THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 22, 1995 TAG: 9507210066
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Mathews Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
LAST WEEK I asked the question: Should politics ever be discussed in a religion column such as this? Readers responded almost 2-to-1 that politics should be discussed here.
After further thought and prayer on the topic, I agree with those readers. While the majority of issues I tackle are almost entirely spiritual, every once in a while something comes up that crosses the debate into the political realm. Can't be helped. And so this column shall continue as it has in the past: an open forum for all issues of faith, including those that dip into politics.
From Don Cornett of Virginia Beach: ``I am amused when people say, `Keep religion out of politics.' You can't. Your politics is your core of beliefs, and it's no different than your religion.''
From Michael Nixon of Virginia Beach: ``You really can't separate politics and religion, because in essence, everything is one. It's all created by God.''
From Ruth Gordon of Suffolk: ``In today's world, I think we have to make the Bible relevant to the issues that we see, and I am firmly supportive of you in addressing both the religious and political issues in your column.''
From Richard H. Powell of Virginia Beach: ``You should be covering social events, weddings, grand openings. . . . I pray that God will open your eyes to the real meaning of Scripture and not what is being preached by some who want to further their own agenda.''
From Pamela Ketchum of Virginia Beach: ``I think that avoiding controversy or politics would surely be a head-in-the-sand approach to Christianity and to issues of faith. I say go for it!''
From Amber Jennings of Chesapeake: ``You are missing the point again. I don't think anyone was trying to tell you that politics should be `off limits' to a religious column. Politics exists in every facet of our lives, just as religion should. Readers were simply trying to tell you that what you said about Gov. Allen's remarks was out of line. The truth is, a good many Christians agree with Allen. That was the point! In fact we should mix religion and politics. Politicians would do well to follow Biblical teachings. People just have a different way of interpreting how Christianity is best practiced. There's the liberal way and then there's the `right' way.''
From Roslynn R. J. Hill of Norfolk: ``Politics and religion cannot be separated, and you do the public a great service every time you are able to point out the glaring inconsistencies of these political forces that claim Christianity as their commonality.''
From Chris Astle of Newport News: I think you should leave legal issues out of your columns and, even more strongly, I believe that preachers should leave legal issues out of their sermons. Why not make a deal with all the local preachers: `I won't talk about political issues in my column if you won't talk about them in your pulpits!' ''
From Anne Ford of Norfolk: ``If we are to become people of integrity, we need to move from compartmentalized thinking toward greater wholeness. . . . Please continue to address issues that are both religious and political because we need to be challenged to think more deeply and to avoid oversimplification of the really tough issues that face this nation and this state.''
From Tommy Steele of Virginia Beach: ``My mother often said there is a time and place for everything. A column set aside for worship, honor and respect for God is not a place for selfish debate about one's own political beliefs.''
From Alice Mountjoy of Norfolk: ``If we shy away from difficult decisions to avoid `rocking the boat,' we are allowing injustice to grow and peacemaking efforts to shrivel and fade. . . . I believe we must discuss with an open mind and through the lens of brotherly love and concern. If we do not discuss current issues with tolerance, we breed intolerance or, worse, apathy.''
From William H. Cherry of Chesapeake: ``Why don't you address the politics involved in the religious community? . . . You can discuss why churches, and a great many of the ministers, are treating religion as a big business instead of places where individuals with a calling from God go about the task of teaching and offering spiritual guidance to those in need.
``There are plenty of political and moral issues inside of religion to generate vocal responses from your readers. Why not try to correct the political problems of the church, and maybe if these are resolved, the political problems of the secular world will improve proportionate-ly.''
From Thomas Roper of Virginia Beach: ``Religion and politics do intertwine with our lives today, even though we may not like the situation. If Pat Robertson can mix the two on television and Cal Thomas in the newspaper, why not you? I would suppose that the people who tell you to `stay out of it,' will be those who disagree with your views. Personally, I feel that it is good to see someone with a moderate viewpoint.'' by CNB