A congressional resolution by U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes to designate an American Religious History Week has critics saying the measure ignores the nation’s spiritual pluralism and distorts history.
Forbes, a Republican whose 4th District includes part of South Hampton Roads, filed a nonbinding resolution last month “affirming the rich spiritual and religious history” of the United States.
If approved by the House, Resolution 888 would support a designated week each May “for the appreciation of and education on America’s history of religious faith.” The measure has 31 sponsors and is before a House committee.
The measure was criticized as “meddling in religious issues” by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a nonprofit advocacy group that says the government is supposed to be religiously neutral.
An Americans United news release said the resolution distorts American history to “portray a recurring intersection of religion and government.”
The resolution includes more than 60 historical references to presidents, court rulings, official events and monuments that cite a role or presence of religion in an American context.
The citations range from quotes by Presidents Jefferson and Reagan to the Bible verses at the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Five pages of footnotes give the sources of the information.
Many of the references touch on aspects of Christian spirituality, including the Bible, the trinity, churches and the Gospels. Others simply mention God.
Forbes said Thursday the resolution was his way of countering a massive, “well-orchestrated movement” of “radical” groups out to expunge religious references from public life and government. He declined to name any group.
“This isn’t a resolution honoring Christianity. This is a resolution that looks at faith in the country and goes to the historical facts,” he said.
“Can you find an aspect of American history that is greater in quantity or impact than the religious history of all the faiths in the country?” he added. “The answer is no.”
Forbes’ Web site lists the resolution under “family values” actions taken by the congressman.
The Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United said the measure included “some flatly incorrect statements, including the idea that the Supreme Court has declared this a Christian nation, which it has not.”
He said the resolution “gives no serious consideration to alternative important contributions made by non believers or people of other religious backgrounds.”
Forbes, a self-identified Christian, founded the Congressional Prayer Caucus in 2005 to lobby against what it saw as the erosion of religion from American public life and history.
Forbes said one example of anti-religious bias was last year’s move by the National Cemetery Administration to rule out a flag-folding recital mentioning God at veterans’ funerals in national cemeteries.
After complaints from the public and members of Congress, the agency clarified its position, saying religious content provided by survivors could be read at burials.
Steven G. Vegh, (757) 446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com
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Will you include all Christian History in America
If so, don't forget to include the Salem Witch Trials, the keeping of slaves and the puritanical belief of the inferiority of women. Oh, and don't forget to include how the Native Americans were treated by their Christian Brothers, how their culture was stolen and an attempt made to replace it with the war god of the Israel's.
While we are at it, let's bring out all the good and bad of all religions. Then after that is celebrated maybe we could all sit down and find a common ground from which to establish a true Free Nation Under whatever name of God you have.
Blessings and all that jazz.
Randy Forbes is first and foremost a member of the Church of
Politics, which is just another name for the church of Satan.
Amendment to add
Please contact the Representative at (202) 225 - 6365 and ask him to introduce the following amendments,
Add "whereas, the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli states, "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion...".
Delete the reference to 1854 U.S. House of Rep. statement regarding the need to rely on Christianity in its general principles.
Delete the incorrect statement that the supreme court has declared America a "Christian country, Christian Nation and Christian people"
Additionally, request that the founding fathers be noted as specifically as "Diests" where appropriate.
Congressman Forbes...
You obviously don't have enough to do. Hasn't anyone told you that we have an illegal immigration problem, and we're fighting a war, and the country is facing an economic crisis? Fix those first, please. Or we'll elect someone else with proper priorities.
come on
how is it that anytime anyone ever mentions anything to do with christianity everyone wants to get all up in arms. some people need to get their logic straight before they start making a fool of themselves. the very definition of a pluralistic society supports a move such as this. we have weeks for everything else under the sun nowadays. to my knowledge nobody is being forced into anything or trying to abolish someone else's cause. i support such moves by politicians to step out as long as it sincere and not an attempt at political gain. knowing forbes, i can assure you that his faith is very much real and a central part of who he is. he was a christian long before being a congressman. as far as it being a trivial matter, i can guarantee that he would disagree. there are too many examples of the Lord working in his life and in his opinion the life of our young country too ignore. therefore a week to remind people to remember and investigate for themselves seems highly important and very much UNtrivial
Hopefully Randy will tackle this tough issue...
