Government - Neutral or Hostile Toward Christianity

Government - Neutral or Hostile Toward Christianity

Dear Editor:

Is the U.S. Government neutral or hostile toward Christianity?

The Editor of the Arizona Republic asked the above question. The following is my response.

To determine if our government and courts are neutral or hostile towards religion two things are essential.

First we must define religion. It is not religion in the broad, generic sense that attracts hostility in our land, it is evangelical Christianity. It is not Islam, Buddhism, Jewry, or liberal Protestantism that is under siege. Other world religions are actually promoted and encouraged in the name of diversity and pluralism. Even Wiccam and religions of Native Americans receive more toleration than do conservative Christians.

The secular religions, variously known as humanism, atheism and scientism, are actually promoted and encouraged in a shameless way. Our school textbooks freely advocate their doctrines and teachers are expected to teach them in the courses of studied. This is done in the name of academic freedom and "public education." Hostility is directed toward those individuals and churches which take their Christianity seriously and believe the Bible is an authoritative message from God.

Secondly, we must look at the broad spectrum of court decisions and bureaucratic behavior of our governing agencies to see that a pattern of hostility exists. One decision about prayer at sports events does not tell the whole tale. For 40 years we have witnessed an ongoing series of actions that inevitably penalize evangelicals. A few years back the number of court cases and rulings against these churches and individuals numbered over 2500 cases.

The record reveals that the government and the courts are responding to pressure from anti-Christian groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way, who are determined to deny Christians a role in the public life of the nation and the activity of government and her institutions.

Chief Justice Rehnquist, in the highest judicial seat in the nation, clearly sees the truth of the matter. It is a shame that others are so blind.

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