J. Brent Walker
Executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee

J. Brent Walker

Walker is also a member of the Supreme Court Bar, an ordained minister and professor at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

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Religious Liberty for Me and Thee

Every religious tradition has the capacity for both good and evil, suggests Charles Kimball in his work, When Religion Becomes Evil. Indeed, the passion and truth claims associated with religious belief make religion susceptible to extremes. This week, as we remember the events of 9/11, we cannot escape the stark reminders of the dangers inherent in religious extremism and the dire consequences that emerge when religious zeal fuses with coercive power.

We all — male and female, Democrat and Republican, the religious and those who choose no religion, the religious extremists and those who express their faith differently — would do well to hear and digest the principle of robust and genuine religious liberty for all.

America is one of the most religious and most religiously diverse nations on the face of the earth. America’s commitment to religious freedom implies a responsibility to respect the religious liberty of others. Despite our religious passion and pluralism, we have been able to avoid the religious conflicts that have punctuated history and plague much of the world today. Blaise Pascal reminds us that “men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” We need to understand that, however sure we think we are of our position, the other person at least has something to say.

Our goal should be the greatest amount of religious freedom and zero tolerance for violence in the name of religion. It requires that the fear of terror and Islamist extremism not serve as kindling for Christian theocratic tendencies, which is why, in the days following the events of September 11, the Baptist Joint Committee urged that the government use language that is consistent with the role of civil government. Being careful, that is, not to sow seeds of hate, cast blame where it does not belong nor seek vengeance instead of justice.

There is little doubt that the vast majority of the world’s religions are centrally and historically rooted in the teachings associated with love and respect for humanity. In light of this reality and on the anniversary of 9/11, let us be reminded that we all can find common ground if we strive to find it.

By J. Brent Walker  |  September 13, 2007; 8:55 AM ET
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i believe in religious liberty, but although i don't plan to vote for mitt romney, i think since they reject birth control, that is reason for not voting for him, & i've never heard him dissassociate himself from that.
dean

Posted by: leonard dean mccracken | September 19, 2007 12:42 PM
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Don't miss the articles on the front page her at the WPost;

under the heading "More non believers speaking out".

Very encouraging reading.Keep it up non believers.

Just keep on making sense.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 15, 2007 2:41 PM
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This conundrum CAN be resolved... quickly... easily... economically... once and for all.

My simple solution requres only that for one whole month, every newspaper in the free world devote its front page to cartoons ridiculing Allah (peace on him) and Mohammed (peace on him, too). By the end of that time, all of Islam will have self-destructed in a paroxysm of snits, hissy-fits and terminal apoplexy. WARNING: This will not be pretty... but the world will be a much better place for it.

My only regret in this is that I cannot think of a similarly uncomplicated, cost-effective and efficient stratagem to dismantle Christianity... but, oh well... one thing at a time. One only does what one can.

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Hi,

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to spread much more of the love and forgiveness of Christ in our talk and our walk. God Bless.

Posted by: Lucy Smith | September 14, 2007 5:24 PM
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Thanks for your comments which are right on target and the great work that the Baptist Joint Committee is doing. My concern in this twisted meshing of the political and religious interests, is that we seem to have lost the prophetic role of religion in calling our governmental leaders to accountability. We go from extreme associations with the polticial, such as the religious right, or to the other extreme of hands off. Where in is the religious establishment's voice on Iraq and war that confronts the political and military interests and establishments? Likewise, there are many other examples, like hunger and corporate food monopolies or inequity in healthcare, where we seem to never get beyond words such as we write in these emails and articles. The trend appears to be to write a new book. Sounding off has taken the place of sound responsibility by religious establishments of all faith groups in holding political leaders to standards of justice, peace, and economic opportunities for all. Our words have too often blotted out our marriage with a capitalitic economy that may be more deadly than a marriage between religion and government. How does religion today say to the David's of our generation, "You are the Man!!!"What do you think?

Posted by: Caby Byrne | September 14, 2007 8:47 AM
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Thanks for your comments which are right on target and the great work that the Baptist Joint Committee is doing. My concern in this twisted meshing of the political and religious interests, is that we seem to have lost the prophetic role of religion in calling our governmental leaders to accountability. We go from extreme associations with the polticial, such as the religious right, or to the other extreme of hands off. Where in is the religious establishment's voice on Iraq and war that confronts the political and military interests and establishments? Likewise, there are many other examples, like hunger and corporate food monopolies or inequity in healthcare, where we seem to never get beyond words such as we write in these emails and articles. The trend appears to be to write a new book. Sounding off has taken the place of sound responsibility by religious establishments of all faith groups in holding political leaders to standards of justice, peace, and economic opportunities for all. Our words have too often blotted out our marriage with a capitalitic economy that may be more deadly than a marriage between religion and government. How does religion today say to the David's of our generation, "You are the Man!!!"What do you think?

