July 5, 2009

Mikey,

I just read Jeff Sharlett's article in the May issue of Harper's. It moved me to write to you, especially since the article mentioned that you've received a lot of hate mail. As a Christian minister I want to thank you for your work. I am disgusted by the way "Christianity" is being promoted -and twisted- in the military and at how top brass are using their positions to gain a spotlight in certain church circles. I find militaristic Christianity repugnant. To turn military service into a means of missionary activity abuses both faith and the purpose of the military. Any "witness" they offer is deeply tainted. I can share neither the methods nor the message of those who seem so willing to blend and blur God and America, Christianity and nationalism.

Your focus is insuring religious freedom in the military and maintaining the wall of separation between church/religion and state. Mine is maintaining the integrity of the life and message of the church. I, too, believe in a wall of separation but the constitution is of secondary importance to me. My faith itself demands such a separation for without it the church -and other religious organizations- end up getting subverted by the interests, aims and identity of the state. Those evangelicals in the military who so eagerly seek to "Christianize" the armed services end up Americanizing and to a significant extent de-Christianizing the church.

I wish you the very best in your work. Neither the church nor America needs missionaries in military uniform.

[name withheld]

July 4, 2009

In response to this email:

I would like you to explain to me where in the Constitution you have found a mandated “separation between church and state.” You are promoting a twisted lie and undermining the foundations of this country with your vicious actions. Perhaps you could better serve your faith and your country by helping to defeat the religious and political threats against our nation and its people. Oh wait... apparently you support this destruction. Good luck with that on judgment day!

[name withheld]

Dear [name withheld],

Thank you for your spirited communication to MRFF and Mr. Weinstein. Your patriotism is commendable albeit somewhat misplaced.

Mr. Weinstein would prefer to answer your E-mail personally but
the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is currently swamped with complaints from our young men and women in the armed forces and service academies.

These young people, mostly Christians themselves, are being coercively proselytized by elements of the Dominion Christian Movement, which is dedicated to the usurping of the American Constitution with intent to replace it with Biblical Law, thereby rendering America a Christian Theocracy. One could not be called "vicious" for protecting these most precious young people from egregious acts of religious hegemony by senior NCO's and Officers.

My name is Richard Baker and I'm a Regional Coordinator for MRFF living in Colorado Springs. I hope to address your concerns and help you understand what the separation of church and state really means.

Let me first tell you that it does not mean that religion should be absent from the American paradigm or that American politicians may not be religious men and women, only that it must take its rightful place in the scope of things as originally conceived by the founders and confirmed by the many US Supreme Court rulings and decisions relating to the First Amendment.

America's great tradition of plurality defines it as a secular nation, in which all religions may flourish but none dominate. This is why, although many of the founders were religious men, no mention of Jesus, Yahweh, Allah, or any other deity is made in the body of the Constitution. It was so that all religions, major and minor and non-belief systems would have total equality under the law. The founders were not shy. If the United States was to be designated by the founders as a "Christian Nation" they would have plainly declared it so.

Some insecure folks think that since Christianity is the majority religion in America, it is the official religion of the United States. But under our constitution, no religion may dominate or be favored above another in America.

To directly answer your question about where the words "Separation of Church and State " appear in the constitution; they don't. Although Thomas Jefferson addressed the issue and advocated a "A wall of separation between church and state," the First, as well as many other of our amendments have had to be interpreted by high courts and Constitutional scholars and their meaning made plain in a number of rulings such as regards school prayer, religion in the military and many other facets.

The Supreme Court has ruled the clause "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" to mean that any division of American government may not be involved in publicly favoring, recommending, elevating, or proselytizing any particular religion. This includes Christianity. This also includes assigning any force in law to Biblical tenets. Therefore any proselytizing which is coercive in nature or that is foisted on anyone by command influence in the military is illegal.

In addition the government may not employ or enforce any provisions that were not written and passed by duly elected officials and made part of civil statute law . So religion, in which non-secular laws originating with a deity or his or her representatives has no jurisdiction and may not be directly used to govern. It must therefore remain separate from secular government.

On the other hand, the "free exercise clause" has been interpreted to mean the free practice of religion. But as you know, with some restrictions.

One may not practice sectarian religion in government owned buildings, schools and military reservations. No human or animal sacrifices may be made. No Class one controlled substances may be ingested during religious ceremonies. Practitioners may not disturb the peace, forcibly require attendance to services or coercively proselytize without the subjects permission. No sectarian prayers can be recited in schools or in assemblies where people of differing beliefs may be required to attend. And no government official may sponsor or take part in any sectarian public religious ceremony.

This is accepted as a separation between religion and government, each having it's own area of influence. An example of a government with no separation of church and state would be church run governments such as Islamic Republics. I'm sure the difference is readily discernible. When an Islamic Ayatollah can overrule the popular elected president of Iran, there is no democracy. I'm sure you wouldn't want Pat Robertson or the Pope telling you what to do.

Religion is a most honored tradition in American life. The many religions practiced in America bear testimony to that. However, those who would use their religion to dominate others or create a sectarian religious state must be subject to American civil law which prohibits such activities. Also certain precautions and remedies must be in place to protect innocent religious practitioners from the likes of Rev.Jim Jones, Marshal Applewhite, Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, Rev. James Bakker, David Koresh, Rev. Ted Haggard, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, Rev. Richard Roberts, Rev. James Dobson and the many others who have bastardized Christianity.

This e-mail is already long enough so I won't include the many rulings pertaining to religion in the military and and how they are being routinely violated by Dominion Christians. However, they are available on request and I will be happy to supply them to you. Remember, all true patriotic Americans respect each others beliefs. Their blood all runs red and much of it has been spilled protecting your religious beliefs and that of others. Revel in your religion but on this joyful anniversary of our independence join the countless others who may believe differently than you in thanking the founders for the separation of church and state and, may I say, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation for guarding so vigilantly the rights and religious beliefs of our American Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Sailors, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves, Service Academy Cadets and their families.

Also, please remember that if it were Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Shinto, Baha'i, Hinduism or any other religion under whose auspices such un-American activities are taking place, the efforts on the part of MRFF to prevent their seditious practice would remain as vigorous.

Richard Baker
MRFF Regional Coordinator
Colorado Springs

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