We live in a "tolerant" age. When someone does something evil, too many Americans will say, "Who am I to judge?" It is trendy in our day to speak of all religions as equally valid. There is one mountain, but many paths
up the mountain. So they say.
It should be obvious that this is wrong. All religions are not the same. Some are false religions. Today, most clearly, we see at least one religion -- Osama bin Laden's religion -- that is not climbing up the same mountain. In fact, Osama's co-religionists are standing next to the mountain, strapping explosives to themselves in the hopes of blowing up the entire mountain, killing every man woman and child climbing the mountain, because they are all "infidels." So much for harmony among the "different paths."
America was not based on the idea that all religions are equal. That idea is dangerous, and cannot serve as a foundation for a prosperous nation. America was based on certain "self-evident truths."
Every single person who signed the Constitution agreed with these premises. Not a single Signer of the Constitution intended to create a government that was "secular" and would not acknowledge a Higher Power, a "Law above the law." The Constitution should be interpreted in light of these religious presuppositions.
James Madison is called "the father of the Constitution." One of his most famous works is "The Memorial and Remonstrance" of 1785 written in opposition to a bill in the Virginia legislature. In section 12, Madison opposed the bill on the following grounds:
12. Because, the policy of the bill is adverse to the diffusion of the light of Christianity. The first wish of those who enjoy this precious gift, ought to be that it may be imparted to the whole race of mankind. Compare the number of those who have as yet received it with the number still remaining under the dominion of false Religions; and how small is the former! Does the policy of the Bill tend to lessen the disproportion? No; it at once discourages those who are strangers to the light of (revelation) from coming into the Region of it; and countenances, by example the nations who continue in darkness, in shutting out those who might convey it to
them. Instead of levelling as far as possible, every obstacle to the victorious progress of truth, the Bill with an ignoble and unchristian timidity would circumscribe it, with a wall of defence, against the encroachments of error.
All legislation should promote the true religion, and lessen the number of people trapped in the darkness of false religions.
