By Jeff Orvis
They say the quickest way to start a
fight is to begin a discussion on religion or politics. So while I
often like to keep this blog light, if the discussion of either above
topic bothers you, perhaps you should wait for the next entry.
Let me start by stating that I am a
professing Christian and very proud and grateful for that fact. God
has gotten me through a lot over my life and I recognize he is with
me every step of the way. But one of the gifts I think He has given
me is tolerance. And unfortunately, I see less and less tolerance in
this country each day.
Some people seem to think if we just
let God in our schools, everything will be okay. Others are shocked
when state and county governments won't allow the Ten Commandments to
be prominently displayed on the grounds of government buildings.
I believe in prayer. Lord knows,
forgive the weak pun, that I have called upon him numerous times
silently before taking a big test in school, as well as before
building up the nerve to ask a particular girl to a dance. I also
believe in the Ten Commandments and realize that as a sinner, I don't
keep them each day. But that doesn't mean I don't try.
Our Sunday school teachers and clergy
have done a great job of teaching us that belief in Christ is the
only way to get to Heaven. My way or the highway and that highway is
a one-way to a very unpleasant, very warm place.
It's been many years since I studied
American history. But from what I remember, it seems that our
ancestors, at least some of them, came to this country to escape a
European country where there was only one religion. I have no doubt
that the early settlers drew upon their faith to sustain them during
those tough first years. But they did it without a federal government
looking over their shoulders, telling them who and how to worship.
I have recently become aware of a
term, Christian dominionism. My interpretation may be a bit off, but
it seems to be the belief that this country is a Christian nation and
the devout believers in this concept believe we will all be doomed if
we don't allow prayer back in our public schools and the Ten
Commandments in our courthouses and statehouses. Their belief is well
meaning. If more people followed the teachings of Christ, this would
be a more civilized and peaceful society.
But my question to these folks is, if
we are a free society, where one of our cherished freedoms is to
practice, or not practice, the religion of our choice, how is this a
Christian nation? What about our friends and neighbors that have
contributed so much to the growth of this country? Why isn't America
just as much a Jewish nation, or Hindu nation or, perish the thought,
an Islamic nation? Some of these religions have teachings I am
vehemently opposed to, especially not admitting that women are equal
and should not be treated with anything but respect.
Like it or not, and many of us don't,
we have been catapulted into the 2016 presidential campaign. The
latest fad of many of the current candidates, especially the
Republicans, is to stand up in front of a group and say, “Vote for
me, I'm a Christian!” I'm waiting for one of them, probably Trump,
to slip and say that while speaking in a mosque or synagogue.
The point is, just as we have broken
the color barrier in the White House and may soon break the gender
barrier, there will come a time when we also break the bonds of
believing that our president must be a Bible-carrying Protestant
Christian. Other religions teach peace and compassion. The jury is
still out on whether we will see any of these other folks in Heaven,
but ultimately we don't have the final say in the matter.
The candidate that gets my vote will
be the one who will indicate that they lean on a Superior Being for
strength, but also one who freely admits that he, or she, wants to be
the president of all Americans, regardless of what they do on
Saturdays or Sundays.
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