These include the large cross at Kolekole Pass, religious displays on city property, prayer rituals at the state Capitol and privileged tax exemptions for churches. However, protecting religious liberty must never become an excuse for religious intrusion. Our cherished freedom of religion is ipso facto a freedom from religion. As members of the overwhelming majority, Christians should practice tolerance and support equal rights for minority religions and non-believers. Americans must remain on guard against a return to religious persecution and tyranny.
History proves that all theocratic civilizations fail.
Mitchell Kahle is Hawaii state director of American Atheists. The opinions in View Point columns are the authors' and are not necessarily shared by the Star-Bulletin.