U.S. established as a secular Republic

To the editor:

In regard to Steve Hufferd's May 13 letter 'We have a right to pursue happiness”:

Why is Hufferd assuming Thomas Jefferson was talking about the God of the Bible in The Declaration of Independence? The Declaration only says 'Creator.” There is no mention of God in the Constitution either. There is, however, a clear prohibition against laws which respect an establishment of religion in the First Amendment. A prohibition of which Hufferd makes no mention. Would Hufferd be convinced by his argument if the word God was replaced with Allah, Krishna, or Thor?

By reading these documents, it is clear that the founders meant to establish the United States as a secular Republic. The brave men and women who founded this country fled Europe from religious persecution after all. They learned first hand the dangers of basing the law on religious conceptions. What Hufferd is arguing for is a Christian theocracy, a system of government where the only true rights are those that are in accordance with the Bible. This is the Christian equivalent of Sharia Law, and it is not legal.

The drive to re-instill secularism in our culture is to return to the way in which this country was founded, a society where people are free from the religious beliefs and practices of others. The United States is and should remain a secular Republic with a separation of church and state.

Wes Hoyer

Cedar Rapids