Pentagon Authorizes Evangelists To Proselytize In Iraq
This has to be among the biggest bone head ideas of the Pentagon. With the Pentagon’s help the apocalyptic evangelists are proselytizing US troops in Iraq. This stunning idea of sending right wing fundamentalist Christians into a Muslim country to convert people looks like “onward Christian soldier.” Is the military freaking kidding me? Are they really trying to get more people killed?
Of course the charge is lead by right wing nut job Stephen Baldwin who is the star of Operation Straight Up (OSU), an evangelical entertainment troupe that actively proselytizes among active-duty members of the US military. Granted they will be proselytizing to US troops but the timing and location is beyond comprehension.
Here are some excerpts from the article:
- Baldwin became a right-wing, born-again Christian after the 9/11 attacks, and now is the star of Operation Straight Up (OSU), an evangelical entertainment troupe that actively proselytizes among active-duty members of the US military. As an official armof the Defense Department’s America Supports You program, OSU plans to mail copies of the controversial apocalyptic video game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces to soldiers serving in Iraq. OSU is also scheduled to embark on a “Military Crusade in Iraq” in the near future.
- “We feel the forces of heaven have encouraged us to perform multiple crusades that will sweep through this war torn region,” OSU declares on its website about its planned trip to Iraq. “We’ll hold the only religious crusade of its size in the dangerous land of Iraq.”
- The Defense Department’s Chaplain’s Office, which oversees OSU’s activities, has not responded to calls seeking comment.
- “The constitution has been assaulted and brutalized,” Mikey Weinstein, former Reagan Administration White House counsel, ex-Air Force judge advocate (JAG), and founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, told me. “Thanks to the influence of extreme Christian fundamentalism, the wall separating church and state is nothing but smoke and debris. And OSU is the IED that exploded the wall separating church and state in the Pentagon and throughout our military.”
- Weinstein continued: “The fact that they would even consider taking their crusade to a Muslim country shows the threat to our national security and to the constitution and everyone that loves it.”
- But behind OSU’s anodyne promises of wholesome fun for military families, the organization promotes an apocalyptic brand of evangelical Christianity to active duty US soldiers serving in Muslim-dominated regions of the Middle East. Displayed prominently on the “What We Believe” section of OSU’s website is a passage from the Book of Revelations (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15) that has become the bedrock of the Christian right’s End Times theology: “The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
- With the endorsement of the Defense Department, OSU is mailing “Freedom Packages” to soldiers serving in Iraq. These are not your grandfather’s care packages, however. Besides pairs of white socks and boxes of baby wipes (included at the apparent suggestion of Iran-Contra felon Oliver North, according to OSU) OSU’s care packages contain the controversial Left Behind: Eternal Forces video game. The game is inspired by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins’ bestselling pulp fiction series about a blood-soaked Battle of Armageddon pitting born-again Christians against anybody who does not adhere to their particular theology. In LaHaye’s and Jenkins’ books, the non-believers are ultimately condemned to “everlasting punishment” while the evangelicals are “raptured” up to heaven.
- This controversy has not deterred OSU from encouraging US troops to play virtual rounds of kill or convert after a hard day of house-to-house searches and counterinsurgency warfare against Iraqi insurgents. What’s more, OSU’s “Freedom Packages” include a copy of evangelical pastor Jonathan McDowell’s More Than A Carpenter -- a book advertised as “one of the most powerful evangelism tools worldwide” — that is double-published in Arabic. Considering that only a handful of American troops speak Arabic, the book is ostensibly intended for proselytizing efforts among Iraqi civilians.
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August 9th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
US & VATICAN had no diplomatic contact for atleast a hundred years ever since one of the key player in Lincoln’s assassination was tried in America. He was let off by a hung jury. Reagon started the resuscitation after 100 years. That gave him the votes to put him in Whitehouse. George Bush jr. , no Church lover, saw the votes in resuscitating yet stronger ties with the Vatican. He gave the burial of the last pope a ceremony befitting an Emperor of the world. It was a Pope who started CRUSADES I. That is history now. The jews found out that persecution theory helps unite the scattered jews. Muslims are already working on that theory–persecuted, so fight the Crusade II.
