Easter is a good time to reflect upon where we have been, as a people, and where we might be bound.
Many say Mel Gibson, for all his good intentions in the film “The Passion of the Christ,” appeared to push the guilt of Jesus’ death upon the Jews. It seems to me history clearly stated Pontius Pilate, a Roman, was the villain in this episode.
But it doesn’t matter. The lesson of this, dare I say Gospel, is that Christ died for us all, so we could become redeemed and reborn. This according to the Bible, revered as the cornerstone for many (but certainly not all) religions for centuries. Never mind who the police rounded up after the crucifixion. God the Father let Jesus die for us, and the Jews are clean. And Mel Gibson deserves our gratitude. Happy Easter.
Juxtaposed to Mr. Gibson’s work reminding us of the crucifixion, we have a discussion, in fact a court case, attempting to delete the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. This seems to be another milestone along a road of the erosion, in fact the intentional removal, of symbols and references to God in the United States of America.
The Founding Fathers established the United States, wrote the Declaration of Independence; the Bill of Rights and the Constitution; and created a nation firmly rooted in the belief in God and freedom of religion protected by the separation of church and state. Many of the Founders and their forefathers fled Europe to escape religious prosecution. They wanted this new nation to allow them freedom of religion and thus the very nation is rooted in a belief in God.
The Declaration of Independence starts this way: “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
After signing the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams, who was called the firebrand of the American Revolution, affirmed his obedience to God by stating, “We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient. From the rising to the setting of the sun, may His kingdom come.”
James Madison, the fourth president, made the following statement, “We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” Madison is often referred to as “The Father of Our Constitution.”
When historians at the University of Houston conducted a 10-year study of the ideas that shaped our republic, they found 94 percent of the Founding Fathers’ quotes in 15,000 documents were based on the Bible.
“God created all men equal,” one of the most fundamental and important acclamations of our government, became an underlying reason for the Civil War, a fundamental reason for the Emancipation Proclamation and a keynote of equality ever since. It is now apparently used as a basis for the protection of “equal rights” as a justification for same-sex marriages.
It seems we have moved a long way, maybe too far, from what the Founders intended.
Now we argue over the possibility of a constitutional amendment on same-sex marriage. The real issue is whether the United States remains a nation with a government that recognizes the importance of a paramount God. Does sin exist, and if it does, does it matter? Think about a constitutional amendment on those questions.
Every president of the United States is sworn into office, by reciting an oath while he has one hand on the Bible. The oath ends, “So help me God.”
Every session of Congress since 1777 commenced with a prayer by a minister paid by the taxpayers.
Every military service of the United States pays uniformed religious ministers for the officers and men in service. These ministers are from all faiths that recognize the importance of God in human life. Nearly every base has a chapel.
The Ten Commandments are carved into the doors of the Supreme Court and appear prominently in the court’s chambers.
Every piece of U.S. currency bears the words “In God We Trust.”
In America, you are even free to start your own religion. Nobody (except possibly the Internal Revenue Service) will interfere, so long as you don’t do anything outside the normal bounds of decent behavior.
So, as many in our country celebrate Easter, and we all celebrate the blessings of American freedom, justice and government every day, perhaps we should reflect upon the roots and tenets of our democracy.
We are not a Godless people. Or are we? Yes, our democracy is evolving and we are open and accepting to that evolution. But let us not allow the evolution to turn into a careless revolution or even an unintended erosion of the principles by which we live and we are governed.
JOHN CAREY
Mr. Carey comments on American culture and history from Washington D.C.
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