By ESTHER RAMOS

According to the First Amendment, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. That’s exactly what it says. And that’s all it says regarding religion.

It does not say I have to stand idly by while some folks of other religions bash Christianity nor while other belief systems openly celebrate their winter festivals, as it becomes increasingly illegal to utter the word “Christmas” and set up manger scenes. I’m burdened with the necessity of supposing whose feelings I might hurt by mentioning my belief in and my allegiance to Christ, and His teachings, all the while being expected to know 100%, without asking, how so many of these groups have missed the scientifically provable geologic and astronomic changes that took place when Christ was born and again when He was murdered. And if I should slip and say the wrong thing at the wrong time, I can be legally brought in and charged with purposefully, intentionally, and maliciously abridging someone’s right to their own religion. And no they do not have to prove my intent. In fact, if these words I’m using here wind up in certain hands I could be charged. Now I’ve made it worse by saying “certain hands”.

Back to my subject. “An establishment of religion” means our government shall not set up a religion or church of any kind, and require us to join up. Neither shall the government make it difficult for any of us to follow our own religion. That’s it and that’s all.

Plus, the words “separation” and “church” and “state” are never mentioned at all in the words in this amendment. I’m unclear how we have contrived so many new and complicated meanings for these few and simple words. Equally unclear how it can be that I’m the one who understands this.

There is no Constitutional separation of church and state in the United States of America. Who thinks up this stuff? We have freedom of religion guaranteed to us. Not freedom from Christianity.