When it comes to gay rights and abortion rights and refusal of medical treatment based on one’s religion beliefs, it’s the old Government vs Religion issue. My question is “which religion and whose religion” has the most control? The authors of the Constitution knew exactly what they were doing when they kept religion OUT of the Constitution. When our Constitution was going through ratification by the 13 original states, there was a group of delegates to the Massachusetts state convention that complained that the “Constitution did not recognize the existence of God”.
It was a wise group of delegates that attended the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. They were well aware that religion and politics did not mix. Right after the arrival of independence, every state but Rhode Island passed laws depriving Catholics of full civil and religious rights. There were some states that denied Catholics the right to carry their own arms while everyone else was allowed to do so. Even though Catholics were given the same rights of freedom to worship as they believed by the Constitution, it wasn’t until 1960 that a Catholic was elected President of the United States of America. When John F. Kennedy was running for President, the media was filled with questions about his religion and its connection to the Pope in Rome. There was a fear that America would be governed by the Pope if John Kennedy was elected President.
For the last 8 years, we have had to put up with this quest by the fundamentalists to be governed by religion. Do take note that this religion has to be the fundamentalist/evangelical religions as preached by religious leaders such as James Dobson and Rick Warren. The Rev. Wright is NOT included in this because he is black and I’m not even going to go there at this moment. There is no room in this religious governing for Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Agnostics and any other religion that isn’t part of the Dobson/Warren cults.
Let’s not forget our nation’s shameful history of mixing religion and politics. It was during the McCarthy reign of terror in the 1950’s that the statement “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. People didn’t complain because anyone that spoke against including religion in our government, was called a communist and would be blacklisted. In 1692, there were the Salem witch hunts and trials. Even slave owners would quote the Bible as justification for owning slaves.
We were witness to the destruction of religious intolerance on September 11, 2001 and today, the Palestinians are paying with their lives because of the religious intolerance of Israel. There is a place for everything and history has taught us that religion does not have a place in government. Too many people and other creatures have lost their lives in the “name of God”.
Organizing for Change 
6 replies on “In the Name of God”
Bush has allowed religion to pollute politics. He recently signed a “right of conscience” policy which means that people may NOT get medical treatment because of the religious beliefs of the provider. At risk are: homosexuals, people with HIV or Hep B, people needing blood transfusions, or any certain medications, just to name a few.
If someone’s conscience prevents them from providing care, then they are in the wrong line of work. As a registered nurse, massage therapist and reflexologist, I would not refuse care to anyone and I knew that I would be required to provide care to anyone that needed it when I chose these careers. Actually, my conscience tells me that I MUST provide care.
There’s no place for religion in politics.
Remember when Raygun was doing it for god and the Ayatollah was doing it for Allah. Just made me cringe and it’s only gotten worse. Tough to battle the media who gives this agenga a continueing mouth piece but you do what you can and that’s try.
First, welcome to PA 4 Change, One Fly.
With a name like that, is it safe for me to assume that you fly fish? My name gives it away.
Yeah, wars are always about religion. Too many people die in the name of god. Pick one, it doesn’t matter because all these gods are the same.
One Fly – I like your blog and added it to my “blogs of interest” so that I can easily revisit.
All religions are either right or wrong, and we should accept everyone’s right to believe or not.
Poor Jesus. They really ruined his name.
FBT – they sure did ruin the name of Jesus and every other prophet and god. I believe that everyone should have the right to believe or not believe and to live their religion as long as their religion stays out of politics and doesn’t foster hate and killing. I have to draw the line when it comes to promoting hate and murder.