Some folks in this country would like to see the government run according to Biblical law. Are Christians who don't believe that inventing moderate Christianity? The question is relevant, for example, when we take a look at Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle:
Indeed, although many Americans view the separation of church and state as one of the keys to the nation's success as a multicultural society, Angle believes that religion has an expansive role to play in government. And, she has repeatedly said anyone who opposes that based on the claim of separation of church and state misunderstands the Constitution's ban on "establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
In this regard, Angle's view of religion's role in government parallels that of a religious political movement -- Christian Reconstructionism -- seeking to return American civil society to biblical law.
Reconstructionism, because of its more controversial aspects, is a label liberals would love to brand Angle with -- a tactic they've attempted with other high-profile fundamentalist Christian politicians such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
The movement's more extreme beliefs are based on a strict interpretation of Mosaic law described in the Old Testament and include the execution of homosexuals and unchaste women and the denial of citizenship to those who don't adhere to Reconstructionists' religious beliefs. Angle has never advocated those views.
Reconstructionists' primary mission, however, is to "reconstruct" the family, the church and the state according to biblical law.
To accomplish that, Reconstructionists interpret the separation of church and state doctrine as a constitutional wall protecting the church from the state. But unlike most interpretations of that doctrine, the Reconstructionists' envisions a gaping one-way hole in the wall that allows Christian doctrine to infuse government. In other words, government must not interfere with Christians' efforts to enact God's law at home or at church and government itself should be run according to biblical law.
One leading Reconstructionist describes it as an "institutional separation," according to Julie Ingersoll, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Florida. "Family, church and state -- all are under biblical law" according to Reconstructionist belief, Ingersoll said.
It's unclear how closely Angle's view of the separation of church and state matches that description. Through spokesman Jerry Stacy, Angle refused to provide any insight into her religious beliefs when asked last week.
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But Angle addressed the issue during her legislative career and this campaign, claiming in interviews and legislative testimony that the separation of church and state is an unconstitutional doctrine.
"Thomas Jefferson was addressing a church and telling them a wall of separation had been put up precisely to protect the church from being taken over by a state religion," Angle said last month in an interview on "Face to Face With Jon Ralston." "That's what they meant. They didn't mean we couldn't bring our values to the political forum."
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