America is a nation shaped by faith. Roughly two-thirds of Americans identify as Christian, and our founding documents reflect that reality. The Declaration of Independence appeals to God and to unalienable rights given by a Creator. Our founders believed liberty depends on moral truth, personal responsibility and virtue.
But America was never meant to be governed by religious law.
We are a constitutional republic. Our laws come from the Constitution, guided by natural law and moral principles, not enforced by any church or religious code. That balance matters, especially today, as religious beliefs and cultural practices from around the world increasingly intersect with public life.
Christianity, as practiced in America, does not operate as a legal system. The New Testament does not establish courts, punishments or family law enforced by the state. Jesus clearly separated faith from government, teaching conscience, moral persuasion, and personal accountability rather than legal control. Christian values shaped American culture, but Christian law does not govern American courts.
Islam is different in this respect.
Islam historically developed as both a religion and a governing legal system. Traditional Islamic law includes rules about marriage, family authority, sexual relations and children. These are not simply cultural customs. They come from religious legal interpretation.
Under traditional interpretations, husbands are granted authority over wives, sexual availability within marriage is assumed, marital rape is not recognized as a crime, and child marriage is permitted under certain conditions. These positions directly conflict with American law and with Biblical moral standards as understood in American society.
In the United States, domestic violence is a crime regardless of marital status. Consent matters. Children are protected by age limits and child welfare laws. Marriage is a civil contract governed by state law. No religious rule overrides these protections.
The danger is not private belief. Americans are free to worship as they choose. The danger comes when religious legal systems or cultural rules that conflict with American law are introduced into government, policy or public authority.
A sovereign nation cannot function under competing legal systems. Religious freedom exists because no religion is allowed to rule. When religious law begins to shape civil law, liberty erodes, especially for women, children, and those who dissent.
This conversation is not abstract, and it is not limited to major coastal cities. Alabama alone has roughly 31 mosques or Islamic centers operating across the state, reflecting a growing religious presence that is fully protected under the Constitution, yet also underscores why firm civic boundaries matter.
Today, we are seeing public shifts that demand honest scrutiny. Cities like Minneapolis and Dearborn now broadcast the Muslim call to prayer, and public officials swear oaths on religious texts tied to legal systems that conflict with American law. These developments raise serious questions about how far civic life should be shaped by religious practices rooted in legal and cultural systems that differ sharply from our American traditions, our Biblical heritage, and our constitutional law.
Would Muslim-majority countries allow American culture or openly Christian leadership to reshape their cities and public life?
Rebecca Watson is the founder of Fairhope Faith Collective, a grassroots community dedicated to encouraging transparency, accountability, and family values in our schools and local government, while supporting leaders who honor the trust of Fairhope families. Send her an email at [email protected] if you would like to get involved with causes across our state.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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