Posted by: Caby | September 14, 2007 8:45 AM
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A world banking system was being set up here... a superstate controlled by international bankers, acting together to enslave the world for their own pleasure. The Fed has usurped the government. --Louis McFadden

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There is something behind the throne greater then the King himself. --Sir William Pitt, House of Lords 1770

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The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes. --Benjamin Dislaeli, English Statesman 1844

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The real truth of the matter is that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government since the days of Andrew Jackson. --Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President 1933


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Our great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is privately concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. Who necessarily, by the very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom. --Woodrow Wilson

Posted by: Peacetroll | September 14, 2007 6:34 AM
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It was a terrible day (911) when US buildings were bombed and innocent individual died and their surviving families were traumatised.

It was sad to see Moslems demonised. The implication is that they had a communal responsibility for these wrongs and that all of them supported these actions.

A good religious approach is treating others as you would have them treat you. I assume that Islam is full of decency and that its people are no better or worse than good Christians and good Jews. Bigotry breeds bigotry. Why wouldn't it?

Too many people in the US are treating Moslems indecently and expecting them to be carbon copies of 'good Americans'. Of course, I don't share that presumption because I see it as cruel and disrespectful of people who are different to me.

Posted by: Robert James | September 14, 2007 2:08 AM
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It was a terrible day (911) when US buildings were bombed and innocent individual died and their surviving families were traumatised.

It was sad to see Moslems demonised. The implication is that they had a communal responsibility for these wrongs and that all of them supported these actions.

A good religious approach is treating others as you would have them treat you. I assume that Islam is full of decency and that its people are no better or worse than good Christians and good Jews. Bigotry breeds bigotry. Why wouldn't it?

Too many people in the US are treating Moslems indecently and expecting them to be carbon copies of 'good Americans'. Of course, I don't share that presumption because I see it as cruel and disrespectful of people who are different to me.

Posted by: Robert James | September 14, 2007 2:08 AM
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It was a terrible day (911) when US buildings were bombed and innocent individual died and their surviving families were traumatised.

It was sad to see Moslems demonised. The implication is that they had a communal responsibility for these wrongs and that all of them supported these actions.

A good religious approach is treating others as you would have them treat you. I assume that Islam is full of decency and that its people are no better or worse than good Christians and good Jews. Bigotry breeds bigotry. Why wouldn't it?

Too many people in the US are treating Moslems indecently and expecting them to be carbon copies of 'good Americans'. Of course, I don't share that presumption because I see it as cruel and disrespectful of people who are different to me.

Posted by: Robert James | September 14, 2007 2:07 AM
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Posted by: Anonymous | September 13, 2007 4:27 PM
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Posted by: Anonymous | September 13, 2007 4:26 PM
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Mr. J. Brent Walker,

The demographic winter is here.

Aging workforce in the US.
geocities(dot)com/demographic_crash

Website with good information on the subject.
Welcome.

Have a nice day.

Sincerely,
Solange Miller

Posted by: Solange Miller | September 13, 2007 3:02 PM
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Dear Brent,

One of the best posts I've seen in this space from a religious person. Very well said and I agree with Rev. Seals that yours seems to be a voice of reason and of Norrie's draft Brent for Pope movement.

Posted by: Former Christian | September 13, 2007 12:51 PM
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No doubt about it, "This week, as we remember the events of 9/11, we cannot escape the stark reminders of the dangers inherent in religious extremism."

You've probably heard the worn out expression, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" but do you realize how true it is. 9-11 is a crystal clear example of the best intentions one can possibly have, serving God. And the good intentions go beyond that to the very selfish, "go to heaven when I die" intention. The perpetrators of 9-11 had both of those laudable intentions.

I refer you to http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul because I don't want to copy all that here and it includes OFFICIAL pictures I can't copy to here in any event.

I get a lot of criticism for continuing to reference that web site. I keep doing it in hopes of getting some rebut of it from religious authorities like, "Baptist Joint Committee" in spite of all the nasty comments it brings me.

Let me be very pointed and direct. Was that really God in the burning bush? Have you ever considered the possibility it was, as Mr Hunt a southerner himself says, the biggest Devil of them all, Lucifer? I desperately need and I'm sure others like me that have been swayed by his arguments, we need some official rebut so we can be saved. Are you sure worshiping that being leads to salvation and not hell? How sure are you?

