Politics and Religion...

The Relationship Between Politics and Religion

...has been at the root of much of the world's pain. These days we're hearing a lot about this impossible conjunction in the context of our nation's political woes, particularly as regards the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court. It is without a doubt a profoundly important issue, perhaps the most important issue facing Americans today. I believe, as did our Founding Fathers, that it is imperative to maintain a clear line of separation between church and state. To do otherwise is to invite the very circumstances the settlers of this nation intended to avoid... the oppressive rule of a theocratic government. The annals of history are chock full of evidence that supports this conclusion. Americans have diverse religious beliefs, and if the government is allowed to dabble in religion, show preference for any one doctrine or theology over another, or, worse yet, claim divine ordination, it won't be long before this "us and them" mindset pollutes our entire culture, and we'll have some subset of Catholics waging legislative war against a splinter group of Quakers. It's ridiculous to assume that the secular functions of a government are compatible with the clerical functions of a church. If we do not insist on having a purely secular government, devoid of any religious trappings, rhetoric or edicts, we will invite the same hate, dissension and tyrrany our ancestors fought so hard to escape. For those who think this nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, well, you're just wrong. This nation was founded on humanitarian principles of individual freedom (including the freedom to believe as we will), equality, and justice for all, and a clear admonishment was given to keep matters of church and state separate.

Footnote (7/4/2005):

I do not mean to imply that our nation's founders weren't influenced in their crafting of our government by their Christian convictions, nor do I discount the fact that the fundamental precept of Christianity (love for all men) is the same prinicple underpinning all advances in human rights (e.g. the Magna Carta). These steps forward in the spiritual evolution of man, however, do not owe their origin to the religion of Christianity. Love was around long before it was embodied in Christ, or preached in Christian churches - and it is currently evidenced and practiced by many who do not adhere precisely to the teachings of your favorite brand of church. If the government gets involved in any of this, things are gonna get messed up, you can count on it. If you really love your fellow man, regardless if his spiritual beliefs differ from yours, do him the honor of preventing the government from legislating anything regarding religion (with the exception that one may believe as one wishes). If you really love your God, then do Him (or Her, if you worship the Mother, or It, if you worship something else...) the honor of trusting Him/Her/It to be able to manage the spiritual end of things without having to get the government involved.

My Webshots Photo Albums

Howdy.

I've been posting pictures in my Webshots Photo Albums for about five years, for much of the time I was living on Orcas Island. The San Juan Islands in Washington are a stunningly beautiful place, and it's hard to take a bad picture there... I have over a thousand pictures posted in my albums, and I'm finally getting around to doing a major cleanup and reorganization, removing redundant or very similar photos, consolidating albums, and giving them more meaningful titles (often what was previously entered in the picture 'comments' area). I love to share the natural beauty of the San Juans with my friends, and the world. Please treat yourself to a visit to my albums. I added a link to the sidebar here, too.

Have a great day!

:~)aniel

Social Security Reform?

Okay, this seems pretty simple to me. Social Security is a program designed to help basically two different kinds of people -- retirees, and people who have a disability that prevents them from working. It was not intended to be an investment plan, in the conventional sense of the term, but rather a safety net that would be there for whoever needed it. Social Security and investment plans are not mutually exclusive -- anyone who chooses to invest in the stock market, or other investment plans, can do so without jeapordizing their Social Security benefits. Privatization of Social Security wouldn't fix the program, it would destroy it by redirecting funds that normally go into the Social Security fund elsewhere, leaving the program unable to provide a safety net for those who choose not to participate in other investment plans, or whose circumstances preclude such participation. Also, what happens to those whose investments don't earn expected returns and are left impoverished or destitute? They would be left to rot, dependent on handouts from family and friends, with no government program able to provide for them.

It appears to me to be another poorly disguised effort to keep wealth and power in the hands of the rich.

What do you think?

:~)aniel

Message Board

Howdy! Salutations from the high desert. Man, from the mountains to a sailboat to an island to the high desert, it's been a long and beautiful trip. Not without some bumps in the road, of course, they come with the territory, so to speak, but it's still been a beautiful trip -- I'm workin' on that "glass half full" premise, ya know?

Anyway, it seems the older I get, the more important friendship seems to be, and I've been more than fortunate in that area. I've met some great people along the way, and I'll take this opportunity to say "thank you" for sharing part of your life with me. I pray you're exponentially blessed.

Please use this topic (or post, or 'thread,' or whatever you want to call it...) to post a message (if it doesn't fit in one of the existing topics, and if you're in the mood). Leave a simple "hello," a few thoughts, some poetry (perhaps a haiku?), an epic essay on the state of the world, or anything you like.

Namasté...

:~)aniel

A personal note...

Welcome to my blog, friend. The internet is an incredible thing, isn't it? Its scope encompasses just about the entire spectrum of human interest and endeavor, and its potential as a communication tool is virtually limitless. One of the things I've experienced in exploring and learning about it is a sense of being overwhelmed with the possibilities. Being a gregarious sort of guy (on some levels -- on others I'm just a reclusive hermit!) I have been fortunate enough to make quite a substantial number of friends in my life -- and, being fairly active on the internet, from time to time, in forums and message boards, I've become electronically acquainted with many more. The 'downside' to this phenomena is that I am all too often unable to give the personal attention you deserve. I've neglected to correspond with so many of you on a personal level, through email, phone calls, or snail mail, that I'll never be able to catch up, or pay you the proper respect I feel for you but don't seem to have the time to express adequately. Sometimes it's because I'm really too busy, and sometimes it's just because Im too lazy or don't seem to have the time or energy to devote to the task. I'd like you to know, though, that my intentions are much more noble than my actions this regard -- and that, even though I may neglect to observe the prescribed rituals of friendship, and may often seem aloof or withdrawn, you are always in my heart, and in my thoughts and prayers, and I am grateful for the light you share with me and the world.

:~)aniel

Greetings!

In contemplating what purpose this blog might serve, a number of ideas came to mind, but I wound up deciding on a forum for free expression, the exchange of thoughts and ideas, important or trivial. In other words, I couldn't decide what to use it for, or what to leave out! Please post some suggestions for topics you'd like to discuss here, in the comments of this post - I've got a few ideas, and I'll pick some of yours, and we'll start some new topics.

Thanks! Have a fine day!

:~)aniel