Friday, August 10, 2007

Shouted Down

Recently three right-wing evangelicals started shouting down guest Hindu Chaplain Rajan Zed, as he began his opening Congressional prayer in the U. S. Capital. Religious figures from various Christian faiths have said the prayer in the past. Barry Lynn, executive director of religious watchdog group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the protest showed the intolerance of the "religious right." They only want religious liberty and political favoritism for their particular beliefs. Our Constitution guarantees religious freedom for "all" religions but some right-wing groups don't actually believe this. They think Christianity is the only religion that qualifies under our Constitution. Religious prayers of any kind should not be given in our secular government but as long as one religion is allowed then all should be allowed. This is the reason the concept of separation of Church and state was created. The government should not be in the business of promoting any particular religion because it causes prejudice and anger between one religion and another. Could there be a better example than this? Tolerance is fundamental to our form of government. All people and their various religions are equal in the eyes of our constitution. When that principal falls so does our freedom.

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