Donald Trump has been chastising Jews and Catholics for not giving him their full support as the chosen one of God in this presidential election. In the 1800 presidential campaign with Federalist John Adams running against Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, the Federalists’ campaign slogan was: ‘GOD — AND A RELIGIOUS PRESIDENT”; or impiously declare for “JEFFERSON — AND NO GOD!!!”
Federalists warned that under Jefferson, women would be ravaged and Bibles burnt, and crime would be rampant. Yet America survived two Jefferson terms. Years later, it would be Adams defending himself from the Trumps of his day.
In a Sept. 14, 1813, letter to Jefferson, Adams addressed those attacking him: “Howl, snarl, bite, ye Calvinistic, ye Athanasian Divines. Ye will say I am no Christian! I say ye are no Christians and there the account is balanced! Yet I believe all the honest men among you are Christians in my sense of the word.”
This year’s state and the national elections are about electing honest people regardless of religion or sex. Article VI, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution is clear on the religion question: “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
I don’t think Trump passes any religious test. But Trump uses religion to solicit votes. Since Jan. 6, I see a vote for Trump as vote for no God … and no constitutional America. Trump is not an honest man who would meet the John Adams criteria for being called Christian.
Bruce Braden
Carmel, Ind.