The Question: In his speech to U.S. bishops last week, Pope Benedict XVI said: "Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted . . . To the extent that religion becomes a purely private affair, it loses its very soul." Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Privacy is at the epicenter of faith. As evangelical Christians we believe that a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the way to salvation and eternal life.
Engagement with others is the leading edge of our faith. Internal faith should be externally expressed. Jesus called us to love and serve God and to love and serve our neighbors.

While some focus on what is public I just want to make sure we start with what is private--a right relationship with God.

There's a story about a Dad who cut up a map of the world that was ripped out of a magazine. He gave it to his child to put together as a puzzle. The child assembled and taped it with surprising speed. When the Dad asked how the child replied, "There was a person on the other side. When I put the person together the world came together too."

It's not either/or, private/public----get the private right to get the world right too.

Which "ism" is more entrenched in American, sexism or racism? Which should religion address?

Choosing between evils is never easy to do. So, I bounced this question off two friends—a white woman and a black man. They agreed that racism is the greater problem. She summed it up saying, “African Americans face more limits than women face in America.”

Assuming they are right in the ranking, I’ve tried to figure out why. At least part of the answer is that none of us in America can isolate ourselves from persons of the opposite sex but many in America isolate from persons of a different race. When we are isolated it is easier to perpetuate and further entrench our stereotypes and prejudices—or just not think about it at all which probably has the same outcome.

I like the stories of Jesus where he repeatedly engaged people who were different whether the rules of society approved or not. With his example and teaching Jesus addressed both race and sex.

Listen to many religious folk and they will tell you that religion has been marginalized in American society. They feel they must shout louder to be heard at all.

Now we’re told that secularists are feeling left out and must also shout to be heard.

Sounds like everybody is into shouting!

America has a free market of ideas and beliefs. With so much diversity we are all worried that we won’t be heard. The good news is that we are all free to speak. The sometimes painful truth is that we can’t always make others listen.

I think of secularism as a perspective that doesn’t present God or religion as relevant. Not that secularists don’t believe in God or don’t belong to a religion; it’s just that neither God nor religion are much considered in daily life or national policy. By contrast, people with strong faith believe that God is relevant and important in all of life, including personal life and national policy.

That makes people of faith more comprehensive in perspective. We can and do engage in the issues and ideas of others (including secularists) and, at the same time, believe in God and have our faith to guide and inform us in dealing with the issues and ideas. So, of course we are interested in the religious perspective of political candidates because we want to know who and what is guiding their thinking.

To specifically answer the question: Secular ideas are not getting short shrift. They are just facing serious competition from religious ideas in our free market of beliefs.

In a globalized generation ideas travel across borders and ideologies. Like it or not, there is a growing international market of competing ideas.

This can terrify those who are afraid their beliefs cannot adequately compete so they resort to threats, intimidation and oppression. Their tactics may work for the short term but are ultimately doomed. It is a fearful approach that shows up in many religions, philosophies and politics.

While it is inappropriate to insult or offend their Prophet Muhammad a sentence of death to a journalist student is also inappropriate and offensive. My hope is that Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh (the journalism student) will appeal and that higher Afghan courts will reverse the severe sentence.

Let’s consider a better way. Promote respect and civility. When there is disrespect and incivility, do not reward such dysfunction but confront it with words. Believe that your faith can compete and convince others in a world of diverse doctrines.

As a Christian I believe that the truths of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus can and do compete with other worldviews without use of restrictions or coercion.

The best way to apply God’s standards is to amend the way we live. Our lives should line up with God’s righteousness rather than with any contemporary or traditional views. Changing our character is more important than changing our constitution.

Presidents of the United States are much more than the leaders of the Executive Branch of government. They should be the moral spokespersons and examples of the best of America to our nation and to the world. Yes, we want a president who does a good job but we also want a president who is a good person.

My definition of a mentor is "someone you get to know so well that you could predict how that person would behave in a situation that he/she has never faced." It's the same for a future president. Not that we can exactly predict future behavior but that we get to know the person through the electoral process so that we have a sense of future behavior.

I'm looking for a candidate who will be wise in making decisions and persuasive in communicating those wise decisions. Someone who has demonstrated that wisdom under past pressures and in past crises. Someone who will seek counsel but have an inner compass that will be steady in uncertainty.

So, how do I try to figure out who will be like this? Full disclosure! The more I know about his/her faith, relationships and track record the better I am equipped to project future leadership. Of course I would like that person to align with my own faith and values but I know that exact alignment is unlikely to ever happen. So, I must adjust to the best person with the best alignment.

Presidents of the United States are much more than the leaders of the Executive Branch of government. They should be the moral spokespersons and examples of the best of America to our nation and to the world. Yes, we want a president who does a good job, but we also want a president who is a good person.

My definition of a mentor is "someone you get to know so well that you could predict how that person would behave in a situation that he/she has never faced." It's the same for a future president. Not that we can exactly predict future behavior but that we get to know the person through the electoral process so that we have a sense of future behavior.

I'm looking for a candidate who will be wise in making decisions and persuasive in communicating those wise decisions. Someone who has demonstrated that wisdom under past pressures and in past crises. Someone who will seek counsel but have an inner compass that will be steady in uncertainty.

So, how do I try to figure out who will be like this? Full disclosure! The more I know about his/her faith, relationships and track record, the better I am equipped to project future leadership. Of course I would like that person to align with my own faith and values, but I know that exact alignment is unlikely to ever happen. So, I must adjust to the best person with the best alignment.