The U.S Constitution creates two core rules regarding freedom of religion. First, the Establishment Clause established the separation of church and state by stating that the U.S. Government cannot set up an official national religion and cannot give any religion priority or status over another, or over the lack of religious beliefs. Second, the Free Exercise Clause clarifies that our government cannot stop individuals or groups from practicing their faith, or from having no faith at all.
In spite of the Constitution’s clear mandate on religion, the Christian-nationalist tenets now advanced by America’s religious far-right are vigorously promoting Christian doctrine as a force that must infuse and even dominate American religious, political and social life — supposedly in order to preserve our national identity and “the American way.”
In my view, support for this notion is due to perceived misalignments between the core values of Christianity and those of other religions. What percentage of Christians in America today can claim more than a superficial knowledge of other religious belief systems (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Stoicism, Humanism, etc.)? If I stopped a group of my fellow Christians on their way out of church and asked them to describe the most important doctrinal values of one of those “other” religions, what would I hear? Even the more in-depth answers, I suspect, would say more about differences from Christianity than about similarities.
So, a quick summary:
- The teachings of Jesus Christ emphasize love, compassion, forgiveness and humility. Key tenets include love and care for one’s neighbor, forgiveness and social justice. (There are splinter groups. For example, those who follow the so-called “Christian prosperity doctrine.”)
- Judaism emphasizes the covenant between God and the Jewish people, focusing on community, ethical living, and justice. Its teachings encourage questioning and interpretation in opposition to rigid dogma as well as promoting dialogue.
- Islam emphasizes The Five Pillars, which outline essential practices, including charity and prayer. Islamic teachings stress compassion, justice, and care for the less fortunate. (Splinter Islamic groups advocating for jihad and other violence have deviated from these core beliefs.)
- Buddhism focuses on the Four Noble Truths, which address and the path to inner peace through ethical living, meditation and wisdom. The emphasis on non-attachment and compassion contrasts with the materialism often associated with religious extremes of any kind.
- Hindu teachings focus on dharma (duty/righteousness) and karma (the law of cause and effect), promoting ethical living and responsibility toward yourself and society. Hinduism encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices, allowing for pluralism and tolerance.
- More a philosophy than a religion, Stoicism teaches that virtu (virtue) is the highest good, emphasizing rationality, self-control, and resilience in the face of adversity. Stoicism promotes the idea of a universal community, achieved through the practice of compassion, honesty and integrity.
- Humanism emphasizes reason, ethics and justice, often promoting the idea that humans can lead ethical lives without reliance on supernatural or religious beliefs. Humanists advocate for social justice, human rights, and compassion.
Like Christianity, most of these religious traditions emphasize love and compassion as foundational principles, including practical compassion, i.e., taking action to alleviate suffering. Judaism, Islam, and many Eastern philosophies emphasize communal responsibility and human connection.
While far-right Christian nationalists work to to sow distrust and fear toward people of other faiths and persuasions, it’s more important than ever for Americans of all faiths to understand that that their values have much in common with those held dear by followers of most other belief systems — and that, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the continued separation of church and state is fundamental to the freedom of religion for ALL Americans.
Matt LaMotte, a native of the Eastern Shore, has a diverse background. He grew up in Baltimore but spent much time in Easton and Chestertown. After college, he returned to the Mid Shore and worked in insurance and finance while raising his two sons. He then pursued a teaching and coaching career in independent schools across different states. In 2018, he chaired the History Department at Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Easton before retiring in 2021. Matt is now focused on conservation, outdoor education, and staying engaged with local and global affairs.
6 Responses
Not quite sure the point the author is making other then The Constitution is prejudicial?Perhaps he is pointing out the fact that The Constitution was signed by mostly Christian men, mostly Protestant, some Catholics and Deists, No Jews or Islamists or Buddhists or Hindus, or atheists. All the signers did believe in God. Though The Constitution does not mention God, other then the signature”in the year of The Lord”, The Bible obviously had some influence over the signators. It does exclude Sunday(Christian Day of rest) from the 10 day time limit the President has to veto a bill. The Preamble , like the Biblical Prophets mentions the need to establish justice. Even the hierarchical system of courts reflects division of labor Moses employed in Exodus18:17-22. There are several other examples of “Biblical flavor” I could mention but not enough time.
