Diversity! -3

   Last time we touched briefly on racial diversity. Although we may return to it, for now, I would like to move forward to another form of diversity--religious diversity.
2.Religious Diversity. On the surface, the idea of religious diversity is very reasonable, contending that America should tolerate all religions and their leaders; which obviously aligns with America’s historical values in the Declaration and the Constitution. However, and once again, the problem is with liberalism’s deceptive tactic of re-definition of terms.
   There are two fundamental ways we identify a religion:
            a.the actual people of the religion
            b.the particular beliefs/doctrines of the people of that religion
  Therefore, the people of a specific religious group, along with ‘some’ of their sincerely held beliefs, deserve toleration; and at times, respect! The people deserve respect because they possess the image and likeness of God; while ‘certain’ beliefs deserve toleration, depending on whether they injure self or others.* ONLY in these two general ways are all religions equal! Here is the key: equality and sameness are not synonymous. Equality refers to nature; while sameness refers to duplication, often with exactness. Therefore, all religions are equal in nature—according to American law**; yet no religion is the same as another religion! 
   In practice this means, although Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc., are all categorized as ‘religions’, each possessing human beings and their unique beliefs, and therefore equal under American law, yet this does not mean these religions are the same!! Furthermore, what is also true, because religions are equal, does not mean no religious belief should be favored!!! Yet, this is the very place of liberalism’s re-definition of ‘religious’ diversity; creating one of their greatest deceptions! What is that? Because liberalism is a doctrine of atheism, it outwardly declares all religions equal, by which they really mean all religion is the same! By this they actually mean, because liberalism is scientific and not religious, they must “put-up” with religious belief because this is America—where polls say the nation is over 70% Christian! Therefore, the ‘Religious Diversity’ of liberalism is a mask covering their two real faces. 1)One face corrals all religion into one place, outwardly declaring them equal (meaning the same), allowing liberals to smile big feigning respect, while in practice sweeping religion aside in favor of their supposed scientific facts. 2)On the other hand, the second face hides nothing! Liberals aggressively (and ironically) attack Christianity, whipping it into submission, hysterically screaming separation of church and state***.
   Allow me two additional brief points to explain the actual reality of the problem, which will also help unmask liberal deception. In short, the Judaeo/Christian ethic both possesses and declares:
1.Freedom. “For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh…” (Gal5:13)
2.Treatment of others.
“…for he (God) is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” (Lu6:35)
“Live in harmony with one another….” (Rom12:16)
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Rom12:18)
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor…” (Rom13:10)
1.Freedom. The Judaeo/Christian God, i.e.the God of the Bible, created all things according to His nature, or from His nature (Selah). Because God’s nature is love(1Jn4:8), and freedom is part of love (love can only be freely given and received), all freedom originates ‘from’ the nature of God!
2.Treatment of others. Included in God’s nature of love, is instruction how man should apply love to his fellow-man. Hence, God gave His Son in our behalf, not only for our redemption, but also as an example, to illustrate how God can be kind to the “unthankful and evil”(Lu6:35).   
   Therefore, because humans are created like God, mankind has the potential to “live in harmony” (Rom12:16) with one another, and “live peaceably with all” (Rom12:18)! These incredible truths originating from the Judeao/Christian ethic, i.e.the God of the Bible; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ--were given to man in spite of the fact that people are from differing tribes, people groups, and nations…and, in spite of the fact that people reject Him by choosing pseudo gods (see Lu6:35)!!
   As further evidence for my two Christian points, let’s move from the theological to the historical, using just a couple of quotes:
- "To this may be truly added, that serious religion, under its various denominations, is not only tolerated but respected and practiced. Atheism is unknown there." -Benjamin Franklin, speaking to the French.
-Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, “There is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America. …”
- In 1620, the Pilgrims penned the Mayflower Compact: “Having undertaken [this voyage to America] for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith…”  
-President John Adams said, “…it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.”
- John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States, appointed by George Washington himself, wrote to Jedidiah Morse on Feb. 28, 1797, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
   Therefore, contrary to the liberal re-definition of ‘religious diversity’, the freedom of America does not come from some past or present philosopher’s high IQ, and it certainly does not originate in atheism!! There is no atheist country possessing the freedoms of America!! You need evidence? Russia, China, South Korea, Cuba to name a few!!!
   Or, what about considering the atheist’s philosophy of evolution(Darwinism); whose fundamental component is ‘survival of the fittest’, a euphemism for ‘might makes right’?!?! Let’s be honest…is it possible that intangible entities like love, respect, or even tolerance, can originate from--the philosophy of ‘might makes right?!?!? ‘Might makes right’ is absolute power, which leads only to absolute corruption! On the contrary, only love can begat love!    
   Therefore, only because the God of the Bible is real, whose nature is love, and Who created according to that nature, can entities like love, freedom, respect, tolerance, and diversity—even exist!
   NEWS FLASH!! To all American atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Hindus, etc: You enjoy the greatest freedom, not only in the world, but in all of human history--precisely because America has favored the Judaeo-Christian ethic!****
 
*This is true of all individual and corporate beliefs, not just religions.
**Which is derived from God’s law(Rom12:16,18)
***More on this in a following tidbit
****This applies to all nations possessing the Western Culture, which originates in the Judaeo/Christian ethic.
 
QuoteBit
In every moment, the quality of your life is on the line. In each, you are either fully alive or relatively dead.   -DAN MILLMAN