The US constitution andc ideas of Abe Lincoln were a rebellious as far as the Popes are concerned. Respect all religions or be ready to see a chopping bloc of the coming generations of both sides. That, simply, is the choice. I know the Muslim World; these Pentagon evangelists are looking for fame and fortune; not peace and transquility. Take the plunge and see the results. Atomic bombs are not important. Einstein is more important than an atomic bomb.We have now about a good number of war experts who can live off the money of the Crusaders. Let good sense prevail. See one mistake ( Iraq & Afghanistan) has put so many millions in trouble.
Religion diesn’t want its follower to be troublemaker.You can beat the hell out of Muslims but in the end you’d find your country divided and the muslim countries united.Pick your choice.
August 9th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Saeed Tiwana:
My choice is that the Christians leave everyone alone. They have caused more problems in the world through the centuries than they are worth.
They will be causing more problems than they realize.
August 9th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
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August 9th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I think. We are heading towards clash of civilians. This kind of action will straighten the hands of militancy and extremism in Islamic world.
August 9th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Muameen:
It is disgraceful. You are correct that this is playing into the hands of the extremist in all religions.
August 9th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
That’s definitely going to help our cause. Wait. What is our cause? Can I link to this?
August 9th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
unitedwelay1:
Uhhhh….I don’t think the cause has been revealed yet, maybe that the September surprise.
Yes you can link to this and anything else on the blog.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:15 am
To this, I will have to respond like the Caveman in the Geico commercial: “Duh, WHAT?”
August 10th, 2007 at 2:17 am
With any luck the god squad idiots won’t be satisfied only evangelizing to US troops in Iraq. If they could please go out into the streets and try to convert someone else, get themselves killed and save us from having to hear anymore of their religious bullshit. I would be most pleased.
I wish the OSU would take ALL the idiot evangelicals with them…
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
August 10th, 2007 at 7:08 am
Kip152:
You really have to shake your head and wonder what in the hell are they thinking.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Clapso:
I am so sick of the religious crap. They create more problems than they are worth.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Americans are a TRADING NATION. A shopkeeper cannot afford religious wars in his shop. If only America sticks to doing business all over the world, it can have anything and everything. To derail America, it must be made HATED. No one goes to a shop he hates. A ten bucks letter to Saddam to visit Crawford Texas, eat dinner, address the UN, give out his plan to return to democracy, would have avoided all this trouble. He would have come ( Remember he broke the teeth of religious warlords of Iran) He never had a bomb because others could then wipe his Nation off. Asking Saddam 10 or 20 billion USd per six-months for the poor in the USA was a better trick. He’d have sold oil cheaper. Now what will you do with his head rolled into dust?
Trade with Iraq? No Sir. Trading is no longer the cards on the table.
Selling billions of dollars of weapons to Saudis is no TRADING. It is arming one against the other.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:51 am
That was kind of my point. If we’ve been fighting a war for 5 years, shouldn’t we know WHY?
August 10th, 2007 at 11:11 am
unitedwelay1:
Our cause is the best kept secret, our reason is oil.
BTW:What’s your blog address?
August 14th, 2007 at 8:19 am
http://unitedwelay1.wordpress.com/
August 14th, 2007 at 8:29 am
[...] to “support” the troops by making sure they’ve been saved. I understand that the Christians believe that they are helping soldiers by giving them something to believe in, but I think [...]
September 16th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
One great thinker spent forty years of study to find out what God wants.
To believe in HIM & Life is worth living.
Two conclusions.
God made the worlds this way.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Saeed:
Your statement “God made the world this way” you have to wonder what the plan was or is for all of the violence and intolerance that surrounds us.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Sometimes I say this to my wife of 44 years:” I wish to see a bad wife.Only then can I realize how good you were.”
God has put EVIL and GOOD together. The EVIL has not overpowered the GOOD so far;otherwise CAESARS would have ruled the world perpetually.
