Louisiana’s governor Jeff Landry recently signed a bill requiring all public school classrooms in the state to display the Ten Commandments. A lawsuit has been filed, arguing the law is unconstitutional and violates the separation of church and state. If the case reaches the US Supreme Court, the conservative majority may support the law, signaling a shift towards Christian nationalism.
The inclusion of religious elements like “In God We Trust” on US currency and the Pledge of Allegiance challenges the notion of a clear separation of church and state. Attempts to blur this line, like Landry’s Ten Commandments mandate, raise concerns about theocracy. The weaponization of religion is seen across political parties, with figures like Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito advocating for a return to “godliness.”
In a nation grappling with violence and inequality, laws promoting religious displays in schools divert attention from pressing issues. Amid mass shootings and social injustices, the focus on the Ten Commandments may serve as a distraction. Perhaps a new commandment is needed: “Thou shalt not think.”
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.