The right to religion in the United States is expressly established in the first amendment of the Constitution.
The first amendment states, “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.” However, injustice and discrimination based on religious preference is still a pervasive issue.
It baffles me that the beloved Constitution can be used as a tool of defense, or even political gain, in almost any situation to justify an individual’s position, but is not respected in regards to its absolute meaning when it defends others whose identity might be different from the person in question. During the 2008 presidential election, rumors of President Barack Obama being a Muslim swarmed around the country. The controversy concerning the president’s reverend, Jerimiah Wright, served to contradict the rumors.
The issue is not that he was rumored to be a Muslim, or that his reverend was out of line. The issue is that America became wrapped up in the possibility of having a non-Christian president, perceived this possibility as a threat, and used this information harmfully. For those who were concerned, the religion of those who govern you shall bear no effect on the religion that you practice.
The argument that those who hold the reigns of governance have the power to alter the law in favor of one religion does not trump your ability to maintain your religious beliefs or anyone else’s. In 1802, Thomas Jefferson defended the public from the possibility of this by defining the principles of the separation of church and state.
Campaign ads featuring a “family man with strong Christian values” appear on television every year. As a Christian voter, I respect that some candidates work to appear to seem like family men, and that they have strong Christian values. What I do not respect is the smearing of my religion into a campaign that is simply filled with mudslinging and other filth.
The separation of church and state limits a politician’s strong Christian values to something that is personal belief, not public service. The purpose of religion is not to use it to hold public office.
As much as we Christians would love to have the laws of the land shifted towards serving our belief, the law prohibits it and we must show consideration towards others when it concerns the sharing of our society. I am not against the principles of prayer in school, or “In God We Trust” appearing on currency, or even the statement “we need to put God in this country” in regards to establishing order. My position is rooted firmly in the belief and importance of God.
However, it is also my belief that the Constitution must be respected. The right to worship is extended to all people, and to all religions, not just Christianity.
Brice Ashford is a junior marketing major from Ridgeland.
