No persecution

Reverend Gaddy,
Thank you for your comments.
You are absolutely correct.
We Christians do not treasure enough the marvelous diversity of our great nation and its remarkable history, especially its founding basis of the separation of church and state.
You are a Baptist and I am a Catholic.
Both of us are free to enjoy our religious worship free of pressure and intimidation, or of political discrimination.
It wouldn't matter if you or I were Jewish, or Hindu or Buddhist; we retain that right to diversity under our wonderful Constitution.
During the 2000 campaign, I began to hear from friends (who are Baptists) that Christianity is under assault in America.
I couldn't figure out why they would feel so alarmed or where this attitude was coming from.
Turns out it was coming from their pastor, who was making a lot of hay out of claiming that Christianity is under siege in this country because the country allows diversity of religious expression.
Meanwhile, we have ignorant comments such as the theory that Haiti is under a demonic curse, therefore the Haitian people should be left to suffer, that make those of us who treasure our religious faith appear foolish and superstitious.
If some feel that Christianity is under assault in America, it appears to me that they have only themselves to blame when they support such pathetic statements.
I was amused when a network anchor made the statement that Pat Robertson's statement was brought to us thanks to our First Amendment.
I won't deny Robertson his right to make such a statement as long as I am free to refuse to accept it as fact and to speak out to refute it.
Even in this time of financial peril, it is apparent to me that God continues to bless our United States of America.
We should be properly grateful for His blessings and behave accordingly with generousity and kindness to our fellow human beings who are suffering, whether in Haiti or in Michigan through high unemployment.

You want to see some anti-christian persecution, Welton? Look in a mirror. You're one of those who stabbed Hume in the back. Anytime liberals need a toady to attack legitimate believers, they trot out Welton.

"I cannot see how anyone is injured by having a prayer before a high school football game and think that making atheism the public norm is more dangerous than mildly institutionalized Christianity in the public square."

Please stop twisting this issue into Christianity versus atheism. Government recognition of one religion harms people of all religions, because it falsely conflates religious faith with patriotism and loyalty to one's country. It cannot be emphasized enough that government taking a position of neutrality among religions does not equate to atheism.

Excellent post by Gaddy. Some accusations of anti-Christian bias may be grounded in myths about Jewish cabals in the media, like the "War on Christmas" notion that amounts to Jew-bashing. But Gaddy is on target with his criticisms of the "national religion" concept. Many Christians seem to believe that American culture should treat their religion as the "normal" or "default" religion. They accuse neutral stances among religions of equating to hostility toward religion in general, or toward Christianity specifically. The last is offensive because it disregards the existence of other religions, as if the only two positions were Christianity or nonbelief.

I agree with your sentiments, Mr. Gaddy. It is interesting to think about the denigration of evangelicals that is present in today's society and speculate on its origin. I think the rise of political involvement and identification with the Republican Party is one of the basic reasons that they generate so much criticism. Engagement in political life by white Christians is seen as threatening by many non-believers and Democratic partisans.

The antecedents to the political involvement of the evangelicals is interesting to examine as well. I was raised as a Southern Baptist and cannot recall a single political idea expressed in or around church services. I think that changed with Roe and other court decisions that many Christians saw as having the effect of making all political institutions de facto atheist.

Now, that I practice another religion entirely, I think they have a point. I cannot see how anyone is injured by having a prayer before a high school football game and think that making atheism the public norm is more dangerous than mildly institutionalized Christianity in the public square.

Welton Gaddy

You wrote, " Indeed, many people still talk of a "Christian nation"--a theological impossibility according to the Christian scriptures but a missiological goal among some Christian congregations."

I looked up the word "missiological", couldn't find it, I take it you mean those that in the past and still today who attempt to set up a "theocracy" which as you pointed out is totally against what Jesus taught.

I also take it as those that attempt to "cram" the bible down other people's throats, which is not even close to what Jesus taught, whether or not they even attempt to be a "Christian" in more than name only.

Is this what you are referring to when you spoke of "missiological goal"?

You also wrote, "I thank God every day for the freedom our nation assures to all religions, and, as a Christian, continue to believe that freedom is my faith's best friend."

I happen to believe that the founding fathers of this country were "divinely-inspired" when the religious freedom thing was put into writing.

Seems as if quite a few are in for a surprise when they find out that God looks at the person not at the "label".

It is important what one does and why one does it and what one knows.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.