Political beliefs vs Religious beliefs

People always worry about religion influencing the laws of this nation. But one thing you never hear is how the laws of this nation can influence the beliefs of religions. Where there may have been a diversity of religious belief on any given issue there is a trend towards unity of belief as a result of a law written, meant not to effect religious attitude, but the attitude of the people. Science has already agreed that laws do effect the beliefs of people. When this happens religious belief naturally must also change. For if it did not people would be adhering to two sets of belief in regards to that particular issue.

Now, we as the people have a choice. Would we prefer that government, by its laws, influence religious beliefs or would we prefer that religious beliefs influence government and the laws it enacts? Some would bring up the issue of which religion if the latter was advocated but I do not see that as an issue.

The reason I do not see that as an issue is because of how the founding fathers have set up our government, a government of three independent branches. We also have the Constitution to protect against any attempt to force a singular religious belief system onto the people. That protection is not found in the first amendment but in the body of the Constitution itself. It is found in Article VI, section 3 of the Constitution.

“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

Within those few words are the indication of just how important religious belief was to the founders. It is the only right of individuals that was protected from the very beginning. And if understood by its intent we can understand what role religion was to play in governmental decisions. For it protected those elected officials who would vote out of religious conviction rather than secular conviction. In do so, protected religions themselves. Thus, we can see that the founding fathers understood that religion was to play an important part in governmental decisions. Tradition supports this viewpoint.

The very diversity of religions represented by elected officials assures that no one religion will dominate and enact laws according to a singular belief system. This is especially true in the legislative body of government where laws originate. The only branch of government where a single religion can be declared as represented is the branch of the Presidency. While he may influence legislation in regards to laws he cannot enact them on his own. He only has the power and authority to execute the laws as enacted by Congress.

Within those few words we see another problem exposed also. With the advocation of a secular government we have seen and heard people attempt to use a religious test upon those who sought office. We saw it used against John F. Kennedy when he ran for the office of the Presidency. We have seen it used against George Bush often when attempting to associate his presidency with the “Religious Right.” we have also seen it as an influence in the Presidential nomination of Mitt Romney this year.

Yet also while there is a fear of religious influence and that fear is justified by past events of history I cannot help but believe that the fear is deeper than justified. I also do not feel that the founding fathers set up a separation of church and state in such a manner as to pit a man's loyalty and duty to country against his religious beliefs as a man must do now on certain issues. I do know they never intended to create a situation where a man might be forced to choose between serving his country and practicing his religious beliefs as might happen now.

Lastly, I do not believe I would get much of an argument from anyone if I was to say that the founding fathers placed the Bible and what it teaches above the Constitution and what it teaches. They may all have disagreed with what the Bible taught but not in disagreement of its place in the life of people.