If you are around my age, you were given a great deal of advice from your father, your uncles, or your grandfather; and maybe from all of them. My grandfather remains a huge influence about how I live my life. I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with him. The two of us would talk often, as he told me ‘stories,’ and as he shared his lessons about life. Most of them are well-known. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” “It doesn’t cost anything to say please and thank you.” “Always respect your elders and those in authority.” “Be thankful for what you have.”

These and many more became my guide for living a spiritual and respectful life. Two pieces of sage advice he gave to me are ignored by Americans today. He told me to “never talk about politics or religion in a crowd;” and “respect everyone’s religious beliefs, and keep yours private.”

Apparently I learned my love for the Constitution from him, long before I read the greatest document ever written by man.

Republicans, or as I call them, ‘the Party of Destruction, use Christianity to obtain votes. Their words and actions prove that they do not believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they profess their belief constantly. Most of the time I think that they are attempting to convince themselves.

Some of the more extreme in the GOP place their religion before their country, and therefore do no belong in politics. Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, and Mike Pence loudly profess their loyalty to Christianity, but are either lying to themselves, or are simply opportunists. They hate the LGBTQ community. They judge them to be of lesser quality than themselves, and would prevent them from living a life on their own terms. Many homosexuals and lesbians I know are far more spiritual, and even more religious than any of the three aforementioned men.

They continue to wage a war on women; depriving them of their personal right, and restricting their life-changing choices.

My complaint is that Religion does not belong in politics. The Party of Destruction has singled out one religion as the ‘religion of our nation,’ in direct violation of the first amendment.

Our forefathers wisely recognized the fact that all Americans have the right to practice the religion of their choice, or none at all, but they forbade the establishment of a single religion as the only religion of the nation.

I am an agnostic. I doubt that there is a god. In addition, I don’t understand organized religion; I fail to see the purpose. Why should I sit inside of a building with the single intention of having another man or woman giving me instructions about how to live my life. I have free will, and everyday of my life I attempt to be more spiritual. I know right from wrong.

I actually read the bible. When I was in my early teens, I considered becoming a Catholic priest. Although I don’t believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, I do believe that he was the greatest of all prophets. His instructions to his followers remain great words; words which continue to make me think and re-evaluate my own life daily.

I don’t believe in churches. I live near Lake Tahoe, and not a single church I ever attended is as beautiful as that lush green forest and its bottomless lake. Most importantly, if there is a god, he or she built Lake Tahoe; men build churches.

Most Americans are unaware that there are more than 65 million Americans who are either atheists or agnostics, and we are the fastest growing number of any group included in the discussion of religion. Christianity is the slowest growing group.

If the Party of Destruction, in concert with the Christian religious right, did not attempt to force their fake-beliefs upon the American people, several “issues” would not exist. These “issues” were never discussed by Jesus Christ, who forbade men from judging other men.

The two which receive the most notoriety, and have caused division within the American people, are abortion and same-sex marriage.

All mankind has free will. If we use that ability, and refuse to become brainwashed by other men, we know what is right or wrong for each of us. A woman who chooses to receive an abortion has made the most difficult decision of her life. She, and she alone has the right to decide the health and welfare of her own body. It always confounds me when I hear a single party, composed mostly of old, white men, decide that they have the right to force women to abide by their personal beliefs.

Prejudice is a sign of ignorance, and in the case of the LGBTQ community, it is moronic. First of all, science has proven than homosexuality is not a ‘choice.’ Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, Mike Pence, and Ted Cruz are wrong.

Most importantly, why does the Party of Destruction ostracize other Americans? What do they fear? Homophobia is a curable disease. Mike Pence believes in ‘conversion therapy.’ He believes that ‘homosexuality is ‘curable.’ I know most members of the Party of Destruction refuse to believe in science, but here is a single fact which is irrefutable; because homosexuality is not a learned way of life, there is nothing to cure. Every psychiatric agency in the world has debunked ‘conversion therapy,’ and consider it a danger to the mental health of individuals who are forced to endure the process.

My daughter teaches children at her church in Florida. She is one of the most spiritual people I know who has devoted her life to her God. However, she denounces large, organized religions. Like her father, she believes that the primary purpose of most who claim to be Christian is to become wealthy.

God did not create religions; men created religions.

If America is to return to a nation of intellect, open and honest deliberation, and eventual compromise, our government must separate itself from religion. Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, and agnostics must have equal representation under the law; as commanded by the Constitution.

America doesn’t need more Pences, Huckabees, Carsons, Trumps, or another Cruz. We need good men who will do the right thing and not hide behind religion.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Follow me on twitter; @jamesturnagenov

My novels are available on Amazon