The separation of church and state has been a
catalyst in guaranteeing freedom to every religious group. This can be better
understood through stark contrasts between pluralistic nations and the nations
where one religion dominates the others. We enjoy religious freedom, precisely
because of our diversity; an antidote to extremism. You practice your faith and
I will do mine.- Mike Ghouse
Twelve Texas Faith Panelists share their
thoughts on separation of church and state
TEXAS FAITH: Is separation of church and
state an idea to keep religious people out of the public arena?
By Wayne Slater/Reporter
11:18 am on September 25, 2012 | Permalink
In a conference call with Christian
conservatives, Gov. Rick Perry dismissed the separation of church and state as
an idea advanced to drive “people of faith from the public arena.” The governor
went on to say Satan is using it to keep Christians from actively engaging in
public policy. “The idea that we should be sent to the sidelines I would
suggest to you is very driven by those who are not truthful, Satan runs across
the world with his doubt and with his untruths and what have you, and one of
the untruths out there is driven – is that people of faith should not be
involved in the public arena.”
The governor’s take on theology and American
history got mixed reviews – at best – from our Texas Faith panel of pastors,
teachers, theologians, lay leaders and religious experts. The recent conference
call was an effort to motivate conservative Christians to vote their values in
November. Perry used language familiar to social conservatives – “spiritual
warfare” and “Christian soldiers” and a growing tide of “secularism and
atheism” – in warning of those making “efforts to remove any trace of religion
from American life.”
The premise of the governor’s comments is
that separation of church and state is sometimes invoked simply to discourage
people (read it: people whose ideas you don’t like) from getting involved in
politics and public policy. Is that true? And, perhaps more to the point, how
do we make sure that doesn’t happen? In our political debate this election
season, what’s the proper balance between warning against theocracy and
encouraging faith in the public square? The Texas Faith panel had some ideas.
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for
Pluralism, Dallas
The separation of church and state has been a
catalyst in guaranteeing freedom to every religious group. Indeed, it is an
incentive to participate in the political process to ensure that one’s rights
are protected, and prevent domination by any group from dictating its terms to
others.
If an attempt is made to infringe on the
rights of others, we all need to stand up for them, just as we did with the
Catholic Church about contraceptives. Most certainly, protection of our rights
depend on protecting the rights of others; a hallmark of enduring
civilizations.
This can be better understood through stark
contrasts between pluralistic nations and the nations where one religion
dominates the others.
In Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan and
other countries, the majority through their deafening silence, continues to
deny the basic religious rights to its minorities. The merciless upper hand of
one religion over the other(s) has undeniably screwed up justice; the source of
anguish, unrest and consequent instability and pain for all.
Compare that to the United States, where the
religious rights of all are protected (relatively). On any given street in
Dallas, you will find places of worship of multiple denominations functioning
together, that was not the case in the United States generations ago, and we
have come a long way, thanks to the separation.
We enjoy religious freedom, precisely because
of our diversity; an antidote to extremism. You practice your faith and I will
do mine.
Governor Perry is perhaps using phrases like
“spiritual warfare” and “Christian soldiers” to whip up support for his
declining political power, and probably may not succeed in his motives, as the
Evangelicals know that the freedom to practice their faith is not trampled.
Religion has been used, abused and misused by politicians throughout the
history of mankind for political gains, Perry is no exception.
We are a land of the free and need to keep it
that way. The separation of church and state is a catalyst that has assured
safer and securer communities in the United States, and we don’t want to
regress from that.
Texas faith is a weekly column,
where panelists from different traditions respond to the issues of the day -
for all the responses, please visit Dallas Morning News at http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/texas-faith-is-separation-of-church-and-state-an-effort-to-keep-religious-people-out-of-the-public-arena.html/
Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest onSean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly atHuffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blogwww.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily
