The American government is secular, not Christian as so many on the Christian Right like to claim. That they recognize just how secular government in America is may be demonstrated by the continual efforts to replace secular government with biblically-based government that privileges Christians and Christianity.

The July/August 2000 issue of Church & State explains:

In January of [1925], State Rep. John W. Butler introduced legislation to make it illegal for a public school to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible,” After campaigning on the issue. Butler was proud to take a bold position.

“If we are to exist as a nation,” said the legislator, “the principles upon which our government is founded must not be destroyed, which they surely would be if we set the Bible aside as being untrue and put evolution in its place.”

Butler’s words could have been said yesterday, not 80 years ago, which simply goes to show just how little conservative evangelicals have changed in their political attitudes. Too many are unsatisfied with a neutral, secular government that treats all citizens and all religions equally. Instead, they would prefer using the Bible as the basis for politics — but if that’s the case, then only those who agree with their interpretation of the Bible will have a place in politics.

 

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Secularism 101
• Church and State News
• Religious Privilege
• Christian Privilege
• Hidden Christian Privileges