From the Left
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From the Right
Separation of Church & State
The phrase “separation of church and state” is one of the great misnomers that has entered the mainstream thought patterns of so many, yet has little if any basis in the Constitution. In a society that as a whole has moved decidedly into a direction of secular progressiveness, it is not surprising that the old vestiges of religion that were left over as relics of the founding of this great nation are sought to be eradicated. Naturally, many conservative Christians are also Republicans, and the Republican Party is working hard to be welcoming and inclusive of constituents of all faiths.
For this reason the Republican Party is oftentimes accused of being Christian in nature, when this is decidedly not the reality. As a matter of fact, it contains a large number of secular conservatives, free thinkers, deists, as well as adherents to other faiths. While there is no constitutional call for a “separation of church and state,” it is vital that Republicans live out the mandate to not call for the establishment of any one religion as the faith of choice for its members.
To this end, Republicans will need to continue to support faith based community programs wherever they may be found, and whatever shape they may take. At the end of the day, it does not matter if an after school program is headed up by Christians, Muslims, or Buddhists, as long as it keeps at risk children off the streets, helps them with their homework, and gives them the time they need to feel loved, cared for, valued, and overall supported in their tentative steps toward adulthood that are so often fraught with peril.
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