Since when are secularism and science considered un-American?

Just as a warning, if you are very socially conservative or deeply religious, this post is probably going to offend you.

As time goes on it continues to frighten me how certain elements of the United States populace insist that religion has to be part of our governing politics and how science is often treated with scorn. It should be noted that I am very much an agnostic/freethinking individual who highly values the choice to form my own opinions over having my morals dictated to me by a 2000 year old text conflicting idealism. I also have 2 degrees in science and believe very heavily in the scientific method. This attitude seems to be the antithesis of a great deal of the Republican party and Christian conservatives these days and a negative connotaion toward secularism appears to be gaining in strength. Since when does agnosticism and/or atheism mean the you are un-American and worthy of scorn? What kind of dogma is this and why are we allowing this sort of attitude into our government? This nation was originally was founded upon the ideal of a separation of Church and State but religious conservatives seem to completely ignore this fact. Religion has absolutely no place or business in American government and politics whatsoever. Making Christian dogma a part of our governing politics is a step toward a theocratic dictatorship similar to the likes found in the Taliban in Afghanistan I realize that the majority of the United States public consider themselves to be Christians but that does not mean that we should have prayer in schools, intelligent design should be taught as opposed to evoltion and other ludicrous proposals that the Christian Right is pushing these days.

Now I will admit that I have a general negative attitude towards any form of organized religion. I don't need religious scripture or teachings to tell me what is right or wrong. I am a scientist at heart and believe that decisions should be made upon facts that can be illuminated using the scientific method. I am a "Freethinker" who refuses to let societal pressures cause me to make decisions or form opinions based upon what other people feel or think. I know how to think for myself and that is something that I hold most sacred. I don't believe in a God but that does not mean that I don't think there is a higher power out there in the universe. I believe without a doubt that there are extraterrestrial intelligences out there in the vast, unfathomable, unknowable regions of space and that there most certainly are species that a far more advanced than we are. The ideas that we are created in God's own image, that the eart and it's flora and fauna are our's to do as we see fit, and those who do not believe in the Christian God and accept Jesus as their savior are going to Hell frankly offend me and make me sad to think that people can be so narrowminded.

That's me though, these ideals aren't something that I arrived at overnight, the important thing is that I don't push my ideals on other people like certain individuals do. I've been told point blank that I have no soul, will never know peace and that I'm going to hell because I haven't accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I had a wife who thought she could "fix" me just like some Christian institutions believe that they can "cure" people who are gay. I'm not saying that all people who subscribe to Christianity or other religions are like this but I am saying there are far too many that are and they are the people who are pushing for more religion in government. Fox News pundits cater to this crowd and are often quick to discount scientific fact and imply that "Godless Heathens" are un-American and are trying to undermine everything this nation stands for. Who listens to this drivel anyway? There are too many people do, they have a political agenda and the Republican party is in bed with them. These are the kinds of people who I see standing on the corner in front of our local clinic that performs abortions with signs that say "Abortion causes breast cancer" (I am not making this up, I've seen it with my own eyes and could barely contain the outcry this created within me). There is no arguing or reasoning with this type of person since they are clearly capable or distorint any fact to further agenda. These people are those who would have us adhere to a Puritanical code of idealism and want nothing more to stamp out free thought across the nation.

I'm willing to admit that I don't have the answers to life's mysteries and am perfectly fine with that. I will never push my beliefs on another human being because everyone deserves to make up their own mind about things. I realize that not all Christians are like the extreme examples I listed above. There is a growing philosophy that spiritualism and being religious are two different things entirely. I openly welcome this attitude and hope that it continues to gain momentum in the American public. I'm not asking people to abandon their faith or discount the many positive things the Christain faith teaches. What I am asking for is secularism, keep religion and government seperate. Don't curse secularists as un-American when in truth, secularists are defending one of the key principles this nation was founded upon. You are entitled to your beliefs and I am entitled to mine, just keep religion out of our government.