Religion cannot be imposed on public

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

That's all that is needed to say that the Bible cannot be used in the formation of laws, despite what zealots say.

Congress cannot make any laws based off of a specific religious belief, and to do so would impose a specific religion on the public and violate the "free exercise" provision.

The absence of the word "separation" does not mean the concept is not there, and such nitpicking ignores years of precedent and any semblance of common sense.

Laws were formed well before the Bible was, and many came from the minds of humans.

The Code of Hammurabi was in existence for thousands of years before the Bible, and the gods from which it supposedly came are no longer the focus of any major religion. Clearly, then, if the gods are not real, the laws had to have come from the minds of men.

Humans are capable of love, sympathy and empathy, and are more than capable of following their own moral compass.

Imposing a single Christian viewpoint ignores the rights of every non-Christian in the country, and even Christians who interpret the Bible differently.

Blaming atheism and Communism for the atrocities of tyrants does nothing to prove Mr. Eric Carver's point (Fence Post, July 17) and everything to dodge the issue.

Belief in the Bible has led people to hateful atrocities as well, yet Mr. Carver will have us all ignore that. No belief system is perfect, and no religion has a place in our government.

Tim Belter

Arlington Heights