Though Islam is primarily a religion, it also functions as a cultural framework in many societies influencing art language, law social norms and daily life. Given the current state of affairs, naturalized citizens ” swear allegiance ” to the United States. I am hard pressed when I hear far left rhetoric (Dearborn Mi) “Death to America” that they truly swear allegiance to America and though permitted by first amendment, inciteful rhetoric is not and that is what it clearly is.So the only ” misalignment” is you not seeing the elements of The Constitution were written by mostly Christian men…… to be all inclusive. Interesting that the Democratic Party, seems to have exclude Judaism both domestic and abroad.Unfortunately, though “mostly peaceful”, there are some Islamists who believe in the Quran that cites Surah AtTawbah 9:” slay the idolaters(infidels) whereever you find them, and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush” Let us not forget our Pledge to our Flag “under God” and ” in God we trust” on our currency. Please dont misalign Democratic Socialist with religion
The self proclaiming Christian Nationalist have become unyielding in
their quest for political authority rather than true faith. Our Founders
said that freedom of conscience is a human right and Madison agreed that
if a government destroyed religious freedoms, it could destroy all our freedoms. Tyranny. And that it is vital for our nation to govern with humility.
That means rejecting divine endorsement for any single religion and practicing
compromise and meaningful debate.
The “In God We Trust” and the Pledge of Allegiance, which we all said at school in the 1960s and which I say at our NSCD meetings, were efforts by
politicians in the 1950s to separate us from “godless communism”. A religious Cold War.
Interesting we have a man in the Oval putting the red carpet out(after
making members of the military clean the carpet in front of Xi Jinping)
for one of the 21 century most brutal communist dictators…..
You dont have to be a ” Christian Nationalist”( whatever that is) to see our Republic is being threatened by indolent force called Democratic Socialists. They truly have no allegiance to America and in fact would like to abolish the essence of our Constitution. There are several elected Muslims in multiple positions of power right now with isolated diaspora popping up around our nation. Think what you want; is Islam a religion or a culture(its actually a little bit of both). Their culture will never mesh with Western culture due to its basic teachings. Perhaps you believe in socialism.. that is your right but this trend is beyond politics. It is focused on disrupting our way of life in this beautiful Republic. .Radical Islam is not looking to establish a socioeconomic classless order like communism… they are looking for total destruction. As far as Trumps treatment of Xi have you ever heard the axiom” keep your friends close and your enemies closer”
Right. Do away with “socialist programs “like social security, medicare, medicaid,
public schools. Curious.
Healthcare is appalling with worse outcomes than other post industrial
nations. Citizens are often one medical crisis away from bankruptcy.People are sick of a party
that is run by billionaires with their empty headed Trojan Horse in the Oval.
BTW i was a Republican for most of my life. This is now a party that would never have nominated even Reagan.
These arent really “socialist programs” you mention. Social Security is yours and my money… not the government. It is not entitlement or the government “taking care of you” You put your money there. Medicare was actually started by Johnson(a Democrat)It was actually started as a social security amendment to be used as a secondary back up health insurance. It is funded by YOUR payroll taxes, premiums and government revenue.In the 70’s healthcare went through an evolution where the “middle man” HMO’s came on the scene and medicare evolved to be the primary insurance for those> 65.That is when healthcare costs spiralled…. but again started as employee and employer funded.. your money.You can blame Obamacare for healthcare run amuck when Obama put all the controls and wealth in insurance companies. If you havent noticed drug prices have come way down because of Trump(you wouldnt see that on ABC, CBS,CNN MSNBC). Not sure what you mean “public schools”
The piece mixes three different claims and never connects them.
Matt LaMotte opens by saying the Constitution “creates two core rules” and that the Establishment Clause “established the separation of church and state.” It does not. The First Amendment says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. “Separation of church and state” is Thomas Jefferson’s phrase from an 1802 letter, not constitutional text. The clause barred a national church. It did not require the country to pretend it has no religious inheritance, and it did not, until much later court doctrine, apply to the states. Several states kept established churches into the nineteenth century.
From that shaky start he jumps to “Christian-nationalist tenets” that supposedly want Christian doctrine to “dominate” American life. He never defines the term, never quotes a statute, a ruling, or a person, and never says what policy he is actually opposing. Then he explains the whole phenomenon as Christians not knowing enough about other religions, and offers a paragraph each on Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Stoicism, and Humanism. Stoicism and Humanism are not religions. The summaries are so general (“love, compassion, justice”) that they would fit almost any tradition, which is why they prove nothing. Noting that “splinter” Muslims advocate jihad, while treating Christian political argument as the threat that matters, is not an argument. It is a double standard.
Shared language about compassion does not erase real differences in truth claims, law, and political theology, and it has nothing to do with what the First Amendment permits. Americans may argue in public from Christian premises. The Constitution protects that. It also protects everyone else’s right to reject them. What it does not do is hand Mr. LaMotte a mandate to keep religion out of political argument because he finds the argument unwelcome.