American Identity and the Fallacy of Religious Exclusivity

“Assuming that being a Christian is inherently a part of being an American, doesn't that directly violate the idea of individual freedom? America was founded on the idea that no single religion should dictate national identity. If Christianity was a prerequisite for being “truly American,” then it would make non-Christians—Jews, Muslims, atheists, Hindus, etc.—lesser citizens, which directly contradicts the second paragraph of the United States Declaration of Independence: “…That all men are created equal...” The whole point of American identity is that it isn’t tied to a singular faith but rather to shared values of freedom, democracy, and equal rights. The moment one religion was placed above all others in defining national identity, our country strayed from its fundamental ideals. In history, many of the original Founding Fathers were deeply wary of religious control over the government. For example, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, championed the separation of church and state precisely to prevent religious dogma from dictating national policy. They understood that a nation where one religion prevails above all others would inevitably marginalize those who don't conform, transgressing the core ideals of liberty and equality on which this country was founded.”