Letter to editor printed 1/2/05
Printed in the Lake Charles American Press:
Dear Editor:
I must take exception to the letter of Meredith Wilson’s in your December 26th edition, in which she claims that Christian principles founded this country. Warped knowledge of history can only lead to warped conclusions.
While it is true that many of the founders of our country were Christians, it is also true that many were Deists. However, that being noted, it is also important to note that this group included many slave owners, proponents of limited voting rights and control based upon land holdings, and believers in second class citizenship for women. But, like their majority belief in Christianity, they did not force these beliefs into our Constitution, for they believed above all in the freedom of choice, including religion, which is not what Ms. Wilson would have us believe. They left these major subjects open to the future, caring, intelligent choices of America. That is why nowhere in the Declaration of Independence, written by a Deist (Jefferson), the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, do they claim this to be “a Christian nation.” They knew better.
Ms. Wilson further claims that the Ten Commandments are a Christian heritage and belong in a courthouse in Alabama. Allow me to give a small religious education to her. The original, and only, Ten Commandments were given to the children of Israel after their flight from Egypt, as written in the Book of Exodus of the Hebrew Bible (not the misnomer given by Christianity, the Old Testament.) While this knowledge might offend or surprise some people, Christianity changed the wording to suit its own purposes. For instance the “original” first commandment states “I am the Lord thy God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Both Catholic and Protestant versions are different from that. The heritage of the Ten Commandments, as given by God to the children Israel, is Jewish, not Christian. I do not believe there were any Christians present at the mountain when these tablets were given.
I have great respect for the believers and followers of the Christian faith. There is much we could all learn from the teachings of Jesus. But the “Tyranny of the Majority” is not one of them.
Very truly yours,
Dear Editor:
I must take exception to the letter of Meredith Wilson’s in your December 26th edition, in which she claims that Christian principles founded this country. Warped knowledge of history can only lead to warped conclusions.
While it is true that many of the founders of our country were Christians, it is also true that many were Deists. However, that being noted, it is also important to note that this group included many slave owners, proponents of limited voting rights and control based upon land holdings, and believers in second class citizenship for women. But, like their majority belief in Christianity, they did not force these beliefs into our Constitution, for they believed above all in the freedom of choice, including religion, which is not what Ms. Wilson would have us believe. They left these major subjects open to the future, caring, intelligent choices of America. That is why nowhere in the Declaration of Independence, written by a Deist (Jefferson), the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, do they claim this to be “a Christian nation.” They knew better.
Ms. Wilson further claims that the Ten Commandments are a Christian heritage and belong in a courthouse in Alabama. Allow me to give a small religious education to her. The original, and only, Ten Commandments were given to the children of Israel after their flight from Egypt, as written in the Book of Exodus of the Hebrew Bible (not the misnomer given by Christianity, the Old Testament.) While this knowledge might offend or surprise some people, Christianity changed the wording to suit its own purposes. For instance the “original” first commandment states “I am the Lord thy God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Both Catholic and Protestant versions are different from that. The heritage of the Ten Commandments, as given by God to the children Israel, is Jewish, not Christian. I do not believe there were any Christians present at the mountain when these tablets were given.
I have great respect for the believers and followers of the Christian faith. There is much we could all learn from the teachings of Jesus. But the “Tyranny of the Majority” is not one of them.
Very truly yours,
posted by Sam Schoolsky | 9:15 PM
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