Render unto Caesar…
The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries. James Madison, co-author, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, Fourth President of the United States
Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”
What Jesus Christ said about church and state…
In these tumultuous times, the stalwart American constitutional concept of separation of church and state is taking a beating. The fanatical followers of Donald Trump (aka Trump cultists) are hell-bent on imposing their religious beliefs on the body politic, notwithstanding that, from a religious standpoint, the concept of separation of church and state can be traced to the teachings of Jesus Christ, viz.:
During Jesus Christ’s trial before Roman governor Pontius Pilate, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus replied that, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), making it clear that his religious teachings were separate from earthly political activity. And in response to a question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus responded, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21), drawing a distinct line between secular and religious behavior.
In essence, for Christians these seminal, straightforward teachings should be the foundation of the concept of separation of church and state. One would think, then, that Americans who describe themselves as religious folk would be very knowledgeable regarding separation of church and state and the most vociferous in defending it. Alas, not so.
Trump Christian nationalist-MAGA cult is running amok…
In Stone v. Graham, the U.S. Supreme Court established separation of church and state as the law of the land.
The Trump Christian nationalist-MAGA cult is running roughshod over the concept of separation of church and state, notwithstanding that over 40 years ago, in Stone v. Graham, the U.S. Supreme Court established it as the law of the land. In that case, Kentucky passed a law mandating that the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom in the state. The law was challenged by a coalition of a Unitarian parent, a Jewish rabbi, a Catholic teacher, and an atheist Republican. The U.S. Supreme Court found that the Kentucky law had no secular legislative purpose and that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and therefore was unconstitutional.
But now, in 2024, 40-some years after Stone v. Graham, Trump-MAGA cultists who control the legislature in Louisiana have passed a law that requires the posting of the Ten Commandments in schools. Louisiana is not alone. In 2019, Trump-MAGA cultists in Mississippi passed a law requiring that the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom in the state and that students would have to recite all 10 commandments within the first hour of class each morning.
And in Oklahoma, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction recently issued a mandate that the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, be taught in the state’s public schools. According to the State Superintendent, forcing public-school students to read the Bible will help them better understand American history. Relying on state law that gives local school districts authority over all instruction, curriculum, reading lists and instruction materials and textbooks, most Oklahoma school districts are defying the “teach-the-Bible” mandate.
Trump-MAGA cultists in other states – e.g., Texas, South Carolina, Utah – also passed laws mandating that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public-school classrooms.
Fortunately, these efforts to force the Bible and the Ten Commandments on public schools have failed, mostly through court intervention.
Marriage of religious zealotry and politics is deadly…
The Spanish Inquisition, which lasted from 1478 to 1834, targeted Jews, Muslims, Protestants, and other “heretics.”
We should learn from history how deadly religious zealotry coupled with politics – i.e., the marriage of church and state – can be. Some examples:
* The Spanish Inquisition, which lasted from 1478 to 1834, targeted Jews, Muslims, Protestants, and other “heretics.” Hundreds of thousands of suspected “heretics” – bona fide, productive, contributing citizens of Spain, Portugal, and other countries – were forcibly expelled (deported). Likewise, hundreds of thousands of innocents were tortured or executed (often by being burnt at the stake) by this brutal institution.
The Inquisition’s goal was to impose Christian orthodoxy in Spain, Portugal, and other countries, including those in the “New World,” such as Mexico. Even “Conversos” (aka “Marranos”) – Jews who converted to Catholicism – were tortured or killed because they were suspected of practicing Judaism secretly.
* Scholars estimate that hundreds of thousands (and this is the low estimate) of people were killed during the Christian religious wars known as the Crusades, which began in the late 11th century and lasted into the late 14th century.
The primary target of the Crusades were Muslims, although they also targeted Jews and other “heretics.” The purpose of the Crusades was to cleanse the church of heresy and establish Christian orthodoxy wherever Christianity was able to gain a foothold. In addition to the “heretics” who were killed, hundreds of thousands of Crusaders also died during these campaigns.
The infamous Salem Witch hunt and trial occurred in the American colony of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.
* Scholars believe that between 1300 and circa 1782, approximately 110,000 persons in total were tried for witchcraft and between 40,000 to 60,000 were executed throughout Europe. The “hunts” sought to identify witches, who were thought to be followers of Satan who had traded their souls for his assistance. The goal was to purge the “witches” and maintain Christian orthodoxy in the community. The process of identifying witches typically began with suspicions or rumors, followed by accusations and trials, and if found “guilty,” execution.
The infamous Salem Witch hunt and trial occurred in the American colony of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Three young girls indulged in fortune-telling and exhibited other “strange” behavior. The girls named three women who they claimed had bewitched them. Magistrates were assigned to conduct a public inquiry. After a cascade of accusations and trials, peppered with some (forced?) confessions, nineteen persons convicted of witchcraft – i.e., consorting with Satan – were hanged, and another five accused of witchcraft died while in custody. There are other examples, but the above make the point: religious zealotry coupled with politics can be – and has a history of being – deadly.
Let’s progress, not regress…
Progress is made by going forward, not backwards. We need to fight – by voting!