Written By: Morgan Renninger
The issue of rights has dredged up many inconsistencies with the delegations of freedoms and assurances, making aware the rights of Christians are diminishing alarmingly fast. As groups clamor for rights, other groups have their hands tied and their voices silenced. When did it become a crime to have a Bible study during school hours or have a religious organization meet during the same time? Other groups, such as GSAs, LGBTQ groups, government groups, coalitions against hate, prochoice groups, and others are not only allowed in schools and businesses, but are embraced, endorsed, and allowed to spread their ideas to even the remote corners of their society.
Then why is it those of religious belief cannot even pray during school or before a game, though the other groups can preach their agenda and sell me their beliefs on a loud speaker and endorsed by administration on a silver platter? Is it that only the religious groups can be offensive therefore must be silenced? Or is it something more? Please do not misunderstand my words as an attack to government or any other organized group and their beliefs. My aim is to enlighten honorable politicians to the expunging of Christian rights and the eradication of anything that mentions God or religion from schools, businesses, and many public places.
The First Amendment to the Constitution states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press: or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Though the government has not directly mandated a national religion, it has on both state and federal level pushed the beliefs of one group over others, thus in effect “establishing a religion and [impeding] the free exercise thereof.” These beliefs are forced onto religious institutions, public schools, private businesses, and individuals. Are you aware the people who are LGBTQ are two percent of the population? This does not mean their rights or values are any less important, though they do not represent the nation as a whole. On a similar note, many of the groups whose ideas oppose Christianity are minority groups that, yes deserve to be heard, but should not be given such freedom to speak as if they represent the entire nation.
This anti-religious discrimination pervades even the mundane parts of life. There have been many cases in which people are denied jobs and given unfavorable reviews in interviews on the basis that they mentioned their faith. People have been fired for expressing Christian views, arrested for handing out prints of scripture on public sidewalks, banned from holding Bible studies in their homes (a new law passed in California), veteran funeral prayers are forbidden to say “Jesus” even if the veteran was Christian, and the list goes on. Why is it religious groups are forbidden to practice our beliefs, while others may carve theirs into the foundations of a society, of a nation? Are we not given the same right to speak freely? Are we not given the same right to peaceful assembly or the right to freely practice our religion? It is not my intent to diminish the rights of another belief, only to ask that I may be given the same respect and equality of rights to practice mine. I implore you as the representative of a mostly Christian population, to look into these matters and do what is honorable and just in allowing those of religious beliefs to be given the rights that our Constitution declares for all people in this nation.
