Monday, February 04, 2008
The Word according to...?
Americans are quick to boast that we are nation of religious freedom, where everyone
may worship, or not worship, as he or she sees fit........and by all, that includes those who run for public office, and THAT includes the highest office in the land. Does that mean, without prejudice and with fair judgment? Well, in the interest of honesty, who's kidding who? Polls, if they are to be believed, show that a vast majority of Americans wouldn't even consider voting for anyone who didn't believe, or at least 'profess' to believe, in God. That would seem to guarantee that we won't be seeing an Atheist in the oval office any time soon. Over 60% of the population of the United States are Christians of one denomination or other, and like it or not, some are more tolerant of other faiths than others. The likelihood of our voting for a Presidential candidate of another faith is slim to none, at least at this time in our history. a Hindu, such as Mahatma Ghandi was, wouldn't have a 'prayer,' despite his having been one of the most beloved and admired
men who ever lived. Adolph Hitler, on the other hand, claimed to be a Christian. The point, of course, is what determines a persons worthiness in this life is not what beliefs he claims to have, but how he practices them. Who can deny that Ghandi, as a man of God, was true to his beliefs and to all who followed him...as Jesus was to all who followed him and do to this day. Religion should not, in my opinion, be an engine of divisiveness, but a path to brotherhood and the acceptance of all who respect the rights of others.How hollow is the ring of the voices of those who claim to be the only riders on the pathway to heaven.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
may worship, or not worship, as he or she sees fit........and by all, that includes those who run for public office, and THAT includes the highest office in the land. Does that mean, without prejudice and with fair judgment? Well, in the interest of honesty, who's kidding who? Polls, if they are to be believed, show that a vast majority of Americans wouldn't even consider voting for anyone who didn't believe, or at least 'profess' to believe, in God. That would seem to guarantee that we won't be seeing an Atheist in the oval office any time soon. Over 60% of the population of the United States are Christians of one denomination or other, and like it or not, some are more tolerant of other faiths than others. The likelihood of our voting for a Presidential candidate of another faith is slim to none, at least at this time in our history. a Hindu, such as Mahatma Ghandi was, wouldn't have a 'prayer,' despite his having been one of the most beloved and admired
men who ever lived. Adolph Hitler, on the other hand, claimed to be a Christian. The point, of course, is what determines a persons worthiness in this life is not what beliefs he claims to have, but how he practices them. Who can deny that Ghandi, as a man of God, was true to his beliefs and to all who followed him...as Jesus was to all who followed him and do to this day. Religion should not, in my opinion, be an engine of divisiveness, but a path to brotherhood and the acceptance of all who respect the rights of others.How hollow is the ring of the voices of those who claim to be the only riders on the pathway to heaven.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
