TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart For about 70 years, I didn’t think we needed it. I was pretty sure that the First Amendment protected both religious persecution and freedom from persecution by religious zealots. I guess I was wrong. Therefore, Congress must create and confirm a law which protects me and about 100 million other Americans from the actions of religious leaders and one political party which attempts to force us to comply with their extremist beliefs. It could be called the “Freedom from Religion Act.” THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH If the Christian Religious Right did not have influence over those who call themselves “Republicans” in Washington, abortion, same sex marriage, and assistance for transgender Americans, and others, would never have become “hot button issues.” They would have remained issues which were personal and not open to public or political discussion. There are many reasons why the number of Americans who reject all organized religion continues to grow. The ...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart Anything Trump or one of his cronies, past, or present, tells the press is a lie. The break-up between Trump and his political concubine, Marjory Taylor Greene is hilarious. However, nothing either of them says has even a morsel of the truth. The following statements from Greene are very funny if you know the facts behind the lies. “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them,” Trump said. Greene said: “That was absolutely the worst statement. It just shows where his heart is. And that’s the difference, with her having a sincere Christian faith, and proves that he does not have any faith.” It gets even better, but I love the remark about Christianity. Not a single right-wing politician is a true Christian. All of them reject the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. “As a Christian, I don’t believe in doing that,” she said. “I agree with Erika Kirk, who did the hardest thing possible and said it out loud.” Greene said she later told a friend...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart Read the First Amendment carefully. Our Founding Fathers considered these promises, these guarantees of human rights, the most important paragraph ever written. “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The first line was obviously extremely important to the men who signed the Constitution in 1789. The “straw that broke the camel’s back,” and why they left England, was the declaration by King George III that the Anglican Church would be the single religion in the British Empire. This single sentence clearly demands the separation of Church and State. It guarantees all Americans the right to practice the religion of their choice, but also guarantees freedom from religion. I am one of about 100 million American citizens who reject al...

I’m not sorry to tell you this fact: America is NOT a Christian nation. It is a country which protects all religions and the right for those like me to reject any organized religion without reprisal. If you don’t believe me, you have either never read the Bill of Rights, or you are a fascist and reject our country’s most sacred document and its most important Amendment. T he truth is that most “Christians” are not Christian. I read comments every day confirming that most Americans who claim to be “Christians” do not believe in the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus Christ. They desperately search for vague verses in the Old Testament which are aligned with their personal, despicable beliefs. One of the biggest religious hypocrites is Little Marco Rubio. Known as the laziest and one of the worst Senators in history, the TEA Party member is now Trump’s Secretary of State. This little moron is fourth in line to succeed the president. Our country is really f**ked up. Here’s what the ...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart If you love your religion, and are serious about its teachings, I am not only happy for you, I would fight for your right to practice that religion. However, I cherish the First Amendment which guarantees my right to reject all organized religions, and forbids the influence of religion into our government. It is clearly written, and I demand that my rights are of equal importance to those who claim to be religious. America never was a religious nation, and never should be. Our Founding Fathers left England when King George III removed freedom of or from religion. This is why the first line in the Bill of Rights says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” RIGHT WING POLITICIANS, DESPERATE FOR VOTES, SEEK THE REPEAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT There is no doubt that the party on the right side of the aisle is owned by special interests. Their votes are bought and paid for by lobbies, with the use...

Op-e d by TheWiseOldFart   Fact: Religious Extremism is r esponsible for the torture and deaths of more innocent people in hi story than any other.   In its most extreme form, organized religion becomes the greatest evil imaginable. The Crusades and the attacks on 9/11 were both the result of religious extremism.   Religion is a personal choice, and it should remain that way. For every argument favoring a single religion over another, there are a dozen reasons why all religions are based on unrealistic and unsupported claims about places like heaven or hell. All religions were created by men whose goals were control and power over others. In modern times, fake religious leaders use religion to live unrealistic lives of great power, luxury and privilege. Exposing young Americans to any religion by an individual with authority over them is morally and legally wrong.   I DO NOT DENY YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS   Don’t misunderstand me. I am expressi...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart I have no doubt that most religious leaders, and their supporters, are genuine. They believe in their faith and their only goal is to share their beliefs in love, compassion, and understanding for all people. I was raised in the Catholic Church. For the most part, the priests and nuns I encountered were dedicated to their work, and lived according to their vows. This story is concerned with the destruction caused by extremists who distort the teachings of the creators of their chosen faith. THE THREE MAJOR RELIGIONS HAVE FAR MORE SIMILARITIES THAN DIFFERENCES Anyone who reads the Tora, the Koran, or the Bible from first page to last, will be somewhat surprised. The principles, guidelines for living a more spiritual life, and other basic concepts are extremely similar with only minor differences. Sadly, ambitious men continue to corrupt these treasured volumes and either rewrite them, or choose only the parts which support their vile, angry, and destructive views...