Separation as I See It: Religion is the USA

So, we are taught that a pillar of this great nation is it's "separation of church and state". And, of course, we're using the Christian term "Church" to represent any and all religious faith. Irony aside, I think this is a step in the right direction, a step we may owe to John Leland, who outlined issues he had with the US Constitution as it was being written. Among the issues Leland highlighted (before the Bill of Rights was added): a guarantee of "religious liberty" was not secured. Finally, the Bill of Rights was added with it's first amendment reading:

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.

Yet, the number of times the Christian God comes up in federal affairs is unsettling. The first example that comes to mind is "In God We Trust", a phrase literally exchanged millions, if not billions, of times a day via our US currency.

As the world gets smaller, it become increasingly clear that some of our laws and traditions have little more merit than their religious grounds (I'm looking at you, ban of same-sex marriage). Even in our courts, it is customary, though not mandatory, to swear to tell truth, or "help me God".

Is this not an establishment of religion? Although it does not explicitly prohibit free practice of other religions, it certainly sets expectations. It creates an "us" and a "them", Christians and others.

It's time to take this a step further. Let us graduate from feeble seperation to total isolation. Personal values have no place in government. Freedom comes first.

But do not misconstrue these thoughts; if people wish to practice faith of any kind, that is still their inalienable right, so long as it does not overlap with the rights of others.

Consent is key.

PS If you have any other examples of laws or customs in the US that soley exist because of religion, leave a comment below.