Over the past few weeks several years, I have become accustomed to the notion that Christians will be persecuted and our religious rights will be gradually taken away. I am reminded daily by the posts of my liberal friends on Facebook of the challenges we face being declared “ignorant” by the masses. Within the last week, I have been reminded of this and one question stays in my mind…
It all started as I was browsing Fox News on my mobile. I came across this article about Jennifer Keeton in Georgia. Ms. Keeton is currently obtaining her Masters in counseling at Augusta State University. What you find in the article is that Ms. Keeton will “be dismissed from the program unless she alters her ‘central religious beliefs on human nature and conduct.’” Find out more about the lawsuit at the linked website.
Later the same day, a friend posted a video and a local TV station did a bit on Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey. Apparently, Lt. Governor Ramsey did what most politicians are bound to do and say completely the wrong thing. He made a comment about his questioning of whether being a Muslim was more about religion or nationality. He even referred to the religion as a "cult." Of course, the liberal media runs wild with it and now the Lt. Governor is a bigot. When in reality, there may be a little more to the story. Maybe the man does have a point that Muslim extremist are violent.
And then we have the local news. Our local Juvenile Court Judge has started a “campaign,” if you will, to place a series of plaques in our new justice center. The plaques would include the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Star Spangled Banner, National Motto, Preamble to the Tennessee Constitution, Bill of Rights, Picture of Lady Justice, Benjamin Franklin’ epitaph, George Washington’s inaugural address and prayer at Valley Forge, National Pledge, Tennessee House Resolution 0815, and Tennessee Senate Resolution 0158. (Whew, that was a mouth full! I got bored just writing it…sorry you had to read it!) Check all of this information out at his website HERE.
Anyways, a group from Wisconsin. Yes, WISCONSIN, has written a letter to our county commissioners with concern about the Foundations Display. The group is the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Judge Taylor says there is a legal standing for the Foundation Display to be in the courthouse. The FFRF feels the display is unconstitutional.
But all of this leads back to my initial question, when did protecting one’s freedom FROM religion hinder our freedom OF religion? I mean, seriously; someone, somewhere thinks this Foundations Display is going to cause a bloody civil war? A radical Muslim is more protected in the United States of America than a Christian wanting to protect our heritage and our freedoms. And our national motto is “in God we trust.” I guess the next question would be, which god?
9 comments:
This very thing makes my blood boil. The intolerance in the name of tolerance is the biggest display of group hypocrisy I've ever seen. Everyone's allowed to display their Kwanza and Ramadan preferences, and we say "Good for them!" But our nativity gets banned from the neighborhood and stores are afraid to say "Merry Christmas" anymore for fear of being chastised.
This girl in Georgia is basically being told that she doesn't have the right to finish her education because of her opinion on a MORAL issue. Are you kidding me?
Ugh.
Which god, indeed.
Wow! That is the most political I've seen you...ever!
I find it ironic that the Ten Commandments are an issue, but the Mayflower Compact (which is a declaration of faith) is not. Following the logic that the principles of the Mayflower Compact are Christian in nature and thus ultimately linked to the Ten Commandments of God in the Old Testament, how do you try to exclude one without the other?
Did you call me liberal?
Wow. That's sad.
One thing that can never happen is the religion to be taken out of our hearts. Only we can do it if it does.
'Wisconsin' caught my eye here.
Not into politics, but any friend of Jesus is a friend of mine...
Blessings,
Debby
I just perused the article with the student in Augusta. I will go as far to say that the school should not expel her on behalf of her beliefs. However, she will not be able to enter into private practice as a result of not adhering to the ACA standards. Finish school, you just won't get a job in public schools...it really is that simple. Typically, in the counseling field there are standards which may or may not conflict with personal religious beliefs. It is the job of the counselor to maintain objectivity, with no bias. I was a christian chaplain in an urban environment, not all of my patients were chrisitian, so how do you maintain your own integrity while allowing the other person to maintain theirs? That is the issue with Ms. Keeton. Also, take for example, preacher man from Kansas who hates Jews, Marines who died in combat, and now nerds at Comic Con. He would also probably be denied licensure for counseling as a result of his beliefs...but he is not persuing an LPC or NPC either...as a result he can probably give counsel because of his ordination status. (Ordained ministers in the Commonwealth of Virginia may enter into private practice just like non-ordained folks who went through all the steps for licensure.) If Ms. Keeton isn't capable of adhering to the Code of Ethics by the ACA, then she should look at pursuing an alternate field of study or find a school that will let her continue her education...then let her deal with licensure and hiring. It's not the school's problem, but they are making it their problem too. Let's see if this stirs up the hornet's nest.
Oh JRat...leave it to a liberal Methodist minister to come in and speak up! ;)I guess since you bring up the ACA. I would have to say...she still has a right to an "education." Now, I'm sure there are many, many, many other school counselors here in the Bible Belt that also hold to Ms. Keeton's convictions. What if she wants to go to a private Christian school? What if she doesn't even want to work at all but is pursuing a degree to home educate her children? (Just random questions.) My own opinion is if she holds to these beliefs as a Christian she is wasting her time in public schools and counseling. Having a psychology degree, I realize that most of what I studied is very secular and not very biblical. So, my thing is if she is that conservative...she needs to get out and find something more like the woman of Titus 2 or Proverbs 31 would do. ;D
And you raise an interesting point with Preacher Man Phelps. I thought of him when I wrote this. I thought of how it's easy for liberals to lump all Christians in with people like those at Westboro...but if someone lumps Muslims together with jihadists and we have a serious issue of discrimination and racial profiling on our hands.
But in summary/conclusion, you have a point. If as a Christian, she can't stand by the liberal, secular field she is in...she went into the wrong field and needs to rethink her Christian values.
(I'm tired and nauseous...excuse grammar errors and misspelled words...or words that actually didn't make into the sentence.)
I'm with you 100%. She could probably come up here to Liberty University in Lynchburg and if they have a counseling program be just fine. In the end, she's paying for her education, she should get it. If the professors don't think she should be a counselor, then they don't have to give her a recommendation. Yet, yes, homeschooling, Christian Counseling, all are valid fields. I actually would prefer to either one of these to secular counseling, yet know that I can maintain objectivity and not feel that I have compromised my being, nor my faith. (Now that you've called me liberal, I need to go out and find someone to call me conservative to keep the balance.)
I would like to invite you to visit my blog. I would love to get your comments on some of my recent posts.
http://alonganarrowway.blogspot.com
God Bless!
I frequently run into this intolerance in the name of tolerance. Now that my oldest son is living in the south (Georgia), he tells me that the rest of the country isn't as bad as California. But your examples ARE in the "Bible belt".
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