Another day, another poor, persecuted religious, um, majority.
Republicans propose declaring Idaho a 'Christian state'
(Reuters) - Members of a county Republican Party in Idaho are to take up a measure on Tuesday evening that would declare the state a Christian one to bolster what the proposal calls the "Judeo-Christian bedrock of the founding of the United States."
The resolution to be voted on by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is non-binding, meaning it does not have the effect of laws or rules.
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The measure argues that the Christian faith is under "strident attack" in the United States, and cites as evidence the absence of Christian traditions and symbols in public institutions such as schools.
Now, this is not the most shocking development ever. This is a region of a state known for white supremacist groups like Christian Identity and the Aryan Brotherhood. The degree of racial and religious homogeneity in Northern Idaho is hard to match anywhere. And the meme of "persecuted Christianity" in America has been pushed relentlessly by various fundamentalist speakers and writers in recent years. We can certainly expect to hear more calls for theocracy and state establishment.
And no argument, no matter how grounded in fact, sways these would-be theocrats. Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists was written in invisible ink, while his single use of the word "creator" in the Declaration stands in flaming letters on a hill. The Treaty of Tripoli wasn't really law.
But, some years ago, I watched my lovely and brilliant GF ask a Christian evangelist who had accosted us on the street a single question which completely stopped the woman's spiel in its tracks. I thought I'd pass it along.
The woman was going into the persecuted Christians bit and saying the country needed more God in its schools, government, etc. GF waited for a pause and asked, "If God needs government to defend Him, doesn't that make him pretty weak?"
Gravity suddenly became unusually strong under the woman's chin.
Fundamentalists often speak of their "awesome" God. But, honestly, how awesome is any deity that needs government aid? That requires the power of earthly law be turned to His defense. How omnipotent is a Supreme Being whose influence will wane without His glory being touted daily in public schools?
Awesome? Dude, that ain't awesome. That's a lame-ass god.
The most wonderful thing about that moment between GF and the evangelist was seeing the young woman stop, listen and hear what GF said. She actually told GF she understood and agreed, that God didn't need government to back Him up.
And you can understand why. Nobody wants to seen worshiping some lame-ass, welfare-moocher, 47%ish, taker God.
Anyway, give that one a spin, next time you get stuck with some religionist who insists their deity of choice be given government sanction. It is surprisingly effective.