The U.S Constitution creates two core rules regarding freedom of religion. First, the Establishment Clause established the separation of church and state by stating that the U.S. Government cannot set up an official national religion and cannot give any religion priority or status over another, or over the lack of religious beliefs. Second, the Free Exercise Clause clarifies that our government cannot stop individuals or groups from practicing their faith, or from having no faith at all.
In spite of the Constitution’s clear mandate on religion, the Christian-nationalist tenets now advanced by America’s religious far-right are vigorously promoting Christian doctrine as a force that must infuse and even dominate American religious, political and social life — supposedly in order to preserve our national identity and “the American way.”
In my view, support for this notion is due to perceived misalignments between the core values of Christianity and those of other religions. What percentage of Christians in America today can claim more than a superficial knowledge of other religious belief systems (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Stoicism, Humanism, etc.)? If I stopped a group of my fellow Christians on their way out of church and asked them to describe the most important doctrinal values of one of those “other” religions, what would I hear? Even the more in-depth answers, I suspect, would say more about differences from Christianity than about similarities.
So, a quick summary:
- The teachings of Jesus Christ emphasize love, compassion, forgiveness and humility. Key tenets include love and care for one’s neighbor, forgiveness and social justice. (There are splinter groups. For example, those who follow the so-called “Christian prosperity doctrine.”)
- Judaism emphasizes the covenant between God and the Jewish people, focusing on community, ethical living, and justice. Its teachings encourage questioning and interpretation in opposition to rigid dogma as well as promoting dialogue.
- Islam emphasizes The Five Pillars, which outline essential practices, including charity and prayer. Islamic teachings stress compassion, justice, and care for the less fortunate. (Splinter Islamic groups advocating for jihad and other violence have deviated from these core beliefs.)
- Buddhism focuses on the Four Noble Truths, which address and the path to inner peace through ethical living, meditation and wisdom. The emphasis on non-attachment and compassion contrasts with the materialism often associated with religious extremes of any kind.
- Hindu teachings focus on dharma (duty/righteousness) and karma (the law of cause and effect), promoting ethical living and responsibility toward yourself and society. Hinduism encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices, allowing for pluralism and tolerance.
- More a philosophy than a religion, Stoicism teaches that virtu (virtue) is the highest good, emphasizing rationality, self-control, and resilience in the face of adversity. Stoicism promotes the idea of a universal community, achieved through the practice of compassion, honesty and integrity.
- Humanism emphasizes reason, ethics and justice, often promoting the idea that humans can lead ethical lives without reliance on supernatural or religious beliefs. Humanists advocate for social justice, human rights, and compassion.
Like Christianity, most of these religious traditions emphasize love and compassion as foundational principles, including practical compassion, i.e., taking action to alleviate suffering. Judaism, Islam, and many Eastern philosophies emphasize communal responsibility and human connection.
While far-right Christian nationalists work to to sow distrust and fear toward people of other faiths and persuasions, it’s more important than ever for Americans of all faiths to understand that that their values have much in common with those held dear by followers of most other belief systems — and that, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the continued separation of church and state is fundamental to the freedom of religion for ALL Americans.
Matt LaMotte, a native of the Eastern Shore, has a diverse background. He grew up in Baltimore but spent much time in Easton and Chestertown. After college, he returned to the Mid Shore and worked in insurance and finance while raising his two sons. He then pursued a teaching and coaching career in independent schools across different states. In 2018, he chaired the History Department at Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Easton before retiring in 2021. Matt is now focused on conservation, outdoor education, and staying engaged with local and global affairs.
6 Responses
Congratulations to Mr. LaMotte for this important, perceptive, cogent and timely piece.
I have never heard the Christian community as a whole speak ill of any religion, per se. I hear frequent concerns about the “fringe” beliefs of those Islamists who follow their version of Sharia law and Jihadism. Yes, Christians are a diverse group and there are those “fringe” elements whose views do not represent the religion.
As usual these days, the media publishes the sensationalist views that tend to polarize us.
While it is true that our founding fathers insisted on separation of church and state, they also leaned heavily on Christian values in writing our Declaration and Constitution.
It would be interesting to see a poll of Christians that showed where they stand on other Religions’ rights. I suspect that the vast majority would respect the rights of others, but denounce those beliefs of jihadis and Sharia zealots that run counter to our Constitution.
The growing uneasiness with Islam is not unique to Christians nor to the United States, Mr. LaMotte. I think you would find that same discomfort growing among Christians and the general populations of Canada, England, France, Germany, Sweden and other western nations. That is to say nothing of Christians in Chad, Kenya, Senegal and other North African countries victims by machete-wielding Islamic “splinter groups.”
I suspect your curious characterization of Christians as “far right” reveals your actual target here.
My take on this article is that it is a reflection on the value of Diversity and Inclusion, especially as related to religious beliefs. Our current regime seems “hellbent” on wiping out everything except those with a white Christian nationalist agenda.
Mr Fischer, you misquote Mr. LaMotte in your final sentence. He didn’t characterize Christians as “far right”, he mentioned that there are “far-right Christian Nationalists” – which there are. There are “far-rights” in other religions too. At the same time as you criticize Mr. LaMotte, you seem to want to do what you are accusing him of doing…characterizing Islam as “machete-wielding Islamic ‘splinter groups'”. I’m a long-time, committed Christian, active in my church, and am tuned in to Christian writers. I don’t hear the “discomfort growing” the way you say you do. It would be helpful if you could say a bit about where you think one would find such discomfort.
Thank you so very much for this succinct summary.
There is so much in common among various religious groups.
Look past the skin color and errors of splitter groups.