EVIL & GOOD rub eachother. That is the key to better UNDERSTANDING. God wants mankind to scan human journey and come to JUDGING THINGS WELL. That is how HE wants to make MAN realize what HE is. God made this world this way in order to put sense and sensitivity into mankind.
The world is not accident. If it was, one day all mankind will come out naked in the streets;but that will not happen. The train has passed that station ( living naked). Faith, any faith , is linked to good judgement. It is the sincerity that tops all human traits. Unless a judge hears both sides, he cannot decide correctly. That, sir, is an awesome responsibility. That alone shall uplift mankind.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
If the religious ‘brass’ attends to non-political matters, they would be more GOOD. When they start leveraging with votes, earning moneys, then they are dividing mankind and becoming prosperous. That is a sin.
My father wrote a book but he did not give his name as its author. He dedicated that book to serving his religious order. That book sold in a million. The religious order runs free food with the income of such dedications. Anybody can come and eat there;no questions asked.
That is what God wants; make no money, power or prestige with your connection to God.
The Holy Prophet and other prophets died penniless ;though they were masters of the then world.
Its just like this:
* Suppose a good young doctor, practising in a small village, charging almost nothing from the patients, comes to his very rich old uncle in USA. The uncle would teach him to make more and more and more MONEY from his knowledge of surgery or medicine. Why? To give him a new mercedes, a villa in prize area code, and ability to buy lots of property in his native country.
Who is EVIL?
The one who sees a poor man but wants to excorciate his skin off .He’s the devil.
My father and his cousin brother were Senior Police officers of a city of 15 million. My uncle gave me an interview which I published. He told me that in four years there was only one highway robbery at a oil pump;that too was apprehended.
If the officers work without greed, the people of God sleep in peace.
Sincerity is the main issue sir.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Saeed:
Politics should be out of religion and religion should be out of politics. When the two are mixed you have the chaos that Bush has created. Although his underlying agenda was always oil, Bush used the Christian right to promote his cause. In doing this Bush has created a fight in America between the ideology of religion and the ideology of politics.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
TRUE.
You are on the dot.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
It’s interesting how most citizens of the world realize this but our leaders will play to the few who need chaos.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:25 am
Because LEADERS have found out that powers lost by despots, kings, emperors, dictators and absolute rulers can be regained by inventing a simple word TERRORIST. No more Bill of Rights, no more Habeas Corpus, no more privacy, no rights to the people except what the despots reluctantly award as ‘chicken-feed’. The long struggle since Maga Carta has come to an end. Rights secured notch by notch have unwounded leaving no rights to the masses. The rulers never had it so good.
They can make tons of money and get away with it. Democracy stands buried six feet under. THOSE IN POWER HAVE WON.
September 21st, 2007 at 1:01 am
But look at the subtle changes that are moving mankind towards a different direction:
1. Israeli army, once champion battle-winner of four wars (1948,’57,’67,’73 ) was brought to a halt in Lebanon by youngmen . Those are being pursued by the Lebanon armed forces who dare not fight the IDF. The Shias in Lebanon are different from Shias in Iraq. In Iraq they supported the US to get armed first.(unreliable friends)
2.The Sunnis of Iraq are on the run but more deadly in combat.
3.Iran finds its neighbor (Iraq) a dead meat today, incapable of stopping the Shia rise to power in the Middle East.
4.Those who could stop that have been killed, hanged, shunted out and destroyed.
RESULT: SHIA MILITANT RENAISSANCE IS KNOCKING THE DOOR.
Given the oil of Middle East, what are they going to do?
5. Afghans now arrest Pak Commandoes and take over their weapons;then ask them to train others with commando techniques ( Captured Soviet soldiers became Afghan instructors)
Is this a setting of peace and transquility? or war-war-war & ambush-ambush-ambush lifestyle of a whole region.
Those in power have sown wild oats.
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Saeed:
Those who are in power are bringing destruction and extremist behavior to the world. They have no respect for the value of humans or dignity or life. For them it’s power and control.