I'll say this much in support of the supernatural being in the burning bush being Devil and not God as advertised. God is almighty and gets everything God wants by simply willing it, created the universe by God's almighty will for example. I can't help but notice that NOT almighty Devil needs people to do His dirty work, fly airplanes into tall buildings, kill firstborn sons that are heirs to the throne, etc. You are aware that Allah is the being in the ball of fire, the one Moses made the deal with to become the most important person that ever lived, save Jesus if you must.

Thank you in advance.

Posted by: BGone | September 13, 2007 11:48 AM
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This essay should be posted in every church, school, government office in the country.

Posted by: Paul R. Cooper | September 13, 2007 10:56 AM
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The idea that mixing aid and faith is violence is the ultimate BS. Its not moral or Christian to demand comversion before giving someone food, education etc, but its still not violence unless you are blocking alternative aid.
If you simply mix a message of faith with the food its not even immoral. To try and convert other members of other religions isn't immoral for anyone. Any religion or group that trys to use force to prevent conversions or attempted to conversion to Christianity, to Islam, to Hindism, to dog worships, is simply suffering from a complete lack of faith in their own religion. If you have the truth, it will win out. Any follower of even the True(tm) Religion, if one exists, that follows that religion for any other reason than an informed understanding of the religion is already faithless.

Posted by: Muddy | September 13, 2007 10:12 AM
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Thank you for a fine essay.

Now if Christians could just see the whole picture.

Just as you say, some religions joyfully use violence in the name of religion - so do the Christians use a more subtle form of violence except that they do NOT see it.

For Christians they use foreign policy at a government level, and they use food, money, aid and jobs at the local church level in the poorest regions of the world to make converts to the Christian religion.

Christians thinks the power of money is okay... just as fundamentalists from the Middle East and Pakistan think violence is okay to win the world to their way of thinking.

Wake up and truly become Christian. Help without wanting the world to repay you by becoming Christians. By asking people to convert you are just a tradesman - trading the money you have for peoples' souls.

Posted by: Ann Khan | September 13, 2007 9:57 AM
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Thank you for a fine essay.

Now if Christians could just see the whole picture.

Just as you say, some religions joyfully use violence in the name of religion - so do the Christians use a more subtle form of violence except that they do NOT see it.

For Christians they use foreign policy at a government level, and they use food, money, aid and jobs at the local church level in the poorest regions of the world to make converts to the Christian religion.

Christians thinks the power of money is okay... just as fundamentalists from the Middle East and Pakistan think violence is okay to win the world to their way of thinking.

Wake up and truly become Christian. Help without wanting the world to repay you by becoming Christians. By asking people to convert you are just a tradesman - trading the money you have for peoples' souls.

Posted by: Ann Khan | September 13, 2007 9:54 AM
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Brent:
It is good for America that you are now a panelist at this Newsweek blog. BDiddy Weave said it well getting the word out at Bl.com; you do indeed join an August Body.
In coming days looking for you and or Melissa Rogers to parse the Monday Sept 10 www.religion.usatoday.org feature oped by the Notre Dame proff.
I am wondering what your nuances are on his closing examples of proper issues for people of faith to mobilize on in the public square.
Sfox

Posted by: Stephen Fox | September 12, 2007 2:32 PM
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Dear Pope Brent I,

If Baptists had a Pope (a good argument could be made that such trends exists in certain strains of Baptists), I'd have to agree that you would be a pretty good pick.

However, thank goodness we still believe in the priesthood of each believer -- giving each Baptist both the rights and duties of the pope, bishops, and priests -- and in religious liberty for all. Your insights help us both to articulate these concepts to others more cohesively and understandably, as well as live them out more authenticly.

Keep preaching it to us Pope Brent!

Congregant Malone

Posted by: Dan Malone | September 12, 2007 1:54 PM
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Brent - Thank you for your astute and articulate reflection on the critical and urgent need for religious liberty for ALL. Your remarks will be finding their way into sermons here at Prairie Baptist Church. I am delighted that you will be a contributing voice to the On Faith converssation and look forward to being enlightened, challenged and inspired often. Thank you. Heather Entrekin, Senior Pastor

Posted by: Heather Entrekin | September 12, 2007 1:13 PM
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J. Brent Walker consistently expresses valid positions with clarity. His is a voice of reason deserving of a hearing.

