I love that I was born into a country where my Catholic mother was free to marry my Protestant father without government interference (though I’m sure that various family members felt compelled to lend their opinions on the union). And that, because of my American citizenship, I was free to learn and practice my Catholicism and after high school I was free to attend a Catholic university, Loyola Marymount University, where I learned a great deal about my religious heritage from the Jesuits and Professors. And because it was the 1970s and the West Coast Jesus Movement was happening, I was also free to change another religious path and enroll at a Fundamentalist Christian college named Biola (formerly the Bible Institute of Las Angeles) without government censure or interference (though there were indeed a few family members who protested my decision(s)). Because of the Bill of Rights, I am free to change my religious affiliation or non-affiliation as often as I choose without it affecting any of my rights as a citizen or employment status with any company. 

Before the founding of this nation, these freedoms were no always offered or respected. And given the history of sectarian (religious) violence, that the founders were well aware of in Europe, they embedded that freedom for citizens to practice whatever religion that they choose, or no religion, without any input or restrictions. Heck, even our own vice-president has undergone a religious journey in his life, from Protestant to non-belief and eventually to Catholicism. 

This freedom to choose means that no government should favor any religion over any other and that it’s up to its citizens to figure out how to maneuver in this complicated world of differing religious opinions and beliefs. And it needs to be made clear that the original framers of the constitution and our cherished government intended for us to be governed in this manner, without religious interference or censure. I like this. But then, I am one of these persons who doesn’t want anyone to tell me what to do. Period. And fortunately, because I’ve grown out of my teenage need to share my “wisdom” (which was laughable, at best), I recognize that I have to make some room for others who haven’t had my experiences and/or don’t see the world as I see it. I mean, seriously, as a StarTrek fan, I have no problem when StarWars fans say to me, “May the Fourth be with you, “ on May the 4th. Both franchises have had their duds and comebacks, so they’re entitled to their religious belief while I silently enjoy mine (even if I protest May the 4th wearing the following red t-shirt).

I get that some people want history to say certain things that fit with their view of reality. But there’s a reason the founding fathers took steps to prevent this country from using religion or any specific sect of religion as a founding principle. Ask yourself, in any city of any size, why are there so many different Christian churches often several on the same city block? If this is the one truth, why don’t y’all meet together in the same building every week? Could it be that the nature of your personal set of beliefs isn’t held by that “other church”? Now imagine that that other church is given the power to dictate what form of Christianity is the one true version and that all other versions are no longer permitted. I imagine that you wouldn’t be too happy with that. But you seem to have found a way for your church to exist and that other church to exist and if members of that other church happen to run a restaurant that you like, you’re perfectly happy going to that restaurant. And if you had a business that they like to frequent, that seems perfectly okay. But if your church were “outlawed” what would happen to your community? Yeah, this was exactly the kinds of problems Freedom of Religion was meant to avoid. You are free to practice your faith in any manner that seems right to you in your own private space and the others are perfectly welcomed to practice their religion in their private space and when it comes to shared common space, we figure out how to make it work so that we can live and work together, enjoying our restaurants and businesses without any issues. That’s the way the government is supposed to run, without any favoritism. 

I know that some of you think that “we need Jesus in our government.” Back in the 1970s, I would have been there right with you. But if you are working in the government, being a shining light on the hill, so to speak, isn’t that the same as “having Jesus in our government.” I mean, getting back to the reasons y’all can’t manage to share buildings and meet with other Christians, perhaps the best witness is to be a good person, be the good example of what Jesus would want you to be and let your life and how you treat one another be the “Jesus in government” that will make this a better place. Anything else is just theater-religion meant to control but never free, meant to suppress and never allow for growth. It’s the exact opposite of what the founders wanted and the example that Jesus left in the New Testament. “Physician, heal yourself,” before you try to dictate to the rest of us who we should live. 

Happy Fourth of July, y’all and renew your pledge to be a better person and better example of what our Forefathers wanted for this country. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. 

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Tags: 4th of July, freedom from religion, freedom of religion, not a Christian nation, video Fridays

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