During the 2023 Idaho legislative session, Rep. Jeff Cornilles, R-Nampa, sponsored legislation to require school districts and universities to display posters with the motto, “In God We Trust,” in their schools. Cornilles claimed that the national motto represents the country’s founding based on “Judeo-Christian philosophies and rules.”

We should be concerned about the ease with which this legislation passed and the open door that may result.

There is little doubt that this legislative idea springs from an organized effort called “Project Blitz.” Randy Forbes, president of the National Prayer Caucus Foundation and National Strategic Center, is the founder of Project Blitz. The group seeks to “protect the free exercise of traditional Judeo-Christian values and beliefs in the public square.”

It is rooted in Christian Nationalist ideology. Reminiscent of Project 2025, the National Prayer Caucus Foundation released a multiple-page plan to implement Project Blitz. The plan includes several model bills. It is probable that Cornilles drew from this source for his legislation requiring school districts and universities to display the motto “In God We Trust” in their schools. Similar proposals might include displaying of the Ten Commandments on school property or requiring that the Bible be taught in schools. Project Blitz has been active in some states to include “In God We Trust” on license plates. (Illustrative of the danger of allowing this mix of government and religion is the fact that Arizona awarded fees from these license plates to Alliance Defending Freedom, a group that attacks LGBTQ rights.) Also among bills sponsored by Project Blitz are those that would allow adoption and foster care agencies to refuse services based upon religious beliefs. Project Blitz uses a strategy of beginning with bills that are more readily passed and then moving on to bills that increasingly threaten freedom.

The notion that this country’s founding was based on “Judeo-Christian philosophies and rules” must be challenged. Our Founders believed firmly that a person’s faith should not be intruded upon by government.

James Madison saw morality as a protected part of the individual. Those opinions were his own and the state had no right to legislate one’s personal morality. Madison’s Bill of Rights, in particular the First Amendment, reflects the concept that religion and government should remain separate.

Madison stated that “freedom arises from that multiplicity of sects, which pervades America, and which is the best and only security for religious liberty in any society. For where there is such a variety of sects, there cannot be a majority of any one sect to oppress and persecute the rest.”

The wisdom of these words extends beyond religious freedom to include governance by a dominant party or by a dominant sect within a given party. There is no better example of this than the current political environment and concomitant governance within the state of Idaho.

One wonders about this urge on the part of some to inflict their religious ideas on others. Surely individuals can read the Ten Commandments, think about “In God We Trust,” read the Bible or engage in any number of activities that are satisfying to them. It is arrogant and dangerous to think that these same activities will be meaningful to others.

Project Blitz provides a playbook for breaking down the barrier between church and state. Similarly, there are those who claim that Project 2025 provides a playbook for what some hope will be Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Project 2025 contains aspects of a Christian Nationalist plan that would be consistent with Trump’s mission to return power to white Christian America.

If Trump considers himself a leader in Christian America, he should show a kinder side. For example, he should not refer to immigrants as rapists and murderers. He should not claim that certain immigrants are guilty of eating their pets. In other words, he should “love his neighbor.” Trump should not weaponize religion to roll back social progress.

Government and religion must be absolutely separate to protect religious freedom for everyone. We must be guided by conscience, not posters. And we must respect the moral reasoning of this country’s Founding Fathers who established guiding principles that have served to distinguish our nation as a protector of individual rights.

Ringo, of Moscow, is a former mathematics teacher and a seven-term Democratic member of the Idaho House.