Saturday, November 20, 2004
How precious is our liberty in America? I firmly believe that religious liberty is one of the greatest benefits that we enjoy, and I would not want to change a bit of it.
Being free, however, and being wise are not the same thing. Many a wise man has been in bondage, and many a free man has been a fool. Liberty does not make a man wise, and slavery does not make a man a fool. The attributes of wisdom are not the same as the attributes of liberty.
If a person wants to worship a tunafish sandwich, then he should have the liberty to do so. This will not make him a wise man, and forcing him to go to church will not make him wise.
I will defend his civil right to worship a tunafish sandwich. I will also defend and exercise my right to call him an idiot and warn him of the wrath of God in this life and in the life to come. I will not pray for or seek to bring wrath upon him, for that is not given to me.
For you see, liberty to worship as you wish and liberty to speak what you know or think you know are two liberties that are essential to the preservation of each.
Of course, where it gets sticky is if my friend begins to apply his religion of tunafish to public ethics and justice. If he insists that I respect the tuna fish beyond an occasional sandwich, then he is intruding upon my religion, and cannot permit him to do that.
I do have an advantage over him in the realm of ideas, though. My God doesn't swim in the sea. Maybe someday my friend will see the folly of worshiping something that can be put into a sandwich. I don't want to persecute him for his folly, I just want to be able to keep talking to him. I shan't agree willingly to give up tunafish, however.
Isn't it funny? Those who contend most for the "freedom of choice" are so often the ones who are willing to use force against those with whom they disagree? Strange.
Being free, however, and being wise are not the same thing. Many a wise man has been in bondage, and many a free man has been a fool. Liberty does not make a man wise, and slavery does not make a man a fool. The attributes of wisdom are not the same as the attributes of liberty.
If a person wants to worship a tunafish sandwich, then he should have the liberty to do so. This will not make him a wise man, and forcing him to go to church will not make him wise.
I will defend his civil right to worship a tunafish sandwich. I will also defend and exercise my right to call him an idiot and warn him of the wrath of God in this life and in the life to come. I will not pray for or seek to bring wrath upon him, for that is not given to me.
For you see, liberty to worship as you wish and liberty to speak what you know or think you know are two liberties that are essential to the preservation of each.
Of course, where it gets sticky is if my friend begins to apply his religion of tunafish to public ethics and justice. If he insists that I respect the tuna fish beyond an occasional sandwich, then he is intruding upon my religion, and cannot permit him to do that.
I do have an advantage over him in the realm of ideas, though. My God doesn't swim in the sea. Maybe someday my friend will see the folly of worshiping something that can be put into a sandwich. I don't want to persecute him for his folly, I just want to be able to keep talking to him. I shan't agree willingly to give up tunafish, however.
Isn't it funny? Those who contend most for the "freedom of choice" are so often the ones who are willing to use force against those with whom they disagree? Strange.
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Monday, November 15, 2004
Dennis Prager: A Jew defends the cross
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Why a Jew on a theological page. First of all, Dennis Prager is my favorite Jew. Second, he is speaking up for a cross on the seal of Los Angeles. The cross represents the influence of the Church and missions in the founding of Los Angeles.
Prager led a demonstration in defense of the cross. Why? He gives three reasons--very important and critical reasons. Read his article at the link above.
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Why a Jew on a theological page. First of all, Dennis Prager is my favorite Jew. Second, he is speaking up for a cross on the seal of Los Angeles. The cross represents the influence of the Church and missions in the founding of Los Angeles.
Prager led a demonstration in defense of the cross. Why? He gives three reasons--very important and critical reasons. Read his article at the link above.
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