the secular inquisition
I came across this great phrase I wish I had coined. The phrase is secularist fundamentalism. (How good is that?!)
It describes the current intolerant leftist mindset that has a problem with anything that remotely smacks of Christianity in any remotely public place. So – no Christmas carols in the Denver parade, no teaching of the Christian elements that were an integral part of the first Thanksgiving or the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in the public schools, no mention of In God We Trust on a dollar bill, etc etc. Secular fundamentalists have no quarrel with kids learning about Hinduism or Islam (and neither does any sane person) but learning about Christianity’s place in our own history or wishing someone in the office a Merry Christmas…?! Not on your life, buster.
This excerpt from an article called The Secular Inquisition sums it up:
In the United States, secularist fundamentalism dominates academe, where speech codes are regularly used to harass any religious organization whose views on particular moral questions offend groups privileged by secular fundamentalism.
Europe and America both are witnessing a curious phenomenon of those who present themselves as guardians of tolerance committing terrible acts of intolerance in the name of tolerance. One need not be religious to regard this as a disturbing trend.
To which this non-practicing Christian says a hearty Amen.
(While he still can.)
It describes the current intolerant leftist mindset that has a problem with anything that remotely smacks of Christianity in any remotely public place. So – no Christmas carols in the Denver parade, no teaching of the Christian elements that were an integral part of the first Thanksgiving or the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in the public schools, no mention of In God We Trust on a dollar bill, etc etc. Secular fundamentalists have no quarrel with kids learning about Hinduism or Islam (and neither does any sane person) but learning about Christianity’s place in our own history or wishing someone in the office a Merry Christmas…?! Not on your life, buster.
This excerpt from an article called The Secular Inquisition sums it up:
In the United States, secularist fundamentalism dominates academe, where speech codes are regularly used to harass any religious organization whose views on particular moral questions offend groups privileged by secular fundamentalism.
Europe and America both are witnessing a curious phenomenon of those who present themselves as guardians of tolerance committing terrible acts of intolerance in the name of tolerance. One need not be religious to regard this as a disturbing trend.
To which this non-practicing Christian says a hearty Amen.
(While he still can.)
posted by patrickhenry at 4:59 PM
1 Comments:
You wrote:
"So – no Christmas carols in the Denver parade, no teaching of the Christian elements that were an integral part of the first Thanksgiving or the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in the public schools, no mention of In God We Trust on a dollar bill, etc etc."
I don't know about anyone else, but I don't see these as three examples of the same argument, but three examples of three different arguments.
Argument One: Declaration of Independence in the public schools
I have no problem with the public schools teaching about the role of God in the declaration, as long as they teach it the way it should be taught.
Would they teach our children that Thomas Jefferson, strong supporter of separation of Church and State, sole creator and author, did not want any mention of God in the work, and that he fought for it not to be included, but the newly elected Congress, having British monarchy still fresh in their blood stream, and Christianity deep in their thought, made it a requirement before it would be signed?
Argument Two: "In God We Trust" on US Dollars
To me, this is simple: Separation of Church and State. I have as much of a problem with this as I would if it said "In Allah We Trust", or "In Buddha We Trust". The US Treasury is a part of our Government. We should also take it off the US Supreme Court building.
Argument Three: Denver Parade/First Thanksgiving
I can agree with you on these. Secular Fundamentalism indeed.
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