All Comments (23)

This is a wonderful idea! America is a cultural cocktail of religions and it would be wonderful if the "voice of the people", the House Of Reps. where to create a organization to have interfaith dialogue. I hope my congressman would join it! but I also think they would need a Atheist or Agnostic person there to also have their input.

jonny20

Although I’m Indian-Australian and not American, I decided to add my two cents worth, because the idea put forward for an Interfaith Caucus sounded terrific at first read. Yet on second thoughts, I concur fully with J Rhinehart’s statement, who on 9 February 2007 at 2:21 PM wrote, “I applaud your efforts to get people of different faiths talking, but I question your use of politics to do so.”

Separation of religion and state has been discussed at length elsewhere and the benefits to government and religion in keeping them separate have been clearly outlined. Looking at the US Congress from Australia, I do not get the impression that the Senators are leading private armies based on their religious faith and killing each other or American civilians belonging to faiths different from their own. So one can safely assume that no one else in the world considers the US senators divided along religious lines in the discharge of their duty towards the American public.

Do American politicians urgently need to be experts in inter-religious dialogue? Isn’t it better to leave that to religious leaders, who influence their followers directly? Considering that it is the followers of the various religious groups who form the voting public that directly choose the politicians, shouldn’t effort be concentrated on educating the public about respect for other religions within the context of their respective religious worship? Inter-religious dialogue is vital in this day and age, but isn’t it the religious leaders who need to be part of an inter-faith caucus to learn respect for other religions? Mere tolerance is not enough. Of course politicians can be invited to attend such inter-religious dialogue if they are sufficiently interested to widen their own horizons in religious matters. But a democracy which ensures freedom of religious practice is all that is required from a political standpoint.

An ongoing inter-faith caucus for religious leaders which fosters their mutual respect for all religions will ultimately filter through to their followers, considering intolerance born of ignorance is very often perpetrated by religious leaders. It is true that politicians sometimes misuse religion as a tool for their own political ends, but a voting public that respects all religions and does not tolerate misuse of religion by politicians is the best answer to the problem. The voting public should be encouraged to choose their public servants based on merit alone. If the religion of the politician is real to them, let them prove it with their politics.

An inter-faith Caucus for Iraqi politicians? Now that might be something to consider!

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

Asim:
You are kidding right?
How many churches are there in Saudi Arabia? Answer: 0. The only place for christians to worship at christmas and easter is the chapel on the grounds of the American Embassy. Meanwhile, the DC metro area has dozens of mosques. At the mosque near my house, police directs traffic to protect the pedestrians coming for friday prayer every week. I bet that this a sight none has ever seen in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia of Egypt. Many of us on this blog are well travelled and have seen what things are like for non muslims in islamic countries with our own eyes so, I am sorry, but we will not buy your propaganda.

Some considerations about Absolute Mistake done by some posters and said by some islamic politicians.Islam Respects Christ and Moses.This is unfortunately Wrong and Demagogism.Islam respects Muslim Christ and Muslim Moses,whatever it means.Although some islamic Demagogues say that Christ was a good Muslim means Christ was a good Believer,it is a comment and wrong.Islam rejects Son of God,rejects Trinity,rejects Bible Book of God,rejects Second Coming and Crucifixion.IS THIS RESPECT? Islam respects Muslim Christ not Jesus Christ.

LMAO!

Yeah...which Christian/Jew friendly country shall I visit?

Suadi? OOPS! Sorry! No other religions allowed at all!

Afghanistan? Do I need to paint a picture? They do like show trials of Christian converts.

Pakistan? Only if I'd like to see the few churches left standing...burning.
And I'd better watch out the murderous blasphemy laws are not dropped on me. As many Christians who have arguements with Muslims suddenly find themselves arrested for supposed blasphemous outbursts!

Somalia? Tell that to the dead 70 year old Catholic Nun.

Bethlehem? A Christian *majority* driven out so only a persecuted 12% now make up the population and mosques cast shadows over churches.

It was Muslims who called for the execution of the Catholic Pope!

