CIRCUMLOCUTION BLUES
See if you can guess where New York Episcopal Bishop Mark Sisk is going with this reflection on American religious liberty:
The Founders of this nation believed that separation between Church and State was of crucial importance. The First Amendment is succinct: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The importance of religion was not denied; it was simply not to be “established” by government.
Got it yet? Well, it is early.
The concern of those founding thinkers was not so much to protect the state from religion, as it was to protect religion from the manipulation and ideological exploitations of the state. The effective bargain struck was this: the various religious claimants would be freed from government controls in order to do their own best work. The people for their part would be free to choose, or not to choose, the religion of their choice.
Don’t worry, it’ll come.
Generally speaking the religious communities accepted the bargain with alacrity. Doing so, however, forced them into a sometimes grudging concession: the acknowledgement that their own faith was not, nor would ever be, the only show in town.
The clouds are starting to clear up, aren’t they?
From the religious perspective there can be little doubt that the bargain our founders struck with history paid off. Religion has flourished in America as it has in few other places in the western world.
Wait for it.
However, there can also be little doubt that the number of Americans for whom religion is an important element in their lives is decreasing; ours is an increasingly secular society.
Wait for it.
Many of us are saddened by this slow drift. I, for one, believe that it does not portend well for our nation. We as a people need the insights and sensitivities that religion, at its best, can provide.
Now.
However, I fear that the religious community has squandered a good portion of our credibility by becoming allied with one or another particular political position.
Gosh. I wonder who Sisk can possibly refer to.
Analogously, when a religious community engages the general public, an extraordinarily delicate balancing act is required. The exercise of government power needs to be wielded with great care so as to avoid muffling the freedom of religious speech. At the same time the religious community itself must guard against seeking a privileged place either in the court of public debate or with regard to its activities in the world.
In other words,Roman Catholic Church no “religious community” in particular, if you won’t provide me with free birth control, you’re infringing on my beliefs. If you’re legally forced to provide me with free birth control, I’m not imposing on yours because that’s pluralism and crap. Do you mackeral snappers members of no “religious community” in particular hate the US Constitution or something?
So long as any particular religious activity is not supported in any way by public monies, and so long as that activity does not enter into economic competition with regulated competitors, then the government should refrain from interference. When those two standards are not met, however, religious activity should be conducted under the same regulations as all other such activity in society.
Yup. So just go ahead and pay for birth control and abortion for any of your employees who want them,Roman Catholic Church no “religious community” in particular. It’ll be good for you and even better for our great country.
Deep religious convictions within a profoundly pluralistic society will inevitably create tension. But if that society is truly and richly pluralistic, this tension will be a creative one that enriches both the individual and the general community. It will only be as we work together, seeking the common good, that these sometimes conflicting claims will be resolved to the health of the nation and the flourishing of individual freedom.
[INSERT NAME OF PREFERRED DEITY HERE OR ENTER N/A IF ATHEIST OR AGNOSTIC] bless America!!
The Founders of this nation believed that separation between Church and State was of crucial importance. The First Amendment is succinct: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The importance of religion was not denied; it was simply not to be “established” by government.
Got it yet? Well, it is early.
The concern of those founding thinkers was not so much to protect the state from religion, as it was to protect religion from the manipulation and ideological exploitations of the state. The effective bargain struck was this: the various religious claimants would be freed from government controls in order to do their own best work. The people for their part would be free to choose, or not to choose, the religion of their choice.
Don’t worry, it’ll come.
Generally speaking the religious communities accepted the bargain with alacrity. Doing so, however, forced them into a sometimes grudging concession: the acknowledgement that their own faith was not, nor would ever be, the only show in town.
The clouds are starting to clear up, aren’t they?
From the religious perspective there can be little doubt that the bargain our founders struck with history paid off. Religion has flourished in America as it has in few other places in the western world.
Wait for it.
However, there can also be little doubt that the number of Americans for whom religion is an important element in their lives is decreasing; ours is an increasingly secular society.
Wait for it.
Many of us are saddened by this slow drift. I, for one, believe that it does not portend well for our nation. We as a people need the insights and sensitivities that religion, at its best, can provide.
Now.
However, I fear that the religious community has squandered a good portion of our credibility by becoming allied with one or another particular political position.
Gosh. I wonder who Sisk can possibly refer to.
Analogously, when a religious community engages the general public, an extraordinarily delicate balancing act is required. The exercise of government power needs to be wielded with great care so as to avoid muffling the freedom of religious speech. At the same time the religious community itself must guard against seeking a privileged place either in the court of public debate or with regard to its activities in the world.
In other words,
So long as any particular religious activity is not supported in any way by public monies, and so long as that activity does not enter into economic competition with regulated competitors, then the government should refrain from interference. When those two standards are not met, however, religious activity should be conducted under the same regulations as all other such activity in society.
Yup. So just go ahead and pay for birth control and abortion for any of your employees who want them,
Deep religious convictions within a profoundly pluralistic society will inevitably create tension. But if that society is truly and richly pluralistic, this tension will be a creative one that enriches both the individual and the general community. It will only be as we work together, seeking the common good, that these sometimes conflicting claims will be resolved to the health of the nation and the flourishing of individual freedom.
[INSERT NAME OF PREFERRED DEITY HERE OR ENTER N/A IF ATHEIST OR AGNOSTIC] bless America!!
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