They are prevalent all over campus: “We have rights, too.” “Are we wrong for believing logic is stronger than religion?” “No prayer at graduation.” The chalkings are courtesy of the Students for Freethought. They are upset over the inclusion of prayer – or invocation – that begins Ohio State’s commencement ceremonies. The group argues that the inclusion of such a practice violates the separation of church and state clause in the Constitution. Discrimination has been alleged and the group has launched an assault to end the practice.I hedged to write a column on this issue because of my past observances on the Freethoughters. When challenged, they then go into an attack mode rather than debate the facts. So I’m sure the letters to the editor will vilify me either as a Christian right winger or do-gooder. Yet I march onward, undeterred by the threat of more chalk on the Oval. Faith is the primary support for all religions. Yet faith also has its place in the beliefs of atheists such as the Freethoughters. They have faith that logic is the primary force of reason in the universe. So when they denounce faith, they only do so as it applies to religion. They also have beliefs and consider themselves to be correct while harmful preaching of religion blinds everyone else. So the Freethoughters actually believe their thinking is superior to that of other organizations. Yet while they denounce other groups’ faiths every day, when their beliefs are challenged they claim bigotry and discrimination. A debate can only go one way with Freethoughters, and if the tide is reversed they moan and complain.But I doubt my moral lecturing will affect you logical thinkers. Freethoughters will say that if I look at the law, I will see that prayers are unconstitutional at state events. Using logic to counter my arguments, the Freethoughters will surely stand triumphant. Wrong again. Constitutional law is not as clear on the issue as some would make it to be. I ask readers of this column to find the phrase “separation of church and state” in our Constitution. Can’t find it? That is because it does not exist anywhere in the document. The phrase is a catchy invention of groups such as the American Communist Lawyers Union (a.k.a. the American Civil Liberties Union.) The ACLU has spent countless amounts of money to get all facets of religion out of government. From ridding schools of the Ten Commandments to eliminating Christmas as a holiday, the union allows no stone to be uncovered. They kick up a fuss and raise hysteria, and then lose. That’s right: They lose in court. They’ve lost a lot of these cases. The motto at the state capitol, “With God, all things are possible,” was allowed to remain after the court ruled it endorsed no particular religion. A deep blow to the ACLU and Freethoughters everywhere, I’m sure. This could have weakened their resolve but I give them high marks for persistence.They still fight on, unfazed by court decisions. Graduation prayer is a prime example. Courts have already ruled that prayers to start official state events, such as city council meetings, are permissible so long as they do not endorse one religion. OSU’s graduation is obviously a public function, so I logically conclude that the law applies to the university. Logic has proven triumphant, indeed. So go ahead and shout your unsubstantiated discrimination claims and “logic rules all” beliefs. I’ll be too busy listening to a beautiful invocation at graduation on the Oval to be bothered by your allegations. May I suggest purchasing earmuffs if it bothers you that much.
Aaron Wiegand is a sophomore marketing major from Mansfield, Ohio.