So, What's The Big Deal About Religion In '08?
By Frank Salvato
December 7, 2007
Page 2 of 2
Another facet to their motives might be found in the idea that the Secular Progressive Left (valued at approximately 10% of the legitimate US population) is religiously bigoted. This idea is bolstered when one explores the Secular Progressive ideology.
Secularism holds dear the idea that government and the "public square" should exist separately from religion or religious belief and, in the extreme, that religion has no place in public life. Progressivism, identified with Left-wing politics, places great importance on upholding a secular society dedicated to social equality through collective rights, multicultural in nature. In actuality, the Secular Progressive Left identifies man -- humans -- as the ultimate authority. It is because of this that the Secular Progressive Left deems the idea there may exist an entity, a higher power, capable of imposing a "final judgment" for earthly actions, unsophisticated and "simple."
Frankly, it gives me great comfort knowing that the person entrusted with the ability to bring about nuclear Armageddon believes there is a higher power to answer to at the end of times. The humility that this understanding instills could very well serve to be the final barrier keeping one from literally bringing a "judgment day." Of course, this doesn't apply to genocidal maniacs like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who believe that bringing about the end of times wins them a personal audience with an imam in a well and 72 rejuvenating virgins in the afterlife. It is precisely for this reason that freedom of religion not be misinterpreted as freedom from religion.
No matter how the Secular Progressive Left tries to remove religion and faith from our lives, the fact remains they are in the minority on this issue. With approximately 90% of Americans believing in one religion or another we have the capability to embrace our Judeo-Christian heritage, relegating the Secular Progressive Left's attempt at bringing about a Godless nation to the ash heap of time along with the failed ideologies of Socialism and Communism.
Americans need to appreciate this reality. Just as there are numerous mentions of God and The Creator in the Charters of Freedom, our nation is one that overwhelmingly embraces its faith. And just as the Secular Progressive Left hangs its hat on a single letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, declarative in its capacity, to the Danbury Baptist Association explaining there would be no establishment of a national religion, they do so with a voice ensconced in the minority.
"For while this year it may be a Catholic against whom the finger of suspicion is pointed, in other years it has been, and may someday be again, a Jew -- or a Quaker -- or a Unitarian -- or a Baptist. It was Virginia's harassment of Baptist preachers, for example, that helped lead to Jefferson's statute of religious freedom. Today I may be the victim -- but tomorrow it may be you -- until the whole fabric of our harmonious society is ripped at a time of great national peril." -- John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1960
----------
Frank Salvato is the Executive Director and Director of Terrorism Research for Basics Project a non-profit, non-partisan, 501(C)(3) research and education initiative. He can be contacted at newmediajournal@comcast.net.
--------------------
Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. >> Back -- Page 1 2
Current rating:  5.0 out of 5.0 (11 total votes)
| 
