Cal Thomas

Cal Thomas

Syndicated political columnist

Syndicated political columnist and “On Faith” panelist Cal Thomas has a twice-weekly column that appears in over 500 newspapers around the world. A graduate of American University, Thomas is a veteran of broadcast and print journalism. He has worked for NBC, CNBC, PBS television, and the Fox News Channel where he currently appears on the weekly media critique show, “Fox News Watch.” Thomas has authored ten books, including Blinded by Might: Can the Religious Right Save America?, A Freedom Dream, Public Persons and Private Lives, Book Burning, Liberals for Lunch, Occupied Territory, The Death of Ethics in America, Uncommon Sense and Things That Matter Most. His latest was The Wit and Wisdom of Cal Thomas. In 1995, Thomas was honored with a Cable Ace Award nomination for Best Interview Program. Other awards include a George Foster Peabody team reporting award, and awards from both the Associated Press and United Press International. Common Ground, which Thomas writes for USA Today, offers insightful discussion of contentious social issues with his friend and political counterpart, Bob Beckel. The two are working together on a book to be published in 2007. Close.

Cal Thomas

Syndicated political columnist

Syndicated political columnist and “On Faith” panelist Cal Thomas has a twice-weekly column that appears in over 500 newspapers around the world. A graduate of American University, Thomas is a veteran of broadcast and print journalism. more »

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True Religion Works From Inside Out

The short answer to the question is, "yes; religion is man-made." Most religions are attempts to placate an angry Deity, or a set of rules and regulations designed to appease him (or her in the case of goddess worshippers).

Religion is mostly about rituals, dress codes, dietary practices and other forms of human behavior those who follow them believe will either please their god, or at least keep him from being angry with them. Religion is humanity's attempt to reach God.

But in Jesus Christ, we have something unique. We have God's effort to reach Man. It is unique, because God was and is the offended party. He is the One against whom all have sinned. And yet, as Paul writes, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

True religion works from the inside-out when Jesus transforms us, not the outside-in through laws, rules and regulations. James made such a point when he wrote, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep one-self from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

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