I watched, with great interest, the “Restoring Honor” rally in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28. Glen Beck, ultra conservative, and Sarah Palin, Tea Party champion, went on about religion in the political scene today. Beck used words and phrases like, “America today begins to turn back to God and recognize your place to the creator. Realize that he is our king. He is the one who guides and directs our life and protects us.” Most certainly he did sound like an evangelical preacher who is pandering to the religious community. In my search to express my deep concern about these statements, I came across a quote from former Republican Sen. John C. Danforth tha addresses this very issue:
“In the decade since I left the Senate, American politics has been characterized by two phenomena: The increased activism of the Christian right, especially in the Republican Party, and the collapse of bipartisan collegiality. I do not think it is a stretch to suggest a relationship between the two. To assert that I am on God’s side and you are not, that I know God’s will and you do not and I will use the power of government to advance my understanding of God’s kingdom is certain to produce hostility. By contrast moderate Christians see us, literally, as moderators. Far from claiming to possess God’s truth, we claim only to be imperfect seekers of the truth.”
Beware of false prophets and think for yourself, as the separation of church and state is vital to the survival of our nation.
Jerry Reckin
Kalispell