Our founding fathers had a vision. They decided to leave their mother country and settle in a new land. They created a new nation with specific guidelines in mind. One of those requirements was included in the first amendment to our Constitution; freedom of religion.

When they left England, King George III had decreed that the Anglican Church would be the official religion of his kingdom. Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine, among others, were not religious men and denounced their King’s decree. They were ‘deists.’ They believed that some celestial being had created the earth and the heavens, but that this entity did not speak directly to humans, and was not concerned with their daily lives.

Freedom of all men to practice the religion of their choice was one of their primary concerns. Also included in the first amendment was the guarantee that no single religion would be designated as the faith of our nation.

The alliance between the Republican Party and the Christian religious right has failed the American people. Together they have conspired to destroy individual freedom and created hatred and division within our nation. The reason for this apocalyptic marriage is to receive votes from a large number of blind and uninformed individuals.

But is it important today? If we believe the latest polls in Iowa, it appears that religious devotion is not as high on the list of priorities as in past decades. Cruz has been flaunting his religious extremism throughout Iowa, and Trump continues to lead.

A desperate Jeb Bush condemned Trump’s ambiguity regarding his faith, and that may be Trump’s finest endorsement.

“Trump views all this not from a position of his faith, he views it all as politics. I think faith goes way beyond politics,” Bush told reporters. Asked if he believes Trump is a Christian at all, he said, “No, I don’t know what he is. I don’t think he has the kind of relationship he says he has if he can’t explain it any way that shows he is serious about it.”

I was raised by a devout Catholic family. My grandfather told me that ‘religion and politics do not mix.’ I will always believe that lesson.

Today his words are wiser than ever; the association between the Christian religious right and the Republican Party has limited freedom and is attempting to eliminate individual human rights. In addition, falsehoods are rampant in an effort to control voters through human’s greatest weakness; emotions. The use of fear tactics has resulted in anger and finally hatred; hatred is against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

One final thought; Iowa has always been unpredictable. A large turnout today would not be surprising and the polls would become insignificant. If evangelicals rally, religious extremist Ted Cruz may receive a victory.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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