The Christian Right

I have a lot of friends, and family, who could be considered as a part of the Christian right. I think faith and a belief system are wonderful. That being said, religion has no place in government. The founders knew this, and the detractors have been playing this little game since time began. Freedom of religion is perhaps the greatest of our rights as laid out (not bestowed) by the constitution.

The problem is in having our religious beliefs legislated. The more we allow the lawmakers to legislate the more freedom we lose. Legislation doesn't enhance faith, it weakens it. For instance; Prayer in school. There isn't one law restricting prayer in school.

There are laws preventing your Catholic teacher from leading my Baptist children in prayer, and there are laws preventing the Methodist principle from leading prayers for the Muslim children, and this is well and good. Parents and ministers should be leading prayers in church and at home, and children may still enjoy the right to pray silently in school, a right that has never been and can't be removed.

However, if you allow a religious zealot to introduce and pass one item of legislation based on his religious beliefs then you deny the rights of people of different faiths, and those with no faith. Never forget that Washington, and the states capitals are full of zealots whose only faith is in money and power.