John McCann and a Christian Nation

Oh John. The latest fiasco comes during an interview with Beliefnet where John actually said that the Constitution established the United States as a Christian Nation.

I’d like to ask John what Constitution he’s reading? From that statement he clearly hasn’t read the right one or his reading comprehension is so dismal he shouldn’t be planning anything more intellectual than story time at the zoo. You would think that a man who has, on numerous occasions, pledged to defend something would at least take the trouble to comprehend what he's protecting.

Of course, then again, John is just going along with the crowd. In a recent poll conducted by the First Amendment Center 55% of Americans agreed with McCann that the Constitution established the United States as a Christian nation.

Even worse, 58% said that teachers should be able to lead prayers and, even worse, only 56% agree that freedom of religion applies to all groups regardless of how “extreme” their views might be.

Does it bother you that American soldiers are dying in Iraq trying to help establish a secular democracy but many of the folks at home don't understand what that means? If it doesn't, it should.

I think I’d like to ask these folks a few questions.

Question #1 - What in the Constitution leads you to believe it establishes a Christian Nation?

Religion is mentioned only once in the body of the Constitution and Christianity not at all. It's mentioned in Article 6 which PROHIBITS any religious test as a qualification for holding office. Religion is also mentioned in the First Amendment which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Question #2 – Who would decide which prayers were ok?

Suppose your little darling’s teacher was a Muslim or a Wiccan? Would you be happy having junior praying to Mecca or chanting praise to the Lord and the Lady? Then of course Catholics might choose to lead the class in a Hail Mary or two and no, I'm not talking about football.

Question #3 – Who gets to decide what’s “extreme?”

Allow me to remind everyone what James Madison said “Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?”

Get it? Don’t assume that your brand of Christianity wouldn’t be declared “extreme” by another more dominant brand.

I keep tripping over evidence that education in this country is in an absolutely horrible state. I guess we can add to the problems of Science Illiteracy and Biblical Illiteracy the problem of Constitutional Illiteracy. Maybe there should be a required class somewhere along the line called "Stuff you REALLY should know?" We could include finding the country on a globe too. Hey, by using a globe we could also teach aspiring hosts of "The View" that the world isn't flat.

By the way, when I say required I mean you keep taking it until you can pass a test which demonstrates that you have acquired enough knowledge not to make people who are actually educated nauseous over your ignorance.