The Right to Freedom of Religion

I often find myself arguing with fundamentalists yelling that this is a Christian country! It was founded on Christian ideals, so Muslims need to get out! Among other assorted idiocy. The United States, according to the founding fathers is NOT a Christian country, but a secular country that allows us freedom of religion. The laws and politics of the country are meant to be secular and welcoming to all. 

Thomas Jefferson (one of the founding fathers, in case you've forgotten) wrote in his Wall of Separation Letter  of January 1st 1802 that:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. (http://usconstitution.net, 2010)

This letter was used in the Supreme Court case Reynolds vs United States in 1878 where Reynolds attempted to have his conviction under the bigamy laws overturned for religious reasons (Reynolds was a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints). The Supreme Court used the letter and the text of the First Amendment to argue that religion is not an adequate defense under the eyes of the law, further highlighting the secular nature of the United States. (http://supreme.justia.com, 2011)

Furthermore, the Constitution (you know, that piece of paper that outlines all the rights anyone under the jurisdiction of the US is entitled too) has this little thing, called a 1st Amendment. It's pretty clear on the whole separation of Church and State thing. You know. Hard to misinterpret. Although I'm sure someone out there will anyway:

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. (http://usconstitution.net, 2010)

Last time I checked, "no law" means "no law" not "some laws." No means no! Our parents taught us this early on, didn't they? Mine did!

Then of course, there's the Treaty of Tripoli. It's no longer an active treaty, seeing as the group the treaty was made with no longer exists, but article 11 still very clearly states that the country was not founded on Christianity, and that America would never have issue with Islam because of this. The treaty was authored in 1796, and ratified by the Senate in 1797 when the country was still in its infancy.

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. (http://www.stephenjaygould.org, 2011)

I don't know how much clearer you can get than "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." Seriously. If you can interpret this any differently, please do. And post it in a comment.

I've also heard the argument that the Pledge of Allegiance says very clearly that we are "one nation under God". The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written in 1892 by a man named Francis Bellamy. It read, originally

I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all (http://oldtimeislands.org, 1992)

I'd like to point out that there is no mention of "under God" in the original pledge. I'd also like to point out the part that says "liberty and justice for all." That really does mean, all. Regardless of faith, skin colour, legal status, gender, sexual orientation...all means all, right?

Now, the addition of "under God" was petitioned for by the Knights of Columbus and passed by Congress in 1954 at the height of McCarthyism. Meaning, it was not representative of what this country was founded on. It was instead, another corruption of the founding fathers' ideals.

So the next time you argue that us liberals are anti-American for our support of Islam's right to freedom of religion, please take note of what your own history says.

citations*:

http://www.usconstitution.net/jeffwall.html, 2010, retrieved on 13/02/11

http://supreme.justia.com/us/98/145/case.html, 2011, retrieved on 13/02/11
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am1, 2010, retrieved on 13/02/11
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html, 2011, retrieved on 13/02/11
http://www.oldtimeislands.org/pledge/pledge.htm, 1992, retrieved on 13/02/11

*bear in mind it's been far too long since I've written a paper here.