Swearing on Jefferson’s Koran

The United States Constitution is a bold experiment in freedom.

The Founders recognized the dangers of religious tyranny, knowing full well the spiritual totalitarianism that had emerged early in the history of the Colonies, and they therefore ordained that people must be free to practice the religion of their choice, and that government must stay clear of religion:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Further,

No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

In the U.S. then, religion is a private matter. It should not matter if elected representatives are Christian, non-Christian, agnostic, or atheist. Many people do not like or accept that, including some of our elected officials. This includes Congressman Virgil Goode, who takes great exception to the fact that today Keith Ellison, an African-American convert to Islam, will be sworn in as a State Representative, as well as columnist and syndicated radio host Dennis Prager, who took particular offense that Mr. Ellison will be using the Koran in a private swearing-in ceremony.

Yes, that’s correct. The actual swearing-in ceremony involves no holy book, simply a hand raised in the air and the recitation of an oath. Many elected officials, however, like to hold private ceremonies afterwards that incorporate elements of their particular faith: a neat separation of church and state. Dennis Prager insists that the only suitable religious text that may be used — in private — at such ceremonies, is the Bible.

Here’s Prager’s comment more fully expressed:

America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison’s favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don’t serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.

Strangely, Mr. Prager is himself Jewish. Even more strangely, one wonders what “American values” he thinks our officials have been elected to uphold. Presumably he does not regard freedom of individual religious practice, the separation of church and state, and the absence of religious tests for office — values enshrined in the Constitution — to be American values.

I applaud the election of Keith Ellison. I’m proud of the voters of Minnesota, who chose to ignore religion at a time of near paranoia regarding Islam and who chose what they considered to be the best man for the job. I wish Mr. Ellison well in his term of office, and I hope his private ceremony (with Koran) will be deeply meaningful for him and affirming for the Muslim population of the United States.

And it’s a wonderful twist of fate that Keith Ellison will be using Thomas Jefferson‘s Koran in his private ceremony.

I look forward to the day when a Buddhist proudly takes office in Congress, and I hope that by that time Mr. Prager and Senator Goode have learned a little more wisdom and compassion.

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