Should the U.S. have an official religion?

Question

If so, what should it be?

Travis: I don't think want an official religion. I'm just wondering if people think their religion should become the official national religion.

Answer 1

Pastafarianism, of course.

RAmen!

Answer 2

Neither has ther EVER been ANY form of "official religion" (Christian evangelists' claim to the contrary notwithstanding), but the nation has at all times been hostile toward the concept. "Hostile" in this case does not mean anti-religion, but anti-establishment.

The United States as an egalitarian, secular, democratic republic was formed as a progressive outgrowth of centuries of English experience. In particular, fully two centuries' political and social conflict in England, and in England's colonies, over the role of the established church had taught the framers of the Constitution that the United States' government should not in any manner embrace, encourage or endorse any religious beliefs.

The issue was not whether one participant in the drafting of the Constitution - and, most specifically, the first 10 amendments - held different religious beliefs than another, or that some were not believers at all (definitely the case), but that bitter experience had shown an form of "established" religion was a source of unproductive mischief in the operation of a government such as they were creating. There was no NEED for an "established" church then, or now.

Believers in any faith would surely attack this observation either on the worn out and discredited claims that the framers indeed shared such a universal belief that it was always implicit in the Constitution, or that the United States "needs" religion to "safeguard" the country. The first claim has no basis in fact, while the idea of "protecting" the U.S. with religion is about the same as saying the Romans invaded Gaul to save the Gauls. Introducing religion into official American public life is the most disastrous idea possible.

Under no circumstances should, or can, the United States have an "official religion." Should such a step ever succeed, the United States as we know it will no longer exist.

Answer 3

it would be a toss up between those 5: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhist, and Paganism, yet inspite of the shown fact that none of them on the comparable time. The U.S. shape states that there'll be no nationally recognised faith, and there for won't undertake a notionally recognised state faith. although a number of the folk interior the Bible Belt valuable might desire to make Christianity into the national faith. *sigh* yet what are you able to do? Blessed Be 24 y.o. Pagan college scholar

Answer 4

you cannot be serious??!!! surely you jest. A tear jerker of a question, Is that you point??

please read the Constitution & Bill of Rights. With faith and testamony I know that those men that wrote that law were inspired to do so. This is the chosen land & will houst the New Zion. The GOD I serve is the GOD of this country and this World. He is a GOD of freedom.

Please tell me you don't want an official religion. That would so deter the freedom to choose for the sake of love and choice alone. It would put pressure on choosing the 'official' religion for the clout/acceptance it would bring.

I know my religion is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know the Prophet is on earth to guide the planet to do GOD's will. But I would not want any one to say they belive this because it is the popular thing to say.

I'm hesitant to see the other answers. Does anybody want to take away the free will?? An official religion for USA would be a giant step in that direction.

Answer 5

Well, it does seem to have an unofficial religion...

and we all know what it is...

I was watching this thing on our local news about Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas in stores. They were interviewing shoppers as an on the spot poll. This one guy said, It's got to be Merry Christmas, this is America! But everybody else, even those who said they celebrate Christmas, felt it should be H.H. as a respect for other people's special days.

Answer 6

Absolutely not. We have (and need to have) separation of church and state. Our founding fathers wanted this country to be accepting of all religions, where people would be free to worship!

And this country was NOT founded on Christianity. It was founded on FREEDOM of RELIGION. Our founding fathers represented a variety of religious sects: Episcopalian, Anglican, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Quaker, Dutch Reformed, German Reformed, Lutheran, Catholic, Huguenot, Unitarian, Methodist and Calvinist. But they were wise enough to realize that they needed their country to be accepting of ALL religious practices. And that those religious ideals did not belong intermixed with government.

Thus the First Amendment to the US Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…"

Answer 7

NO

What a headache that would be. Who would decide what religion it would be? What if you didn't like that religion? Would that religion be the only one that is tax exempt? Nope, we are better off not having an official religion.

Answer 8

we are a nation that was founded on freedom of religion, so no we should not have an official religion..

Answer 9

Absolutely none.

The US government should always remain neutral regarding religion. It cannot take preference of nor be a hinderance to religious expression. I adhere to the doctrine of the complete separation of church and state.

Answer 10

"The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity . . . I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.-John Adams in a letter written on the day the Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress."
We used to be a Christian nation, but we've drifted so far from it...

Answer 11

Absolutely not! The founding fathers foresaw such a disastrous possibility, that's why they wrote the "Establishment Clause" in the first ammendment to the U.S. Constitution.