First things first, a little English lesson. Throughout Mr. J. M. Ivler’s article, “Protect Separate Church and State” (Sun Newspapers, Jan. 21, 2010), he references God, but fails to pay the respect due by not capitalizing God’s name/title. Whether he is a believer, or not, God is capitalized, as I’ve capitalized Mr. Ivler’s name in my intro. God is not G-d, nor is He god.
Mr. Ivler goes on to speak of our country’s pilgrims and founders. He indicates that they had left England, because of religious persecution. In this he is correct. He is incorrect, when he states that they were
brought together by a common belief. Not all of our Pilgrims were religious. Of those that were, many congregations existed, which practiced different beliefs.
What I find interesting is how (in Mr. Ivler’s) understanding of history, that our pilgrims were devoutly religious, but somehow, by the time of the signing of our Constitution they appear to have abandoned their Judeo Christian values.
Let’s examine your history lesson of our founders. Should we teach Jefferson’s words as FACTS? Yes! Let’s examine his words in the context of your premise.
“Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.”—Thomas Jefferson.
Question the existence of God? Yes, but that requires the study of God. How can we question the existence of a thing, if not through study and discernment. Reason? Yes. Here’s Merriam Webster’s definition: the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking especially in orderly rational ways – Comprehending, inferring, thinking. This requires study, correct?
Lastly, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear. I think that you make the case for the study of our Judeo Christian value system here. Or, should we blindfold ourselves (from knowledge) out of fear of what students might learn, and comprehend?
In 1787, the year that our Congress signed the Constitution, they passed another piece of legislation; the Northwest Ordinance. Article 3 states: “Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
A message that George Washington reinforces in his farewell address: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports … And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion … Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail to the exclusion of religious principle.”
The premise that teaching Judeo Christian values is in opposition to the separation of Church and State is a false one.
Teaching these values does not insist Christianity be considered as a State religion. Further, if we consider Atheism, and/or Secularism as religions, then what we appear to have created is the teaching of these religions, at the exclusion of Christianity.
If we are desiring to exclude religion from the (understanding of the) development of our national morality, what are we basing it on?
Our Founders were deeply religious. Presenting a history of our great country without including the role that Judeo Christian values played is like presenting science with the exclusion of Newton and Einstein.
There are only four words emblazoned in the Hall of Congress: “In God We Trust.”
Earick Ward is a resident of Seal Beach and local businessman.
