A New Reformation

At issue is not whether the United States was founded with intent that America ultimately becomes a Christian nation. At issue is that we have more than 225 years of experience living under a Constitution that, in its own way, is one of the most successful historical documents ever. In our history we have seen the evolution of a multi-faceted society based not only on religion and philosophy, but on cultural diversity without which our positive American mythology of a melting pot came to be part of our national psyche. Under our Constitution we have seen the growth of a habitual way of looking at things - an automatic stance if you will - that allows for diversity of opinion and the freedom to express opinion.

It is hard to make the case that the deterioration of those aspects of society that each of us have deemed "deteriorating" - according to our own sense of common good and the idea of public decency - is the fault of the Constitution and can be remedied by taking its proven formula of success and modifying it into something that codifies a specific viewpoint.

This Reformation, if you will, should not be about legislative, executive or judicial imposition of religious control of the United States. It should be about dialogue over differences and an honest look at the highest good of all concerned.

New theologies whether they be about "Prosperity", "Dominionism", "Spiritual Warfare" or the "End Times" ought not be the basis for seeking government power at the expense of society as a whole. If we are to reform our moral and ethical practices in this country, we need to define Jesus' Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son and Sermon on the Mount in relationship to our power as a diverse society, our prosperity as a tool of reform, our dominant position on a global scale as an instrument of advocating peace, our spiritual and cultural values as a means toward compassion toward one another.

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