America Is A Pluralistic Nation, Not a Christian Nation

They say that one should not talk about politics or religion, but it is so much fun! 


Some people seem to forget that our Constitution and Supreme Court interpretation strictly separates Church and State and that all religions are free to practice their beliefs, including Unitarian Universalists, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, agnostics, atheists, et al. And it means that people are free from any one particular religious persuasion forcing their beliefs upon them.


16% of Americans now claim no religious affiliation and that is their right (48 million Americans). If they were in one state, it would be the largest state, exceeding California by about 11 million people. Would you disenfranchise the largest state?


Ask our Christian fundamentalists what the largest Christian Group in the US is.


The five largest denomination are

• The Catholic Church, 68,115,001 members
• The Southern Baptist Convention, 16,228,438 members
• The United Methodist Church, 7,853,987 members
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5,974,041 members
• The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members

Notice that no protestant sect comes close to the size of the Catholic Church. Knowing how well the protestants get along amongst themselves , they couldn't unite to rival the Catholics. The List of Christian denominations is truly staggering.  Isn't that an example of religious pluralism?


If we had to choose, which variety represents "our Christian nation"?  Put you united heads together and get back to me ... I'm really curious.

• The Catholic Church considers itself the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded. As such, the Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination, but as pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ.
• The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be the One Holy catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
• The Oriental Orthodox Church considers itself to be the One Holy Catholic Orthodox and Apostolic Church that Christ founded.
• The Anglican Communion considers itself to be part of the One Holy catholic and Apostolic Church that Christ founded, without the implication that various other churches are not also branches of it.
• I'm sure I'm missed some that consider their church to be the "true revelation of God"

Our forefathers wished to avoid a religious oligarchy much like their contemporary England or like in Iran today, and to this end, added the 1st amendment, the first right, to the Constitution.


Thomas Jefferson had this to say about church and state:
" (... An ...) act of the whole American people ... declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."


Jefferson's Wall of Separation Danbury letter   


(Would someone please give Christine O'Donnell of the Tea Party a copy of the letter. She really needs to read it).


Considering how tough it is to amend the constitution, it is truly the American people speaking in unison. Amending the Constitution


FYI: "Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:

• As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values exist in other religions.
• As acceptance of the concept that two or more religions with mutually exclusive truth claims are equally valid. This posture often emphasizes religion's common aspects.
• Sometimes as a synonym for ecumenism, i.e., the promotion of some level of unity, co-operation, and improved understanding between different religions or different denominations within a single religion.
• As term for the condition of harmonious co-existence between adherents of different religions or religious denominations."

Religious pluralism 

Roy Speckhardt of the AHA has distributed this call to action:
 

We at the American Humanist Association have been closely monitoring the outrageous statements and actions from religious conservatives this election season. And what we’ve seen is disturbing.

Like the statement by Rep. John Fleming, reelected in Louisiana, who characterized the 2010 elections as a choice between becoming an “atheist society” and remaining a “Christian Nation.”

Or consider the re-election of Rep. Michele Bachmann in her Minnesota congressional district. She once stated, “What a bizarre time we’re in when a judge will say to little children that you can’t say the Pledge of Allegiance, but you must learn that homosexuality is normal and you should try it.” 

And with successes by Tea Party affiliated candidates in Florida, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, we’ll be up against some of the worst religious political extremists. To illustrate, in a recent poll 47% of Tea Party adherents stated that they believe the Bible is the literal word of God, while 55% stated that they believe the U.S. is currently a Christian nation.

As we look into a new political era with people like these holding powerful positions, and with religion so entrenched in American society, we must step up our efforts to promote humanism. Can I count on you for support?

 

This rhetoric from the Religious Right and attacks on humanism are troubling. Even worse is the fact that six justices of the United States Supreme Courtattended the so-called Red Mass in Washington, DC, before the start of the new court term in October, where they listened to a radical Archbishop recently sermonize against abortion rights, marriage equality, and specifically humanism.

Imagine that for a moment: six of the most powerful people in the United States listening to a diatribe against our positive worldview and values as humanists!

The good news is that your AHA is pushing back. Our legal center is keeping up the fight for separation of church and state in the courts with a case in Arizona to prevent tax money from going to religious schools and filing an amicus brief challenging the National Day of Prayer.

And I’m excited to launch the AHA’s newest nationwide advertisements—set to be formally announced early next week—which will be our biggest campaign yet.

We as humanists, atheists, and other freethinkers have made great progress over recent years, but there is no doubt—the Religious Right is gaining new ground. This election has made our work even more difficult, but if we work together, I know we’re up for the challenge. Will you stand with the American Humanist Association by making a donation today?

Sincerely,

Roy Speckhardt
Executive Director

P.S. Keep this number in mind: 16%. That’s the percentage of Americans who now claim no religious affiliation,,

and that means millions and millions of people are out there who haven’t yet heard about the AHA and are ready to lend their support to our important work. Help us reach them with your donation today.
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