3/10/09
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2 comments
EDITORIAL
Waiting for answers on religion’s slide
Theologians and ministers should look forward to a forthcoming study that tells why a growing number of our citizens have no religion. Here in the Bible Belt that’s a strange trend because religion is bred into our souls as part of our DNA. We may not go to church or read the Bible or keep the Ten Commandments, but you can bet most of us have a religion philosophy. It’s essential. A report from The Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., however, found that about 15 percent of Americans say they have no religion. It’s sad that 34 percent of the people of Vermont are in that category and lead the states in this dubious statistic. The steady trend upward leaves many church pews empty on Sunday and has church leaders trying harder. The survey is part of a series of studies on American religion that will now look more closely at reasons behind the trend. For sure, the findings will be grist for further discussions about religion, perhaps even bring a redefining of the word itself. Our Constitution gives us the right to free ourselves of religion without becoming second-class citizens. But here in the South, at least, our folks worry about those who embrace that option.
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Which Constitution? Not the one I'm holding a copy of in my hand, the U.S. Constitution. Please share with us the reference to the one you are referring to that guarantees that you can live in a religion-free society and still expect the freedoms that we enjoy. It's freedom OF religion, not FROM religion is it not?
Here's what a man whom I think we could agree was a bit more familiar with the U.S. Constitution had to say about the issue:
"We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions which are unbridled by morality and true religion." Meaning, we have not written a Constitution, we do not have a government here that is capable of dealing with the kind of human emotions that are found outside morality and true religion.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Who made these bigoted statements? No not Jerry Falwell. These are quotes from John Adams, one of the founders. To people who are unbridled by moral absolutes, if you will, and the people who are not truly religious, this Constitution -- and this is one of the Founders writing -- this Constitution is a restriction to them. It is punitive to them. And Adams said this Constitution cannot deal with people like that. Was he wrong on this?
So the anti-theists had better be "praying" that the kind of "religion" that Adams was referring to is always a central guiding force in America. Because without it, we will soon cease to exist as a classical liberal democracy. Move to Europe if that's what you want but leave America alone please.
As for the decline in church attendance, the real Church will be fine. God has a plan and he may have to separate the wheat from the chaff in order to carry it out.
H
Hazel: You asked for it. Quoting directly from the document "in your hand":
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..."
Yes, indeed that does mean we have BOTH freedom of religion AND freedom from it, if we so choose.
You can misinterpret Adams if you want. He was saying that moral and religious people are the cornerstone of a society that offers the freedoms ours does. He was not saying everyone has to attend the church of Hazel's choosing ("the real church") in order for our country to prosper. In fact, the document specifically says we are free to choose no religion.