Books

I was listening to Fresh Air the other day and Terry was interviewing the author of Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America, Steven Waldman. The author mentioned a poll that showed that there were two religions that garnered a ‘negative’ among those polled. Mormonism and Islam. (I guess Mitt didn't read that poll) I might agree with the attitude towards Mormonism. I happen to think it’s a cult; but that’s just me. Why not Islam? Because the news media has gone out of their way to create a negative impression of the religion. And without any facts to support it. Guilt by association. And I’ve read the Book of Mormon and other supportive literature. I didn’t buy it. So I will have to read the Koran for myself. Maybe then I can make a decision. (Facts; it’s always supposed to be about facts.)

And it’s the playing fast and loose with the facts that bothers me most with those who proclaim that America was founded as a ‘Christian Nation’. It simply was not. It was founded as place to be free. Free from the tyranny of the Pilgrims and other fanatics that had first settled here. Those first 150 years of abuse had our founding fathers convinced that it was best to separate church and state. Courageously, they did. And the fanatics have been trying to put them back together ever since.

Speaking of fanatics; Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is a book that should be read by all who value their relationship with God. For it reveals how wicked man can become when he is obsessed with ‘protecting’ his own version of God. (Hmm? Does God need protection?)

And yes, I’m a christian. God and I talk. Often.