As Carter explores the First Amendment, he highlights that they are crafted to give maximum freedom to the religious. A question might be asked that if a majority in the nation are Christian and are creating laws, upholding constitution, enforcing laws, etc. wouldn't that imply that they already have a great deal of power and influence? How do the majority's viewpoint affect others who hold "minority" faith views?
How could state's negatively influence religions if they give money to particular religions?
Does the state give money to all religions or just Christian ones? Muslims? Taoists? Wiccans? Who decides?
If the government has anti-bias laws, yet some faiths have inherent biases, should the state fund them? For example, Evangelicals believe homosexuality is evil and some openly discriminate against gays, should they get funding for other programs? Again, who reviews and decides?
Many argue the state should listen to their religious constituents and instill more Biblical law -- whose interpretation of those laws should we follow? Abstinence only education in schools comes from "faith" groups -- no sex ed? How about evolution as some faiths reject the theory? Some faiths reject the theory that earth revolves around the sun -- should the state listen to them? If we allow the state to be run/significantly influenced by some one's faith, who gets to decide which faith and to what degree or what "intrusions" are acceptable?
He argues that legislators' "faith may be so intertwined with personality that it is impossible to tell when one is acting, or not acting, from religious motive" and later argues that the Establishment Clause "might end up not anti establishments but anti religion." Are religious people afraid to talk about their faiths? Do politicians share their faith experiences or "hide" from them? I have heard many politicians expressing their Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical, Mormon, and even Muslim faiths, but yet to hear a politician say (s)he is an atheist or agnostic -- what might that suggest? If the majority of the nation is religious, Christian, how can they be repressed? Who is repressing them?
Scenerio: As a Catholic, even my father has said that I am in a "cult". His interpretation and application of faith are significantly different than mine -- If the area is prodominantly Catholic, and it influences local laws, should he have to follow them?
Now consider the agnostic or atheist etc., should that person be denied sex ed because some people of faith disagree with it due to their religious background?
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