News -Editorial: A Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian Nation (New York Times - Meacham) "In an interview with Beliefnet.com last weekend, Mr. McCain repeated what is an article of faith among many American evangelicals: 'the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.' " However, "the only acknowledgment of God in the original Constitution is a utilitarian one: the document is dated 'in the year of our Lord 1787.' Even the religion clause of the First Amendment is framed dryly and without reference to any particular faith. The Connecticut ratifying convention debated rewriting the preamble to take note of God’s authority, but the effort failed." "Thomas Jefferson said that his bill for religious liberty in Virginia was 'meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan, the Hindu, and infidel of every denomination.' When George Washington was inaugurated in New York in April 1789, Gershom Seixas, the hazan of Shearith Israel, was listed among the city’s clergymen (there were 14 in New York at the time) — a sign of acceptance and respect. The next year, Washington wrote the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, R.I., saying, 'happily the government of the United States ... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. ... Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.' " 10-07 Papers Politics, Religion, and the State (CrossCurrents.org) Provides cross-cultural observations on how religion, politics, and the state interact in a variety of countries. "Few will be surprised to learn that campaigning politicians everywhere tend to invoke local religious themes and symbols as sources of legitimacy and what Demerath and Rhys Williams have called 'cultural power' (1992). What may be more surprising is the frequent tendency for governmental regimes and their officials to try to keep religion at arm's length. While religion is often an ally in the pursuit of power, once power has been secured, religion can become an unwelcome constraint in the quite different processes of state administration." "Demerath developed this point in an earlier article (1991), arguing that, while few countries have the kind of formal, legal 'separation of church and state' that characterizes the U.S., an informal de facto separation is almost a commonplace. The most conspicuous exceptions here are not 'religious states' but rather 'state religions' in which the government seeks to control religion. Strangely enough, this often involves state support for religion in an effort to coopt and nullify it as an independent power-base." 11-04 Separation of Church and State (PBS.org - Moyers) " 'Separation of church and state' is probably a familiar phrase. While it's one of the most frequently debated issues about the Constitution, those exact words don't even appear in the original document. How well do you know the history of God and government in the United States? Learn about it below." 11-04 Separation of Church and State (Woodland Hills Church - Greg Boyd) "Sadly, many people today claim that if you’re really a Christian, you’ll vote a certain way, support a certain candidate or take a particular stand on a particular issue. But most political issues are ambiguous enough that sincere, intelligent and Bible-believing people can and do strongly disagree about them!" "However, nowhere in the New Testament do Jesus or any of his followers weigh in on any of the many divisive political issues of their day. This doesn’t mean that they didn’t have political opinions. They did – and they were very different from each other! Matthew (a tax collector) and Simon (a Zealot) were much farther apart in their views about political issues than (say) a Liberal Democrat and a Conservative Republican would be today. Yet, we never read a word about which view was 'better' in the Gospels. And the reason is that our widely different political views are insignificant next to the one thing we are called to do as followers of Jesus: express God’s love for others the sacrificial way God expressed his love for all of us!" 08-07 The Law: Can Atheists Be Parents? (Time.com) "In an extraordinary decision, Judge Camarata denied the Burkes' right to the child because of their lack of belief in a Supreme Being. Despite the Burkes' 'high moral and ethical standards,' he said, the New Jersey state constitution declares that 'no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience.' Despite Eleanor Katherine's tender years, he continued, 'the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being.' " "If they fail in their appeal, Eleanor Katherine may have to leave the only family she has ever known and await adoption by another couple whose religious convictions satisfy the State of New Jersey." 08-09

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