Backfired - A Nation Born For Religious

Tolerance No Longer Tolerates Religion

By William J. Federer

When King Henry VIII’s divorce was not recognized by the Pope, he decided to be his own ‘pope’ of the Church of England. Eventually having six wives, their fates being: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced beheaded, survived.

Advisors suggested to secure his break with Rome, Henry replace the Latin Bible with an English Bible, so people across the land would look to England for their spiritual heritage. Henry did, but something unexpected happened -- people began to read it -- and compare what was written in the Bible to the King divorcing and beheading his wives.

Puritans

This group wanted to purify the Church of England, thus the nickname “Puritans.” The King did not think he needed purifying, so he persecuted them. Twenty thousand Puritans eventually fled to Massachusetts, where they tolerated...only Puritans.

Protestants

Roger Williams was not tolerated in Massachusetts, so he fled, founding Providence, Rhode Island, and the first Baptist Church in America. Thomas Hooker was not tolerated, so he fled, founding Hartford, Connecticut, and the Congregational Church. Considered heretics, the Quakers were not tolerated, and, with leader William Penn, founded Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Catholics

Within a generation, tolerance developed for all Protestant denominations. Another generation went by, and they tolerated Catholics. Maryland was the first colony with its 1649 Toleration Act. In 1731 the first Catholic Church was established in Philadelphia, and by the time of the Declaration of Independence, one of fifty-six signers was Catholic. Charles Carroll, who was the richest man in America and his cousin started Georgetown.

Liberal Christians

In the early 1800’s, French enlightenment thought experienced a period of popularity in New England, and tolerance was extended to “liberal” Christian denominations, such as Unitarians and Universalists, who referred to Jesus and quoted from the Bible.

Christians Tolerate Non-Christians

The expanding Christian populace broadened tolerance to include non-Christians, - basing their thought on Jesus’ example of never forcing anyone to believe in Him, and that to be pleasing to God, true religion was voluntary from the inside-out, not forced from the outside-in. This concurred with the idea that to fulfill the Great Commission of evangelizing unbelievers, those of other faiths ought to be allowed so they might have an opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Jews

Jews experienced varying degrees of tolerance, but it was not until 1851 that Maryland’s Constitution was amended to let Jews hold office. In 1860, Rabbi Morris Jacob Raphall was the first Rabbi ever to open a session of Congress with prayer, and President Lincoln was the first to allow Hebrew chaplains in the military.

Monotheists

In the second half of the 1800’s, tolerance embraced Monotheists – anyone believing in one God. U.S. coins were inscribed with the National Motto, “In God We Trust,” -- not “gods.” Oaths of office ended with “So Help Me God,” -- not “gods.” Federal Courts opened with the invocation “God save the United States and this Honorable Court.” Eevery President acknowledged one God in their Inaugural Addresses, and each of the Fifty State Constitutions made reference to God.

Polytheists

Many State Constitutions forbade citizenship to Chinese, Japanese and other “Mongolian” races, in part because they were assumed to be Polytheists, believing in many gods. In the early 1900’s, tolerance expanded to Polytheists and believers in any other religion.

Atheists

Finally, in the last half of the 1900’s, tolerance went out to Atheists, Secular Humanists, and the anti-religious. Based on the founders’ Christian concept of “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you,” the circle of tolerance expanded by seeking to find common ground with the newly arrived immigrants and newly invented beliefs. The common denominator went from:

* Everyone who was Puritan, to

* Everyone who was Protestant, to

* Everyone who was Christian, to

* Everyone believing in a Judeo-Christian God, to

* Everyone believing in a Supreme Being, to

* Everyone believing in Theism -- God or gods, to

* Everyone believing or not believing.

The problem today is that those “not believing” are now demonstrating intolerance for those “believing,” as seen by many activist court cases.

President Reagan, on February 25, 1984, stated: “We’re told our children have no right to pray in school. Nonsense. The pendulum has swung too far toward intolerance against genuine religious freedom. It is time to redress the balance.”

Publisher’s Comment…

In his new book, Backfired - A nation born for religious tolerance no longer tolerates religion, Bill Federer gives the compelling, straightforward history of tolerance, from 16th century European monarchs up through today. After reading it, you’ll never think of “Separation of Church & State” the same again! Backfired can be ordered by calling 1-888-USA-WORD, (314) 487-4395 or going to Bill’s web site: www.AmericanMinute.com.

Organizations such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the ACLU, the American Humanist Association, People for the American Way and other groups of their ilk, aren’t interested in prohibiting the establishment of a national religion or church, which is something I would stand against as well – they’re out to remove God totally from our national conscience. In my opinion, these people are the Taliban of humanism (which is a religion) and, like the radical Muslims, would like nothing better than to eradicate Christianity from the face of the Earth.

My warning to them is to remember that one day, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” You have been forewarned.