Faith, Values, Family and Separation of Church and State
December 12th 2011 13:58
Over 235 years ago, a group of men came together from different walks of life to create an imperfect nation that would be an improvement from the experiences they were forced to endure in their lifetimes.
Experiences that were the byproduct of governments run amok with power, greed and disregard for the needs of their citizens.
These men decided to create a nation founded on the principles of Democracy, Freedom and Equal Rights for all people no matter how much property they owned or what religion they chose to practice.
While the terminology used in the documents that bound a contract between the people of the United States of America and all future forms of government clearly stated that all men were created equal in the eyes of their creator; it was the times and circumstances in which the leaders of the United States of America lived that prevented this portion of the contract from being adhered to.
A portion of the contract that the forefathers of the United States of America placed in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights to create a set of documents that would survive the test of time.
The test of time that would be a maturation process for a young nation to survive financially, morally and to eventually become a role model for nations around the globe.
Through a birth that included the reliance of slavery to endure the financial hardship that came with financing a revolution, to the growing pains of keeping the peace within a powder keg created from different religions, nationalities and races that were now sharing the same culture and eventually finding a way to honor the words in the Constitution and Bill of Rights in a land where all men and women are equal; the United States of America has been through a lot in her short 235 year history.
The history of the United States of America is filled with Contradictions, Inconsistencies and Imperfections that have all been part of a journey responsible for the opportunities we enjoy as American citizens.
Among these contradictions is the relationship between religion and government that has been the cause of strife among the American people and Elected Representatives since the ink dried on the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
In the creation of the United States of America, one of the first concerns of the forefathers was the protection of the right to practice whatever religion any citizen saw fit to practice and to create a society on the principles of compassion, doing what’s right and respect for all people.
This respect came from the horrors that were taking place around the globe in an age when families were forced to convert to specific belief sets or face the penalty of imprisonment or death, children were being snatched away from parents to be raised “morally” and wars were being fought over the way the same religion was being practiced.
While the mindset of the forefathers of the United States of America was to protect citizens from the atrocities that were happening within the Christian religion; the document signed in 1776 clearly states that there will never be an official religion in the United States of America.
While it was the goal of the forefathers to create a nation that stood on moral principles it was also their intent to leave American citizens of future generations with the ability to do so outside of the institution of an official religion.
While many contradictions exist between the documents signed in 1776 and the problems that still exist in 2011, with the push back against religion and the push for an official religion, there is still something to be said about the groundwork that was given to the American people 235 years ago.
The groundwork that was ignored when Native American children were taken away from their families to be converted to Christianity.
The groundwork that continues to be ignored when a religion is labeled as a cult and loses protection from the United States government.
The groundwork that continues to be trampled on when mob rule takes over the responsibility to honor the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights with the push to strip away the rights of religious groups segments of the population do not like or do not understand.
While the backbone of a society will always be within its societal values, the family structure and the level of tolerance maintained in society no matter the outside circumstances; it is still of the utmost importance that we remain true to ourselves as a society.
True, in the way we deal with conflicts as they arise.
True, in the way we respect our fellow man woman and child no matter their belief or non belief in an organized or un-organized religion.
True, in respecting the tenants of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights at all times and not just when it is convenient for the cause we are trying to promote.
The words written in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights have stood the test of time because they are a framework. A framework that can be ignored and thrown on the backburner if citizens of this and future generations choose to do so.
It is up to the people of the United States of America to make the Constitution work for all the people and not the select few.
When we begin to work towards this we can begin to honestly have a discussion about respecting the wishes of the forefathers of the United States of America.
Until then we are doing nothing more than running around in circles with a pair of sharp scissors.
Experiences that were the byproduct of governments run amok with power, greed and disregard for the needs of their citizens.
These men decided to create a nation founded on the principles of Democracy, Freedom and Equal Rights for all people no matter how much property they owned or what religion they chose to practice.
While the terminology used in the documents that bound a contract between the people of the United States of America and all future forms of government clearly stated that all men were created equal in the eyes of their creator; it was the times and circumstances in which the leaders of the United States of America lived that prevented this portion of the contract from being adhered to.
A portion of the contract that the forefathers of the United States of America placed in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights to create a set of documents that would survive the test of time.
The test of time that would be a maturation process for a young nation to survive financially, morally and to eventually become a role model for nations around the globe.
Through a birth that included the reliance of slavery to endure the financial hardship that came with financing a revolution, to the growing pains of keeping the peace within a powder keg created from different religions, nationalities and races that were now sharing the same culture and eventually finding a way to honor the words in the Constitution and Bill of Rights in a land where all men and women are equal; the United States of America has been through a lot in her short 235 year history.
The history of the United States of America is filled with Contradictions, Inconsistencies and Imperfections that have all been part of a journey responsible for the opportunities we enjoy as American citizens.
Among these contradictions is the relationship between religion and government that has been the cause of strife among the American people and Elected Representatives since the ink dried on the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
In the creation of the United States of America, one of the first concerns of the forefathers was the protection of the right to practice whatever religion any citizen saw fit to practice and to create a society on the principles of compassion, doing what’s right and respect for all people.
This respect came from the horrors that were taking place around the globe in an age when families were forced to convert to specific belief sets or face the penalty of imprisonment or death, children were being snatched away from parents to be raised “morally” and wars were being fought over the way the same religion was being practiced.
While the mindset of the forefathers of the United States of America was to protect citizens from the atrocities that were happening within the Christian religion; the document signed in 1776 clearly states that there will never be an official religion in the United States of America.
While it was the goal of the forefathers to create a nation that stood on moral principles it was also their intent to leave American citizens of future generations with the ability to do so outside of the institution of an official religion.
While many contradictions exist between the documents signed in 1776 and the problems that still exist in 2011, with the push back against religion and the push for an official religion, there is still something to be said about the groundwork that was given to the American people 235 years ago.
The groundwork that was ignored when Native American children were taken away from their families to be converted to Christianity.
The groundwork that continues to be ignored when a religion is labeled as a cult and loses protection from the United States government.
The groundwork that continues to be trampled on when mob rule takes over the responsibility to honor the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights with the push to strip away the rights of religious groups segments of the population do not like or do not understand.
While the backbone of a society will always be within its societal values, the family structure and the level of tolerance maintained in society no matter the outside circumstances; it is still of the utmost importance that we remain true to ourselves as a society.
True, in the way we deal with conflicts as they arise.
True, in the way we respect our fellow man woman and child no matter their belief or non belief in an organized or un-organized religion.
True, in respecting the tenants of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights at all times and not just when it is convenient for the cause we are trying to promote.
The words written in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights have stood the test of time because they are a framework. A framework that can be ignored and thrown on the backburner if citizens of this and future generations choose to do so.
It is up to the people of the United States of America to make the Constitution work for all the people and not the select few.
When we begin to work towards this we can begin to honestly have a discussion about respecting the wishes of the forefathers of the United States of America.
Until then we are doing nothing more than running around in circles with a pair of sharp scissors.
Faith, Values, Family and Separation of Church and State
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