“Was the United States founded as a Christian nation?”

One of the topics we discussed in Micah was, “Was the United States founded as a Christian nation?”

I am reading Andrew L. Seidel's The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American. I can recommend it wholeheartedly. It is a good read as well as an informative one.  One caveat:  He writes as an atheist as well as an advocate.  It is not intended to be a balanced study.  As someone who has spent over forty years advocating other's positions in a variety of tribunals, I like the approach.

Just this week I found an interesting juxtaposition between the news and a quote from the book.

The news:

Donald Trump emerges from his “meeting” with congressional Democrats and complains (three times I recall) about the “I-word.” I guess with Trump in a different context, this word could be “immigration” or “immorality” rather than impeachment. But context is everything.

The quote from the book was from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The quote:

“Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”

Donald, be afraid; be very afraid.

RACISM IS NOT DEAD; IT MAY NOT EVEN BE SICK.

I had to look at my calendar to make sure this was still 2019 instead of 1919 or, maybe, 1819.

Here is the start to a WAPO article:

"A Georgia mayor is facing bipartisan calls to resign following a report that she dismissed a candidate for a top city position based on his race. Racist remarks from one of her defenders further inflamed the controversy, revealing what some say are outdated racial attitudes long pervasive in a small, predominantly white city.

The drama came to a head Monday in the Jackson County community of Hoschton, after the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Mayor Theresa Kenerly withdrew the application of Keith Henry, a finalist for city administrator, 'because he is black, and the city isn’t ready for this.'” 

Her defender, a good Christian supported her saying:

“I’m a Christian and my Christian beliefs are you don’t do interracial marriage. That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way I believe,” he said. “I have black friends, I hired black people. But when it comes to all this stuff you see on TV, when you see blacks and whites together, it makes my blood boil because that’s just not the way a Christian is supposed to live.” 

I think I missed that section in our Social Principles!

But the most disturbing portion of the above quoted portions is that:

"the controversy, reveal(ed) what some say are outdated racial attitudes long pervasive in a small, predominantly white city."

Now, perhaps this is my misreading of the sentence or maybe it is poorly crafted.  But, if I first read it, the writer says that some say such prejudice is outdated seems to leave some doubt as to its being outdated.  The next we will hear is that there are good people on both sides!!

What I hope the writer meant to say is:

revealing what some say are outdated racial attitudes (that) some say are long pervasive in a small, predominantly white city.

Why not just say it.  These are  are outdated racial attitudes and have been and are long pervasive in every every small, medium and large village, town and city in America.

A mayor reportedly said her city isn’t ready for a black leader.

MAY 1st

Tomorrow (May 1st) is Holocaust Remembrance Day.  When Bob was distributing his  library, one of the books he let me have was Schindler's List.  I have a couple of problems with the book.

First, it is a NOVEL!  (I am not an historian of the holocaust because I just do not know enough.  I am not a student of the holocaust because I do have the academic rigor to pursue such a study.  I am a reader on the subject but- a Novel?)

Second, it is not all that well written and I love good literature.  (I am not a professional writer but enjoy the nuances of the craft immensely.)

But with this book, Bob is still teaching and leading me.

In the book/history/novel (in chapter 24), a Rabbi Menasha Levartov is described as "one of those men who, even in the years of peace, would have advised his congregation that while God may well be honored by the inflexibility of the pious, he might also be honored by the inflexibility of  the sensible."

Which brings me to an article from today's UM News Daily Digest.   The UM News report can be found at https://www.greatplainsumc.org/newsdetail/omaha-confirmation-class-refuses-to-become-members-of-united-methodist-church-12803676


Keep the faith class!  There is a generation coming that has sensibility, courage and a voice.  Also from Bob (Dylan this time):

 Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’

The following is a letter which was read by the youth of the Omaha First UMC during services at what was to be their Confirmation Sunday, April 28.

FROM OUR FRIEND, MARGARET PEDERSON

Dear Mr. Stierle:

I am 97-year old Margaret Pederson writing to you from western Minnesota, my former, as well as present residence.  I attended your class while living with my daughter, Phoebe Wood, in Louisville.

    A young granddaugter who wants to make a difference has sent me something to think about and I want you to know what  she is sending me.  You may know all about this man, but in the event you haven't, I sent this info.

         Pete Buttigieg, mayor of Gary. Indiana is exploring the possibility of running for US president some day.  He is Christian, Rhodes scholar, democrat in a red state, gay.  I have been impressed by the  links my grand daughter sent me, allowing me to  know him via the internet.  I just type in his name, and get interesting material.

         You put out a message inviting us to communicate  our interests, and here is mine.

                                                    For the common good,    

                                                    Margaret Pederson

THANKS

I wanted to thank you all again:

For your support to me and the class over the years:

For being a community where each can SAFELY present his or her views on any subject;

For being a family where you feel free to show your emotions; and

For showing those emotions last Sunday.