I'm the most religious guy in the Libertarian Party. At least that's what my friend, Charlie, decided. I don't know if his bit of insight was meant to be a compliment or a mere observation. Either way, I suppose there are others more deserving.
For his part, Charlie is a declared atheist. And, therein lays a dilemma for some libertarians. How can I - a certified, card-carrying Bible thumper - stand shoulder to shoulder with a guy who's never thumped a Bible in his life?
In spite of ourselves
One may assume there is a détente in which the discussion of religion is avoided like a trip to the dentist. One would be wrong. I find few things more intellectually stimulating than a lively spat with a well-informed atheist - particularly when feeble attempts are made to defend the untenable; eg, evolution.
Or, one may assume there is a level of irreconcilable toleration. Not so. Some of the best Christians I know are atheists. By that, I mean, atheists usually surpass Christians in areas such as morality, decency and human kindness. I don't tolerate these people. I like them. I enjoy their company. I'd rather hang out with a crowd of honest atheists than a church full of back-stabbing Baptists any day of the week, including Sunday.
So why do libertarian Christians and atheists get along?
Exclusion doesn't work
The answer can be found in the word, "inclusion." Think about it.
When Protestants control a government ? say Northern Ireland, for example ? Catholics and other non-Protestants have a tough way to go. And when Catholics take charge ? as in Ireland ? Protestants find themselves on the outside looking in.
Come to think of it, when any religious group takes control, all others face dire consequences. Consider the history of England. Bloody Mary had at least 275 Protestants burned at the stake (including the Archbishop of Canterbury) during her brief five-year term as Queen of England. A century later, Protestant Elizabeth I was executing Catholics. For their part, Muslims have a history of killing both Protestants and Catholics, not to mention Jews.
Life, some think, would be simpler - if not safer - if no religious sect controlled government. Let's put atheists in charge, they say. That would end sectarian bloodletting.
The inherent problem with atheists at the helm of government can be seen by recounting life under the rule of French atheist Maximilien Robespierre. More than a century after Queen Elizabeth executed Catholics, and 200 years after Bloody Mary was being bloody, Robespierre was sending thousands to the guillotine. The atheistic government of Joseph Stalin killed millions and Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge slaughtered hundreds of thousands.
Protestants, Catholics, Muslims and atheists have one thing in common: When any sectarian group controls government, people die. Yet that was the norm of world history until the 17th century.
A place at the table
Perhaps the most momentous day in American history was February 5, 1631 when a free-thinking British preacher named Roger Williams alit from a ship in Boston's harbor. Williams purchased land from the Indians and founded a community that became Rhode Island. Unlike the other colonies, Rhode Island separated civil and ecclesiastical governments. No sect would control government. Rather, all would have a place at the table.
Williams' philosophy of religious liberty was perceived to be an invitation to disaster. But the anticipated quarreling among the sects never materialized. In fact, the arrangement resulted in religious harmony. No religious institution felt threatened by any other, for all were free to believe (or not believe) as they pleased. There was no reason to burn your neighbors at the stake for having too many holes in their sleeves.
And that takes us back to the original question.
Why do Libertarians - Christians, atheists and other sectarians - manage to get along? The answer is simple. Like Williams, we understand the principle of inclusion. Everyone has a place at the table. And so, I can relish the thought of being the most religious guy in the Libertarian Party without fear of Charlie sending me to the gulag. Erstwhile, my Christian friends will continue to call me the most libertarian guy in the Baptist church.
###
Read Kenn's quotes at KennGividen.com
Now, let's recall again the text: "Let her be covered."... Read More
Isaiah 55:7-55:9Moslem America conclusion Let the wicked forsake his way,... Read More
And the matter of who is doing the abusing is... Read More
"I also say to you that you are Peter, and... Read More
After the 1000 years are up in the Millennium Kingdom,... Read More
"We desperately need to recognize that we are the guests... Read More
As discussed in the "The Gospel of Convenience", and "Investing... Read More
Jeremiah 51:6-51:18 Babylon is Fallen. Is the United States, Spiritual... Read More
Everything one does in his life, irrespective of whether he... Read More
Does Jesus Christ live in heaven today in the flesh... Read More
Apology:I don't for a minute profess to know what God... Read More
We have been learning to think Biblically and speak Scripturally... Read More
Revelation 20:12 makes a powerful claim: "And I saw the... Read More
What if excavators uncovering ancient Jericho found the following journal?Monday:... Read More
It's Saturday night. You're sitting at home. Your phone has... Read More
It may seem trite and naïve to suggest we can... Read More
PREFACE TO UNDERSTANDING APOSTASY AND DECEPTIONIn the "last days" the... Read More
The one key central message of the entire Bible is... Read More
In looking back on the year that has just ended-a... Read More
You are now inside one of the top theological schools... Read More
Sainthood?that title given by the Catholic Church that seems to... Read More
Some people look at the biblical book of Revelation as... Read More
One cannot begin to appreciate the early struggles of Christianity... Read More
What is The Big Bang Theory! What do we mean... Read More
I was in my late teens when I first read... Read More
According to CNN, Catholics voted for President Bush over Senator... Read More
(Channelled)Roy? this week you learned something about yourself. You learned... Read More
Heb. 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today,... Read More
Part Two continuedThe Christian's duty of paying taxes even extends... Read More
Today certainly is a present and we are to rejoice... Read More
Some people imagine what glory will behold them at the... Read More
I'm the most religious guy in the Libertarian Party. At... Read More
These 7 judgments will more than likely occur during the... Read More
As believers, we have a responsibility to care for those... Read More
The framework for the message this morning will consist of... Read More
This article was inspired by a book by E. W.... Read More
DEAD SEA SCROLLS: - Dr Norman Golb is a top... Read More
I was meditating the other day and contemplating the thousands... Read More
Jesus won't come until the Jewish people are saved.Why the... Read More
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated to all of Israel,... Read More
Hold on to your hat! Here comes one of the... Read More
Some people may ask how do we serve God and... Read More
Hermeneutics is the science and art of the interpretive process... Read More
What is The Big Bang Theory! What do we mean... Read More
We are soon to celebrate once again the National Holiday... Read More
Per the miscellaneous signs listed in my previous article, Jesus... Read More
Over the last 10 years or so I have met... Read More
Have you ever looked into a mirror and wondered what... Read More
What does the Religious Right really want? Well, besides power,... Read More
Now many confuse love with admiration and most commonly sexual... Read More
As the world becomes closer and closer together, there seems... Read More
Dear Ratzy,I have a good solution to the clergy abuse... Read More
The dictionary explains strength as being endurance, force, bravery, spirit... Read More
With the passing of Arafat, the Middle East will take... Read More
Now that we know God and Jesus want to release... Read More
This passage begins (2:1-4) with a call to unity that... Read More
Does Jesus Christ live in heaven today in the flesh... Read More
The bible tells a story about the prophet Ezekiel who... Read More
The world that we live in today is in imminent... Read More
The prisoners of Sing Sing, one of the most repressive,... Read More
I think most people who will read this will not... Read More
In looking back on the year that has just ended-a... Read More
French & Dutch Reject EU Constitution & British Table It-We... Read More
If you use a pressure washer during your fundraiser you... Read More
As the clock ticks down to the fateful day of... Read More
If you look at just the man/women after he/she has... Read More
Religion |