Kept Religion out of
Politics
Janet Kuypers
10/28/19, written on and for the
Separation of Church and State Day
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
may have contended that it’s better
when religion is kept out of politics,
but when I see in England and Europe
how religion is so much less a slated
institution for their people, I am forced
to wonder about our own country’s
history — and sordid past — with religion,
to put all the pieces properly into place.
Many immigrants came to these States
searching for religious freedom, though
Jefferson may have understood all too well
that freedom of religion could also mean
freedom from religion*. So let’s be clear,
we can be tolerant of any religions, but
the government can’t impose religion
on its citizens, it’s that simple. So all
these Supreme Court rulings allowed
people the freedom to believe whatever
religion they wanted to devise and embrace.
But remember: the separation of the
church and state decisions came about
precisely because people didn’t like
local governments with religious monuments
or schools imposing bible readings in class.
So, no, while it may seem the United States
is actually surprisingly religious at times,
we still have to make it clear in law
that there are some religious lines you
just can’t cross. This country’s founding
rests on people having the freedom
to believe in whatever they want,
from the logical to the preposterous —
so on days like today — or any day —
we should remember to be grateful that
we live where we have the right to choose.
* Janet Kuypers poem “The State of the Nation”
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