By Lewis Loflin
Published: September 3, 2003
Get out your paper and pencil, or fire up your computer. Today’s topic is the Ten Commandments—a subject sure to spark debate. My employers thrive on controversy and letters to the editor, so who knows? I might even earn a pay raise. Before we dive in, let me clarify: I’m not an atheist, I attend church (most of the time), and I believe in God. I consider the Ten Commandments one of the finest moral guides available. My concern lies solely with using government spaces for religious promotion.
In 1620, the Pilgrims braved a leaky ship to escape religious persecution, setting a precedent for religious freedom in America. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reinforces this, stating, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” This principle is at the heart of the current debate over displaying the Ten Commandments in the Sullivan County Courthouse.
Undoubtedly, the laws Moses brought down from the mountain form a cornerstone of Judeo-Christian belief and provide a solid basis for moral living. However, the tenet that we should never mix church and state affairs is well established in the United States.
Thomas Jefferson, having witnessed the Catholic Church’s influence in France—think Cardinal Richelieu—and harboring a general distrust of clergy, wrote to the Danbury Baptists and others that the First Amendment had rightfully built a “wall between church and state.”
Similarly, Senator Barry Goldwater addressed the U.S. Senate, stating, “We have succeeded for 205 years in keeping the affairs of state separate from the uncompromising idealism of religious groups, and we mustn’t stop now. To retreat from that separation would violate the principles of conservatism and the values upon which the framers built this democratic republic.”
Even Jesus Christ advised, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s…” (Matthew 22:21). Though he spoke of taxes, the principle applies: one of America’s greatest strengths is that Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, and others are free to worship—or not—as they choose.
Given this freedom, is it appropriate to allow only Christians to display plaques and monuments in government buildings like the Sullivan County Courthouse? If so, shouldn’t other faiths—Islam, Confucianism, Buddhism—be permitted to display their teachings as well? I don’t think so. For one, there likely isn’t enough wall space. More critically, such actions blur the line between church and state.
Consider some countries in the Middle East, where religious clerics govern or seek to govern. Religion often fuels internal conflict, as differing factions vie for control. Imagine if our city government or Congress were run by clergy—they can barely agree as it is! In some nations, failing to worship at the “right” place can be deadly. The Taliban’s public executions, such as shooting a woman accused of adultery in a soccer stadium, are a grim reminder. Taken to an extreme, we’d see similar scenes at Dobyns-Bennett High School’s stadium.
History shows that religious extremism often leads to violence. Europeans killed countless Indigenous peoples in the name of Christianity. The partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 unleashed a bloodbath that continues today. Christians and Muslims have clashed in the Balkans for centuries. In the U.S., we drove the Mormons from Illinois to Utah, and the Spanish Inquisition remains a notorious example of religious persecution. These events underscore the dangers of intertwining religion with governance.
Long live religious freedom! If erring on the side of caution means no plaques or statues in the courthouse, so be it. I’ve met many who’ve had religiously enlightening experiences, but none occurred while renewing a driver’s license or paying taxes at the courthouse.
Belief in God isn’t something you acquire at the courthouse. If we want to promote religious values, we should do so in the right venues. Place an ad in the newspaper or on TV. Erect a billboard at a high-traffic spot like Bristol Motor Speedway. Choose a platform that maximizes impact—the courthouse wall isn’t it.
That’s my take on the Ten Commandments debate. Now, feel free to write your letter to the editor and call me the Great Satan. You’ll find submission instructions above this article.
Copyright 2003, Kingsport Publishing Corporation.
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping me draft and refine this article. The final edits and perspective are my own.
