Religion-Faith based nation or God-less America?

This past weekend was Easter Sunday, one of the most religious holidays of the year, probably the most religious Christian holiday next to Christmas. It was also Passover weekend for the Jewish community. Now, it seems the topic of religion has become a sticky subject in our nation in these times. We get people of faith like Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rev. Al Sharpton, Pastor Rick Warren telling us to keep our faith true to our hearts, and always believe in our Lord Almighty. Then there's indivduals like Bill Maher and Christopher Hitchens who claimed that religion is a myth, a way to control the masses, and a worn out philosphy of fools and the un-educated.

Let me state, I'm not here to start a relion vs scientology argument. I respect both doctrines and believe there's place for both science and religion in our society. Yet, I'm here to place the role of religion in our society. For true believers, it seems to help build a spiritual and moral center for them. It fills a need for those who need to believe in something greater than themselves.

For non-believers, it seeems to be a hindrance and bothersome pain. They view religious followers as nothing more than a bunch of sheep following in a crowd instead of thinking for themselves. They are merciless in the tearing of religion. They point out how cause of religion, people have gone to war in the name of justice and righteousness, yet, it is war and their killing people. From the Crusades to the Inquisition, to cconverting natives to christianity when the Spanish first arrived in America, to current Islamic-Fundmentalism which has muslims suicide bomb themselves in the name of Allah. These are the cries by the anti-religious for an abolishment of religion.

The truth of the matter is that those who oppose religion are right. Religion has done a great deal of harm throughout histrory, but, they are only half-right. They mention a half-truth about religion which they have embraced all too dearly. The half of that truth is that religion has also done good for this world, as helped promote peace, brotherhood, and unity. It has inpired people to go on goodwill missions to help people in third world countries who are dying of hunger, disease, poverty, etc. It also has inspired artists, painters, writers to create amazing works of art and literature. From Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel, to Davinci's painting of the Last Supper, to even today with books like Angels & Demons, and movies like Cecille B Demille's the Ten Commandments, religion has played a great part in our culture for both good and bad.

While religion has been perverted for some harm against others and used to start wars in the name of God, it can't be abolished. That won't solve anything. Yes, it has been used for war and killing people, but, anything can be perverted into that. Take nationalism for example. One hundred years ago, nationalism was so misuesd & perverted that several nations felt they were superior to other nations and they were right in ruling over those other nations. That led to colonialism and eventually into World War I.

Several years later, some deranged Nazi maniac who looled like Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp used nationalism to convince the German people they were the Master Race and could rule over all of Europe. At the same time, a fascist disctator conviced Italy that it was the Roman Empire reborn and miliatants in Japan convinced the Japanese they were the Samurais reborn. Thes combinced actions led the nations and continents all around the world into WWII. So, anything can be perverted for evil purposes, not just religion, but, nationalism, ethnicity(thus we forget Bosnia genocidal ethnic cleansing or the holocaust), etc. So if religion was disspelled, hate-mongers and war-mongers would just find another thing to use as thier rallying cry.

Now, I can't prove whether there is a God, heaven or hell. I can't prove nor can I disprove it. But, I do believe religion plays a part in our culture. People fled to America originally to escape religious persecution. I do agree that religion should help govern our country. Seperation of chruch and state must be upheld like our founding fathers wanted. But, freedom of religion is one of the key princples in the first amendment alonside freedom of speech. And with that comes the freedom to choose any type of worship or the freedom to not worship any deity or religion at all.

The truth is that the worship of God or gods, or holy spirits, have been with us in one way or another. With billions of people devoted to one of the main religions of the world, it's hard to see it ever getting abolished. From the early pagan religions, to the ancient Greeks worshiping Zeus, Apollo, Ares and all the Gods of Mt. Olympus, to the ancinet Egyptians worhsippping the Sun god, Ra, to our current religions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, religion has always been a part of our culture and society, and it always figures to be a mainstay with us all for now and forever.