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:24 am
Because they are making MONEY$ by planeloads.They will buy up the credit markets of obedient states like South Korea, Pakistan, Iraq etc. They will own the interest coming from extending credit to that country. That will make them richer and richest. Then politics is easy;buying politicians is easy, influencing the religious lot is easy. Money will make them buy huge corporations, like Boeing. They know their atrocities will make them rich beyond the wildest dream.
OIL gushing out unmetered, uncapped, is obtained for sale at double their prices. Everybody pays directly to war-mongers. Their Companies grow into icons.
THAT SIR IS THE FRUIT OF POLITICS. They are in politics for the next 500 years.
September 27th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
The thinkers on military matters are almost asleep while their boys are out in the open, defiantly facing the rigours of weather and war.
Wake up thinkers.
Wake up for the sake of your brave soldiers, nation, country and prestige.
If I was to address all the Pentagon generals, I’d start by saying that ANARCHY in Iraq and ATTRITION is at your door. You wrongly placed your field armies to chase shadows and ghost enemy; that you must start retraining your troops by settling affairs politically and getting boys home. Why home? Because soon you are going to face a completely different scenario of war.
Are you ready to fight a readied Russian coalition? Are you ready to fight in Russian cold climate? Are you ready to put 300 divisions in the vital Middle-East to save your oil and kings? Are you ready to swich from offensive to defensive? Are you ready to redeploy your battle positions?
(Suppose Russia has a new constitution and leader who finds his armies and those of its partners ready to snatch oil and deny Caspian oil to America. Russians would go offensive overnight over-running Europe (Where are NATO troops?) and Strait of Harmuz and the crossing of the Persian/Arabian Gulf to reach the Saudi Arabian penninsular, take over oil and make kings go away?)
Sir, in 1965 war my squadron commander was ordered to attack. In the FUP (Forming Up Place) he started shouting”There are Indian commandoes in the bushes around our formed up tanks” I saw the coming fiasco ( troops not going in to do the job; just a ‘haroosh’ to vacate our tanks - crews hunting bushes !. I told my commander to go back and leave the squadron to me. I got the crew back in the tanks. We captured the Indian posts and fought a nightlong close quarter battle; winning it in the early morning.
My senior had gone ‘mad’ or nervous. That is what I see now happening to American superiors. They maylaugh at the small beard and long talk of the Iranian President but a ‘calf’ always begins to kick when its mother is around.
Russian are coming at middle East.
That requires changes as drastic overnight as Gen. Montgomery took on appointment in Africa’s 8th Army.
He got his army ready for Rommel in 48 hours and that made him a Field Marshal.
The problem is: American political leader is trying to command as a general and his generals are trying to solve non-military matters.
President may be Commander-in-Chief but can he plan battles? He can only settle political matters quickly.
It is just like a man sitting home looking after the babies, cooking, sweeping, while his manly woman goes out to bring money.
TIME has been lost through sheer stubbornness. Those who do that always end up LOSERS.
Food for serious thought.
September 29th, 2007 at 12:40 am
Saeed:
I had to read your two comments and think about them for a while.
This war has been about oil and the dreams of greed by the corporate and political elite. By allowing their greed to take control of any common decency that they might have had, they’ve destroyed lives, villages, towns and a country. Their naivety of a culture steeped in history and tradition simplified their quest for riches.
Antagonizing Iran will not solve the problems but inflame them. Russia has grown close to Iran over the last few years and I believe they will us any attack or threat on Iran as their opportunity to regain some global power. We will suffer if those two armies join forces.
Bush has not even considered a political solution. We have one ambassador in Iraq and 160,000 troops with several generals and commanders, where is the balance. How is the U.S. to be taken seriously about wanting peace when the world only sees guns and tanks. Diplomacy is lacking with this president. Peace is not gained with a gun or a bomb. I think Bush believes he is in a western movie, playing the U.S. Marshal who leads his posse into fame and glory.
