Religion: US civic life benefits from religion

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was totally correct about his two main points regarding religion in civic life (TNT, 1-4).

First, “There is no place for the idea (that the state must be neutral between religion and its absence) in our constitutional tradition.”

Most all of America’s founders would agree. Even Benjamin Franklin asserted, “History will afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of public religion . . . and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others.”

Constitutional architect James Madison stated, “Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.”

Many more could be quoted, but Scalia’s second point was that “God has been very good to us” regarding national survival.

Regarding the article’s example of the Revolutionary War, even Franklin claimed, “Our prayers were heard and they were graciously answered.”

America’s most articulate founding mother, Abigail Adams, wrote, “The remarkable interpositions of Heaven cannot be too gratefully acknowledged.” George Washington affirmed, “The hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this.”

No wonder our national motto (unofficial since 1814 and official since 1956) is “In God we trust.”

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Religion: US civic life benefits from religion."