Jun 30 2005
Whose religion is it anyway?
I was chatting with a coworker today about the last US Presidential election and the significance of how “being Christian” was a focus of the Bush campaign. We came up with an interesting thought.
Throughout history certain countries are run entirely from a religious system. Their beliefs may be used to persecute those which don’t adhere to them and even wage war on their neighbors. The Middle East is a prime example.
In the United States our Constitution denotes a “separation of Church and State.” It’s meant to alleviate the issues plauging the Middle East, not remove religion from our borders. The last few years of the Bush Administration have generated, directly or indirectly, a sentiment that “to be a good Christian is to be a good American.” Bring up gay marriage or abortion and this comes to light very quickly.
This country was founded on the concept of personal freedoms, religious or otherwise. You can be a Communist or Satanist if you choose to - you won’t be punished provided you follow the same laws everyone else does. The greatest benefit of Christian ideals is morality without which we couldn’t have an organized society and live in relative safety.
However it seems the Bush Administration has supported the concept that Christian beliefs are “right” (no pun intended) and anything else is wrong (those damned Democrats). How is this different than the Middle East, pushing your religious beliefs onto others, and waging war whether it be political or popular opinion against the non-believer?
If anything, allowing people to make an informed decision about their beliefs is “right.” Forcing any ideal leads to discontent. Legalizing pot and running around naked isn’t practical or necessary, however letting a gay couple get married and file joint taxes is simply a progression of the times. It would be great to relive the innocence of the 1950s but that time is gone. Evolution is about moving forward and adapting. The Wooly Mammoth and Giant Sloth went extinct for a reason.
God gifted us with intelligence and free will to separate us from the “beasts that walk the Earth.” That’s the key to our survival. Looking ahead, not behind.
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