stockvault_15412_20090226I do not think there is much use in debating the importance of religion in the history of our nation, for this becomes extremely obvious by reading any of our founding documents or by the countless references, images, and quotes used throughout our history. Religious principles have been ingrained in our society since its founding and it has always been a means to keep us grounded and to provide a standard of conduct in building our nation and its institutions. The enduring words “In God We Trust” even became stamped on our currency to reflect the sentiment of our nation and it subsequently became the official motto of the United States. One can practice any religious inclination they prefer in our country, but it is undeniable that religion has had an indelible effect on our formation and history, and it has served us quite favorably.

Why would anyone want to disclaim religion in our society as it appears so many are attempting? It seems that there is good reason to keep religion alive and well among our population. Not only does it connect us with our past and the primary beliefs that built this country, but it also espouses principles and values that should be agreeable to all civilized people regardless of their individual level of religious interest. Keeping religion as a fundamental tenet in our country also serves as a balance to governmental control, because any Government that believes they bestow our rights on us will also presume they have the power to amend or withdraw those rights at will. Our citizens can choose any religion they would like to follow, or choose to refrain if they so desire, either way the values promoted by religious teachings could only enhance our collective character as a nation. Individuals that seek to disclaim, destroy, or remove religious ideology from our society is doing so for their own selfish reasons. One could only assume that they have chosen to not believe, and that is their right, but why do they feel so compelled to destroy other people’s beliefs and their joy? What would be the purpose of removing something that has served as a moral compass for so many in our nation since its founding, what inner need or desire does this satisfy? Whether we choose to believe or not, we should still have an appreciation for the contribution that religion has made in the development of America which became an inspiration to the world.

Inevitably, the explanation reverts to the separation of church and state. This is a notion that finds its origin with a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Baptist association in Danbury, Connecticut. He was responding to their complaint about the scarce religious liberties afforded them by the Connecticut State Constitution because it did not specifically prohibit the state from legislating on religious issues. This created a situation where religious liberties were essentially being granted to them by the state and not inalienable rights as expressed in the U.S. Constitution. Jefferson’s response is the origin for the separation of church and state being that there will be no law establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. In other words, the Federal Government will not establish a religion nor will they interfere with the people or the states to pursue their own course regarding matters of religion. This is the separation of church and state that was expressed by Jefferson and which became distorted over the years to mean that all expressions of a religious nature must be eliminated from our public institutions. There is no basis for these reactions of today based on quoting Jefferson’s letter as precedence. With this in mind, it again leads to the question that if religion has shaped our nation so admirably, and provides a basis of moral guidance for so many, what objective is being served by publicly disclaiming or instigating efforts to purge it from society? Whatever one chooses to believe should be acceptable, and any religious references residing within our public institutions should serve as a tribute to our history.