practice any religion, if continuously placed in the public sphere. Everyone should be allowed to practice their religion or faith, without coercion, without persecution, but religion has no place in the public sphere, including government.  

The risk of theocracy, not only enables government to exclude other faiths, but persecute those who do not follow the same faiths.  Would the FBI become our “faith” police, the NSA spying on my phone calls and emails to ensure I am indoctrinating my sons properly?  Would I be forced to register with a church to ensure that I go?  Would I be imprisoned for atheism?  I know it seems like hyperbole to bring up such questions, but with the way our society seems to be heading, they seem like valid questions.  For those who favor “God’s Kingdom” in America and wish for a “Christian” nation (theocracy), you really need to think of the people you know or love, and I guess I would ask my loved ones: “Is it me or your god?” It should not be a decision for anyone, and  I already know the answer.