Sunday, April 6, 2008

Freedom



Last week I saw a "coexist" bumper sticker like the one pictured above. Fourteen-year-old speculated that the driver of the car must be a pastor.

Huh?

I explained (rather long-windedly) that I thought the driver would not be a pastor because the bumper sticker implies that all religions are equal and a pastor ought to believe what he believes to be the truth and not just one of many potential truths or what would be the point of believing anything. After all, believing in everything is the same as believing in nothing.

Fourteen replied, "Oh. I thought it just meant we should all get along. You know, peace and stuff."

Oooooh.

Maybe it does....but maybe we do.

Remember this?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...

The first article of the Bill of Rights. The first freedom guaranteed to Americans. A promise that there would be no American version of the Church of England. Hence, a plethora of religions coexist here. And they not only coexist, but thrive.

"Coexist" you say? I can't imagine it any other way.

5 comments:

Kelly said...

Actually, several of the first states had official religions.

Sue Bee said...

I recall hearing of a community in New England that required membership in good-standing to a particular church (Congregational, I think) in order to be elected to town office. It had this law well into the 19th century.

Kelly said...

Well, I was speaking of colonies/states with actual official religions, which were supported by government taxes. I learned about it in a Religion In Contemporary America class, but I did find it on a few websites for you.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel05.html
http://www.geocities.com/ldjandl/thesis/articles_dobbs_freedomofreligion.html

Kelly said...

Looks as if I need to break up that second link.

http://www.geocities.com/ldjandl/thesis/
articles_dobbs_freedomofreligion.html

Sue Bee said...

Hey Kelli - I finally found some time to skim the links you provided - very interesting! Funny how things turned out given how it all started. I'll go back and read more when I have time. Thanks!!