Religion is Not the Basis of Our Nation, Religious Tolerance Is!

This great country of ours was founded upon the premise that all religious practices would be tolerated. That was why the pilgrims boarded the Mayflower: To allow them as Christians to leave England and Holland and come to the New World where they would be allowed to worship their god in their own way.

Now here we are after over two hundred years arguing about if an Islamic Lady may or may not cover her face in public places as her religion dictates. We are demanding that Islamic temples fore-go their right to discuss how best to spread their religion. We are making Churches pull down Nativity scenes because they make others feel bad. Have we forgotten that it was through these small churches that we spread the word of racial equality. It was from their pulpits that we spread the need to go to the Holy land during the Crusades, and take back the bastions of Christianity from the Arabs. Perhaps it is because of these historical landmarks that we now oppose the Islamic temples springing up in our neighborhoods. We need to remember that Jesus was a teacher in the Synagogues, and that Mohammed was referencing the Holy Scriptures when he began writing the Koran.

In this great country of ours we have many different types of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Wiccans, Atheists, and Agnostics. What we need is for all of them to respect and tolerate the rest. If someone is celebrating Christmas or Easter and you pass by and don't like it, close your eyes, and your mouth. If you spot a Muslim lady with her face covered look away if it bothers you. If you should wander upon a coven of Wiccans meditating in a grove and it's not on your private land, move on. There are more groves in the forest. If the sound of Islamic prayers and Buddhist chants bother you think what those clanging bells do for them on Sunday morning. When you walk through the mall and hear the repeated renditions of Christmas songs played over and over remember that they have replaced the normal elevator music and it is easier to endure.

When the urge to pass out fliers about your Church, Synagogue, Mosque, Temple, Coven strikes you or it is simply your turn, go for it. However, when that sinner refuses the offer, just move on to the next sinner since there is no shortage. You can't save, convert, inform, or change everyone, so just do your best. Then go home and pray, chant, or meditate to your god and go to bed knowing that you truly did a good deed. My refusal to be saved, converted, or changed is not a mark against your soul. It is a demonstration of my god given right of human freewill.