Posted by: Elaine Bleakney | September 11, 2007 4:48 PM
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Brent,

As we pause to remember the atrocities we endured six years ago, I thank you for your thoughtful and eloquent comments. May we endeavor to preserve and protect our nation's cherished religious freedom and fight the tyranny of religious extremism.

Blessings to you and to the Baptist Joint Committee.

Posted by: Rev. Willie J. Seals Jr. | September 11, 2007 3:43 PM
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Brent, as usual, is spot on, but I also agree with Michael's point that we need to go further. In particular, "We also need to reject violence in the name of secular ideologies and violence in the name of the nation-state as strongly as we reject religiously motivated violence."

There are two entirely separate evils here. One is violence toward other human beings, and the other is the use of religious language and imagery to cloak government actions with an appearance of virtue. When the government brings the two together by seeking to justify its bloodshed by either a warning of the dangers posed by religious extremists or an appeal to religious virtues, the evil of violence increases exponentially, as does the evil of cloaking actions in false religious virtue.

Posted by: John T. Mitchell | September 11, 2007 3:14 PM
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Rev. Mr. Walker,

Thank you for your fine essay.

Why do so few (as far as I can tell) of your co-religionists, and sympathetically-joined denominations, share your enlightened thoughts on religious freedom and tolerance for those of differing views?

I hope you will proselytize among them for your views.

Any chance of the Baptists deciding to have a Baptist Pope and making you Pope Brent I?

I'd support that.

Best wishes.

Posted by: Norrie Hoyt | September 11, 2007 2:04 PM
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It is sad, distressing -- even horrifying -- when a nation uses it's predominant religious tradition to justify it's military position -- as we see now, but also have seen throghout history.

If one does not adhere to the "majority" religious tradition or agree with the current "military position" -- one finds oneself labeled "unpatriotic" at best or a "traitor" at worst.

Thankfully there are voices such as that of Brent Walker's -- who courageously stand for religious liberty, a concept I fear is fading from the American consciousness.

Posted by: Karen Wood, Waco, TX | September 11, 2007 1:54 PM
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It is sad, distressing -- even horrifying -- when a nation uses it's predominant religious tradition to justify it's military position -- as we see now, but also have seen throghout history.

If one does not adhere to the "majority" religious tradition or agree with the current "military position" -- one finds oneself labeled "unpatriotic" at best or a "traitor" at worst.

Thankfully there are voices such as that of Brent Walker's -- who courageously stand for religious liberty, a concept I fear is fading from the American consciousness.

Posted by: Karen Wood, Waco, TX | September 11, 2007 1:53 PM
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"Our goal should be the greatest amount of religious freedom and zero tolerance for violence in the name of religion."

What does it mean to have zero tolerance for violence in the name of religion? What are the consequences for violating this principle?

Posted by: Boatman | September 11, 2007 1:33 PM
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Thanks Brent. Keep up the good work of defending the separation of church and state. May we all be reminded today that our religious fervor is a thin line from religious extremism. May we all learn a great deal from the horror of 9/11/2001.

Posted by: Scott Conner | September 11, 2007 1:17 PM
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My old friend, Brent Walker, is absolutely right, but I wonder if we need to go farther. As public policy perhaps the goal: The greatest amoung of religious freedom and zero tolerance for violence in the name of religion is the best we do. But as citizens and believers, should not we be encouraging interfaith dialogue at a grassroots level? That way, knowledge of the other leads to mutual respect and curbs the tendencies which lead to violence in the name of religion. If synagogues and churches, mosques and temples, host venues for neighbors of differing faiths to get to know each other as people and to get past the stereotypes of each others' faiths, won't that help us forge a strong rejection of both the attacks of 9/11 (and their motivation in a form of Islamic extremism) and the "Christian" theocratic reaction that came in its wake?

We also need to reject violence in the name of secular ideologies and violence in the name of the nation-state as strongly as we reject religiously motivated violence. Because secular ideologies, including nationalism, often serve as "religious substitutes" and can do just as much damage.

Michael L. Westmoreland-White, Ph.D.
Louisville, KY

Posted by: Michael Westmoreland-White | September 11, 2007 1:17 PM
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Thanks to J. Brent Walker of the Bapttist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty for "Religious Liberty for Me and Thee." Religious liberty and its political corrolary, the separation of church and state, constitute two of the most pressing critical issues in our society. I hope that we will hear more from your writers on this subject.

Walter B. Shurden
Callaway Professor of Christianity
Mercer University
Macon, GA 31207

Posted by: Walter B. Shurden | September 11, 2007 12:42 PM
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