Our society has these so called "religious wars" fought by people want to put "God back in America." Yes, these are the same folks that sing "God Bless America (and nowhere else)". I suppose I wouldn't mind, at least not as much, if these same folks weren't running for political office. These same folks have little to no understanding of the history of religious freedom in America. I know this because if they did they wouldn't be fighting to put "God back in America."
Though, as someone theologically educated and ordained, I do wonder where God went. I've asked this question time and time again, but I've never been able to find out. Perhaps God went off into the next Galaxy to chill out, or play hopscotch. Theology aside, religion and politics are simply too cozy these days. But, I digress.
I could expound upon Roger Williams and his fight for religious liberty, or the Pilgrims fight for religious liberty, or that many Baptists throughout history have fought and continue to fight for religious liberty. I could write about how Religious Liberty within the Constitution is a remarkable right, and that many who want to squelch religious liberty are indebted to Religious Liberty.
Time and time again we find ourselves bickering about religion, or using God as an excuse to make offensive and ignorant remarks. Getting rid of religion simply isn't going to happen anytime soon, and I don't think it has to happen. Simply seems to me that people of faith would have more respect for their God than to use it/him/her as a pawn in the political chess game. Maybe I'm wrong. Seems to me that those caring so much about America would respect the Constitution, let alone America's citizens.
Life is complicated. This grand experiment we call democracy is complicated. It takes more than trite statements about God or catchy slogans to make it work. Democracy requires listening, not yelling. Democracy requires us to see that we are many things, not just a static identities.
At the end of the day all of us in this grand experiment posses different views, different thoughts, and different lives. Yet, we share a common humanity. If people want to put God back in America they should stop legislating the Bible, and start living love. Go ahead, try to put the 10 Commandments in the statehouse or courthouse, but people have duped themselves into thinking Divine Law can be contained within 10 Commandments. They have duped themselves into thinking that forcing the issue of the 10 commandments will affect change. People [specifically the far-right] have become obsessed with legislating morality because they have forgotten a call to love.
They should probably try to live the 10 Commandments rather than display them. If they want to quote, "Thou Shall Not Kill," if they must speak for Divine Vengeance, execute the systems of oppression that are fertile ground for supplying death-row cell blocks. If they want to honor their fathers and mothers, they must engage the ancestral bastion of racial segregation we call, “Sunday Morning.” If they want to preach, “Thou shall not covet,” they must preach against the materialism that consumes voraciously and cyclically intoxicates our communities. If they want God back in America, they should probably look into the mirror.
As long as religion is used as a tool to manipulate and divide, as a wedge, as long as religion ignores love, I thank God for a Godless Society.
Though, as someone theologically educated and ordained, I do wonder where God went. I've asked this question time and time again, but I've never been able to find out. Perhaps God went off into the next Galaxy to chill out, or play hopscotch. Theology aside, religion and politics are simply too cozy these days. But, I digress.
I could expound upon Roger Williams and his fight for religious liberty, or the Pilgrims fight for religious liberty, or that many Baptists throughout history have fought and continue to fight for religious liberty. I could write about how Religious Liberty within the Constitution is a remarkable right, and that many who want to squelch religious liberty are indebted to Religious Liberty.
Time and time again we find ourselves bickering about religion, or using God as an excuse to make offensive and ignorant remarks. Getting rid of religion simply isn't going to happen anytime soon, and I don't think it has to happen. Simply seems to me that people of faith would have more respect for their God than to use it/him/her as a pawn in the political chess game. Maybe I'm wrong. Seems to me that those caring so much about America would respect the Constitution, let alone America's citizens.
Life is complicated. This grand experiment we call democracy is complicated. It takes more than trite statements about God or catchy slogans to make it work. Democracy requires listening, not yelling. Democracy requires us to see that we are many things, not just a static identities.
At the end of the day all of us in this grand experiment posses different views, different thoughts, and different lives. Yet, we share a common humanity. If people want to put God back in America they should stop legislating the Bible, and start living love. Go ahead, try to put the 10 Commandments in the statehouse or courthouse, but people have duped themselves into thinking Divine Law can be contained within 10 Commandments. They have duped themselves into thinking that forcing the issue of the 10 commandments will affect change. People [specifically the far-right] have become obsessed with legislating morality because they have forgotten a call to love.
They should probably try to live the 10 Commandments rather than display them. If they want to quote, "Thou Shall Not Kill," if they must speak for Divine Vengeance, execute the systems of oppression that are fertile ground for supplying death-row cell blocks. If they want to honor their fathers and mothers, they must engage the ancestral bastion of racial segregation we call, “Sunday Morning.” If they want to preach, “Thou shall not covet,” they must preach against the materialism that consumes voraciously and cyclically intoxicates our communities. If they want God back in America, they should probably look into the mirror.
As long as religion is used as a tool to manipulate and divide, as a wedge, as long as religion ignores love, I thank God for a Godless Society.
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