It was Muslims who blew up the sacred Buddha statues in Afghanistan!

http://www.sullivan-county.com/z/dhimmi.htm

"Pakistan:
anti-Christian legislation

Iran:
Systematic oppression of the Bahai community

Sudan:
Murder and enslavement of Black Africans

Saudi Arabia:
Apartheid for all non-Muslims

Indonesia:
Terrorizing of Christian minorities

Egypt:
Oppression of Coptic Christians

Bangladesh: Terrorizing of Hindu and Christian minorities by Islamic radicals"

According to persecution watchdog 'Release International'...
Around **250 million Christians worldwide will face persecution in 2007**.

Persecution is growing fastest of all in the Muslim world.

Abuses suffered by Christians include;
kidnapping, forced conversion, imprisonment, church destruction, torture, rape and execution!

Compare that to any Western/Christian/Secular country where Muslims live. America even.

Asim - You write Islam has a history of tolerance and respect for non-Muslims. Look at the actions of the Muslims toward non-Muslims. By these actions I find your statement hard to believe just as I find Christians hard to believe who say they, too, are tolerant of others then try to either convert or eliminate them. Islam and Christianity both have been hijacked by evil men. Now we need to ask Mohammed and Jesus to protect us from their followers.

Sorry for inadvertantly double posting.

Anonymous:
Islam has a history of tolerance and respect for non-Muslims and fully recognizes Christians’ and Jews’ divine scriptures; it's integral to a Muslim's faith to believe in Abraham, Moses and Jesus as prophets of God as they believe in the Prophet Muhammad; all non-Muslims living in a Muslim state are full-fledged citizens with full rights including non-believers and atheists.

The Quran states "No compulsion in Religion," and "HE who so desires to believe is free to do so and he who so desires not to believe is also free to do so" meaning freedom of conscious, inner convictions and faith. This was unequivocally demonstrated in the first Muslim city/state under the banner of the Prophet in Medina in the 7th century-which was a model to be emulated by Muslims throughout the ages and to this very day.

Wherever you have Christians living in a Muslim country, you will see mosques and churches juxtposed conspicuously.

Go ahead and visit a Muslim country and see for yourself.

Anonymous:
Islam has a history of tolerance and respect for non-Muslims and fully recognizes Christians’ and Jews’ divine scriptures; it's integral to a Muslim's faith to believe in Abraham, Moses and Jesus as prophets of God as they believe in the Prophet Muhammad; all non-Muslims living in a Muslim state are full-fledged citizens with full rights including non-believers and atheists.

The Quran states "No compulsion in Religion," and "HE who so desires to believe is free to do so and he who so desires not to believe is also free to do so" meaning freedom of conscious, inner convictions and faith. This was unequivocally demonstrated in the first Muslim city/state under the banner of the Prophet in Medina in the 7th century-which was a model to be emulated by Muslims throughout the ages and to this very day.

Wherever you have Christians living in a Muslim country, you will see mosques and churches juxtposed conspicuously.

Go ahead and visit a Muslim country and see for yourself.

I agree that the religious realm is just as important as the government in forging concensus. I think that the place for religion in government is not in policy/executive/legislative areas by rather in Justice and Diplomacy. God Bless you.

Civilization and 21st Century can not be based on Demagogue as written in the article,veil,chain and half women.Mentality of Stone Age and Unreformed Desert Rules shouldnt be respected on the contrary must be criticised.

Congressmen and women should keep their religion out of my life and my bed room. Our basic constitutional right of freedom of religion is being threatened by mean spirited, narrow minded Christian extremists who want a theocracy in which we all are in lock step with their perverted interpretations of the bible for their own political agenda.. Freedom of religion means freedom of religion. My religion is no religion. Religion is the number one reason for war in the history of the world.

I'M SORRY - I forgot to mention the massacres OF Mormons (rather than BY Mormons) in New York State and in the mid-West, particularly in Missouri.

Dear Authors,

You wrote: "Americans would do well to remember this heritage of reverence combined with tolerance."

I do indeed remember:

The Massachusetts Puritans hanging that Quaker woman.

The Mormon faithful slaughtering the men, women and children of the wagon train that dared to come too close to their promised land.

The massacres of the naturist Native Americans.

"No Catholics Need Apply".

Discrimination against Jews, Muslims, non-churchgoers and non-believers.

All wonderful memories.

Your proposal for a Congressional caucus of those who thump Bibles, Korans, Books of Mormon and other scriptures, in the service of bigotry, prejudice, domination over others, and bad political values, is a welcome addition to this history.

