Monday, November 14, 2005

In The Eye of the Storm: Dover invites God's wrath...

On the day that the Kansas Board of Edumacation voted to reject science, the town of Dover, PA rejected its Board for having done the same thing. They replaced the zealots with eight Christians who ran on the premise that religion belongs, but just not in science class. Congratulations to the citizens of Dover for realizing that. Of course, they were immediately subjected to gouts of vitriol from the Hateful Right. Pat Robertson, as always, managed to top the list, saying on his daily television show (the 700 Club):

"...to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city. And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because he might not be there." (full story)

One of the newly elected Board members, Bernadette Reinking, responded with remarkable eloquence and aplomb, pointing out that 1) the town is deeply Christian ("there's a church on every corner") and they still do not feel that faith belongs in science class; 2) they are not throwing God out of the town, only putting discussion of His plan where it belongs--in philosophy class or the study of World religions; and 3) by creating the right forum to discuss religion, and thereby opening the discussion up to people of ALL faiths, they feel that they will bring God INTO their community. Another of the new Board members simply dismissed Robertson as "beyond the fringe."

That ordinary citizens (both Christians) can see so clearly, and stand up so calmly to Robertson and his ilk, is a ray of hope indeed.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping