The United States is not a theocracy, and never has been! Some would have us believe that “One Nation under God” really means that we are a nation whose God is Christian and therefore we are a Christian nation. This is the hidden agenda underlying this complaint. To be sure, the vision of the early founders of this Nation was based on their understanding of Providence as defined by Christianity. Their vision however was severely limited in that they were not clear at all about the theological concepts and complexities of monotheism. They did not have the prolonged access of their Christianity to the balances of the occidental and oriental influences of Islam and other religions and belief systems. And their exposure to Judaism was warped by European anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

What some may believe, that a Hindu chaplain opening a session of the United States Senate with prayer has somehow violated the notion of “One Nation under God,” is absurd. It points to those who hold a view that fails to understand the theological complexities and make-up of the current religious population of the United States. It is a point of view that is theologically intolerant, xenophobic, religiously narrow, and dangerous. It borders on the heresy of an American theocracy that could lead to a totalitarian view of acceptable religious expression. It is a failure to understand that there are more than just one set of religious constructs and beliefs that can provide pathways to enlightenment for some and for others a personal relationship with a living God.

What ever happened to Christmas? I mean once Halloween is over it seems as if every merchant, every shopping mall, every airport concourse is decorated with the politically correct “Happy Holidays” message.

And what’s with the demise of Christmas Trees? Now they’re called Holiday Trees. My brother lives in a small Massachusetts town where public Commons go way back to the time of the British Occupation of Boston and its suburbs. Last year he phoned me, ready to gas up a chain saw and march down to the Common to defoliate what, for the first time in the history of that town was called the town’s “holiday tree.” I pursued him to write a letter to the editor in the local paper instead and save his chain saw for something less physically taxing. It worked! The letter provoked a cry from the old timers in town who said: “Enough of this foolishness.” We’ll have a Christmas tree, and a Menorah on the Common and that’s that.” No doubt someone will sue the town if not this year then next about the use of public property for religious purposes, but “come on now, get a life.”

Continue »

I believe it is a move from sickness TO health. The greatest time of measured growth for institutional, denominational-based religion when growth was carefully measured was during the post World War II era. Conformity and church membership and belonging was at the center of community life. The institutional church of that period was "theologically light." The institutional church was not yet challenged by the radicalization of the 1960's. There were no shopping malls, no youth sports on Sundays and there was normally only one wage earner in a family and no "turn key" kids. People had more free time, and community life revolved around church life. Institutionalized religion mirrored a life style where "issues" were not really part of the theological discourse in church life.

Continue »