I was raised in simpler times. Born in 1946, I am an original baby boomer. Money was scarce, and family was everything. My own were Catholics, and religion dominated much of their private life. After I no longer attended parochial school, I had friends who practiced other religions. We never talked about them, because they remained personal and private.
The courageous and wise men and women who founded the United States of America also wrote the first ten amendments to our Constitution, known as the ‘Bill of Rights.’ The first amendment was considered the most important by all, and remains so today. A historical note; this is the only amendment on which they all agreed.
“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.” This is the first amendment as written by our founding fathers.
Colloquially, this simply guarantees all Americans the right to openly and freely practice the religion of their choice, or none at all. But Republicans don’t believe in this 227-year-old concept. In collusion with the Christian religious right, politicians such as Ted Cruz have generated the idea the Christianity is our nation’s only religion, and should become protected by a law designating it as the only national faith. This is in direct opposition to the intent of the amendment.
Our forefathers left England because of religious persecution. It had been pronounced that the only church, the only religion acceptable was ‘Anglican.’ Few of them practiced any form of religion, and considered themselves ‘deists;’ they believed that at some point in time a supernatural being had created the universe, but that he or she did not communicate with man, and was not interested in their daily lives.
Today religions other than Christianity have been condemned by a faction of our nation’s people. Donald Trump seeks the revocation of all rights for Muslim Americans. The Republican Party has spread fear which has devolved into anger and hatred.
In December, Gill Parker Payne was on a Southwest flight from Chicago to Albuquerque. Sitting a couple of rows ahead of him was a woman wearing a hajib, the traditional headdress of Muslim women. Payne yelled at her: “Take it off! This is America!” When the woman refused to remove the hajib, he ripped it off of her head. He has since been prosecuted for violating her religious rights.
I am one of more than 65 million Americans who refuse to align myself with any organized religion. I view religions as cults. I do not require another man or woman’s instructions as to how I should live my life. I respect and attempt to keep spirituality in my daily life with the tools I was given; morality, free thought, and common sense.
History reveals the fact that the majority of all atrocities man has committed against his fellow man were the result of religious extremism; they continue to be the root of most of our world’s problems today.
If Christianity was not in control of the Republican Party, a woman’s right to a legal abortion, and same-sex marriage would not be issues voters consider when going to the polls.
I do not want religion in my life, and I certainly do not want it involved in my government.
The first amendment must be restored and cherished by all Americans.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 