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Attacks on Christianity
Amanda N. Rhodes
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
Govt 220:D04
Professor Jennifer Holmquist
March 28, 2022
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Biblical Origins of the Constitution
Introduction
Our country was founded on a biblical foundation, but due to government corruption and
the attempt to remove God from government, those foundations and our rights have been under
attack for quite some time. Although recorded in 2013, the issues Tim Goeglein details in his
lectures, sadly, still hold true today.
President Ronald Reagan v. President Joe Biden
Ronald Reagan, came from a conservative Republican background, he was an actor who
in turn proceeded to run for Governor of California in hopes to help make our country a better
place, and won. He had a very bright outlook on America, he quoted John Winthrop stating “this
country was a city shining on a hill”. (Tim Goeglein – Part 1, 2018 4:09-4:15). Reagan wanted
our country to be great and ran on a biblical foundation. Although many argued his position
regarding the war in Vietnam and a recession, but he was able to recover.
In comparison today, President Biden’s wants and views for our country do not seem to
share same bright outlook. Our country is in a very disheartening state with the rising costs of
fuel, inflation in general, and the fear of another recession. President Biden’s approval rating has
plummeted to 40% amid the crisis in Ukraine. (Chasmar, 2022). Reagan, as well as Jerry
Falwell, had the same viewpoint “religion and public policy go together”. (Tim Goeglein – Part
1, 2018 7:27-7:30). President Biden’s presidency, thus far, has not produced the same viewpoint.
There has been a constant shift to remove God from government all together mainly with Biden’s
openness to oppose the use of religion and public policy while leading this country.
Areas of Governance
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Ronald Reagan had leadership, accountability, and innovation during his term as
President, where President Biden has struggled to make the American people feel those things. In
December, 2021 he released a “Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal” and in this
renewal it states the following: “These efforts will center on five areas of work crucial to the
functioning of transparent, accountable governance: 1. Supporting Free and Independent Media;
2. Fighting Corruption; 3. Bolstering Democratic Reformers; 4. Advancing Technology for
Democracy; 5. Defending Free and Fair Elections and Political Processes”. (United States
Government, 2021). Thus far, there has not been much movement with this renewal and that in
turn does not show leadership nor innovation.
Major Attacks on Christian Foundations of America
Tim Goeglein advised of the three major attacks on the Christian Foundations of America
in his presentation. The first attack is on the foundation of marriage. Scripture states “Therefore
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
flesh”. (King James Bible, 2008, Genesis 2:24). In 2015 the Supreme Court ruled on the case of
Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015, in favor of the Plaintiffs stating “that the Due Process Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment guarantees the right to marry as one of the fundamental liberties it
protects, and that analysis applies to same-sex couples in the same manner as it does to opposite-
sex couples”.
The second major attack is on the value of life. Scripture states “By swearing, and lying,
and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.”
(King James Bible, 2008, Hosea 4:2). In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Roe v.
Wade, 1973. They ruled that “in the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is a
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fundamental “right to privacy” that protects a pregnant woman’s choice whether to have an
abortion”.
The third attack is on religious liberty. Scripture states “For, brethren, ye have been called
unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another”.
(King James Bible, 2008, Galatians 5:13). In 1962 the Supreme Court ruled on Engel v. Vitale,
1962. The ruled that respondent's decision to use its school system to facilitate recitation of the
official prayer violated the Establishment Clause.
Violation of the Attacks
The attack on religious liberty has been an ongoing issue for decades and is a blatant
disregard for our constitutional right, as stated in The First Amendment “Congress make no law
respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of
speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances”. Just in the past few years there have been several court cases fighting back for our
religious freedom. In the case of Fulton v. The City of Philadelphia, 2021, “the City of
Philadelphia barred Catholic Social Services (CSS) from placing children in foster homes
because of its policy of not licensing same-sex couples to be foster parents”. CSS pushed
forward and proceeded to win its case against the City of Philadelphia regaining their religious
freedom.
In the case of Carson v. Makin, 2021, it was argued that the State of Maine provides
tuition assistance to a public school or an “approved” private school that meet certain state
requirements, one of which is “it must be “nonsectarian in accordance with the First
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Amendment.” Three families were denied assistance for their decision to send their children to a
non-“approved” private school due to its religious affiliation. Those parents are currently fighting
that the nonsectarian requirement violates their Constitutional right. No ruling has been issued in
this case, but they are continuing to fight for their religious right.
In the case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 2022, Kennedy was suspended due
to praying with his players before and after games. “Kennedy sued the school district for
violating his rights under the First Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964”.
The court ruled that the school was justified in their actions due to “the risk of constitutional
liability associated with his religious conduct”. Kennedy has since appealed the decision with
U.S. Court of Appeals and it has no ruling.
Conclusion
In the big scheme of things, we are fighting, we are fighting to protect our religious
freedoms, and we are fighting to protect what our Founding Father’s fought so hard to give this
country. We as Christians have a due diligence to aid in the fight against these attacks by way of
witnessing, as Goeglein stated, “We’re not to retreat. We are to engage”. (Tim Goeglein – Part 1,
2018 15:35-15:38). As stated above, there are court cases still pending to protect those who are
fighting to win the fight and those who are brave enough, are engaging in this fight. God is not
dead.
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References
Liberty University, (2018, February 9) The Constitution – Part 1. Retrieved from
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/199538/pages/watch-tim-goeglein-part-1?
module_item_id=24652650
Liberty University, (2018, February 9) The Constitution – Part 2. Retrieved from
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/199538/pages/watch-tim-goeglein-part-2?
module_item_id=24652661
Chasmar, J. (2022, March 27). Biden approval ratings plummet amid war and inflation fears in
new public opinion poll. Fox News. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-approval-ratings-plummet-amid-war-and-
inflation-fears-in-new-public-opinion-poll
The United States Government. (2021, December 9). Fact sheet: Announcing the Presidential
Initiative for Democratic Renewal. The White House. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/09/fact-sheet-
announcing-the-presidential-initiative-for-democratic-renewal/
The United States Government. The Constitution. The White House. Retrieved on March 25,
2022, from
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-constitution/
King James Bible. (2008) Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1769)
Obergefell v. Hodges. (n.d.). Oyez. Retreived March 25, 2022, from
https://www.oyez.org/cases/2014/14-556
Roe v. Wade. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-
18
Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from
https://www.oyez.org/cases/2020/19-123
Carson v. Makin. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from
https://www.oyez.org/cases/2021/20-1088
