Today, as secularism rises and the nation becomes more tolerable, the role of religion in American life is becoming less clear. This is not because people are becoming less religious; it is because religion has become a political weapon.
The forefathers of America founded the country on the premise that every man should have the right to freedom of religion. The Establishment Clause in the First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Thomas Jefferson, one of the most prolific founding fathers, did not believe there was an omniscient God in control of the Earth. Jefferson did believe a God or gods did exist, but these beings did not interfere with human society or civilization. It was up to humankind to shape society and govern themselves as they saw fit.
Jefferson was a firm believer in strict separation of church and state. He is perhaps the reason we have the distinction explicitly stated in law. Clearly his deist practices did not prevent him from being elected the third president of the United States. He devoted much of his life to creating an incredible nation for the generations to walk after him. Jefferson will forever be revered as one of the greatest American patriots.
Every American has the right to practice or not practice any religion they want. Throughout history, the majority of Americans chose some form of Christianity.
The greatest example of religion-turned-political weapon is how prayer being taken out of schools and abortion resulted in a rise of political participation specifically by white evangelicals. The fusion of stances on social issues, biblical interpretations and political ideology formed what is known as the “Christian right.”
As a result, a great number of conservative evangelicals have left religion behind for political power. Belief in God began to be used by politicians to gain support from certain groups, no matter his or her true morals or ethical behaviors.
Could the forefathers have had this misuse in mind with the Establishment Clause? The notion that the core beliefs of some Americans display what is right for all Americans is a direct infringement of the Constitution. Yet, it is the creation of this religion-based partisanship that prevents progress on many fronts.
Radical politicians today have brainwashed believers into thinking their faith is attached to their party affiliation. A number of politicians only become religious to energize groups of Americans to become separatists and vote along certain party lines. The word “evangelical” has been made more
political than religious.
The Washington Post reports, “Discomfort with the term ‘evangelical’ began in some quarters with the Moral Majority in the Reagan years, which helped make ‘evangelical’ synonymous with the Republican Party. Ever since, evangelicals have disagreed with each other about mixing faith and politics.”
To be totally clear, I was born and raised a believer of Christ, and would trade nothing for my relationship with God and my freedom to worship. I believe my God does not approve of a number of everyday practices of many people. However, as long as I’m American, the voices of those who believe or live differently than me matter just as much as mine does.
Frankly speaking, be proud of your religion, but don’t let divisive rhetoric from politicians make you partisan because of it. Live a life based on the values you believe in. Share your faith through love-don’t force it through hate.
Justin Franklin is a 19-year-old political communication
freshman from Memphis, Tennessee.
