This morning, on a local NPR station, I heard what I assume is a country representative (political representative) going on about his current proposed legislation to require the pledge of allegiance in schools. This wasn't particularly interesting in and of itself, except that he kept using a term that absolutely fascinates me.
The God-Haters (I think he also mentioned moral-haters).
God's cool and all, but I know this man would classify me as a god-hater (he kept using the term over and over and over to describe anyone who was against the pledge of allegiance - I wonder if he even realizes that relatively speaking, "under god" is a recent addition to the pledge). He was going on about America as a Christian founded country and yada yada yada.
Even though he's out in the West Valley somewhere, I hope there's a chance for some public hearing on this. Just so I can give the li'l old speech that "yes, this is America. This is a diverse place. Built on a mediocre constitution and a terrific bill of rights. We have freedom of religion here. We keep forgetting about that (ie - why were the Mormons chased out of the United States if we do have freedom of religion? why did political leaders sign on to the assasination of church leaders? why do members of one church burn down other churches? why do people burn crosses?). And if we're one nation under God, which God is this? The God of "thou shalt not kill"? Where was the God of Thou-Shalt-Not-Kill when smallpox laden blankets were given to the Native Americans? Where was the God of "thou shalt not kill" when brother took up arms against brother in the bloodiest war in our nation's history? Where was the God of "thou shalt not steal" when settlers continued to overtake the native american lands ("Oh, you have no concept of ownership? Oh, that will come in handy later." [Eddie Izzard])? Where was the God of "love thy neighbor" when men and women and children were held in chains under slavery? Where was the God of "love thy neighbor" when segregation was (and in some places, continues to be) rampant? Where was the God of "love thy neighbor" when honest Japanese Americans were held in our own internment camps during the second world war? Where is the God of "love thy neighbor" when Americans send anthrax-laden letters to American abortion clinics? People are doing a lot of terrible things in the name of this supposed American God - but it's not any God I'll sign up to believe in.
At the same time, other people are doing a lot of good things in the name of their God (whomever it may be). Good for them. And seriously, who would you rather go to Church with - someone who'd call you names like "God Hater", or someone who says "Bring all your good. We'll make you even better" (a near-exact quote of LDS President Gorden B. Hinckley, made on Larry King Live). While I'm not generally one to go to church, I'll go with the latter. Or my Grandpa's minister, who always called him "Milo, the hero of our little church"; a minister who was always quick to find beauty and joy instead of fear and malice.
God-Haters. God's not the problem. It's Man.
Likewise - God's not the virtue. It's Man.
And I shall remain divided - the misanthropic humanist.