Christian Country?

I've been hearing a good bit of noise lately that the founding fathers did not intend to create a country that separates church and state. I have heard a good bit of chatter that this country is supposed to be founded on Christian principles and therefore, it is a Christian country.

I am not a historian and I don't try to act like I am one. Therefore, one can throw a good bit of historical reference at me but it will mean very little.

Let me explain why.

Regardless of whether the founding fathers meant to create a country with a government absent of a prescribed religion or not, I believe it should have. I am under the impression from my grade school history books and most conservatives that this country is based on the freedom of it's citizens and our rights to free speech and whatever religion we choose to subscribe to in our personal lives among other basic rights.

I lost count of the times I hear that our soldiers are dying to protect this great country and the freedoms we have. This is what separates us from the other countries around the world. This is what makes our country great.

By no means to I mean to make this sound like some sort of mockery of that statement. I love the patriotism that so many citizens feel. I take pride in being an American and having the luxury to speak my mind without being punished. While I would never burn our flag, I am proud that people have the right to do so without being burned themselves. I think this creates a good bit of turmoil but it also lead to progress.

Therefore, I believe that the separation of Church and State is required and necessary. I don't care if the founding fathers meant it to be or not. I don't care if the Constitution actually dictates that it should exist or not.

I feel it should be.

I don't want this country to be a "Christian" country. I don't want it to be any religion.

I have no problem with Christianity, nor do I mean to make it sound as though I do. But I want a government with no influence from any religion whatsoever if it is going to serve all people like it seems to state it is to do.

I have a serious issue with people who keep trying to shove Christianity down my throat as an American religion. I shouldn't have to justify my lack of belief in God, Jesus, Mohamed, Buddha or any particular religion or belief system.

I am openly supportive of gay rights. I believe it is part of the civil rights movement that hasn't found closure. When I come across people who believe marriage should be only between a man and a woman, I repeatedly hear, "Why can't you allow me to believe this principle? Why do you have to shove your belief down my throat? Can't you just respect my opinion?"

Ok. Well I am asking the same thing here. If you want me to respect your opinion regarding gay marriage, why can't you respect mine regarding no religion in government?

I think many of us have a hard time realizing there are morals and ethics that exist outside of religion. We feel as though religion dictates good and bad. But I have come across countless people and examples of secular rights and wrong. We all have.

We really don't need religion to create fair laws. We don't.

This is not to say we should be absent of a higher power of God. But if we truly want to have a government that is to serve all people, it should not be defined by one particular theology.

So whether the Constitution says so or not, I don't care, our government should NOT be a Christian government. I should be free to practice whatever spiritual theology I choose (or lack thereof) and I should not be restricted by any one religion either.

I bet you Thomas Jefferson would agree...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (Proposed 9/25/1789; Ratified 12/15/1791)

Conquering Fear

I have a problem with fear and anxiety.

How that differentiates me from every other human being is unknown. But I say that because I feel like I am consumed with worry and fear rather than living through the human experience.

Recently I was forced to face one of my worst fears.

Again.

Many things crossed my mind. I didn't want to overreact. I didn't want to act like a drama queen. I wanted to be remain strong for my wife instead of leaning on her to be strong for me. I tried to stay positive and avoid my natural pessimistic point of view.

I'm not sure I accomplished any of those. But I did come to a realization.

I made it to a point where I embraced the fear. I convinced myself that the worst would in fact happen.

Once I thought through the idea of reopening the old wound, I came to the realization that I made it through the last time. It was not easy. It was one of the worst experiences I have dealt with (as I documented thoroughly in this blog) in my life.

But I came out the other end. Life did go on. I am sitting here in good shape.

I also realized that the experience itself is actually easier than the anxiety leading up to the experience.

So whatever causes the fear is usually not as bad as the fear itself. Therefore, embracing the fear can diffuse it. Getting to the point where you admit the worst and realizing you can handle it, especially when you can draw upon past experiences, helps ease the worry and anxiety.

It is an empowering feeling to use things that have left such a negative feeling in your soul to help create a positive thing.

I hear people say they want to live life with no regrets. I challenge that statement to a point because I feel like I have made mistakes and have hurt people and I think I should regret that.

I generally don't want to hurt people.

But when it comes to things out of my control, in particular, when it comes to negative things that have happened to me, these thoughts lead me to believe that I shouldn't regret them.

Maybe things do happen for a reason. Not directed by a higher being necessarily, but as part of an intricate web of something. The reason may not be the intent of the "thing" that happened, but an effect of the "thing" that happened.

This whole reflection relates back to my belief that there is no heaven or hell and the idea that this is not necessarily a bad thing. The experience of nothing is nothing. No negative. No positive. The worst part of nothing is not the experience of nothing but the fear of it before you get there.

I hear the little voice in my head telling me to wrap it up. In the future, instead of being afraid, I need to realize that I will persevere. There is no reason to be so worried. It really will be OK and there is a way out the other end.

I have been there before so I know it.