THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505110023
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
The trouble today with so much crime in the United States is simply the very lack of religion.
As the early settlers came here, their society was based on godliness. In the early days, the church was the main support of American life, tying together family, community and nation. Like it or not, accept it or not, the Bible was once the main source of America's national identity.
Today the church is only an embellishment; the churchgoer, all too often, merely decorates his life with occasional attendance. Today very few parents take their children to church so they may learn right from wrong. Today our youngsters don't really know about God and live without heavenly fear in retaliation for doing the wrong things such as hold-ups, dope peddling, pregnancy, etc.
We need to teach our children about God's wrath for crime.
Cities today are no longer born around a central church but rather wherever a bank is built.
JACK KERPELMAN
Norfolk, May 5, 1995 by CNB