Tim's column is an excellent one. Having a column on religion is a great idea. Burt Saxon
Milford, CT

This essay is a classic example of why most of us atheists or secularists are convinced that the religious have brains which have turned to pudding under the unrelenting, unreasoning propaganda regime that is organized religion. It's hard to be inspired in the presence of an intellect so confused and subjective on so many levels; the assumptions about the involvement of some "god" in all of your moral deliberations--I thought one of the elements of courage was taking responsibility for the actions you know are yours--the insinuations about the actions of vague "politicians" that doesn't seem to match any specific politicians we're focused on, making us wonder what he's referring to. Encapsulating your world view in somebody else's quotations isn't a healthy habit, it's a form of mental prison.

As for the point being made, however badly, I think McCain is ripest for this discussion--a man who has nothing in life left to fear, and yet diminishes himself by backtracking from his previous courageous stands against the Bush evil because he fears losing a campaign. It's instructive to see what a man fears, but in the end, most of us voters know we might not be any more courageous in the same circumstances. I'm not sure a person who has no fear is preferable, especially if their courage is based on an arrogant and unexamined belief in some "god" that excuses them from all further reflection...

You said "To exude fearlessness in public life does not require recourse to the language of religion, but it does require a faith in oneself and in a God of comfort and care." This is exactly the kind of drivel that makes atheists cringe. Berlief in god is not required for anything except to be counted among the believers. This staggering anti-atheist bigotry is just disgusting.

Plus, we already have a crypto-fascist President who believes your drivel and has just about destroyed everything that was good about this country.

Censorship Alert. The WAPO censors are out today. They allow this bigoted post but will not allow selected criticism of it. A once great newspaper, now just the lackey of the neocons.

And then they appeared. Thanks

Hillary is nothing but a failed third rate First Lady. Tammy Wynette in a pant suit.

Many people certainly take strength in a collective belief in a comforting God, and if you need an external prop to your sense of self worth, by all means use it. But saying that the ability to appear fearless in public is predicated not only on a sense of self worth, but faith in an intangible such as God is an abhorrent affront to the strength of humanity. It's your life, and no one and no thing can dictate what you need to be strong and conquer fear. Use your mind, let go of fear, and do it for yourself for a change!

ATT: D Z

Ah, you'll get used to it!

JOVEZ ET AL:
Its usually customary to write words people can understand, as a part of thoughtful and logical communication; i.e., you're probably bipolar and dillusional. don't do anything else today until you see a doctor.

On the essay:
As an agnostic (not atheist), I nevertheless am in agreement with RICH.

Tim, aka FLOBEE with the FROBEE, step off the high horse and stop preaching to the choir. If you want a message thats useful, stop talking (albiet far more coherently than JOVEZ) in insider "faith" speak, as it undermines the value of your message (my world is not black and white, so I still GOT your message). You are correct that we non religious types do believe in a higher order of human qualities, and that we want All of our social leaders to be the embodiment of THOSE QUALITIES. Dropping all those biblical and religous intelectual comments makes me want to puke in YOUR mouth.

A thought to take away:
Will your god let G.W.Bush off the hook for his sins as president, so long as he brought more believers into the fold while in office?

The 23rd Psalm is the most recognized chapter in the Bible. It is often not completely sited. I post it here in its entirety for those who may not be familiar with its comforting text.

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Rich:
"It's hard to be inspired in the presence of an intellect so confused and subjective on so many levels."

Hear! Hear!

Music Maestro -dirge-
In these troubled times that try man's soul
When all but the wealthiest go on the dole
And every minister and Ayatollah now alive
Anxiously look forward to the federal tithe

Not to worry my friend, never fret or fear
For Barak with his plan will soon be here
If you don't know the words just keep humming
It's gotta be as good as the second coming

Housing's collapsed and the market's in a rut
The world can be ruled with steel from Krupt
There's just one smart thing left for to say
Fall on your knees, alls left is to pray

There is a time to fear. It is when you see us heading toward the Gates of Hell that John McCain is willing to take us to.

Agnostics and atheists would do well to ignor those religions and religious people they hate and read the words of Jesus. They will see that no sect is following him as they are commanded. To judge Jesus and God by people who are not following is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

We need to act when we see a need for understanding. It is good to fear that misguided preachers guide our leaders to bring in GREAT TRIBULATION in this world. I sent this to the president with my divine-way website and address.

