Freedom?

Our American Constitution guarantees the "freedom of religion". That is quite a unique way to describe what they were aiming at protecting. It should be perfectly obvious that they meant to protect any perspective of the Christian religion (as can be seen from the various writings of the founding fathers of our country). Yet, today, we have a very odd twist in people's language which has (probably unintentionally) excluded everything except Catholicism from protection in America (yes, you read that right!).

Atheists largely will tell you that they do not practice a religion (it is contrary to reality, but that is their claim). Protestants (almost every one of them) will tell you that Christianity is not a religion (and they will also often condemn Catholics for practicing a religion). Most nominal christians today will say that they are "spiritual but not religious". Pagans and heathens might use the term "religion" but it is (in my experience) very rare; they also tend to prefer to call it their "form of spirituality".

So, then, it appears that no one in America practices a religion, except Catholics. So I guess that we are the only ones whose spirituality is protected by the Constitution. What an oddity; is it not? Especially when you realize that Catholics tend to be attacked more than any other "spiritual belief" system in this land (that does not sound like "freedom"). The "freedom of religion" in this land does not extend to a "freedom of irreligion" (and that is not just a twist on words, it can be found--again--in the writings of the founding fathers). Thus, according to the manner that people describe themselves: no one in America is free to practice anything other than the Catholic religion.

Just sayin'.