From: Ross Olson <ross{at}rossolson.org>
Sent: Friday, March 5, 2021
To: opinion{at}startribune.com
Subject: Establishment Clause

A letter writer (“Skip the Christian Victimhood,” Star Tribune 3/5/2021) claims that the government,
according to the First Amendment, must not “prefer one religion over any other.” What the
amendment actually states is: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” The confusion comes over the term “establish.”

European countries had “established churches,” sponsored and supported by the government. Most
have now been “disestablished.” The American founders did not want to establish a national church,
which would have been a Christian denomination, although some of the colonies/states had established
churches.

But the United States does indeed “favor” a religion. The Declaration of Independence speaks of
inalienable rights endowed by a Creator. Here a Judeo Christian God is referenced. A Hindu based
society would not alleviate the suffering of its people, in order to avoid interfering with their Karma. A
philosophical materialist culture based on evolution would have concluded, as did the Nazis, that some
“races” are inferior and for the good of the species, must be eliminated, or at least not be allowed to
reproduce.

Suppressing Christian expression actually violates the second clause of the amendment, “prohibiting
the free exercise thereof….”

Ross S. Olson
Richfield MN 55423

Send comments to me at ross{at}rossolson.org

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