For me Bush is the Commander in Chief in title only. A real commander leads in a positive productive manner. He does not lead his troops and his country into death and destruction, which is the path Bush has taken. His stubbornness and unwillingness to listen to reason is beyond comprehension.
Bush talks about winners and losers; there are no winners and the Iraqis are the losers. They have lost their dignity and their country. They hang onto any scrap of hope they can find to only see tomorrow worse than yesterday. It is a disgrace. We should be ashamed of what we have done.
The hatred that this administration has brought to the world and the U.S. will take decades to fix. It’s stunning to me that Bush does not see this.
September 29th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Nytexan sir,
Bush is the President( legal or illegal). He is the Commander-in-Chief but also a World leader. Being C-in-C of one country is a lesser job than being a world leader. He has lost the moral heights of a supposedly world leader; he has stooped to being not even his country’s leader.Why? Because he has seen what his people want ( peace, trading, going out in the world with pride and being liked (not hated). Also Bush fails to appreciate the point you have made that Russia would look for a chance to get back its Soviet Power overturning US hedgemonies everywhere.
Russia made a southern belt of seemingly free political states in order to cut costs and have less political problems.
The Caspian sea was the property of Soviet Russia and Iran was the only littoral state. Now Turkmenistan, Dagestan, Azerbaijan are new states around the Caspian lake. That lake periphery has oil reserves double that of world oil reserves; almost 130 trillion USD worth of asset.
Would Russia not rather change its Constitution ( sign here or face our army) to turn its three littoral states subservient to Russian policy? After that would Russia not move its greatest military strength towards Caspian region ( and Europe=which is lying exposed because NATO forces are fighting Bush warfare in Afghanistan). Both these massive deployments ( Caspian and subsidiary in WARSAW) have already been accomplished. And the Constitution is already on the anvil.
What does that mean? Just an excuse to intervene in the region of Middle East (oil regions)
America is providing that cause of intervention. When the Iranian President is invited to a University, its President has the PISSED-OFF-ISM to boorishly and openly insult the people of Iran.
Bush praises that act;says it speaks volumes about America ( how stupid it can go)
Putin is leaving but he has set the course. Remember hes’ an intelligent guy (intelligence’s man) who was flirting in Crawford Texan, gauging Bush’s reactions.
Sir, you have swritten a very sensible blog (above) but Bush has made a list of “vagabonds” like us to stop shouting as a night sentry.
He doesn’t want public awakening. See what happens when the going gets tuff; the media disrupts the Nation’s attention by a new flimsy story; rattling it as if WWIII has come.
MONEY makes the mare go. Money is coming to a few pockets. That’s why Bush is not impeachable. That is why the nation is asleep with a heavy doze of sleeping pills.
It may be too late.
At risk is not only oil worth 500 years of world currencies (approx. 370 trillion USDs) but also the safety of the Americans and their system.
When I was replying to another blog, some people started to hoot me out. I told them:” OK. I’ll not wreite. I’ll go back to Pakistan.( I came in 1998 and got a greencard; No citizenship until 2007)
Besides the MUSLIM hatred is a laughable story. In 1965 war a pakistani squadron commander of tanks was sent, at night, to attack an Indian position. He had retired, gone on pension and was not in a mood to fight. So two miles away from the objective, he started shouting:” Indian commandoes in the bushes”. He got all manpower in the tanks get out at night to look into the bushes.
(Bush jr. is that squadron commander. He finds a Muslim commando in every bush (though 9/11 has not happened again.Why? Because it was not an import. It was home-grown vegetable.)
Main attention must be focussed in preserving, protecting, defending assets in Middle-East.
Can you do it with 150,000 Americans?
No Sir. You need atleast 300 divisions there for the next five years.
See the way Bush’s advisors have misled him.
Only the KING goes to the scaffold;henchmen leave like rats earlier.
I’ll not be writing again.
Today America needs to befriend the entire Muslim World in order to prevent spoilation of its assets.
Your young boys are practising on video BUSH-HUNTING.
