The Godless Constitution

Another item on the re-reading list that covers mostly familiar ground though the chapter on the Sunday mail controversy is not as well known. The book covers the religious and libertarian origins, original understandings and adds a few personal essays (one is an update covering the Bush Administration). The last set are more prudential to some degree than the strict separation promoted in historical chapters. But, such is how life goes.

One prudential "pick your battles" move was to accept "under God" in the pledge, though granting if the Supreme Court upheld it (have avoided directly doing so) it would uphold a non-secular state. It does not bluntly note that it would violate the very title of the book! I understand this approach while finding it troubling. School children are taught in a basic everyday act that reaffirms our principles to violate what should be one of them. As is sometimes the case, the original was better.

The authors were troubled by Bush43's blatant use of mixing religion and politics. Politicians will have religion and morality will arise but that is a bridge too far for them. They are wary when any side does that. Imagine how they would feel about the ugly version of this approach in the Trump Administration. One can be cynical about Bush's conversion experience while still somewhat believing it. But, Trump? The worst of both worlds there.