Just to keep the record straight:—

The following is part of an e-mail I received this morning from Glen Gershmel, a friend of mine. Glen is the National Director of the Lutheran Peace Fellowship. I think this reflects the reaction of many of the main-stream (non-Fundamentalist) Christian Churches to this. Mr. Bush is just a bit over the top—
#    #    #Dear friend in troubling times,

What I am sharing with you is an e-mail that came my way, referring to the most egregious misuse of Christian or religious symbols and practice that I have seen in a long time.

This ought to be the focus of a renewed engagement by leaders of the major denominations much like was attempted before the war began. The Intro came with one version [of H. Res. 153]I received, which I'll share much as I received it, adding a few thoughts of my own.

Dear Friends:

While our gaze is fixed on events in Iraq, I thought you should know that your elected representatives have been carefully attending to the commonweal. They have bravely gone on record and overwhelmingly passed H. Res. 153 (text below)*. This extraordinary bill calls on our President to designate a day of prayer and fasting. The entire text contains a level of religiosity that any of us might have thought utterly forbidden by the 1st Amendment. The following quote captures that aspect of the resolution:

"Whereas, through prayer, fasting, and self-reflection, we may better recognize our own faults and shortcomings and submit to the wisdom and love of God in order that we may have guidance and strength in those daily actions and decisions we must take;"

That such a bill could pass the House 346 to 49 is almost as shocking as the virtual silence by the news media regarding its adoption. Not one Republican voted against it. While 48 brave Democrats did vote nay, another 23 less sturdy Dems voted "present." You will see that the text of the Resolution cites vaguely similar proclamations during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Flo

I am disturbed by the blurring of the church - state line in this document, and even more so, by the bad theology (e.g. the first sentence "Recognizing the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure [!] the blessings and protection of Providence...")

Two things that I find at least as disturbing: First, this is an unusually crass effort to shape public opinion masquerading as prayer. Second, are the echoes of what Orwell so well captured in "1984" - the use of public activities to foster a climate of fear, of permanent war, as a central feature of a process of cultivating citizen obedience and docility.

What do you think:

Glen
#    #    #Now, let's see . . . looking at the Bill of Rights, how many Amendments has the Bush Administration run its Magic Marker though so far?

Don Firth

*If anyone wishes me to post a copy of H. Res. 153, I will do so.