If Congress can make no law respecting an establishment of religion, then why do some use it as an argument for political ideas? People are too busy trying to make “one nation under God” their own to remember that the next line is “with liberty and justice for all.” Let me start out by saying that, first and foremost, I am a Catholic. Born and raised this way, I went to a Catholic elementary school and I’m attending a Catholic college. I find myself in the same wooden pew at Saint Michael’s every Sunday morning. That being said, it pains me to see people in this country using my religion and set of beliefs as a way to oppress others and their beliefs. Although I am steadfast in what I think is true, I know that it is necessary to recognize that not everybody thinks the way I do. It is not my job to change others, nor is it my place to look down upon them just because they are not the same as me. It is my job to coexist and promote an attitude of acceptance.

It’s impossible to open social media without encountering an onslaught of political propaganda and opinions (Honestly, it’s what I’m doing to you right now) often based in “faith.” But here’s the thing, you can’t reasonably use the Bible as steadfast evidence in a political argument because not everyone follows Christian doctrine in the United States. It’s that simple. People are so adamant about calling things “sins” and starting sentences with “the Bible says…” but the fact of the matter is that those statements carry no real significance to someone who is not of the Christian faith. Want a strong way to debate politics? Use numbers, facts, and proven evidence to make a point so that discrepancies in religious belief do not hinder understanding or cause unnecessary conflict.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the rising trend of Islamophobia. Due to events in recent years by extremists, many people have taken to blaming the innocent people who practice the same faith as the people who took it too far. So before you stand behind a presidential candidate who wants to ban Muslims from entering our Land of the Free, I’d like to remind you that Hitler was Catholic. He clearly had no regard for the “Golden Rule” of Christianity: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” yet he is not seen as the spokesperson for the faith just because he was the worst of them. Don’t let extremists shape your view of a vast and peaceful group of humans.

In summation, I don’t want to come off as preachy, I just want to make a point. Before you jump to judgement of others, reflect on yourself. And for the love of God, don’t bring God into your politics.