Reason why there’s no established religion

I always have seen Cedar Rapids, and Eastern Iowa in general, as a place where human beings lived in equality, prosperity and peace. Equality is an issue taught to Iowans at a young age. Since we have such great education in Iowa, it baffles me as to why so many people preach about going back to the Constitution and then ignore what it says.

First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

This does not mean Christianity is the one true religion in America. It means I am not held to Christian rules and values in this country. Unfortunately, today this is not the case. Non-Christians are second-class citizens in this country. Muslims are hated for the acts of a few extremists. Non-Christians are pressured to become Christians; those who don't live exactly by the rules of the Bible are lesser citizens than those who “do.”

There is no established religion in this country for a reason I wish more people would remember.

Jay Burken

Cedar Rapids