The Role of Religion in Government

I received an email today from People for the American Way. I am not sure why i got emailed this information but it is worthy of a blog post and some criticism. It is unfortunate that we have to debate these ideas in the USA, where all religions are allowed to exist, however, there are certain factions that insist on controlling others behavior by insisting that religion has a place in government. I disagree.

What do I want my government to be responsible for: public safety, clean air, water, and food, transportation issues, national security, writing new laws, health care, and education. Unfortunately, there are groups that want to use the Bible as a guide for American government and they are meeting in Tualatin Oregon this weekend. Here's the email FYI.

This weekend in Tualatin, Oregon, Restore America will host a conference of right-wing religious activists dedicated to promoting the Bible and its interpretation thereof as the only legitimate foundation for government. The group proclaims that “the Bible is the authoritative and inerrant standard by which all aspects of civil government are to be conducted,” and “[denies] that civil government should always be neutral toward Christianity and treat it as equal with all other so-called religions.”

Speakers at the event will include Rick Scarborough, the Republican activist behind the “War on Christians” campaign who has bemoaned losing a time when he was actually invited into public high schools where “I gave them Christ.” Also speaking is anti-gay activist Janet Folger, the Director of Faith2Action, who reprimanded a Christian pastor for not rescinding an invitation to Senator Barack Obama for a forum on AIDS in Africa because of the Senator’s “pro-death stance” on reproductive choice.

Progressive Christian faith leaders familiar with the far-right Christian movement are available to discuss the Restore America conference and the danger it presents to a diverse American society.

Rev. Steven Baines, is People For the American Way Foundation’s Director of Interfaith Outreach. He runs PFAW’s Faith Action Network, and he led the effort to recruit clergy to support fairness in the successful 2004 campaign to remove a discriminatory anti-gay ordinance from Cincinnati’s city charter.

Rev. Ron Stief is the Director of PFAWF’s West Coast Regional Office. Prior to joining PFAWF, Rev. Stief directed the Office of Public Life and Social Policy for United Church of Christ.