The Heritage Foundation calls the wall between church and state “mythical.” Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters also calls the wall a “radical myth,” and has devoted himself to bringing God, prayer, and Bible instruction into public school classrooms.
It always seems that the Christian Nationalists are totally focused on getting their hands on the secular gears of government, but totally ignore that when the wall is down then government will have its hands upon the churches. This was a major selling point for the separation of church and state to the religions, including evangelical churches, when the Constitution was being debated for adoption.
For example, say a state wants to adopt a state religion, just as was the case when the Constitution was being adopted. But which one? Maybe the Catholics have a majority in that state. How are evangelicals going to feel when state monies, including their tax dollars, flow into Catholic coffers, but not evangelical's because they are not the official state religion.
It always seems that the Christian Nationalists are totally focused on getting their hands on the secular gears of government, but totally ignore that when the wall is down then government will have its hands upon the churches. This was a major selling point for the separation of church and state to the religions, including evangelical churches, when the Constitution was being debated for adoption.
For example, say a state wants to adopt a state religion, just as was the case when the Constitution was being adopted. But which one? Maybe the Catholics have a majority in that state. How are evangelicals going to feel when state monies, including their tax dollars, flow into Catholic coffers, but not evangelical's because they are not the official state religion.
I have the privilege of being in Oklahoma at the heart of this discussion. It’s fascinating.