Atheist organization issues threat to Auburn University

Anti-religious organizations have talked for decades about the importance of keeping religion separated from government. Almost automatically, they've argued that religion shouldn't have a part in government. That's wrong-headed thinking. The Constitution, especially including the Bill of Rights, was written to restrict government, not We the People.

Therefore, when the Freedom From Religion Foundation, aka FFRF, sent a letter complaining to Auburn University President Christopher Roberts about a mass baptism, one of which was conducted by Auburn's head football coach, it drew a reaction from the Alliance Defending Freedom. In their letter to Auburn, FFRF said "These ongoing and repeated constitutional violations at the University create a coercive environment that excludes those students who don’t subscribe to the Christian views being pushed onto players by their coaches."

First, it's quite the provocative accusation to say that "students who don’t subscribe to the Christian views" were coerced. What proof is there that they were pressured by anyone? Without that proof, this is just an accusation. This report of what happened leading up to the event is illuminating too:

The event before the free-will open-air baptism in the lake was financially sponsored by an outside organization. The outside organization covered the cost of the arena rental.

But Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel and director of the Center for Academic Freedom with Alliance Defending Freedom, is calling FFRF’s letter a "twisted interpretation of the First Amendment."

"Freedom From Religion Foundation’s twisted interpretation of the First Amendment has the potential to crush both students’ and their coaches’ essential right to live out their faith," Langhofer told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Then there's this BS:

"Auburn University is a public university, not a religious one," FFRF stated in its letter. "It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for University employees to use their University position to organize, promote, or participate in a religious worship event. Nor can Auburn’s coaches proselytize or participate in religious activities with students or hire a chaplain to do so."

Here's the text of the First Amendment:

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 the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The Constitution prohibits the establishment of religions or the exercise thereof. FFRF's statement is worthless. The Constitution gives every person the right to practice the religion of their choice in their private capacity, regardless of their job. What's unconstitutional is for a professor or a football coach to tell his or her team or his or her class what their religious beliefs must be. That's to be determined by each individual. Period

Further, FFRF is attempting to tell these students how they can practice their faith. Doesn't that mean that FFRF is proselytizing?

It's indisputable that each person can determine their religious beliefs. That being said, ignoring Nature's God's principles is foolish. For years, the U.S. economy grew steadily. Our students got world class educations. The saying then was that the "U.S. is great because the U.S. is good." Then liberal activist justices mistakenly ruled that praying in school was unconstitutional. It isn't coincidental that wars happened more often, our economy didn't grow as strong and our students didn't perform as well after that.

If you want God's blessings, then start living according to His principles. Nature's God even extended an invitation in II Chronicles when He said "Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: 'I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."