The tough soldierly ones have to stand in the sun carrying heavy musical drums. You are preparing boys for the coming NEMESIS. I agree.
I have eaten America’s salt and enjoyed some of my life thanks to its medical care.
Ive had three heart bypasses, twi infib.installed in the last many years. One has to die. But the words still live: O’CAESAR BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH>”
My comments will live. So far, by the Grace of Almighty God, my military predictions have come true.
Why? Because as an officer, I CARED. I studied. I THOUGHT. I got ‘light’ from nowhere (except God) Goodbye.
September 29th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Saeed:
Sorry to hear that you will not be writing anymore. Good luck and your comments will always live on this page.
September 29th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Saeed, I am sad to see you go. You have much wisdom and insight to share from a point of view this country is ignorant of. We may not 100% agree on a few points, but I respect the experience and thoughtfulness you bring to any discussion. Your passion brings many words that sometimes mask your intent, but closer inspection of your thoughts bring rewards of insight. Wherever you go, there will be a connection for you to return and share. You will be missed.
September 29th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
My late father used to say:
Hinduism has a supreme value= Self-abnegation.
Jews have a supreme value=Adherance to their LAWS.
Christians have a supreme value=Love.
Muslim supreme value is sincerity.
See the sincerity which Muslims showed to oust Soviet Union from Afghanistan and force it to reduce itself into Russia.
See the sincerity of Muslims to brook so much insults, beating, punishment and still not convert.
There must be everything in the word SINCERITY.
Even today Bush jr. (with sincerity) can save the situation. Iraq is a 30 days to full peace & order situation. Russia is manageable provided you prepare now.
Thanks for your good parting remarks.
So long. God save America, the once hub of free world and mount everest of moral height.
September 29th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Thank you Saeed, you are indeed a poet.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:53 am
NO. I’m not a poet, lol.
US is a land of free people. Democracy reigns here (Thanks to the drafters of its Constitution). Their wisdom can be seen as soon as you deviate from the constitution. The drafters have given you something almost sacred. They did not get you together as a nation to spread Catholic faith by sword, to fight religious wars, to fight wars of other kings and rulers. They gave you a good start. England had British Army to throttle your independence movement. They hired Germans to help them throttle your independence. You got luckily a man, Washington, who had no home, who had a wooden denture, being poor. He fought British Coalition.He lost all the battles except the last. Your Boston representative went to the first congress with donated money making his clothes.
See God was on your side. Poor people but having better ideas won in the end.
I am just a history reader. I topped my Civil Service (superior) exam with history as my subject;which included US History. I got 87 marks out of 100.
Im a historian and I can cheer the winner.
The manifest destiny war-cry that gave you a big america is not over over yet. Nations are awaiting liberation like yours. Give this world something back for the gifts God has given you.
If you want to conquer, take anything but SWORDS.
Here I am saying something like a poet, haha.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
When any policy silences the public expression of religious beliefs and the proselytizing of those beliefs—such policy interferes in the “Free Exercise Of Religion,” and thus violates the First Amendment. Freedom of religion has too many dimensions to be restricted to private expression exclusively.
If any citizen is convicted that they must evangelize Christianity, a nation claiming to have Freedom of Religion cannot interfere with such practices.
The right to “Preach to the choir” and the right to “Preach to no one except the choir” are two very different rights.
Americans enjoy Freedom Of Religion and not The Freedom To The Private Expression Of Religion
Other nations can claim to have “freedom of religion,” and than ban Christian missionaries and proselytizing–the United States Of America, cannot and must not.
Peter denied him three times, we must not.
In the first century, the authorities said, “But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn these men never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.” What are we saying today?
“Go and make diciples of all nations…,” is not a suggestion.
Thank you for letting my voice be heard.
November 14th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Terry:
I have no problem with freedom of speech on any level. However, I have a huge problem when an agency or branch of the U.S. government condones, supports and encourages. Our tax dollars are not meant for this purpose. Nor, does the Constitution allow for any religion to be sanctioned by the government. This is a fundamental issue.
