Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Preaching true religious freedom
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Brian T. Kaylor
Kaylor teachers political communication at James Madison University and is author of the book "For God's Sake, Shut Up!" and a forthcoming book on religion and politics.
A 2006 survey found that Americans know more about "The Simpsons" and "American Idol" than the rights included in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. A recent action by Gov. Bob McDonnell suggests that ignorance about the First Amendment exists even among elected officials.
Col. W. Steven Flaherty, the state police superintendent, was reappointed by McDonnell after giving in to McDonnell's request to allow state police chaplains to offer sectarian prayers. This reverses a 2008 policy issued by Flaherty that barred chaplains from praying "in Jesus' name" or in other sectarian ways.
That previous directive to avoid sectarian statements in official and public comments was not only in line with court decisions, but also with Virginia's historic recognition of the separation of church and state. Rather than focusing on jobs, as he promised during his campaign, McDonnell's push on this issue will likely spark costly lawsuits.
McDonnell and others supporting the new move demonstrate a startling level of ignorance about the First Amendment and the advice of Virginian statesmen like James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and John Leland. True religious liberty involves the state not privileging or promoting a specific faith. Such a separation of church and state is not only the best system for democracy -- as Jefferson and Madison argued -- but also the best for Christianity and religious faith -- as Leland argued.
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom served as a role model for the First Amendment and established true religious liberty. I pray that today's politicians would follow the wise example of Jefferson, Madison and Leland by promoting true religious liberty, which only comes with the separation of church and state.
As a former Baptist pastor and committed Christian, I find it troubling that politicians would attempt to officially support a particular religious tradition and would attempt to use this issue to score political points. Prayer is not a political football.
The government should not police private prayers or interfere with the religious liberty of individuals. However, the government and its representatives -- such as official state chaplains -- should not endorse or promote a specific faith.
Ironically, those who righteously proclaim they are standing up for prayer seem to have forgotten the teachings of Jesus. As Jesus explained in his Sermon on the Mount, we should pray in secret in our closet and not publicly, like hypocrites, so that all can see us. It seems quite odd, then, that one would demand the right to pray in "Jesus' name" in a public manner that is so contrary to Jesus' teachings.
It is time for our politicians to focus on more important issues, instead of trying to establish sectarian prayers. It might also be time for a few of them to retake a high school civics course. Can I hear an "amen"?
