If you read my rants, you know where this article is going. I am opposed to organized religion, and more opposed to the influence it has been granted by the Republican Party. If religion was not included, two things which would not be involved in our politics are abortion and same-sex marriage.
The primary reason I refuse to belong to one religion is that they are cults. The congregations of every sect are told how to think and how to act; free will and free thought are not allowed. I do not need another man or woman instructing me about what is right or wrong; God gave me a conscience and free thought to know the difference.
Because Donald Trump is now the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, evangelicals claim that they feel left out of the party; the party which allowed the influence of religion to divide our nation and deny equal rights under the Constitution.
In Nebraska, Pastor Gary Fuller had planned a service Sunday featuring Ted Cruz’ father offering the sermon. Cruz’ abrupt withdrawal from the race for the Republican nomination changed his plans.
What was intended as a political rally for Cruz was now shortened to a brief statement by Fuller.
“Vote according to your convictions,” Fuller told congregants at Gentle Shepherd Baptist Church who will cast ballots in Nebraska’s presidential primary Tuesday. “What you believe is the right thing to vote for, according to the Scriptures.”
What would the ‘scriptures’ have said if Cruz had remained in the contest?
Fuller appeared somewhat depressed:
“In a sense, we feel abandoned by our party,” Fuller said. “There’s nobody left.”
Evangelists were Cruz’ only loyal supporters; or at least he believed so until a devastating defeat in Indiana.
Someone other than me must tell religious leaders that there is no place for them in our government. Our country was founded as a nation with no religion, although its people were guaranteed the right to openly practice the faith of their choice or none at all.
More than 68 million Americans, including myself, refuse to associate themselves with any religion. Millennials are shunning their parent’s religions and are among this growing number.
One religion is growing at a slower rate than any other; Christianity. The fastest growing faith is the religion of Islam, and the greatest number in the growth of religion-related groups are atheists/agnostics.
This is 2016; not 1916. The world’s people demand answers and no longer accept fairy tales as facts, and are not swayed by the old ‘answer for everything,’ “you must have faith.”
I greatly admire those who truly believe in their religion of choice, and I also believe that number to be much smaller than most would believe. I have read the Bible, and very few who call themselves ‘Christians’ practice the instructions of Jesus Christ. I have also read much of the Quran. Believe me, al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram do not believe in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
You can see that it is obvious that I do not feel sorry for evangelists. Their religious extremism would deny freedom of choice for millions of Americans. They do not share the basic principles of our forefathers.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of Gordon Watt
The Truth With No Restrictions 