Separation of Church and State In America

Throughout history religion has torn apart all types of governments. Religion has oppressed so many people throughout the history of mankind to include the oppression of Europe even in the late eighteenth century. This is why our founding fathers imagined and sought to build a nation free from religion and oppression. A nation where everyone can live freely and not be subjected to religious influences or oppression. A nation that would last through the ages because there would be no religion to tear it apart but still reserving the right of every citizen to privately practice their own religion. Our founding fathers knew the importance of Separation of Church and State. Without this crucial separation no government will stand. It is important not to nationally, statewide, or locally sponsor any religion. America has been slowly torn apart by religion for decades but for the past few years it seems this process has accelerated. As separation of church and state is dissipating in this nation religion is quickly dividing this nation. As a divided nation, torn apart by religion, and barred down from progress by the restrictions and ignorance brought upon by religion America will soon collapse. This country has decided to sponsor religion despite the vigorous opposition set forth by our founding fathers. The disparaging words, In God We Trust lie despicably on our nation’s currency and on our nation’s coins. Any argument made in the defense of these words on the basis that our founding fathers were Christian men and thus founded our nation on Christian principles is a false one. In fact, as many of our founding fathers were spiritual men they were not deeply religious. In fact, based on many of the both private and public writings of Thomas Jefferson, it can be reasonably argued and concluded that Thomas Jefferson was very anti-Christian and anti-religion. Also, our founding fathers clearly expressed their wishes for separation of church and state. Some will argue that because the words, all men are created equal … that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights……, lies in the Declaration of Independence then this nation was founded on Christian principles and our founding fathers were religious. But, as I said before, our founding fathers were spiritual but not religious. However, more importantly, as the Declaration of Independence is an incredible symbol of bravery and freedom it is not a part of the structure and design of this government. Our founding fathers drafted a constitution for this and nowhere in the U.S. Constitution is the word God and nowhere is religion mentioned. It does say in the constitution though that this government must have separation of church and state. Any notion to say that it is not possible or worth maintaining separation of church and state is just an underhanded attempt to inflict personal religious doctrines into this government and thus destroying this government. A totalitarian style government is neither a better government nor a suitable government. Our founding fathers knew this and made clear in the constitution that this government should not be ruled by any religious influences. The answer to the question of the importance of removing the words, In God We Trust, and Under God, from our nation’s currency, coins, and pledge is that if you allow such contradictory and discriminatory representation of this nation then what are you saying about this nation. Let us not forget that the words, Under God, were not added to our pledge until 1954 despite the countless numbers of objections. The words, In God We Trust, weren’t added to our nation’s coins until 1864 during strong Christian sentiment emerging during the Civil War and it wasn’t added officially to our currency until 1956. By these dates alone shows you that our founding fathers had nothing to do with these destructive actions. These two destructive actions have led to some of the countless problems you see today in terms of default state license plates sponsoring and advertising religion. In South Carolina as well as other States (not all southern) the default license plate read for some time In God We Trust and still reads this in a lot of states. Religious sayings and structures are posted in State Capital buildings, public schools and libraries, and even in court houses. The Supreme Court Justices enters the courtroom under the words God save the Supreme Court. It’s like something out of the Holy Roman Empire. Judges depends more and more on religion, a major political party coordinates with the religious only, politicians can’t be elected to office without a religious belief and faith, and religion is taking over inch of society. Religion is tearing this nation apart. Because our government has respected the establishment of Christianity, Muslims, non-Christians, and non-believers in this country have found themselves without freedom and without America. It is illegal in a few states for atheists to run for public office but no one says anything about this terrible atrocity except for the non-believers ourselves and we are simply ignored. Religious convictions and ignorance has caused this nation to become prejudice and caused this nation and citizens of this nation to force personal religious convictions onto all Americans. Proposes has been made for marriage inequality and a vast majority of states have denied same sex couples the right to marry and the right to adopt a child. Not only this, same-sex couples have no rights as in traditional marriages in terms of healthcare, tax benefits, burial benefits, social security survival and death benefits and hospital visitation and life-death decision benefits. The government have also decided to pass special laws allowing religious organizations, churches, and institutions to conduct businesses as any other organizations and institutions yet remain tax exempt and have even decided to give tax payers’ dollars to these religious intuitions, organizations, and churches while denying these special benefits to ordinary institutions and organizations. This is not only discriminatory but also a direct violation of separation of church and state. The government has denied crucial medical and scientific research for the advancement and improvement of mankind. These denials of advancement and improvement where made solely based on personal religious convictions which should never be included nor influence any legal or government decisions. Religion have further divided this nation and is destroying the promises of our future, our children, by further tainting them by pushing religion on them and teaching them to frown upon and disrespect others’ religions and non-believers. Judges and this government have done nothing about parents who are forcing and influencing their children to attend church and religious schools despite the dangers and prejudice that will come from this and despite the child’s objection in some cases. The courts have done nothing about the fact that children are sometimes abused, neglected, thrown from their homes, and even sometimes considered to have behavioral problems when rejecting religion and God as a whole. Children are disciplined in the school houses and home every day because of their refusal to recite the pledge to the flag but no one wants to talk about this and even if you are successful in involving someone in a discussion about this you will quickly discover that they will simple argue the child has a disciplinary problem. Atheist children have been and continue to be denied their right of freedom of speech due to religions’ takeover of this country, Atheist children find that they can’t speak about atheism or against religion without disciplinary consequences. Religion have caused so much destruction to this nation that if anyone was to run for any public office or private office for that matter and holds public to an absence of a belief in a god of higher power they will never be elected or appointed to any position because society, much through the government recognition of religion, believes that one should never hold office without at minimum a rudementrery belief in God. Along with this belief Americans also believe that atheists are ill moral and evil when in fact it’s the other way around. The atheists in this nation only make up .25% of this nation’s prison population. Religion further destroys the future of this nation and divides this nation through the ongoing attacks on evolution being taught in school and the attempts to teach creationism in school. Religion causes lives not only through war but through religious extremists who kill abortionist doctors and pro-choice activists. Religion is praised for being the greatest factor in keeping the American family together when in fact it has destroyed the American family. When atheists come out to their friends and families as non-believers they are generally isolated and frowned upon mainly because of religious ignorance and the negative stigma attached to being an atheist. Atheists by the same principles are isolated and even in some cases banned and forced to leave certain neighborhoods and housing communities. In addition to religion destroying families who have atheist family members who seek to come out of the closet, religion similarly destroys families who have gay family members because of the bigotry, prejudice, and intolerance that religion teaches. Religion continues to oppress over thirty million American atheists and continues to divide this nation as a whole. Religion has caused this nation and continues to cause this nation to be deeply involved in unprovoked, ill moral, and illegal wars. It hinders this nation from positive change and future progress and punishes those who choose to remain open minded and a free thinker. Separation of church and state desperately needs to be restored in this nation and religion should never be consulted or influence any government decisions. Without restoring separation of church and state this nation will further divide and will completely collapse. The America our founding fathers envisioned and created over 200 years ago will die and the cruel dreadful times of the Holy Roman Empire will return and destroy this planet. Now is the time to change things and end Christianity’s hold on America so that the gears of progress will turn once more.