Freedom from Religion: Perversion of the U.S. Constitution Essay

In the two hundred and thirteen years since its ratification, the U.S. Constitution has been the very spine of America—the single-most effective element in the preservation of her sacred liberties. Contained therein are the revolutionary ideals of its framers, influenced by the precepts of Enlightenment and spurred on by their own experiences in the perils of tyrannical oppression. Thus the preservation of America’s sacred freedoms has been the result of a strict adherence to the forefathers’ insights. It stands to reason, then, that the perversion of these freedoms would be the result of a deviation from the original intents of the Constitution’s framers. An attack on any amendment or clause of the Constitution is an attack on the whole. Such an attack has begun to deteriorate religious freedom in America in the name of â€Å"separation of church and state.† In a sense, the United States Supreme Court has dually perverted the First Amendment, making religious expression a federal matter and establishing agnosticism as a national religion. Throughout the history of the world, many types of government have been formed, and can be distinguished by the manner of their religious dealings. In Biblical times, the Israelites were under a theocracy; that is to say their God was their government. Partially due to the restrictions of freedom this imposed, the Israelites became desirous of a kingdom like the other nations had. The type of government they wanted represents one form of autocracy, the monarchy. Monarchies like that in England often adopted a single form of religion, and those who did not agree were put to death. Monarchies generally did not have a â€Å"wall of separation.† A second form of autocracy is exemplified b... ... Communicom. Online. Internet. 5 November 2001. Available WWW: http://www.aclu.org/news/n120997a.html. Gibbs, David C. Jr. â€Å"Defending Christian Freedom in America’s Public Schools.† CLA 1999. Communicom. Online. Internet. 28 October 2001. Available WWW: http://www.christianlaw.org/defending_schools.html. Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist Papers. New York: Penguin Books, 1961. Robinson, B. A. â€Å"Conflicts Between Government and Individual Religious Freedom in the U.S.† Religious Tolerance.org 26 September 2000. Communicom. Online. Internet. 5 November 2001. Available WWW: http://www.religioustolerance.org/govt_con.htm. â€Å"U.S. Constitution: First Amendment.† FindLaw.com 2001. Communicom. Online. Internet. 30 October 2001. Available WWW: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment01/.