2026 college essay contest: 6th place (tie) — Whitney Brown
Liberty is America’s true strength
FFRF awarded Whitney $1,000.
By Whitney Brown
I have spent most of my life being raised in the church and I value the guidance and peace that Christianity brings to my life. Yet my faith is one of the main reasons I believe that President Trump is wrong when he says that a country cannot be great without religion. America’s greatness has never come from our government’s ability to favor one way of thinking over another. I think America is great because of its commitment to life and liberty for all people. By claiming that religion is a necessity for a country’s success, Trump’s statement undermines the principle of religious freedom that has defined the United States since its founding.
The strongest argument against Trump’s statement can be found in the Constitution itself. As the framework of the United States government, it establishes that religious freedom, not religious preference, is a foundational American value. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” and Article VI states, “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
These clauses show that the Founders saw the dangers of combining religious ideals with political power. Having witnessed the consequences of religious persecution, they created a system that protects the right not only to practice religion, but also the right to practice none at all. If religion were truly necessary for national greatness, the Founders would have written it into the Constitution. Instead, they did the opposite by ensuring that Americans would be judged by their character and achievements rather than their religious beliefs.
Although religion can influence people’s lives, it does not mean that it is the reason for a country’s greatness. Many people credit their faith and spirituality for providing happiness, purpose and success in their lives. However, that does not mean religion is responsible for a nation’s prosperity. This is a case where correlation does not equal causation. Just because religion is beneficial for some people does not mean it contributes to a nation’s success. Stronger indicators of success include institutional stability, technological innovation, human rights and economic opportunity.
Take Sweden, for example. Although it is considered one of the least religious countries in the world, it consistently ranks high in happiness and quality-of-life measures. Sweden’s success demonstrates that national prosperity is not dependent on religion, but rather on individual freedoms and institutional stability.
History is not the only place where we find warnings about government involvement in religion. Literature also explores the dangers that can arise when combining religion and political power. One of my favorite books, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, shows how political leaders use religion to justify their actions and restrict the freedoms of their citizens. While this story is fictional, debates over efforts to place bibles and the Ten Commandments in public schools show why a neutral government is so vital. Students come from a variety of faiths and backgrounds, and public schools should seek to serve them equally rather than promote one religious tradition over another.
As a Christian, I would not want to be forced to follow another religion’s teachings or beliefs, and for that same reason, I do not believe students of other faiths should be forced to conform to the teachings of Christianity. Likewise, students who do not practice religion at all should be able to receive an education free from religious favoritism.
Ultimately, Trump’s statement contradicts the very principles that helped shape the United States. The Founders understood that government should protect religious freedom and maintain a strong separation between church and state. America has remained strong not because every citizen shares the same ideals, but because every citizen has the right to hold different ones. That commitment to liberty is what America is known for, and ultimately, it is what makes our nation great.
Whitney, 19, attends Hutchinson Community College where she intends on majoring in sports management.
“I’m a motivated college student-athlete pursuing a degree in sports administration with a strong background in leadership, volunteer service, teamwork and communication,” Whitney writes. “In high school, I participated in numerous clubs and volunteer groups including Student Council, SALT (Student Athlete Leadership), Black Girls Excellence, Promotion of Black Students, and Mental Health Club. I also was given the privilege of delivering my graduation speech my senior year of high school and it changed my life.”
