2023-10-20 16:03:39
We have seen a disturbing trend of extremist political leaders expressing their belief the United States should radically change our Constitution and become a theocracy where the government tries to impose one specific religion.
The most recent attempt was Bismarck Rep. Brandon Prichard proclaiming that we must “enshrine the Bible and Christianity in our state constitution and laws.”
Fortunately, the founders of this country understood the many dangers of such a philosophy and began the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .”
People like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams had seen the impacts of centuries of religious warfare and intolerance brought on by government-sponsored religion in Europe. They knew our country would have to deal with religious intolerance and with people such as Prichard and others pushing rigid agendas like Christian Nationalism.
Today, it is encouraging to see so many North Dakotans come together in opposition to Prichard’s attempt to put an end to our freedom of religion. In North Dakota, neighbors look out for each other. We will work with our many wonderful neighbors of different faiths and perspectives to ensure that future generations will enjoy the freedoms – including freedom of religion – we take for granted today.
Don Morrison is the president of the Board of Trustees of the Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist congregation.
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