A: Distant as it may be in its present form from the Inquisition, it differs from it only in degree. The one is the first step, the other the last in the career of intolerance (James Madison, 1785, Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, Papers of James Madison, 8:302).

Of course, Madison was specifically protesting an attempt by some Virginia legislators to allow use of public tax money for support of "teachers of the Christian religion," but the principle is the same. Madison's protest is one of the finest statements ever written on the subject of religion and government; it ought to be basic reading for every American. It is unfortunate that professors and public school teachers of political science, history, civics, and social studies are not requiring it.

One of the freedoms protected by the national constitution for our republic is freedom from religion established by law and government, the principle of which is clearly expressed in Art. 6., Sec. 3., and in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. The exercise of religion cannot be totally banned, but in America religion is to be voluntary and is not be imposed by law or government, which includes all governmental agencies and institutions (even public schools and their official functions--thus relevant Supreme Court rulings).

The significance of a written national Constitution, as contrasted to a system of local control democracy, is its curb on the power of majority rule by providing protection for the minority. As Madison said, "True it is, that no other rule exists, by which any question which may divide a society, can be ultimately determined, but the will of the majority; but it is also true that the majority may trespass on the rights of the minority" (Papers, 8:299).

Of course, the Christian way to reply to the current spirit of crusading zealotry, via vocal recitation of the "Lord's Prayer," would be for the e dissenters to turn the other cheek and promptly recite in vocal unison what Jesus said in Matthew 6:5-6; but, in the spirit of the games and freedom of speech the dissenters at official public school sponsored football contests, at which Americans of all religions are welcome, could just as offensively respond to the obvious rebellious action of contempt of court by chanting "go to hades, go to hades, go to hades." That ought to get the competitive nature of the gladiators on the field pumping, as well as in the stands.