Yet Another Champion of the Constitution
columnist: Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution

Topic: Religion and Government
My Thoughts On Religion

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Some of my thoughts on religion and government.

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by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution
(libertarian)
Monday, April 20, 2009

The following is taken from a note I wrote to a friend perhaps a year ago  explaining my thoughts on religion.  Although I do not believe in God - as in an immortal being creating all of us - I do not label myself as an atheist, although by technical definition, I suppose I am.  I am certainly not gnostic, nor agnostic.  To me, in today's society "atheist" has a negative connotation (to many) as dry and lifeless, but instead I am lively, creative, a "free spirit."  (photo)

That said, I strongly believe in the sanctity of everyone's mind to believe whatever they want to believe - the freedom of religion is a natural right, and was so important to the colonists that they specifically listed it specifically in the Constitution of the United States.  As a matter of fact, the Puritans, Quakers, Separatists (otherwise known as Pilgrims) specifically settled in the New World to flee religious persecution back in England.  Rhode Island was even founded by a colonist (Roger Williams) fleeing the dissent he received from the Puritans of Plymouth!  So fed up was Williams from being chased from both England and Plymouth colony that he welcomed all  religions - Quakers, Jews, Puritans.  In 1652 Rhode Island banned slavery, the first colony/state to do so. (photo)

So, the concept of religious tolerance of others was present from the very genesis of the colonies.  Our founders did not like being told what to think by the Church of England, and this trait led to a wonderful development - the separation of church and state.  Having this clarified in the Constitution led to the American "melting pot" where many cultures and religions can co-exist not merely on an economic level as many ancient cities such as Rome, Constantinople, Malacca, and Samarkand once had, but also as a society.  One could argue that separation of church and state is "as American as apple pie."

Or at least, that's what the U.S. Senate and President Adams thought in 1797 when the Senate unanimously approved the Treaty of Tripoli with the Barbary pirates.  Article 11 states:

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

President Adams added the following signing statement text to the document stating:

Now be it known, That I John Adams, President of the United States of America, having seen and considered the said Treaty do, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, accept, ratify, and confirm the same, and every clause and article thereof. And to the End that the said Treaty may be observed, and performed with good Faith on the part of the United States, I have ordered the premises to be made public; And I do hereby enjoin and require all persons bearing office civil or military within the United States, and all other citizens or inhabitants thereof, faithfully to observe and fulfill the said Treaty and every clause and article thereof.

Wikipedia claims that this was only the third of 339 bills that this particular Senate voted on where the vote was unanimous.  Wiki also states that there is no evidence in the public record of dissent towards the claim made in Article 11. 

Now, Wiki is not necessarily the authority when it comes to facts, but The Nation published this article "Our Godless Constitution" in 2005 which is an interesting read based on The Federalist Papers.  That said, there is a very vocal section of the country that would oppose this thinking; in their minds, the United States is a Christian nation. 

However, remember that the Declaration of Independence - which does use the term "God" - was written by a very irate minority of patriots against King George and tyranny.   The Constitution of 1787, reached after years under the Articles of Confederation and the lengthy debate of the Federalist Papers does not mention the word "God" a single time.

Speaking for myself, whether someone believes in God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha, Baal or has no religion, it's all the same to me - grown men and women can believe whatever they wish as long as they do not infringe upon the freedom of others.  So on to my note (for background it was to a Christian and NO, it did not change her mind, and I bet it won't change YOURS either :) 

Please understand I also have zero intentions of telling you what to believe in, how to live or how to raise your children, but you did ask for my thoughts - Dangerous! :)  It might also be helpful to hear about my journey through religion, and since that’s basically the story, here goes!

I was raised by my mother (herself Catholic schooled) as a Roman Catholic.  I was an altar boy for 10 years and fervently believed in God that entire time.  However, right as high school was ending and into college, I enter a period of doubt.  I still went to church at times, but I just felt something wasn’t quite right in the world when I did.  Buuuuut, I did not worry about it too much. Then about a year ago or so I moved to Shanghai and started going weekly to church (yes it was with a very attractive lady :)  However, I used the time in church to think more and more.

Plus, Mao had stamped out most of the religion from China (used to be heavily folk religions) during his totalitarian regime, so to my friends and colleagues I was a bit of a curiosity.  I don't think that affected my decisions, but it certainly puts things in a different perspective!  In 

Did I really believe that the wine was the body of Christ?  Did I believe that it was possible for the dead to live again (there are scenes with zombies in the bible)?  Was Abraham’s decision to kill his son for God really honorable?  What is up with the religious side of the whole War on Terror, etc, etc.? 

