Having a Hindu chaplain recite the opening prayer in the U.S. Senate does not violate the principle of the Pledge, since Hindus share belief in God, expressed through the multiple gods and goddesses they believe to represent Brahman, the ultimate transcendent. Over one million Hindus live in America. As American citizens, they enjoy the same freedoms and privileges as Catholics, Presbyterians, Orthodox Jews, Sunni Muslims, and Mormons, to name but a few religious groups.

Those who object that such prayers violate the separation of church and state likely would also object when any other chaplain offers prayers at the Senate. For them, offering prayers in the chambers of our secular government is a category mistake.

Granted that the vast majority of Americans believe in God, we have only officially been “One Nation under God” since June 14, 1954, when President Eisenhower signed the law adding these words to the Pledge of Allegiance (which itself was written in 1892), so the notion of a nation of believers is relatively recent in our history. If we are going to give religion a place in public life, then it should not just be one religion. We are a nation of many religions. Just as the military employs chaplains from a variety of religions, so, too, representatives of these religions should have equal opportunities to offer public prayer.

Those Americans who say “give me that old time religion” simply need to recall that Hinduism—truly an old time religion—predates Judaism and Christianity.

Those of you who take innocent lives in the name of religion neither do justice nor represent a merciful God. Your words and actions misrepresent and dishonor your religion. If you intend to do violence, do not wrap it in the cloak of religion. You only betray that which you say motivates you. God does not bless your actions; God despises them. Your rhetoric, hatred, and destruction do not serve your religion; they make people fear it. You may gain infamy, but you do not gain God’s favor. You are not martyrs; you are criminals.

Cease your terrorist activity; join the constructive dialogue of religions, cultures, and civilizations. Stop perpetrating violence falsely in the name of religion. Follow religious leaders who seek dialogue and peace, not violence and murder.

As much as I respect the Archbishop of Canterbury, I do not favor U.S. law making room for sharia or the laws of any other religion. U.S. law should be based upon constitutional principles and maintain separation of church and state.

Muslims themselves apply sharia to their own community and do not impose it on non-Muslims, though the law has some stipulations for non-Muslims who live in countries where sharia is normative.

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Americans are seekers and shoppers. When it pertains to religion, they are no different. You may hear someone say, “I was baptized Catholic, married a Lutheran and became one, divorced, and now am unaffiliated.” This describes a growing number of Americans. The Pew Forum survey tells the story of religious identity in America. We are a mobile society not only in where we live, work, and travel our travel; we are also religiously mobile.

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