This website is designed to teach the simple truths that protect our religious liberties. They are as simple as this: Government may not tell us what to believe, or disbelieve. It may not reward or punish us for our beliefs. It may not write or prescribe our prayers. It may not declare religious truths. It may not act to advance, or inhibit religion.
Our traditional American religious liberties have been fading under theocratic assault. A small group of right-wing Christians, who embrace belief in a theological doctrine called "Dominionism," are seeking to persuade us that the United States was born a "Christian republic." They claim that there is no constitutional mandate for separation of church and state, and that we were transformed from a Christian republic to a secularist state by judges bent on imposing "secular humanism" as the national civil religion.
As our 2nd President, John Adams, told us, the United States government was "founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery . . . " The powers given to that government were entirely mundane, i.e., "earthly, temporal, or worldly."
Just as our Constitution must allow proselytizing by atheists, it must allow it to all believers.
Our traditional American religious liberties have been fading under theocratic assault. A small group of right-wing Christians, who embrace belief in a theological doctrine called "Dominionism," are seeking to persuade us that the United States was born a "Christian republic." They claim that there is no constitutional mandate for separation of church and state, and that we were transformed from a Christian republic to a secularist state by judges bent on imposing "secular humanism" as the national civil religion.
As our 2nd President, John Adams, told us, the United States government was "founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery . . . " The powers given to that government were entirely mundane, i.e., "earthly, temporal, or worldly."
Just as our Constitution must allow proselytizing by atheists, it must allow it to all believers.
The new government had no jurisdiction over religion, no pretense to divine authority. It could not act for any religious purpose, or to achieve any religious objective.
This website promotes a truism stated more than 100 years ago in the very first U.S. Supreme Court case interpreting the First Amendment religion clauses: "Congress was deprived of all legislative power over mere opinion, but was left free to reach actions which were in violation of social duties or subversive of good order." That truth was eloquently restated more than 60 years ago by Justice Robert H. Jackson: "If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."
Also, more than 50 years ago, Justice William O. Douglas reminded us that there is no hostility to religion in our Constitution. It may not allow religion a favored place in the public square, but it has a duty to facilitate the right to the free exercise of religion.
Thus, it may not restrict access for religious speech to any public venue open to other speech. Religion does not depend upon government's grace, its favors or its support.
This website promotes a truism stated more than 100 years ago in the very first U.S. Supreme Court case interpreting the First Amendment religion clauses: "Congress was deprived of all legislative power over mere opinion, but was left free to reach actions which were in violation of social duties or subversive of good order." That truth was eloquently restated more than 60 years ago by Justice Robert H. Jackson: "If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."
Also, more than 50 years ago, Justice William O. Douglas reminded us that there is no hostility to religion in our Constitution. It may not allow religion a favored place in the public square, but it has a duty to facilitate the right to the free exercise of religion.
Thus, it may not restrict access for religious speech to any public venue open to other speech. Religion does not depend upon government's grace, its favors or its support.
It has a right to access the public square. Just as our Constitution must allow proselytizing by atheists, it must allow it to all believers.
We invite all who share these simple truths to visit our website, read its articles, and to carry its messages to their family, friends and fellow citizens. We particularly invite religious Americans to join us. We do not promote "secularism," defined as "indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations." It is government, not people, which must be "wholly secular." Holy people have every right to influence government. They are limited in only one way: No one may use government to advance, or impede, religion.
Alas, these truths are not self-evident. They must be taught. We hope to aid in the teaching.