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Feb. 29, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: Ex-President Trump promises that, if reelected, he will transform America into a “Christian Nation.”
I can imagine nothing more damaging to both the nation and the church than for him to succeed.
Aside from the obvious violation of the First Amendment, it would clearly contradict the reasons that our Founding Fathers initially included that restriction.
They were sufficiently aware of numerous examples of “state sponsored” religion to realize that the nation they were creating should avoid any similar situation.
They knew that the Puritans, who came to America seeking religious freedom, demonstrated no tolerance for other expressions of faith when driving away Roger Williams and his followers for merely having openly expressed their faith. In Virginia, a Quaker couple was fined for “illicit co-habitation” and for failing to attend religious services of the “approved faith.” Similarly, Catholics were banned from holding public office in New York, as were Jews in Maryland. The Founding Fathers had ample reasons for the prohibition placed in the First Amendment.
Christian Nationalism is also wrong from a religious perspective. It equates our identity as American citizens with our faith as Christians. But faith is an extremely personal matter, and can, and should, never be directed by any governmental authority.
Any attempt to direct an individual’s faith is doomed to failure, and is certain to encounter apathy, if not active resistance. Moreover, Christian Nationalism fails to consider the wide spectrum of Christian denominations, and regulates all other expressions of faith to second class status. America’s greatness owes much to the diversity found among its citizenry, with religious diversity being a major component.
Speaking strictly from a Christian standpoint, Christian Nationalism is not Christian.
Jesus’ teachings, as found in the Gospels, teaches that we are called to love our neighbor and be a blessing to everyone. We are not called to use our faith as a form of exclusion or expression of bigotry. Christian Nationalism appears to do both.
There are many reasons why Donald Trump should not be reelected, but his proposal to impose Christian Nationalism on our nation tops the list.
PETE HAMILTON Rockbridge County