Subject: Warning - Iran - Israel - False Prophets

Reference: New York Times February 27

Mega-Church Pastor in Texas Backs McCain
By Elisabeth Bumiller

SAN ANTONIO — Senator John McCain got support on Wednesday from an important corner of evangelical Texas when the pastor of a San Antonio mega-church, Rev. John C. Hagee, endorsed Mr. McCain for president. Mr. Hagee, who argues that the United States must join Israel in a preemptive, biblically prophesized military strike against Iran that will lead to the second coming of Christ, praised Mr. McCain for his pro-Israel views.

MY REPLY:

God promises that false prophets will arise saying I (Jesus) am Christ and shall deceive many. We must learn to recognize a true prophet and a false prophet to be saved. The false prophet is of the devil who Jesus said came to "steal, kill and destroy." When you see loss, death and destruction, that is not from Jesus.

Jesus said to "turn the other cheek," "bless them that curse you", "whatsoever things you ask in Jesus' name you shall receive." If you pray that God will protect you, and you believe, you don't start a fight; you trust that no matter how close the attack seems, God will not fail. When you interfere, you put yourself in the devil's territory and he can bring that which you fear upon you. It is the law of God. This is where "faith is the victory that overcomes the world."

God said, "I will cut my work short in righteousness." God has always stirred up a nation against Israel when they allied themselves with other nations for protection. They deny their God and God will not fight for them; but if they accept the whole Bible which also the prophet Muhammad was told to confirm, they will find God fighting for them and the enemy will be like a night vision, for God has spoken it.

Iran and Israel will surely usher in the second coming of Christ who is the word of God. If either of them will trust God, turn from their wicked ways, seek peace and shun war, the word of God is revealed in His deliverance and the glory of God will cover the land.

If, however, either nation does a pre-emptive strike, they deny Jesus Christ and His God so Christ cannot come until after a seven year period of GREAT TRIBULATION which Pastor Hagee thinks he and his congregation will not be here to see. That is the lie of Satan who loves not the things that be of God and deceives the people into thinking they are right before God.

The true prophet says Jesus' words, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word out of the mouth of God." and the true prophet will live by the whole Bible. His words will be sweet and uplifting, bringing peace and forgiveness in all things.

The false prophet will say those same words, but tell the people they don't have to follow them now since Jesus died on the cross. His words will be harsh toward those who do not yet understand. He will fight his battles the way a non-believer does, but he will pray first. That is double minded and the Bible says, “think not that that man shall receive anything.”

A false prophet will choose a man of superstition and war to be president and leader over the nation and the world, for the devil seeks destruction and war and not peace.

The true prophet will remind the people that the people of God are commanded to seek and choose godly leaders, those who promote peace and faith in the word of God as ruler over the nation.

I thank Pastor Hagee, John McCain and God for the opportunity to show that God gave us freedom of choice, to obey and be blessed, or disobey and be cursed. False prophets come, so we can have a choice. Leviticus 26 is a law of God; by it you can know the past, the present, and the future.

Jesus' message was that not those that say "Lord, Lord" shall inherit eternal life, but they that do the will of my Father in heaven.

Marie Devine
Kansas City, MO 64128-1527 USA
divine-way

GOD HAS SOLUTIONS TO WORLD PROBLEMS WE CREATED BY IGNORING HIS WISDOM.
You are welcome to post this on your blogs and websites.

Marie Devine:

The God with all that wisdom you're talking about the one in the burning bush?

http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul explains the wisdom of calling that being God. Stupidity is the wisdom of calling "man on fire" God.

Dear Dr Shriver

You wrote, "When I was a child, my father used to quote St. Augustine: "Pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us." That's the kind of wisdom that produces fearlessness—an impassioned desire to do everything in your own power to make a difference and a resolute faith that reminds you that the ultimate work is God's."

I feel so deeply moved by your words. How much we need to remember that no matter who we are and what we do - we need to pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on us. Working without wishing God's will to be done makes it difficult to deal with failure, working as if everything depended on God makes it impossible for God to use us as His instruments, for God needs our hands, our hearts and minds to do His work on earth. 'Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven' we need to do our bit so that the earthly kingdoms may more and more resemble the kingdom God would create on earth if His will was always done.

I wish for the Americans to elect the President God wants for the US and the rest of the world. May the people of America be guided in their choice by God's wisdom. May all Americans listen to the still small voice of God when they listen to election campaign speeches, and listen to the still small voice before deciding whom they will vote for.

I wish for God's will to be done in the election of the next American president!

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

Errata:

"Working without wishing God's will to be done makes it difficult to deal with failure, working as if everything depended on God makes it impossible for God to use us as His instruments, for God needs our hands, our hearts and minds to do His work on earth."

