(Hi, Susan) (it never ends, huh?)


" Why people fight over religion is that the more it is accepted, the more authoritarian it becomes. "

Sadly, this is too often true. Right this minute we have WAY too many politicians who are trying to ride the coattails of very conservative ideology into higher & higher office. There is no doubt in my mind that, notwithstanding the Constitution saying "..no law " "respecting an establishment of religion,", there are forces at work that would favor one basic religion until the situation was indistinguishable from 'establishing'. There are lines in the Bible that, taken literally, demand that serious believers make every effort to make sure that everyone else 'believe'.
   I simply don't know how to answer those whose reasoning is circular, "I really accept the Bible as the **word**, and it tells me to spread the word....thus, anything done in the name of 'truth' is justifiable!"

ummm... it is also an interesting question to ask 'moderate' believers.."Why is the bible-thumping fundamentalism NOT the way to go?"

I really, really expect religious 'faith' to endure & prosper for many centuries...so the real question is: 'How can we co-exist sanely?' There ARE religions ...and many of the religious... who do NOT demand I believe as they do and are content to worship quietly and treat MY non-religious attitude with respect. I can...and do.. deal with them regularly. But when I see the political upheaval these days, I am worried that a Rick Perry or MIchelle Bachmann WILL win and try to do unholy ummmm...holy.. things to the 1st amendment.