In the United States separation of church and state is recognized as part of the Constitution. Article 6, Section 3 prohibits religious tests for office holders while giving no public support for religious institutions.

Many anti-Federalists were angry during this countriy’s early years because there was no requirement for men in power to be religious. Amos Singletary of Massachusetts states, “and though he hoped to see Christians, yet by the Constitution, a papist, or an infidel, was as eligible as they.”

An anti-Federalist in North Carolina wrote, “the exclusion of religious tests is by many thought dangerous and impolitic…they suppose…pagans, deists, and Mahometans might obtain offices among us.”

For one David Caldwell this religious prohibition of tests “constituted an invitation for Jews and pagans of every kind to come among us.” Since Christianity was the best religion for producing “good members of society…those gentlemen who formed this Constitution should not have given this invitation to Jews and Heathens.”

The aforementioned Article states:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Articles in addition to, and amendment of, the original U.S. Constitution stated:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The world in the Middle East and so-called Democratic Iraq not only don’t recognize a separation of religion and government they seek out advice of clerics, allow religious leaders in parliament and give way to militias sponsored and funded by Muslim leaders.

We here the “civil war” in Iraq is “secular” but these militias operate at the behest of Muslim clergy. If Iraq wishes to establish a country of laws and sustainable peace it must find leadership capable of separating the Mosque from the State and demonstrate why success depends on it. Unfortunately, Iraq and the Middle East have learned nothing from history; they cling to tribal customs, lack objectivity and the ability to resolve differences.

There was a reason the Founding Father’s made religion a freedom and disallowed religious requirements of government. Iraq would do well to follow this example.