Religion and ideology they are connected!

Friday – August 20, 2010

Religion and ideology they are connected!

I didn’t like the conversation this week over the FORUM. The reason is that I am uncomfortable talking about religion, because it is special to me. I have faith and I would never say to anyone that they couldn’t worship their own God.

I believe our Constitution sets the proper boundaries and I believe our creator is God. I believe our forefathers had religion in mind when they created the documents that gave us our liberty and freedom. I brought up a word this week that does fit into religion and faith. The word is ideology. Sometimes our ideology gets in the way of our faith and this is why I separate the two. I am perfectly comfortable discussing ideology and having a debate about Conservative versus progressive ideology and which one is better. When religion is discussed, we must consider faith and what that faith is.

This week, there has been a lot of discussion about the mosque that Muslims want to build at Ground Zero. The dissenting side has in their ideology a reason as to why it shouldn’t be built there and the liberal side has in their ideology as to why it should. A big part of the liberal ideology is based on secularism. This is why much of our religion and religious customs are being tossed aside. My ideology says that is wrong especially when one religion that is foreign to this country is given the green light, because of their laws and customs.

Our forefathers never would have let this happen, let alone the secular movement over the past fifty years. The proof is in what they said.

The Mayflower Compact (authored by William Bradford) 1620 Signing of the Mayflower painting Picture of Compact“Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together…”

"I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen." December 25, 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson

Charles Carroll - signer of the Declaration of Independence Portrait of Charles Carroll" Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." [Source: To James McHenry on November 4, 1800.]

In Benjamin Franklin's 1749 plan of education for public schools in Pennsylvania, he insisted that schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern."

Patrick Henry:"Orator of the Revolution." • This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”—The Last Will and Testament of Patrick Henry

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.”
I do not take these words lightly and this is why I am comfortable with speaking about religion in the context of what the founders believed.

When I speak about the President and his religion, we still have a question mark. His religion will dictate his ideology. When you look at how he has treated the war on terrorism, saying the word terrorism will not be used. He has given the enemy asylum and has aided the enemy in their conquest of our society by his actions. He has a diluted brand of religion that took roots in his early childhood. His father was an atheist, his grandfather and grandmother were Muslims. He spent twenty years in the church of the Reverend Wright, which is a Black theology church. I have no problem with this, because some would say that his form of theology is a religion. This can be debated but we will give it the benefit of the doubt. My problem is that he has not leveled with those who put him in office.

His religion is a mystery and his ideology is not. So inferences can be made. The first family has not picked a church to worship in, but he has prayer sessions in the White House. I have no problem with that, but he still has not been specific in his religious preferences. Every President has taken pains to make his religion public and known. This president has kept it a secret.

Every President that has been elected has used the words of God and Christianity in matters of faith and in times when faith mattered. This president has not. If this president is a Muslim he should just come out and say it. If he is an atheist he should come out and admit it. If he believes in black theology, then use it. If he is a Christian, then don’t be afraid of it.

I have offered seven quotes to end the week with. I believe this is proof positive of how we started the discussion of America. Religion is a part of the culture and now ideology might be even more important.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: There are 74 days to raise the question of religion and ideology these are just two more topics to organize around. The economy is still number one but then the Presidents ideology and the progressive ideology has a part in that too. The new unemployment claims for the week hit 500,000 jobs lost.