Last Post

With my last post, I will address the topic that most interests me: religious acceptance across the nation. With all the complaints against how Obama has started his presidency, there is one area where I cannot help but support Obama: reaching out to bring religions closer to one another.

One recent White House event was the dinner held in honor of the Ramadan fasting period. With all the controversy going on the recent dinner crashing couple, people seemed to have overlooked what occurred at this event. Not only was this a dinner held primarily for Muslims, perhaps the most scrutinized group in America, but it also extended an invitation to Jewish leaders. That for me personally, is appalling. Not only has Obama invited the "American enemy" but he has brought together leaders of two warring nations.

Why is there no media over this now? President Clinton earned huge acclaim for conducting a meeting between Muslim and Jewish leaders at Camp David. And yet, all people can focus on is how Obama may be a secret Muslim, how he is asking for more soldiers, and how is making American look weak by bowing in front of the Japanese emperor. I'll end with one piece of advice: Wake up Americans and see the courage and audacity of our President. He has tackled the issue that has created the most conflict in the history of mankind: Religion.

Job Hirings based on Religion

George W Bush, often criticized for his over emphasis on Christianity during his presidency, had implemented a program that allowed faith-based groups to hire only Christians. Essentially a Christian program such as CAC, can turn away more qualified applicants on the basis that they aren't Christian.

What is perhaps most stunning is that President Obama has decided to keep the program. Knowing the policies of Obama, we know that he has called for religious tolerance and acceptance. He has reached out to the middle east and explicitly stated that the United States is not attempting to persecute Muslims. He has also tried to alleviate the tensions between Israel and Palestine. So with so much work done for religious quality, why has he kept this blatantly discriminating program?

That is what the people are arguing. They are trying to appeal to the president to repeal the act. One question that is probably grazing their minds is how Christianity can hold such power in a country founded on "separation of church and state".

The little known Golden Temple

If anyone hasn't gone to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, it is a place I highly recommend people visit it. This is the most revered location in the Sikh faith, which is thought to be built on a lake with healing properties.
Considering that Sikhs are a very small minority in India, what is it exactly that has drawn so much attention to this beautiful temple? The answer is politics. Sikhism was created by Guru Nanak, in an attempt to take the best of both the Hindu and Muslim faiths. It was also created in an attempt to get away from the two mega- Indian faiths.
One political event forever changed how the temple was viewed is the invasion by Indian troops in 1984. Because Indira Gandhi had taken up alliances with a fundamentalist Sikh leader, she was nearly powerless when he took refuge with his armed men in the holy Sikh temple. Indira Gandhi then made the extremely controversial choice of sending in armed soldiers and tanks. When the attack occurred, all Sikhs were dismayed, and some wanted revenge. This was obviously the mindset of Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards as they assassinated her a few days later.
What is unfortunate is that this holy Sikh site is most remembered for the political conflict that embroiled it in controversy.

Benedict XVI trying to improve relations

Over the last three years of his papacy, Benedict XVI admits that he has made some mistakes when addressing other religions. He has referred to Islam as a religion based on old concepts attempting to spread in a new way: by violence. Quite ironic he should make reference to violent conversion when Christianity has had crusades and mass conversion camps.
What is encouraging though, is that the Pope is trying to call a meeting with Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu leaders. This falls in place of growing dialogue that the Catholic Church has supported for the last 20 or so years.
The view of the Catholic Church is that dialogue with other religions is necessary and helpful. Pope John II was well known for his advice to Catholics that they must be ready for conversion when taking part in dialogue. That just goes to show that he truly held that other religions could also hold truth.
Benedict could probably take a page out of John II's book. Perhaps with this step, there is a much brighter future for possible camaraderie between the Abrahamic religions and the Eastern religions.

President Obama and now Bobby Jindal

President Obama, despite repetitively claiming that he is a Christian, is still accused of being a Muslim. People intermittently still look at old interviews of Obama trying to find slip-ups and lies that would uncover his hidden Muslim faith. You would think after people couldn't find much evidence, they would leave the topic alone, but these people never do. Perhaps they still haven't understood that we now have a black President.

In a different part of the nation, another ethnic minority is being heavily scrutinized for claiming to be a Catholic. Ironically it is another political figure, Bobby Jindal. Despite conversion many years ago, Jindal still draws the routine Hindu accusations and even occasional Muslim one. What is it with people? Why must political figures so actively go out and prove their faith?

Have we forgotten how recently not just Christians, but Christian priests have been found guilty of being unfaithful to Christian principles? Have we forgotten that Christians have been accused of exhorting the poor people through the use of televangelism? It is time for Christians to stop looking for public figures to affirm their faith and focus on cleaning up their own religion.

Are Christian Perceptions Changing?

Throughout most of the 20th century, the Christian view of other religions has been that they are false, and all non-Christians are condemned to hell. Through time however, views have either expanded or reverted to older ideas.
The first different view is that other religions have some truth in them, but Jesus is the savior, and through his grace, all the moral people in THE WORLD will be saved. So Christianity still > other religions.
The second view is that Christianity is on par with other religions. That means that other religions are true and have God in them as well. Additionally, these people can reach salvation within their own faiths, although that salvation will be lower than the Christian heaven. Essentially, all the truth cannot be held in one religion alone, and that makes other religions valuable as well.
The final view includes the acceptance of all other religions. This view calls for increased dialogue between faiths and warns Christians that they must be ready in case conversion occurs. Here salvation is equal and achievable in all faiths.

One example of the second view, known as the mutuality model, is Newark Mayor Corey Booker. While taking a look around his office, one would see he has not just a bible, but the Koran, Bhagvad-Gita, and Torah as well. His reasoning? No one religion can capture the infinite.
It just goes to show you that even hundreds of years of precedent cannot stop people from expanding their religious boundaries.

Why are Atheists so Politically Strong?

Atheists are gaining in number, as proven by the fact that atheism is the third most popular "religion" in the world. They put out books in large numbers and gain media time at regular intervals. So what is it about atheists and atheism that attracts people and the media?

1. Atheism is an outlet for those religious people that are strictly fed up. These people see atrocities in the world and experience them in their personal lives. After years of pleas to God, these people are looking for alternatives. Atheism provides that alternative with the thinking that perhaps the world is not oriented around a higher being. Perhaps the world is oriented around the human being and the idea that people are the highest in the social ladder.

2. Atheists are well educated and spoken. This presents a disadvantage to religious people in a debate, because the grounds of the debate are based upon worldly activities and issues. Religions are conversely based upon spirituality, places and beings not evident to the human eye, and usually blind faith. So it is understandable that people are drawn to arguments based on tangibles.

To give you proof of a well spoken and educated atheist, here is the link to none other than the renowned Christopher Hitchens.