An atheist in Kentucky has been arrested for not believing in God.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly grants U.S. citizens freedom of religion, yet this Kentucky man faces 12 months in jail for violating a law that is a clear violation of the constitutional separation between church and state.

Kentucky’s homeland security law states, “The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God as set forth in the public speeches and proclamations of American Presidents, including Abraham Lincoln’s historic March 30, 1863, presidential proclamation urging Americans to pray and fast during one of the most dangerous hours in American history, and the text of President John F. Kennedy’s November 22, 1963, national security speech which concluded: ‘For as was written long ago: ‘Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.'”

Baptist minister and Democratic state representative Tom Riner sponsored the law. Riner has been a state representative for 26 years.

Last week, American atheists submitted a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for the law to be reviewed. I think this is a great move on their part, but it shouldn’t take a petition to the Supreme Court to block a law so clearly opposed to the principles of the constitution. The law, which first surfaced in 2006, never should have been passed. Someone should have stood up for his or her beliefs before now.

The United States of America takes pride in being the land of the free, but are we really the land of the free if people are getting arrested for not following the dominant religion?

Will Buddhists or Muslims living in Kentucky soon be arrested as well?

It is sad that this antiquated form of religious discrimination is occurring in our country in 2012, as opposed to earlier times when people were much more conservative.

In a Nov. 24 article on readingsupportednews.org by Laura Gottesdiener, Riner claimed that the division between church and state violates America’s fundamental and historical stance as a nation “under God.”

“We believe dependence on God is essential … What the founding fathers stated and what every president has stated, is their reliance and recognition of Almighty God, that’s what we’re doing,” Riner said.

Riner’s stance regarding religion’s place in politics has been well-documented throughout his career as a state representative. He has long advocated for the placement of the Ten Commandments in public buildings and, in a Dec. 15, 2011, Fox News article by Douglas Kennedy, Riner stated, “That’s why our national Motto is ‘In God We Trust’ — because (God) is our ultimate source of trust.”

I understand where Riner is coming from, considering the Pledge of Allegiance does end with, “One nation under God…” Still, that does not mean that U.S. citizens don’t have the right to practice whatever religion they believe in.

The phrase “One nation under God,” is followed by “indivisible, with liberty and justice, for all.”

Furthermore, modern technology and science will only increase atheism in America. People will always accept or interpret scientific facts in their own ways, and the question of humanity’s creation will forever be debated by scholars and theologians alike. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Why punish someone for not believing in something when it’s not backed, in his/her opinion, by sufficient evidence, or for being a free thinker?

People need to face the fact that not everyone is going to believe in God; not everyone is heterosexual; and no one has the exact same morals and beliefs.

Michelle Bertran is a sophomore in journalism and mass communications. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.