Ostensibly we have the freedom of religion. According to the US Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...
So people are free to practice whatever religion they so choose, and the government (
which includes the states), cannot enact laws that infringe on this right, by endorsing any religion over another, or religion over nonreligion.
On paper, at least.
However, do we really have the freedom to practice any religion other than Christianity in this country...
if we have to swear on the Bible before accepting political office?
if we have to open government meetings with prayers or religious invocations?
if we have to acknowledge God when we're supposed to be pledging allegiance to the country?
if we have to use currency that all declares trust in God?
if we have elected officials referencing the Bible to justify their positions, such as opposing same-sex marriage, or abortion, or denying climate change, or pushing pseudo-science in public classrooms?
if everyone is expected to pay their fair share of taxes to fund the country - except religious institutions?
if religious institutions, even for-profit businesses, are allowed to provide sub-par medical care because of their beliefs?
if we have religious monuments on public property or paid for by taxpayer money?
if we have certain religions' holidays as national holidays?
if we have citizens who demand to know where their tax money goes, but never their donations to their church?
Is any of this consistent with supposed freedom of religion, including not having anybody else's religion imposed upon us, or having the freedom to have no religion at all?
Obviously, we don't have to do any of these things. You don't have to swear on the Bible to take political office. You don't have to open government meetings with a prayer.
But that is exactly what is so galling about all of these examples. We don't have to do any of these things, but to do otherwise invites nothing but ridicule. Societal pressures alone are enough to force us to do things that go against our beliefs. We don't have to, but we have to.
Is it any wonder, though, when religion is so pervasive in our society, even though it is supposed to be a secular society, that most of its influence goes unnoticed?
Religion is ingrained in every facet of our society.
Imagine your city without a single church.
Imagine television and the radio without religious channels and shows.
Imagine baseball without God Bless America and players pointing to the sky after hitting a home run.
Imagine football without Hail Marys, the Immaculate Reception, Tebowing, or Ray Lewis claiming God is the reason he avoided murder-related charges. Hell, what else do people associate Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with more than Christianity and football?
Imagine an athlete in any sport winning a major championship and not thanking God or Jesus before their coaches and trainers and scouts and teammates and their own blood, sweat, and tears.
Imagine learning American history without hearing about Quakers, Pilgrims, and Puritans.
Imagine reading a news story where someone survived a major car accident and he doesn't thank God before the doctors, first responders, helpful witnesses, or engineers who designed the seat belts or air bags or fire walls or the politicians who made these additions compulsory.
Imagine attending an art museum and not finding a piece inspired by religion. Imagine watching movies or listening to music without the overt and symbolic references to religion.
It's true that this is all possible because we have the freedom of religion. And much of this pervasive religious influence in society might well be considered the price we pay for that freedom. But freedom of religion must also mean freedom from religion. If you're going to claim that religion is under attack by the non-religious in this country, and not the other way around, you're not making a fair analysis of the current situation we are in.
Freedom from the freedom of religion (of everyone else).