No religious foundation

I hear constantly that “this country was founded as a Christian nation by our Founding Fathers.” Yes, while most of them were of the Christian faith, they explicitly did not do this. I refer to the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by the Senate and signed by John Adams: “the government of the U.S. is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”

Jefferson said that his statute for religious freedom was “meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew, Gentile, Christian, Mohammedan, Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination.”

The idea of a separation of church and state is not new. Jesus, in front of Pilate, was explicit: “My kingdom is not of this world.” The Apostle Paul argues that God shows no partiality among nations or people, meaning that nations cannot claim blessed status.

So to all those that claim theirs is the “true” religion: “A faith coerced is no faith at all, only tyranny.” I am a faithful man but most assuredly not a religious man. No matter our religious or political persuasions, how about all of us treating each other with respect and dignity. Isn’t that what Jesus would do?

Bill Bancroft

Spokane