Hopefully Randy will tackle this tough issue facing Virginia and Merca, and then he'll set his sights on "Pork Rind Awareness" next. God speed Randy!
The Rev. Barry Lynn of
The Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United said the measure included “some flatly incorrect statements, including the idea that the Supreme Court has declared this a Christian nation, which it has not.”
Barry Lyn was incorrect.Barry Lyn hates people like me who won't let histiorial facts be forgotten. But here is at least three Supreme Court Justices who said this is a Christian nation:
Assoc. Justice David Brewer 1892 in the Church of the Holy TrinityvstheUnited States ",1911, Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland reaffirmed Brewers opinion. Even as late as 1952, the LIBERAL Supreme Court Justice, William O Douglas declared we are a religious people and our institutions presuppose a Supreme Being"
historical facts
How many of Forbes' resolutions celebrate the Christian tenets of slavery and women not allowed to vote that our country was founded on? We must not expunge religious references from public life according to Forbes. "This is a resolution that looks at faith in the country and goes to the historical facts,"
I feel sorry
..for any religion that needs the government to validate its existence.
If your religion is "The Truth" it doesn't need a proclamation from the government. It doesn't need statues in court houses. It doesn't need prayer in schools.
Of course, if your religion is just one of many many stories that men and women tell themselves to ward off the dark, a little help goes a long way. And the weaker your religion is, the more help it needs.
I'd still rather
have Forbes as my Representative than Scott.
Go Mr Forbes
Now isn't this a contridiction if he had proposed prayer rooms or a school to teach the islamic faith or allow them to pray NOT one objection wwould be heard. It is just christianity that people seem to object to and want to have removed totally from this country. This country was based from the beginning on the right for religious belief. The Pilgrams left England and came here so they could choose which faith to be able to worship under. I am not saying that the Goverment should condone one faith But let's stop all this bickering toward christianity and move on to more important thing such as proteccting this country from ISLAMIC Terrorist and keeping the hard earned money we work for not being forced to give it up to the Goverment under a disgise of another Social program. NO NEW TAXES WANTED Learn to cut spending and all these PORK BARREL PROGRAMS on both sides of the ISLE.
Forbes' Committees...
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Glad to see our problems are solved
When is Rep Forbes going to role up his sleeves and tackle the tough issues.
Oh, and that goes for Congress, too!
I keep thinking of Forbes as a local small time politician. Sory.
This is more waste of time
Are there not enough real problems for the General Assembly and the Senate to address? I guess we have solved the crime, education, public health and transportation issues, and religious history was the last one left.
Stop this tomfoolery on our time. Stick to real issues that make a difference in our Earthly lives.
religious history week
This sounds really good. And I respect it. But there's going to be a problem. We live in a pluralistic society. We have got to recognize the fact that, particularly with religion, what one set of people thinks is great makes another set want to choke.
American Religious History Week
I agree totally with what Randy Forbes is trying to preserve here. There is so much of the American history being eliminated in our country every day and I can see how easy it is for religion to be one of them. Religion is what started this country in the 1st place and should be taught and reconized for years to come. If nothing is done to preserve these facts for our children the true reason for our existance may be lost forever!
Well... okay
The idea isn't terrible in and of itself, but it seems like a waste of time as well. Even if somehow this passes both houses of Congress the only people that celebrate this week will be those that are already religious. What does it recognize exactly? I think our Congressmen and women need to stop drafting legislation about trivial things like special recognition weeks and focus on things that matter.