Yesterday, after class a few of my students invited me out for coffee. It was quite flattering actually, in view of how rarely something like that happens!Knowing that I am retiring, and have chosen what they regard as self-imposed exile in (Florida) a mysterious land far away, which is unknown and mysterious to them (and in many ways to me as well), they wanted me to tell them about my plans. But before saying goodbye, one young lady said she wanted to know about my biggest FEAR for the future. Was it my health? …finances? …loneliness? …our political climate?
In as much as it was a genuine and sincere question, I decided to answer it; and told her that I was very, VERY concerned about the pervasiveness of the intrusions of organized religion into American government. Not American LIFE -- American GOVERNMENT! And, of course, anyone who has been paying attention is well aware of it. In my newly adopted "home state" of Florida the legislature is currently discussing the use of tax-generated funds as subsidies to churches for social (?) programs!!! While I am NOT against the concept of freedom of religion, I am terrified at the notion of a theocracy! You don't need to be a genius to understand that you simply cannot have freedom of religion unless you also have the freedom to choose no religion!
This morning, in my email, I received the attached graphic from someone thinking that I would see it as a sign of a positive development in America. Frankly, I am scared, I am VERY, VERY scared!
And, I can't help wondering what might happen to those folks who choose to pray to a different (minority) diety -- like, say, Jehovah, Allah, Budda, or in my own case, my pet rock Herbie!
As a final thought, you may want to spend a moment or two on a quotation by Napoleon when asked about the purpose of religion. He responded quite candidly by saying... "the main purpose of religion is to keep the poor from murdering the rich!"
Amen!
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