The Virginian-Pilot
©
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The resolution includes more than 60 historical references to presidents, court rulings, official events and monuments that cite a role or presence of religion in an American context.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
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
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.