I decided I needed to figure this out for good, so I didn’t live my whole life in a state of indecision.  I decided I would read the Bible, cover to cover (which strangely I had not yet done, although I’ve read quite a bit of it) and then decide once and for all whether I believed in God.  I was even thinking at the time that perhaps I should check out the Koran and some other Eastern religions afterwards.  

I had a red highlighter and green highlighter.  Whenever I got to a section that I morally agreed with, I colored it green.  If I did not, I colored it red.  I knew I would have at least some red, but what I didn’t expect was for the bible I was using to turn almost completely red in many parts, like the Book of Leviticus.  The end result was I stopped believing in god – but remember my search at the beginning was actually just to find the right religion – I thought that there was NO WAY we humans could have been made to live and to love without divine intervention.  My one great belief and fear was that I had thought I needed religion, needed faith, if, for no other reason than to maintain my morals as a "good" person. 

I tested my conclusion again and again, and this conviction has only gotten stronger over time.  If you ever want to challenge yourself try Ancient Egypt: The Light of the World (mostly Part 2) by the 19th century religious scholar Gerald Massey and found that the worship of Jesus Christ and God were uncannily similar to those of Horus and Amon.  Everything I checked or already knew about astronomy or in other sources turned out to be correct.  I was pretty astounded.  Christ, Christmas, the son of god, the idea of the holy trinity, born of a virgin, Amen, just about everything came from the Egyptians.  Although he is MORE than a bit obnoxious and insufferable in person, I do not see how a person living under the standards of reason and logic can read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and not question their faith.

Here is one thing that fairly radical for most religious people.  When I look back at my life as a Christian child, I feel no anger towards my parents, just love, but I actually feel my mind was brainwashed when I was little.  Who were they to tell my young, impressionable mind that Jesus Christ died for all of us on the cross, rose to heaven on the third day, God is great and loves me unconditionally but doesn’t want me to sin or I'm off to an eternal hell, etc, etc?  EVEN IF it was all true.  There are some pretty demented things if you think about them in any detail – like if Jesus died today, would people 2000 years later then walk around with pendants with a guy in an electric chair?  A little morbid, but there is an unmistakeable fascination with death and the afterlife in that (and most) religions. 

As for me, I could never ever force my children (not that I am anywhere near having any!) to follow a religion until they are old enough to decide for themselves.  Inside I cringe a little when I hear a 7-year-old referred to as a "Christian child" or a "Muslim child" – as if they are capable of deciding for themselves at that age!

Earlier this year I saw some of Massey’s findings put into a movie called Zeitgeist, and while I certainly do not take the whole movie to heart, it's great for questioning your perception of the world around you, and the relation between the "dogs of war", the "money powers" and religion. 

All I have left to say is that when you see the world for what it is, when you see people for what they really are, when you understand the science of it all, the truth is so amazingly dazzling.  It makes religion look drab and unimaginative.  The human capacity for love, knowledge, happiness and peace is limitless. I have no religion but I do have spirit.

It would be hard for me to explain with just words even if we were in the same room, but we are not waiting to die, we are here to live.  You can question my morals if you want, but I ask you how many others (religious or not) care so much about other people’s lives and freedom that I spend a bunch of hours every week researching and writing pro-peace, anti-war articles?  I do not know all that many that care to do so. 

My one great fear that I would lose my moral compass with my religion turned out to be completely senseless, and now?  I fear not.

Jake

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." - attributed to Seneca the Younger (4BC - 65 AD)

This one it appears he really wrote though!

"We are all chained to fortune: the chain of one is made of gold, and wide, while that of another is short and rusty. But what difference does it make? The same prison surrounds all of us, and even those who have bound others are bound themselves; unless perchance you think that a chain on the left side is lighter. Honors bind one man, wealth another; nobility oppresses some, humility others; some are held in subjection by an external power, while others obey the tyrant within; banishments keep some in one place, the priesthood others. All life is slavery.

"Therefore each one must accustom himself to his own condition and complain about it as little as possible, and lay hold of whatever good is to be found near him. Nothing is so bitter that a calm mind cannot find comfort in it. Small tablets, because of the writer's skill, have often served for many purposes, and a clever arrangement has often made a very narrow piece of land habitable. Apply reason to difficulties; harsh circumstances can be softened, narrow limits can be widened, and burdensome things can be made to press less severely on those who bear them cleverly."

This is where I disagree.  The "short and rusty" chains of iron can at long last be shattered in our modern times in America - if, that is, we first recognize them, then choose to do so.  Shall "separation of church and state" be followed by "separation of money and state" and "separation of economy and state"?  Read on if you like here!  "The Money Matrix - Prelude (PART 1/15)"

Veritatem dies aperit.  Time Discovers Truth.

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©2009 Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Monday, April 20, 2009
Last modified: Sunday, May 31, 2009

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