There are a number of people in America who would like to see our democratic system overthrown and a theocratic system based upon reactionary Christianity imposed on the population. Their numbers aren't large but their influence on the general Christian Right movement is distressing.

Curt Andersen writes in the News-Chronicle about the Constitution Restoration Act of 2004:

In this act, the arbitrary dictates of a "higher power" can override current law and would acknowledge God as the sovereign source of law, liberty and government in the United States. It would also forbid all legal challenges to government officials who use the power of the state to enforce their own view of “God's sovereign authority.” Key words: “their own view.” For a quick glimpse of the problems inherent in a theocracy, take a look at the wars between various sects of Muslims in the Middle East, each with “their own view.” Look back on the bloody religious wars between the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, all with “their own view.” Look back at the Spanish Inquisition, where tens of thousands of converted Jews and Muslims were murdered because their new Christian faith was not “sincere enough” (a subjective judgment based on someone else’s view).

I think that Anderson goes a bit too far when claiming that this bill would "force" certain things to happen; however, he's on firmer ground when he says that it would "allow" certain things. You see, the bill seems innocently worded to permit government officials to acknowledge "God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government," but we need to ask just what "acknowledge" is meant here. For Roy Moore, one of the backers, it means creating a displaying a massive monument dedicated to the Ten Commandments.

If "acknowledgment" can go that far, why not a bit further... like actually enforcing biblical laws? True, that would appear to violate the separation of church and state, but it is the purpose of the Constitution Restoration Act to remove "acknowledgment" of God "as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government" from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. So, even if it appears unconstitutional, perhaps it wouldn't be found unconstitutional. I don't think that there is any question but that Roy Moore would be happier with a theocratic system and the same goes for those who are supporting this bill in Congress. Thus, the fact that this bill appears as though it might allow for theocratic laws should not be treated lightly.

Read More:

• Fundamentalism
• Religious Right
• Christian Extremism
• Christian Nationalism
• Religious Intolerance & Bigotry
• Secularism 101
• Separation of Church and State 101