The opinion of this writer is not the opinion of Ridgeview News.
Money is speech, corporations are people, the Constitution only means what it did in 1791, and anyone can be a member of our “well-regulated militia” (so pass the AR-15s).
We’ve all been living in legal Crazytown for so long, maybe it’s just another day when the Supreme Court undermines the separation of church and state.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Remember that old thing?
It used to mean the free exercise of religion cannot be prohibited, but your religion does not trump the law.
Now free exercise has overtaken law in a series of cases from Masterpiece Cakeshop (my religion hates gays) to Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (public school coach OK praying on the 50-yard line) and Carson v. Makin (Maine must pay for kids to attend religious schools).
If the free exercise of your (Christian) religion requires setting law (and often facts) aside, SCOTUS supports you.
Justice Sotomayor wrote that the Court’s rulings in Carson and Kennedy lead “us to a place where the separation of church and state becomes a constitutional violation.”
You hope this might produce a relatively small intrusion of religion in public life, except – House Speaker Mike Johnson. A Christian Nationalist is now second in line to the presidency.
Johnson does not recognize the separation of church and state. “The founders,” he says, “wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.”
In Johnson’s church, “The Word of God is the source of all truth.” Johnson believes that his Bible is the sole legitimate source for public policy.
The church of Johnson seeks to criminalize homosexuality and impose a nationwide ban on abortion after fertilization. Constitutional argument will be replaced by a battle of the faithful against the infidels.
The Republicans, by unanimously electing Johnson as their speaker, have aligned themselves with political rule by an intolerant religious sect.
And all this might still be just a crackpot fringe movement except they have found a vehicle in Donald Trump.
In the 2016 election, the Christian Right supported (no, deified) Trump, a candidate known for egotism, adultery, philandering, deceit and fraud, mocking the disabled, and endless other unchristian traits.
That Trump is a grifter and a con man aligns perfectly with the televangelists asking their listeners to prove their faith by sending money and the powerful preachers of prosperity theology, a belief that God wills the reward of material gain for pious Christians. Trump’s self-proclaimed wealth thus demonstrates his piety.
Two things quickly became clear in Trump’s presidency: first, he would do the bidding of the Christian nationalists so long as it didn’t interfere with his power and, second, they in turn would support him so long as he increased their power.
Trump’s appointment of three Supreme Court Justices who overruled Roe in a decision designed to undercut all rights founded in privacy was a political andtheological triumph for them.
The Christian Right yearns for a Trump 2d term.
The government doesn’t have to establish a national religion right away. When Christian theocracy becomes the law, it also becomes the de facto national religion. Later, fealty can be required.
When free expression of religion overcomes law, the rule of law is lost. Soon we will learn that in 1791 the Founders did want to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.
What to do?
Vote Biden, Not Trump. Not Trump who has told reporters, “I am the chosen one” and shared tweets describing himself as “the second coming.” At other times he has claimed to be “second greatest only to Jesus.”
If your religion includes love thy neighbor or welcome the stranger or love your enemies, vote for Democrats who will uphold the rights of neighbors, strangers and enemies as well as your own.
If you’re not religious , if you belong to the 29% of Americans who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular,” beware the Republican party, now fully engaged in a push to impose a theocracy on us. Vote Democratic up and down the ballot.
No democracy without freedom from theocracy.
They must be stopped.
Well Diedre, you got your talking points in, and being an American, others do not share your same position. I know that liberals are trying to rewrite history, but lets stick to some truth. The fact is America was founded on religious freedom. People left and settled here to be free, in part, from the church of England. Thomas Jefferson declared that there would be no state religion. That each individual is free to worship any way they choose or not worship at all. It is the individuals choice. More than that, it is their right. Democracy is based on freedom of choice. The government was structured as such. James Madison said that if men were angels, we would not need government. Unfortunately, we are not. We citizens have the power of the vote. It is a majority rule system. We elect lawmakers to represent our views and wishes. They in turn enact laws to ensure that. If a time comes when the majority no longer has the same view of that law, for whatever reason, voters with the majority of the differing opinion can vote to overturn it. That is democracy in action. Which is why MAGA republicans are for insuring the sanctity of the vote and making sure all the votes are counted fairly and accurately. All the things you try to position as big negatives in your treatise are big positives for some of us. That is America. MAGA is for free speech. But we do not think that Children should be exposed to things other than things age appropriate. A five year old , in our opinion needs to learn the basics of reading, writing and math. Not what imaginary gender they are pressured to be or drag queens exposing themselves to them. Parents who question those practices are labeled by this regime as terrorists. This regime also labels Christians and veterans as terrorists. As a matter of fact, the anti -gunners relish the fact that if a veteran comes out of the service and runs into financial trouble and goes to the V.A and reports that fact, they are no longer able to legally purchase firearms. You are also right in your reference to Christian Nationalism as you called it. We Christians have just as much right to our opinions and vote accordingly as any other citizen. I know many Democrats wish to give non citizens the right to vote to keep their power structure intact. The MAGA movement, or Christian Nationalist or whatever you label us is truly a polar opposite of of the liberal agenda. Most of our agenda does line up with the Christian world view. We believe abortion is murder. We believe in the death penalty for those who commit the most heinous crimes. We believe in secure borders. We believe in the citizens right to bear arms. We believe in fair and honest elections. Letting the people decide. We believe that those who rape, murder, steal etc. should be punished for their crimes against society. Etc. Etc. In other words, our view is, like yours, that the liberal and the are two completely different animals. You cannot be a true Christian and a liberal or vice versa. You are right, God is our final authority. It is also your right to believe as you wish and take the fight to the ballot box. We live in a country where we can be on opposite ends politically and still work with and love one another. I am sure not all Democrats are like Maxine Waters telling people to physically harass people or Nancy Pelosi putting 200 FBI people dressed as Trump supporters on the Jan. 6 travesty she orchestrated. And by the same token, not all republicans are for pro gun rights, securing the borders, anti-abortion, etc. But again, that’s why voting is important. That is also why even here in Calhoun county we have fractures in the party. MAGA is still technically tethered to the Republican party on some issues. And we will support those issues that we agree on. But MAGA is the conservative end of the party. What we feel the party should represent in its entirety, but has veered away from for whatever reason. We feel they left us. So we take all the positives we have with the Republican party and start anew. A few have have been asking when the MAGA will get together here in Calhoun. Because of some difficulty with Facebook censorship(so much for freedom of speech) we will be putting out a rather toned down page they can allow and we are looking in to setting something up on Truth Social. We are not with nor are we endorsed by the Republican party. We are just a small group of like minded people who wish to promote our concerns just like any other voting group. There will be no board members, no asking for any money, help, or fundraising of any kind. If you wish to donate, we hope to put in links that will connect you to the candidate or issue of your choice. We are all equal with an equal voice. Our only criteria is that you are MAGA first and foremost, and respectful of others. Will update soon. Bottom line, we are proud to be Christian, promote Christian values and moral ethics and support those who do.. This countries government was set up to be by the people and for the people. I support that notion, no matter what side of the aisle you are on.