Free Nation or Christian Nation

There's been a lot of debate lately over the question, Is the United States of America a free nation or a Christian nation? Take a minute to ponder and possibly be frightened by the fact that no one ever asks if it's a free Christian nation. Which should to a degree answer the question.

And the answer is, it's a free nation founded by people of different Christian faiths. I really don't know why this is so hard for people to understand. The First Amendment to the Constitution reads Freedom of Religion. It does not say Freedom of Religion as long as that religion is Christianity.

This is one area where the founders were far more forward thinking than those who seek to shape our laws and future today. They knew that using religion to make and enforce laws was a bad idea. The reason they knew this was because, that's how things were done in England at the time. If a new king or queen came to power whose religion was different than their predecessor people's very way of life changed drastically. Those who didn't practice the religion of the king or queen were persecuted. If they were brave enough to practice a religion other than that of the king or queen they had to do so secretly, risking death to do so.

This issue with religion caused great turmoil in a time and country where rulers came to power through their bloodlines. Which usually meant they'd go long periods of time under the rule of one religion before some distant branch of the family took over and changed religions. Imagine the havoc that would be wreaked upon our country when our leaders change every few years. The fact that our laws are determined by a group that is a mix of various religions is why religion is to be kept out of the process.

Consider how much trouble we have getting the Republican and Democratic parties to agree and imagine what it would be like if everyone was fighting for religious control. Sure our government is predominantly Christian but, which branch of Christianity should have control. Each branch practices the religion a different way. All of them follow different parts of the Bible more strictly than other parts. Which one should be the dominant one? Do you see the problems that would arise if that was how the government was run?

This is precisely why the founders made a nation founded on freedom and on religious freedom. They wanted people to be able to practice their religion as loosely or as strictly as possible without fear of punishment.

So the next time you go to church and/or dis someone else for their religious beliefs remember they are exercising the same right you are. Remember that if you aren't careful your particular branch of Christianity could suddenly become the "bad" religion. Remember the same freedoms that allow you to go to church a couple times a year are the same ones that allow others to go weekly or not at all. And just as you wouldn't like being forced to go every week they wouldn't like being told when they can, can't or have to go to church. Or which things they are suppose to adhere to more strictly than others. Nor would any of them (or you I'm sure) like being told that you can't practice a certain religion.

Most importantly always remember it's a free nation.