We have all seen this statement before: In God We Trust. Have you ever wondered why the dollar in your pocket makes this proclamation? After all, isn't there supposed to be separation between church and state?
It is no wonder the line between church and state seems blurred so often in a nation that pledges one nation under God"" and proclaims ""In God We Trust"" on our currency.
Before the hate mail floods in, let me just say I am not denouncing God or claiming these phrases should be eradicated or endorse Satan. My point is simply that these messages are confusing in a country rooted in secular government.
""Beware of Dogma."" These are the words emblazoned on a new billboard located off the Beltline sponsored by Madison's Freedom From Religion Foundation. Often such messages are written off as anti-religion, but FFRF is (or at least claims to be) an educational group working for the separation of church and state.
What people sometimes fail to realize is that advocating separation between church and state is not anti-religion. One can - gasp - believe in God and still advocate for separation between religion and government.
In the latest debacle in the clash between the two, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, drew the ire of Muslim and Jewish groups for comments he made saying he would prefer a Christian president to lead the United States. He then proceeded to make the situation worse while attempting to clarify the remarks while campaigning in New Hampshire.
""What I do mean to say is the United States of America was founded on the values of Judeo-Christian values, which were translated by our founding fathers, which is basically the rights of human dignity and human rights,"" McCain said.
McCain is perfectly entitled to his opinion and preference. What Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, found troubling is the implication, perhaps unintended, that Christianity singularly endorses these virtues, saying McCain's comments failed to recognize that Christianity is not the only faith with beliefs that support the concept of human rights.
The trouble with religion and politics intermingling is when individuals believe their religious convictions are superior and therefore correct for the whole nation.
I harbor no issues with religious individuals; my sole trepidation is with politicians who think their religious beliefs should be applied to the whole - a trend that seems to be on the rise as religion becomes more deeply woven into the fabric of partisan politics.
Every day, rape victims are denied access to emergency contraception because some politicians' religious beliefs say it is wrong. Gay couples are denied the right to marry because the Bible says it is wrong.
The First Amendment of the Constitution declares, ""Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."" The invasion of religion into national and local politics should be rejected with the same rigor with which we constitutionally reject the invasion of government into religion.
Of course religion plays a role in forming one's personal politics, but when the religious views of politicians directly affect the rights of citizens, that is a problem.
If legislation such as a national gay marriage ban were passed, it would mark the first time in history that an amendment was passed to take away the civil liberties of a group of citizens. I doubt that is what the founding fathers had in mind when they crafted the Constitution, endorsing ""human dignity and human rights,"" in McCain's words.
Laws should not be justified with religious reasoning, but because they enrich liberty and equality, and defend justice.
If you turn a dollar over, you can find another proclamation on the back, ""E Pluribus Unum."" It means, ""from many, one."" Not only is it an echo of America's traditional ""melting pot"" mentality, but its meaning is far more conducive to a cooperative and inclusive political environment.
At the risk of sounding trite, I must reiterate we are meant to come together as a nation, not let our religious beliefs tear us apart.
Michelle Turcotte is a senior majoring in journalism. Please send respones to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
