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I will leave it to my colleagues to say the most obvious things about pluralism and separation of church and state. Since I believe government has no role in preventing people from practicing their religion, invoking divine protection BEFORE going to work seems harmless enough. Heaven knows, the U.S. Congress needs all the help it can get. If someone chooses not to pray, they can stay in the cafeteria or cloak room.
Another way of formulating this question is to ask, “Is an atheistic doctor better than a religious one -- just because he or she is an atheist?” My answer is: “No.” Two issues need to be resolved about obligations to patients, and neither of them is dependent on whether the doctor believes in religion or atheism.
“Where tyranny is law, revolution is order.” This is my second most motivating verse after, “If you want peace, work for justice.” Both these quotes are derived from modern sources that have applied the Gospel message to social needs.
I have more confidence in Catholicism’s ability to dialog with Islam than in the opinions of a writer like Mark Lilla, who hasn’t done his homework in “The Politics of God,” published this week in The New York Times Magazine.
What Islam Really Says About Violence, Rights and Other Religions
Gomaa, Fadlallah, Mubarak, Khan, Siddiqi, Ellison, others | On Faith
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