Thank you so much.

At least this Vermonter has the non-believing Senator Bernie Sanders representing him in Congress. I wish Bernie would start an Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist and Non-believers Congressional Caucus.

This Caucus would do far more good and much less harm than your proposed caucus. It would concentrate on protecting the freedom-from-religion rights of Americans, and on developing sound public policies untainted by the fantastic fictions of religious orthodoxy.

I'm writing Bernie tomorrow.

well there is a black caucus- and that is never criticized- why not a multi-faith inclusive caucus?
what could possibly frighten people about that?

surely if there were atheist voices and it were inclusive of all the different philosophies people can separate themsleves into- wouldnt dialogue enhance communication?

thanks john but i believe most people want to retain the right to raise their children philisophically as they see fit-

Glen, let's hope when you say: "Let every person decide for themselves..." you mean to include children in your definition of "personhood". If we all did, our children would be free to decide for themselves whether they wish to practise any form of religion or not. Chances are, without religious indoctrination from the cradle, the majority of them would grow up to be rational, emotionally secure adults who could think for themselves and who could give their children that same opportunity. And isn't that the very nature of freedom itself?

Diversity has become a religion unto itself. You are free to worship in your temple, mosque, church and synagogue at the altar of diversity. But please let's not form a caucus supported by the US government giving you a platform to preach you brand of religion. Instead we should require Freedom of Religion throughout the world. We need to require that our largest trading partners respect freedom of religion and stop persecuting other for their religious beliefs or require believers to perform specific religious duties or be jailed. This is not supporting diversity it is supporting freedom - freedom of religion. Let every person decide for themselves and have the freedom, if they want, to go out on the street corner and approve and promote and revile in the Religion of Diversalism. Keep the government out of religion. Asking devote Muslims, Christians, and Jews to support diversity all unto itself is asking them to compromise their beliefs and probably offensive to most devote believers, no matter what their religion.

I applaud your efforts to get people of different faiths talking, but I question your use of politics to do so.

The danger of unity is its tendency to organise according to differences where isolation and unilateralism thrive. The bases are culture, religion, political opinions, (and may be gender), is true of cultural cells in Iraq. Ethnicity is related to status where a class conscience presides on the throne of religion and politics, the collective force of social identity. There is something Americanism (collective norm) about Republicans and Democrats, where God is inseparable from politics. While God is subjected to the ruler's will, the collective is subdued to the ruler's whim who embraces religion to advantage – the breaking point of society.

I agree religion has to rise above itself in a consensus and to protect founding principles and fundamental order. This is easier to achieve than for politics and ethnicity to unite but its unity may be found in an ascending layer of politics and ethnicity, which is a principle. The collective however is inherent of a descending structure of its respective social and material order, falls nicely into place.

The temple is complete, the highest order serves a guiding role independent of politics, but at least the collective is ensured of freedom and democratic participation. The many religions and ethnicity have always attacked the throne because they are scattered in fragments and isolation, the collective has also blamed religion for the ruler's decision.

The current enemy of unity is political agenda carried out by technocrats/bureaucrats in the name of either the collective norm or the ruler. They tend to conduct social engineering to maintain a status quo thus preventing general mobility and at the same time guarding resources for its own disposal.

The conscience can never be replaced by a material or mechanical device.

----and many outsiders wonder how American Muslims are treated in the aftermath of 9/11----

Better than Christians in Muslim lands that's for sure.

I've had it with our representatives invoking their spiritual beliefs on behalf of me. It's insulting. Stick with the facts; the political script not the religious scripture.

I'd rather see member of both houses of Congress cavorting naked around the American Stonehenge called the Washington Monument during the spring equinox than holding a Christian (or multi-religious) breakfast that I have to pay for.

maybe all of thedse people should go to their own churches and pray and than respect others equally whether they pray or not. Separate Church and State and keep them that way.

All American's are not christian and the rest of us are left out of the christian mindset with this brand of thinking. To christians interfaith only meanbs other christians not mother faiths respectfully, otherwise there would be no prayer and no reverence to GOD by politicians for polticians with politicians.

Christians think teir GOD is the only GOD, but Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and others each have their own GOD as well, except Buddhist, we do not embrace any GOD, we ust embrace people in reality.