Blurred vision: The First Amendment and the American Taliban

\Religion has permeated human life for thousands of years and archeological evidence exists of religious practices associated with the earliest humans. After the establishment of more organized societies, religion commonly became integrated with government. 

A strong connection existed between government and religion in Roman society.  In the European Middle Ages, the early Christian church dominated medieval life while the Spanish Inquisition demonstrated a religion-infused government that used torture and execution to eradicate opposition. 

Eventually, in Europe, schisms arose between the Catholic Church and emerging Protestants, leading to the Thirty Years’ War, violence in multiple European countries between religious factions, in England, a years of civil wars that erupted in 1642.  Violence was commonly used across centuries to force change from one religion inseparable from government to another religion also inseparable from government.  

Efforts to establish and maintain one dominant religion were shattered in 1791 when the Bill of Rights amendments were ratified.  The First Amendment states:

“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.”

In the context of history, this constitutional text is extraordinary. One of our nation’s founders, James Madison, wrote in 1822 about the reasons behind the First Amendment:

“It was the belief of all sects at one time that the establishment of Religion by law, was right & necessary; that the true religion ought to be established in exclusion of every other; And that the only question to be decided was which was the true religion. . . . We are teaching the world the great truth that Govts. do better without Kings & Nobles than with them.  The merit will be doubled by the other lesson that Religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Gov.”

The First Amendment’s momentous impact is defined by words on the Great Seal of the United States featured on our dollar bills: Novus Ordo Seclorum  (A New Order of the Ages).

Unfortunately, there are Americans who choose to ignore the First Amendment. What was once a modest desire by some evangelicals to increase their religion’s presence has molted into a determined effort to establish religion in America as a partner of government and preferably integrated with government. Their intent to establish a religious “kingdom of this world” apparently arose because of their fear that the Christianity they preached more than practiced was under attack.   

Part of this modern movement to establish an “American Religion” includes masking it in a blanket of patriotism. This effort is a calculated tactic to disguise violating the First Amendment.   The zealots who advance religious patriotism, apparently with weak faith in their religion but strong fear for their religion’s future, want governments to protect their religion. They seek tax-paid help for their church schools and legislative statutes and court decisions designed to impose their beliefs on the private conduct of life.  

Those who engage in religious patriotism, sometimes labeled “Christian Nationalists,” must believe that America was founded for them and intended for them.  Evidently, they believe they are being robbed of that America.  They fear tidal changes swirling at their feet and obviously fear that what they consider “truth” will be overcome by waves of different beliefs.  Like many throughout history, they fear changes that time always brings.  

Americans are having to adjust to an increasingly non-religious country. Some, unable to adapt quickly, react with anger against those who have different religions, or no religion, or different versions of their religion. They seek support from cynical politicians who promise to help defeat constantly advancing tides of change and who declare that they are tired of separating church and state. Like little children who build sandcastles on a beach at low tide, they are destined for bitter disappointment.  The wheels of history do not roll in reverse.  

Americans who endeavor to establish a government sanctioned religion would react strongly if Islamic Sharia law was imposed on them. The Afghan Taliban, with its hostility to all other religions but its version of Islam, its exclusion of women from most of Afghan society, and its brutal efforts to dominate Afghanistan using religious “law” imposed on all, is a modern example of government permeated by religion with insistent belief that it has the one true faith. 

Current Iranian society has a “Guardian Council” of religious elders who vet candidates for office, impose religious rules over dress and conduct, and hold supreme authority over Iranian life.  The Iranian “Guardians” believe they have the true faith.  Like the Afghan Taliban and the Iranian Guardians, Christian Nationalists are not shy about proclaiming “We know the truth.” They are akin to an American Taliban.

The Volunteer State hosts efforts to establish an “American religion.”  Some Tennessee churches label themselves as “Patriot churches” while others engage in more subtle efforts to gain an advantage for their religion. The current Tennessee legislature enacts legislation with an overt religious component to placate Tennesseans who want guardians for private conduct.  

Those who wisely authored the First Amendment helped create a new form of government. The rights enshrined in that Amendment allow each religion to compete in the marketplace of ideas.  The role of government is to ensure a level field for all to compete fairly.  In the search for truth, some creeds bear good fruit while the harvest sought by others rots in the fields.   As was said about two thousand years ago, “By their fruits you shall know them.”