“An alliance or coalition between Government and religion cannot be too carefully guarded against.”

Back in June of this year, John McCain was asked, “A recent poll found that 55 percent of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation. What do you think?”

His response was, “I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation. But I say that in the broadest sense. The lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door doesn’t say, “I only welcome Christians.” We welcome the poor, the tired, the huddled masses. But when they come here they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles.”

Is it too much to ask that the man who aspires to be the President of the United States has at least read the document under which, should he be elected, his right to govern is ensconced? Blatant ignorance in the basic tenets of our republic by someone seeking to hold the highest office in the land simply should not be tolerated by the American people.

The only references to any form of the word “religion” in The Constitution are Article VI, which specifically states, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States,” and the First Amendment, which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of Religion€¦” Beyond these two sentences, none of the following words appear anywhere in The Constitution or in any of the Amendments – God, religion, Christian, Christianity or worship.

So, how is it Senator McCain, and, incidentally, his right wing running mate, believes The Constitution establishes the United States as a “Christian Nation?” Granted, since our inception, Christianity has been the religion-of-choice for the majority of the populace, but there is nothing in our governmental framework that ensconces Christianity as the “religion of the Land,” just as there is nothing that makes English our official language.

If what the Senator says is true, then were my history teachers in error when they taught me one of the forces that drove settlers to the New World was the desire for “freedom of religion?” No one ever told me they wanted “freedom of a Christian religion.”

And, just for a moment, let’s assume the Senator is correct in his statement. Then, one has to ask, just which form of Christianity does our Constitution embody?

Does it embody the love and forgiveness taught by Jesus Christ, or the “eye for an eye” precepts of the Old Testament?

Does it impart righteousness to the Creationists, like Sarah Palin, who believe the Earth is only 6,000 years old and that man and dinosaurs co-existed on the planet, or does it leave room for religious scientists who are able to reconcile the teachings of the Christian Bible with the science of evolution without losing their faith in a higher being?

Does it support the assertions made by many Christian Fundamentalists that something as horrific as 9/11 was the result of America’s tolerance for homosexuality, or does it recognize that bad things happen for reasons that are often either non-existent or unrelated?

And, if Senator McCain and Governor Palin truly believe America is a Christian Nation, should they not be deported for violating the Ten Commandments, specifically the one about “not bearing false witness,” given their penchant for repeatedly lying about Barack Obama?

If the Senator and Governor wish to rule, they should at least be able to exhibit an understanding of the source of the power to which they aspire.