I would like to take a minute tonight to follow up on my post from yesterday. I want to explain how I feel that it is so important that we all show respect for each other's belief systems and how dangerous I feel it is when one belief system is viewed to have all the enfluence over us all. Let me explain. I think a great deal of the reason that this country functions the way it does...with so many different religions, ethnicities and cultural differences is that we all respect each others right to do so. This is peace. When one sect of society begins to be seen as the dominant force, that is when tension rises and unrest begins. There is a reason we let the kkk have parades in thier towns and picketers picketing them. This, as bizaar as it seems, is freedom. Freedom to express even hatred and freedom for others to express their distaste for that expression. It allows people to feel they are being heard. When people feel they are being heard they feel validated. When they feel they are not being heard they feel opressed; this of course leads to rage and aggression. Another words civil unrest and chaos. This is why in my opinion I feel that the Government that is for all the people must stay neutral in governing...they can not afford to be seen as bias to one religious sect or another. That in essence keeps the peace. For those that are familiar with biblical text...the bible says, give to God what belongs to God and give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar. My personal understanding of this is that we are to have a personal relationship with God and be a light to the world through the actions of our own lives; but pay your taxes and accept the idea of a collective community, that is not always going to be in accordance with your own personal understanding of God for the sake of peace in that community. I will express at a late time what exactly my idea of government is...but I will leave with one question that I think when answered, will give you a good understanding of what you belive as well. That question is; do you believe that government should be in the buisness of protecting us from others or protecting us from ourselves? Because the answer to this question will touch just about every potitical issue we face.
As for my ending in the oped...I do follow what I would call a liberal christianity. By this I mean, my concern as a christian is to follow in Christ steps as he asked me to. To my knowledge, Jesus never once spoke about homosexuality but spoke of the need to help the poor many times. He is the prince of peace and promoting peace in my own life and in my community to the best of my ability is my concept of christianity. I will explain a few of these concepts. I am more concerned with poverty than I am with corporate profit rights. I am more concerned with my country being a beacon of peace than a profitier of war. I am more concerned about the children that are here, living with abuse, neglect, hunger and dispair than I am of women terminating pregnancies. I more concerned about a divorce rate of over 50% than I am about gay marriage or civil unions. Mostly I'm concerned about my country's blue/red war over the idea of working together to solve problems we all share.