The first amendment guarantees the freedom of religion, but forbids the establishment of any stare religion. The only way for government to reasonably do this is to avoid preferential treatment for one religion over another. Therefore is is perfectly appropriate for the President to participate in the festivals and holidays of several religions, bit not just one. However, Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians seem to think freedom of religion means freedom for only THEIR religion.
When the Family Research Council wasn’t rallying support this week for Todd Akin or pushing to keep the ban on abortions in the case of rape or incest in the GOP platform, it found time to denigrate an entire religion. FRC sends out weekly Prayer Team alerts [pseudo-Christians delinked], asking “for your prayers relating to various public policy issues.”
This week’s alert [pseudo-Christians delinked] called Islam – the religion of 2.6 million Americans and 1.6 billion people around the world – a “fanatical religion.” The alert [pseudo-Christians delinked] also attacked a recent White House event with the American Muslim community – an Iftar dinner to mark the end of the Ramadan fast.
At the dinner, President Obama highlighted the role of Muslim-Americans in government and showcased Thomas Jefferson’s Koran. Here’s FRC’s interpretation [pseudo-Christians delinked]:
In his remarks, the President suggested that Thomas Jefferson may have hosted the first White House Iftar Dinner and he showcased the Koran from Jefferson's library (Fact: Thomas Jefferson long advocated using military force to deal with hostile Muslims in the Mediterranean and ordered the Marines to Tripoli among his first acts as President and had a Koran primarily to study the fanatical religion of his adversaries).
FRC characterized [pseudo-Christians delinked] Obama’s remarks at the event as “amazing,” and not in a good way. What was so amazing, you ask? For one thing, Obama “praised Muslims in positions throughout his administration,” including Huma Abedin. The group also accused Obama of giving preference to Islam at the expense of Christians and Christianity…
Inserted from <Right Wing Watch>
Photo credit: Whitehouse.gov
Rather than spread hatred, intolerance and lies, a far more Christian response is to honor the faith of others, whose faith is different from our own, as long as those believers are willing to coexist with others. I find that Obama’s willingness to honor American Muslims does not detract from Obama’s Christianity. It demonstrates it.