Last week posed some challenges for atheists. President Trump read from the Bible in the Oval Office, and a federal court supported Texas’ right to showcase the Ten Commandments. The responses have been filled with outrage. This legal dispute is part of an ongoing conversation about the separation of church and state, prompting questions that are, well, pretty familiar. The big question here is: can the government recognize the Ten Commandments without breaching the First Amendment?
If the government’s role is to safeguard what we value most, it can’t ignore the origins of those values. Modern critics have been quick to respond. After 50 years of ACLU influence, such displays have been denounced as wrong and even illegal. Atheists contend that public mentions of the Bible breach the Constitution. Pluralists argue that if one religious text is visible, then all must be made visible. It creates a kind of dilemma: either strip all religious content from public life or allow every belief to be displayed.
But, these perspectives stem from a misunderstanding of America’s foundations. To grasp why, we should reflect on the principles that crafted the nation, notably those articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Notably, the term “neutrality” is absent. It references “the laws of nature and the God of nature,” asserting that human equality is grounded in the idea that we are “created” and “given” rights by our Creator. These arguments don’t sit in the realm of neutrality or secularism; they are rooted in what’s known as natural theology—the notion that reason and creation elucidate truths about God.
Therefore, we must read the First Amendment through the prism of these founding principles rather than in isolation. The text is straightforward: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It’s important to note what isn’t said. I’m not claiming the government must remain quiet about God. This doesn’t imply that public institutions should disregard the role of religion in forming the nation. I never implied that acknowledging the moral insights in the Bible was off-limits.
What the First Amendment forbids is the establishment of a national church and interference in religious worship. This distinction matters. The Founders were not secularists in the contemporary sense. Many of them, while varying in their theological views, believed moral law was divinely based. This belief didn’t impose the church upon the populace, nor did it erase God from societal discourse.
This is where the Ten Commandments come into play. Historically, they have been viewed not solely as religious tenets but as a vital summary of moral law. Prohibitions against idolatry, murder, theft, perjury, and greed underpin legal systems throughout the Western world. Even those who dispute their divine relevance tend to recognize their moral clarity.
However, there’s a frequent oversight here. The Ten Commandments, when presented, are regarded as a complete set. Critics typically try to break them down into 5 or 10, as if they’re just horizontal principles that guide human relationships. But the entire chapter begins with a vertical emphasis on worshiping God alone, rejecting idols, and honoring His name and day. Displaying all ten commandments means recognizing that this law isn’t merely a human creation; it reflects a divine order extending into human society. This concept is foundational in American law.
This misunderstanding is where atheistic objections stumble. The belief that the First Amendment demands an unwavering secularism projects modern views back onto an 18th-century document. The Founders didn’t see public acknowledgment of God as a threat to freedom; they viewed that acknowledgment as essential for it. Without a reference to something transcendent, rights become negotiable, and laws shift from instruments of justice to tools of power.
Similarly, the pluralist viewpoint assumes that impartiality necessitates equal representation of all religious beliefs in public life. However, the U.S. wasn’t established on the principle of religious equality but rather on a unique understanding of God, law, and human nature fashioned by Christian ideals.
This doesn’t mean that individuals from different faiths are excluded. The First Amendment safeguards their freedom to practice without government intrusion. However, freedom of religion doesn’t equate to the obligation for the state to treat all religious claims as equally intrinsic to its identity. Courts displaying the Ten Commandments aren’t asserting the legitimacy of all religions; instead, they acknowledge the historical and philosophical roots of their legal systems.
To circle back to the main question: what role does government play? If it exists to protect what is valuable, it can’t afford to be indifferent about the origins of that value. The Founders were explicit in recognizing that these rights are “God-given.” Acknowledging this isn’t about establishing a church; it’s a reaffirmation of the principles that underpin the laws of this nation.
Incorporating the Ten Commandments alongside the Declaration of Independence isn’t unconstitutional. It serves as a historical reminder of where our notions of law and equality originate. In a time of significant confusion regarding the foundations of our principles, it’s vital to communicate this truth and impart it to future generations.