I meant that it is possible (NOT impossible) for God to use us as His instruments when we work as if everything depended on us. God does not send angels to do what God has given us the skills and ability to do. In this side of eternity He wants our best contribution, He needs our hands, our hearts, our minds to work with and through.

Like you Tim, I love the 23rd Psalm, and your eloquent words that make us contemplate every word... All the poverty and destitution around us, sometimes gives rise to the question, “Doesn’t God take care of His sheep?”

If we look deep into the meaning of the words of the Psalms, many answers (including the one above) can be answered. The word “want” in the sentence, “I shall not want”, has a broader meaning than we usually understand in the English language. Those sheep long for nothing, regardless if they get everything they want or not. They put their entire well-being into the hands of their shepherd. Sheep are some of the meekest and most vulnerable to prey, yet like you said, they are fearless. The Psalmist also tells us to persevere even “through the valley of the shadow of death”, and we can do so with the peace that comes from only God. Yes, God does care for His sheep. David wrote this Psalm and he had gone through more than his share of adversity. My husband came from a family who had sheep. He has a plethora of funny stories about how stupid sheep are; we humans are like sheep in a multitude of ways.

I also agree with your take on the current political snowball fight. If you have time to read all the speeches and news articles without having to help with homework or work on your own; watch an entire debate without hearing “mom, I need. . . ”; understand all the issues and the positions of the candidates between cooking, cleaning and laundry; dissect and analyze the democrat and republican parties while preparing for a PTO meeting; and still do volunteer work, go to work, spend time with the family and take a bath – then I must be doing something wrong. I can’t. I need to hear succinct, concise and truthful exchanges between the delegates. Not a verbose and long-winded argotic discourse.

I pray that our country regains faith in leadership, and opens their hearts, minds and souls to the power of faith in God. Communist countries rule by fear and planned confusion, not Democratic countries. . .right?

Like you Tim, I love the 23rd Psalm, and your eloquent words that make us contemplate every word... All the poverty and destitution around us, sometimes gives rise to the question, “Doesn’t God take care of His sheep?”

If we look deep into the meaning of the words of the Psalms, many answers (including the one above) can be answered. The word “want” in the sentence, “I shall not want”, has a broader meaning than we usually understand in the English language. Those sheep long for nothing, regardless if they get everything they want or not. They put their entire well-being into the hands of their shepherd. Sheep are some of the meekest and most vulnerable to prey, yet like you said, they are fearless. The Psalmist also tells us to persevere even “through the valley of the shadow of death”, and we can do so with the peace that comes from only God. Yes, God does care for His sheep. David wrote this Psalm and he had gone through more than his share of adversity. My husband came from a family who had sheep. He has a plethora of funny stories about how stupid sheep are; we humans are like sheep in a multitude of ways.

I also agree with your take on the current political snowball fight. If you have time to read all the speeches and news articles without having to help with homework or work on your own; watch an entire debate without hearing “mom, I need. . . ”; understand all the issues and the positions of the candidates between cooking, cleaning and laundry; dissect and analyze the democrat and republican parties while preparing for a PTO meeting; and still do volunteer work, go to work, spend time with the family and take a bath – then I must be doing something wrong. I can’t. I need to hear succinct, concise and truthful exchanges between the delegates. Not a verbose and long-winded argotic discourse.

I pray that our country regains faith in leadership, and opens their hearts, minds and souls to the power of faith in God. Communist countries rule by fear and planned confusion, not Democratic countries. . .right?

I find the last three paragraphs of this column...

Passing ironic. :)

Answer from an honest heart: Ever lied (even once)? Stolen (value is irrelevant)? Then you're a lying thief. Bad news huh? There's more. Have you had sex outside of marriage? If so, you're a fornicator. Jesus said "Whosoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart". If you have hated someone, the Bilbe says you're a murderer. What's more, you have a consience (con-science means: with knowledge), so when you sin, you do it with knowledge it's wrong. Bearing in mind that God is perfect, and that He has seen your thought life; when you stand before Him on Judgment Day, will you be innocent or guily? You know you will be guilty and end up in Hell. Perhaps you don't believe that. That means there's more bad news for you because it will happen anyway no matter what you believe. That brings us to the good news: "God commended His love to us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Jesus Christ took your punishment, then He rose from the dead and defeated the grave. That's good news because if you repent and trust Him, God will forgiven you and grant you everlasting life--what better news could there be! So, read the Bible daily and obey what you read, and God will never let you down.

God Bless.

God Bless All!!!!