By Charles C. Haynes
While American soldiers fight to establish a secular democracy abroad, many Americans want to create a Christian nation at home. Consider the finding of "State of the First Amendment 2007," a national survey released last week by the First Amendment Center. Significant numbers of Americans express support for government sponsorship of the majority religion, especially in public schools: 58% want teacher-led prayers in school classrooms, 43% endorse school holiday programs that are entirely Christian and devotional. 50% would allow public school teachers to teach the Bible as a "factual text" in history classes.

Despite the fact that all of the above are unconstitutional under current law, many people see nothing wrong - and much right - with school officials privileging or even endorsing the Christian faith. Transpose the location (or substitute another religion) and the result would surely be different. Would Americans support the creation of an Iraqi state where the majority Shiites imposed their prayers, religious celebrations, and scriptures on all Iraqi schoolchildren? Not likely. On the contrary, we send young Americans to fight for an Iraq where people of all faiths will be protected from state-imposed religion. Why? Because we understand that (however quixotic the quest) only a secular democracy in Iraq with no established faith will guarantee religious freedom - and end sectarian strife. Closer to home, however, many Americans seem to think our framers had another idea. According to the First Amendment poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) agree that our nation's founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation. Even more striking, 55% believe that the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation. Now, its true that many (but not all) of our founders were Christians. And it's true that the Protestant majority dominated the nation's institutions for much of our early history. But the U. S. Constitution nowhere mentions God or Christianity, an omission that was widely criticized in 1787. In fact, the only mention of religion in the body of the Constitution (before the addition of the religious-liberty clauses of the First Amendment) is the "no religious test" for public office provision of Article VI. By ensuring that people of all faiths or none could hold office, the founders made clear their intention to found a secular republic committed to full religious freedom. Of course, people define "Christian nation" in various ways - ranging from a nation that reflects Christian virtues to a nation where the government promotes the Christian faith. But under any definition, the Constitution in no way establishes or creates a Christian nation. Some might argue that teacher - led prayers or nativity pageants in public schools are a far cry from the dangers of a Shiite (or Sunni) theocracy in Iraq. Perhaps. But the lesson of history is that when a majority uses the government to promote the majority religion, conflict and oppression inevitably follow. That brings me to the most disturbing finding of the First Amendment Center poll: 28% of Americans believe that "freedom to worship as one chooses" was never meant to apply to religious groups that the majority of the people consider "extreme or on the fringe." At various times in our history, that would have meant no religious freedom for Baptists, Roman Catholics or Mormon. Today it would deny liberty to any number of small or unpopular religious groups. Fortunately, our founders understood that the great danger of majority rule is majority denial of fundamental human rights. That's why they wisely put some rights - religious liberty first among them - beyond the reach of majority vote. The U. S. is not now and never has been a Christian nation in any official or legal sense of the term. It is precisely because we live in a secular democracy with First Amendment protections that Christians - and people of all faiths - have more freedom to practice their religion here than anywhere else on Earth.

Charles C. Haynes is senior scholar at the First Amendment Center, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209
Web address: freedomforum.org

Well Bushinomic, tax cuts, easy credit, deficits and needless war are really starting to kick in now eh? That big surplus Bill Clinton gifted to "w" could come in handy today. Yes, this is the rainy day he and Al Gore were talking about saving for in 2000. I remember all the right-wingers a few years ago railing about how we should be allowed to play the stock market with our social security funds. How would you like to be retiring now that the market and your 401 portfolio has tanked? The stock market is about right where it was when George came into office in 2001. Do you feel confident that he has things under control? As much as he did during Katrina and Iraq? Mitch McConnell republicans and "w"s actions or inaction on budgetary problems and debt over the last seven years has manifested itself and those least able to swim the strong negative current will be the ones to suffer. Their answer; borrow billions of dollars more from China, add it to the national debt and give money away to the public in order to stimulate spending. That's the kind of economic brain power that got us into this situation. I doubt the wealthiest 10% that received the majority of the first needless tax cuts are going to be filing Chapter 13 too often in the coming months so don't shed too many tears for them. Bill Clinton inherited papa Bush's recession and he had the dicipline to pay off the Reagan/Bush deficits and balance the budget. Even during Clinton's internet bubble bust the overall economy was strong enough to withstand a recession. Now with "w" in charge we are looking at the second recession in as many terms and this one looks like a fatal one for many average people. Most working people's bubble bust every time they make a house payment, go to the doctor or grocery and fill up their vehicles at the gas pump. January 20, 2009 won't come any too soon for most people. Read my lips. Bring it on!

What’s the deal with Chinese business ethics? When one of their CEO’s is caught using cheap or dangerous materials to increase the profit line he commits suicide to show his regret and shame. When an American CEO is caught doing the same he bails out with his multi-million dollar golden parachute onto the isle of pleasure and entitlement. No need for shame. That is capitalism in its finest and most brazen glory, American style. Yeah I know environmental issues aren’t as important or critical to Chinese companies as they are to U.S. companies but don’t you just wish that our industrial leaders would take these problems as seriously as the Chinese toy maker that used lead paint on all the cheap imports to America.

But is it really that big a deal? I mean come on. I was raised on lead paint and lead gas and PCB’s and look at me now. Case closed. I remember playing with mercury and coating pennies with it. My buddies and I would take a hammer to a ball of mercury and wham it exploded everywhere. Cool eh? We thought so but that was before we knew the danger of it. If our country really wanted to get serious about environmental or white-collar crime all they would need to do is model themselves after the Chinese. If the CEO’s wouldn’t voluntarily do the deed then we would give them the rope or gun and force them to either donate all their ill-gotten cash to Michael Moore’s favorite liberal cause or eliminate their vile values from this world.

Now you say, “why so mean?” Hell to me would be an unending dream of listening to a repeating “w” speech about compassionate conservatism and not being able to wake up or run away. I’m against capital punishment but optional suicide is OK for these low life environmental criminal capitalists.

I find it hilarious watching and listening to right-wing talk show hosts going after Rev. Mike Huckabee. They despise the fact that a backwoods Arkansas preacher is beating their party’s ordained corporate candidates. What a threat he is to the real conservatives in the repu party. Could it be the fact that Huckabee isn’t owned and controlled by corporations and big oil? Republicans have spent decades bribing right-wing evangelicals with issues on gays, abortion, evolution and prayer in school but never seem to come through on these issues. Republicans lose their grip on church-goers like Huckabee and his followers when they realize their real focus is on corporations and wealthy donors. Republicans use and abuse evangelicals to gain votes then ignore them. But the real heart of the party is money, war, corporations, cash, and more money. Unless Rev. Huckabee proves he will cow tow to the money changers in the corporate Republican Temple he doesn’t have a chance at the nomination. They will destroy him, which they have already started doing in the media. Just listen to rush and his right-wing corporate mouthpieces demonize Huckabee. Selling your religious soul to the Republicans runs you in the ditch. Then you marry them and life is never the same.