Thanks for your comment and welcome to bluebloggin.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
My fear is that we are rushing toward the purging of any public expression of religion.
Prayer groups told they cannot pray on the capital steps. Military chaplains told you can either not proselytize or use the name of Jesus in a public prayer or not participate in said events.
Charities told they will not be allowed the use of public facilities if they engaged in proselytizing, or “hateful” policies.
High school students told their performance of a play depicting Jesus as a participant in same gender eroticism is praised by administrators and media, as a bold and courageous example of free speech, while a small cross on a Columbine memorial tile is lambasted, mocked and torn down in the name of “freedom,,” and “toleration.” Road side memorial crosses banned, yet allowed to remain on tombstones at federal cemeteries.
Hate speech laws edging ever nearer to banning any negative depiction regarding Homosexuality.
“My philosophy is better than your philosophy statements,” depicted as freeing and healthy in a democratic society. “My religion is better than your religion,” referred to as tiresome, ignorant and hateful.
A former practicing lesbian mother told by her former partner that she could not speak to their child about her new found faith in Jesus Christ since it was offensive and “Hateful (and a judge who agreed with her and assigned a monitor to make sure she did not say anything “hateful” to the child. I assume the Judge would also require another monitor to make sure any “Gay-affirming” sentiments were not forced upon the impressionable child).
I do not advocate a carte-blanche right to proselytize but I am seeing us moving ever closer to a carte-blanche prohibition against proselytizing–and that will be the death of Freedom of religion in America. I share the fear of government in religion, but it works both ways. Also let’s remember one of the great lessons the Nuremburg trail taught us–”Silence is a lot of things–but it is not neutral,” Leaving out the name of Jesus the Messiah at a government sponsored event is as offensive and disrespectful too some as hearing the name of Jesus the Messiah at said event is to others. “Before the cock crows twice you will have denied you even know me…” Allowing a Priest, a Minister, a Rabbi, a Mullah, an Imam, or a Shaman…to say “a few words” at a government sponsored activity would demonstrate a clear bias towards religion–but no more so than refusing to allow to a Priest, a Minister, a Rabbi, a Mullah, an Imam, a Shaman… from saying “a few words” at a government sponsored activity. Since even silence is not neutral, a bias is inevitable. Silence very often speaks volumes. If we silenced any expression regarding human sexuality or sexual morals at public schools, would we achieve neutrality on the issue? Of course we do not achieve neutrality by silencing sex talk–and neither do we achieve impartiality by silencing religious expression at government facilities–or by governmental personal at those facilities (Expression and endorsement are not the same thing, and silence is not neutral). Shifting the bias from a Judea Christian to a Secular-Humanist does not eliminate the bias, it just shifts the bias to a different emphasis. Simply banning religious expression at government sponsored events, or by government personnel–as a remedy for religious bias–is a dangerous and even simplistic solution to a very complex problem.
Sadly, the zealotry to purge the public domain of any religious expression is a frightening realty today.
Thank you, I am sorry for the rambling and long winded post .
November 16th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Terry:
I do think it’s wrong to deny anyone their right to religion but I also believe that their needs to be respect for people who do not want religion in their face. Many religious people are of that thought and look at their religion as private.
The way our Constitution was written everyone should have the right to free speech however, people do not seem to respect boundaries. I don’t think that any laws need to be made against one belief or another, we just need to respect our founding documents that seemed to have taken care of this for over 200+ years until the recent decade.
Do not apologize rambling is always welcome here. Thank you again for your thoughts.
November 17th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Thank you
I share your concerns, but respecting boundaries has been too easy an excuse to silence many unpopular voices. Many religions exist and thrive primarily in their private expression–many other religions suffer greatly under such conditions. Saying you have freedom of religion as long as you keep it to yourself, your religion is forced into cultural irrelevancy, and your religion is made politically impotent–is a gross double standard. When such an evolution has triumphed, we may have a little more peace, but we will also be a little less free. Respecting people who do not want “religion in their face” must be balanced with guarding against people who are demanding the public be a religion free zone.
Thank you again