LETTER: Uphold freedom for all religions
Recent legislation across our nation appears to respond to attacks on Christianity. As these debates unfold, I believe it’s important to reflect on what religious freedom means in America.
The United States unquestionably bears the imprint of Christian values and traditions. We remain one of the world’s most predominantly Christian nations, with churches dotting our landscapes and religious references woven throughout our cultural fabric.
America’s greatness stems partly from our founders’ revolutionary concept: separation of church and state.
Many who established our nation, especially Pennsylvania, were religious exiles themselves, deemed too unorthodox by European monarchs. They understood the danger of government-enforced religion and created a republic where faith could flourish without state control.
This separation doesn’t diminish Christianity’s significance but rather protects all faiths from government interference. It ensures that our republic isn’t governed by religious headcounts but by principles of equal protection and mutual respect.
Today, Americans practice countless faiths. Muslims pray toward Mecca, Jews observe Shabbat, Hindus celebrate Diwali, Buddhists celebrate Vesak, Wiccans celebrate Samhain, and many others follow traditions their fellow citizens may find vastly different and unusual. These expressions of faith deserve the same protections afforded to majority religions.
We should remember that to atheists, all religious beliefs may seem equally implausible. Yet America has never been an atheist nation – nor should it officially be a Christian one. Our strength comes from creating neutral ground where people of all faiths and none can coexist respectfully.
As religious participation declines across denominations, what’s needed isn’t legislation reinforcing one faith’s dominance, but renewed commitment to America’s founding principle: that freedom of religion must mean freedom for all religions and equal treatment under the Constitution.
When we uphold this ideal, we honor not only our heritage but the profound wisdom of those who envisioned a nation where belief remains a matter of conscience, not coercion.
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any other organizations with which I am associated.
Pat Natali
Rostraver Township