Should Congress make an establishment of religion in the United States?

Question

Amendment I
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.

A Webster definition of religion: The service and worship of God or the supernatural. (There are other definitions)

A Webster definition of Christianity: The religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the bible as sacred scripture.

This amendment was ratified in the 1790,s, but I don't know the amount of time or thought that was put into it. I have to assume that that they meant the religion of Christianity, but that isn't what they said in the Constitution. Just using the word "religion" in the Constitution means that any group that claims to be a religion has the same rights as and must be treated the same as the Christian religion. Now, how do you set up a religiously run government with this type of law governing it? You can't!!!
There are many Muslims in a lot of countries and they are broken down into tribe's with-in the countries. They fight and kill each other and anyone else like dogs that doesn't believe like them, and there are 15 million of them already in this country. In our Christian religion we don't call them tribes, but denominations. We don't physically fight each other, but we sure like to bicker. Now, how would you like to set up a government that could handle this type of mess. We would be a whole lot like some of the countries we consider nut cases and dangerous. I would love to see our country continue to have our laws established by men and women that are of the Christian religion. I would love for it to be the only religion in the USA with none others allowed in our country, but that is not and will not be possible I'm afraid. We have to and need to have separation of Church and State under the Constitution we live under, But we don't have to have separation of God from hearts of the men and women who we elect to run this country. We must continue to do our best to put people in office that belong to the Christian Religion. I don't believe I want any other so called religion to have more power with-in our government then what little we Christians have now.

Answer 1

Many of the first settlers of what is now the United States of America were left Europe to escape religious persecution. This is precisely why the first ammendmet to the Constitution states that the government will not establish or interfere with the free exercise of religion. By the way, to an earlier poster, this does quite clearly separate church and state, though I am certain it does not satisfy the reward poster.
The fact that the founding fathers were Christians does not make this a Christian nation. One of their intentions was to create a nation that did not persecute others for their religious beliefs. That a goodly portion of our laws seem to come from Christianity is that most of our law is taken from English Common Law, which is decsended from Western traditions that include Christian traditions, Jewih Traditions and Greek and Roman traditions as well. A national religion would bring with it the challenge of merging all the many sects and denominations that people our nation... GOOD LUCK.

Answer 2

what little power you have now?!?? that's crazy talk. how do you think GWB got elected? If anything, the christian right have too much power currently.
do you really think that every single senator who claims to be christian, actually are? I'd bet that there are at least a couple atheists in there. Actually saying you aren't a religious person, and that you dont believe in a supernatural being at all, would be political suicide.
also, a lot of the founding fathers weren't christians! they were deists! This government has been, and should always remain a secular government.
"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."--Thomas Jefferson
"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."--Tripoli Treaty(1797)

Answer 3

Well I know they thought LONG and hard over the constitution on extremely hot Philadelphia summer days in a court house but on the first part of the first amendment, idk. The purpose what that people were being killed because they did not believe in the beliefs that their government was forcing so when they came here they made sure that that would not happen in the country they were establishing. Now this sure as heck didn't mean that Christianity should be shunned as it is today in the government. People fail to realize where our laws came from. I would say at least 75% Of all the laws derive from the bible. Most of the early Supreme Court decisions came as a result of the bible. I so wish that that were the case today because I know this country would be a lot better place to live but because of the amendment, which is a good one in my eyes, we are straying further and further from it every day. Personally that is why I think we are losing the war in Iraq, but if it we did not have that amendment, Christians could be getting killed for believing in what they believe. It works both ways, we allowed for any person to believe in what they want to believe and make it so that nobody can harm us for believing in what we believe.

Answer 4

At this point in history of the US it is a mute point to address. What "state religion or form of religion" would be recognized as a majority? What form of state religion has ever been successful in a free democracy? None. The writers of the Constitution defined religious freedom in the era of the great enlightenment which was a time of religious ferment of many religions and in that environment came up with the best solution - to make no laws regarding its establishment. Government works when all those who are in Government work for the whole and not for special interest groups or lobbyists, or who pays them off with the most funding. Religion only works when those who are the adherents of it - live it - believe it - practice it - share it - become it!

Answer 5

Our forefathers had the wisdom to set up a government that provided for the separation of church and state. They all came from backgrounds where religion greatly interferred with government, that is the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. There are rules for establishing a religion in this country, particularly if you want to become tax exempt. The IRS is invoilved in suich an organization, as well as the individual state governments. A group cannot just get together and call it self a church and begin to collect money and spend it as they please. There are laws that govern this. If the group wishes to meet as a home church and collect no money then they are free to do so without filing for any organization with a government entity; but when money is involved, then you have a horse of a different color. Our government has protected itself against fanaticism.

Answer 6

There is very little in law that is black and white, and the Supreme Court was formed to interpret the law. The link below gives some detail on the reasoning behind the interpretation of the First Amendment. It also states as part of that article that: "In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a ‘wall of separation between church and State'."

Answer 7

I agree it would be nice to have a country based on Christian fundamentals. However, to have the US Congress establish such a 'law' would be against the Constitution. With the current Political Correctness crap that we have allowed to flourish in this country, I'm sure it would NOT be vote in favor of Christianity. Our elected officials stopped listening to the people decades again, and we are not going to change that, unfortunately, anytime soon. Other then 'to take up arms against a sea of troubles and oppose them' (Wm. Shakespeare).

It's interesting that you mention the Constitution. Why? Because for years the government has chipped and whittled and carved it to pieces. The Dems says, 'It's a living document, subject to changes'. That doesn't apply in my way of thinking. The wording is the wording and NOT subject to change. Those of us who have serviced this country in time of war and peace, took an obligation to 'up hold the Constitution of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA' and believe in this country. Our elected representatives, for the most part, I feel, pay lip service when taking their vow upon entering office.

Answer 8

Yes, I agree. Mulims are infiltrating our gov't and we just sit back and say we need to be tolerant. We are missing the big picture. The goal of Islam, Quran and of the Muslims is to completely rule the world and it is a 20yr game plan. subtle is their key word and we dont even see it. The Islam religion is not peaceful and the day will come that all will understand exactly what I mean, but then it will be too late. I do not hate them but wish that people would do a little more research and use a little more caution. We have a congressman in Minesota that took his oath with his hand on the Quaran!!!!! If that does not set off all kinds of alarms you are not American.

Answer 9

Separation of Church and state is absolutely essential to our freedoms! It is essential that our government be neutral about religion whether they are Christian or not. However, Biblical prophecy reveals that we are headed for a one world-government, one world religion that is tyrannical in nature. It is called the New World Order, which will contain all of the elements of the Mark of the Beast. Since Satan controls this world and its governments, let no one be complacent in their loyalties to God, because the time is coming where all men will have to choose, if they have not yet done so. Eventually every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Messiah.

Answer 10

I didn't read that whole long thing because I already knew my answer: no.

This place is a democracy, not a theocracy, number one.

Number two, this country, yes, was begun by Christians. HOWEVER, it was on the belief that we should worship who we choose, when we choose, how we choose, where we choose, and what we choose for whatever reasons we may have, and it's wrong to take that away from the American people.