Your Published Letters

Your July/August/September '08 Published Letters

From the September 19, 2008, edition of the Charleston Post and Courier (SC):

Prayer and sports

Letter writers who criticized Ken Burger's Sept. 11 article titled "Separation of church and sports" have two complaints.

First, they thought Coach Tommy Bowden was perfectly justified in mandating church attendance for his Clemson football players.

Second, they wondered how Mr. Burger could be so ungrateful to Christians whose prayers they credited for his speedy recovery from cancer.

Coaches and teachers at a public university have every right to speak about their religious beliefs as private citizens, but they have no right to proselytize students when representing their academic institution.

How would those who favor mandating athletes' attendance at a Christian church feel if, instead, a Muslim coach mandated attendance at a mosque? Or if I were to require my math students before exams at the College of Charleston to recite aloud, "There is no God"? Of course, I would never so abuse my professional authority with students and neither should football coaches.

Theologians have debated for centuries the effectiveness of intercessory prayer. If I believed in a loving god who answered prayers, I would be embarrassed to see football players praying for an opponent's potential game-winning field goal to be wide right.

I didn't pray for Ken Burger, and I take no credit for his recovery. I'm just pleased that he studied the evidence and made an informed decision about the right doctors and the most effective treatment for his particular case.

Herb Silverman
Charleston, SC

From the August 29, 2008, edition of the Sun Herald (MS):

There is a force more powerful than nature

My most vivid personal recollection of Hurricane Katrina was the huge outpouring of real support from others of all backgrounds from around the world.

In the few hours I had after the long shifts at the Gulfport Police Department, items we personally received through donations from assorted atheist and humanist groups familiar with our plight were given out everywhere people were in need.

Many good folks from these same groups came to our ravaged property from many miles away to "camp out" and put our house in better shape than it has ever been.

It was truly a wonderful experience and they are in my family's thoughts and memories and have our deepest appreciation.
Somewhere in all of that contrasting despair and hope I also had the honor to meet with Sun Herald Executive Editor Stan Tiner regarding these good folks and our efforts, which he was gracious enough to recognize with a touching personal column.

It has now been three years since Katrina slammed ashore, Mr. Tiner, and it is still our strong participatory humanism that brings us forward. I'm ever more convinced of this because it has been tested by experience and expressed so compassionately in real human terms.

Though Hurricane Katrina was a force of nature rarely seen, humanity is an even more powerful force of nature when led by unconditional love and care even in the midst of devastation and horror. And that is a true wonder to behold.

Steve Schlicht
Biloxi, MS

From the August 23, 2008, edition of the Birmingham News (AL):

'Because the Bible tells us so'

Numerous letter writers have quoted the Bible to justify irrational human attitudes and behavior, e.g., homophobia, capital punishment, religious intolerance, gender bias.

How do we know a biblical pronouncement is valid? "The Bible is inerrant." What makes the Bible inerrant? "The Bible is the written Word of God." How do we know the Bible is the written Word of God? The Bible tells us so: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," II Timothy 3:16.

This is a perfect example of circular reasoning - the practice of assuming something in order to prove the very same thing you assumed.

Advocates of biblical inerrancy use the premise that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God to prove the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. In other words, the Bible is true because the Bible says the Bible is true. Without evidence from an independent source, the premise that the Bible is inerrant has no validity.

There is no rational or empirical evidence giving the Bible the status of unquestioned authority. Its only "authority" comes from the flawed beliefs of ancient people. Hence, it contains a plethora of contradictions, scientific errors and just plain bad advice.

David N. Miles
Orange Beach, AL

From the August 20, 2008, edition of the Anniston Starr (AL):

'Making me believe'

Re "Minority faiths" (Speak Out, July 20)

For years, Christian conservatives have been begging God to "draw me from the lie I am living." However, all the prayers aimed at altering my beliefs have had no affect.

Possibly a believer can do what prayers have not done by advising me of just one good deed performed by God. Others have given me three unacceptable answers.

First, "God created the earth." If so, he is a second-rate builder and certainly no artisan. Earth is a flawed object replete with disease and natural disasters that cause human and animal suffering.

Secondly, "God created you." Why is that a good deed, especially since He will soon subject me to eternal agony? If he had not created me, it would not matter to me or anyone else. There are an infinite number of uncreated non-beings and not one of them means a thing to anybody. Furthermore, he created Joseph Stalin.

Thirdly, "He loves me so much that he sacrificed his only begotten son to pay for my sins." This did nothing to improve the human condition. Please don't tell me a barbaric gesture has provided me with a free pass to paradise unless you can prove this paradise exists.

David N. Miles
Orange Beach, AL

From the August 15, 2008, edition of the Mobile Press-Register (AL):

'Governing left to man'

Anna C. Phillips ("Re-read historical document," Aug. 6) writes, "He Thomas Jefferson wrote, 'And for the support of this declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence (guidance from God), we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.'" Please note, "guidance from God" is Ms. Phillips' interpretation of "Divine Providence," not Jefferson's words.

In fact, the Declaration's deity was the God of nature and nature's law, not the Christian God. This was the God of the deists — Paine, Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison. They believed in a rational religion of nature, not orthodox Christianity.

While their God provided us with nature and nature's laws, their deity did not interfere in the affairs of men. God had turned his creation over to man to govern. The Declaration of Independence does not say our government was ordained as "one nation under God" nor does it mention an ongoing influence from God.

The onus of governing is on humankind as expressed by, "Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

After becoming an independent nation, the founders severed all ties between religion and government. Our Constitution established a government by "We, the people," without making any reference to God, Jesus Christ or Christianity.

David N. Miles
Orange Beach, AL

From the August 1, 2008, edition of the Tuscaloosa News (AL):

'Politicians learned ways from Jesus'

Dear Editor: G. Wayne Crocker [letters, July 17] tells us that God and Jesus were opposed to forced distribution of the wealth — legalized plundering as he calls it.

Certainly today's politicians learned their profession from studying the teachings of Jesus. As we see, they are in favor of giving away everybody's possessions but their own.

Christ ordered a rich man to 'Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor' (Luke 18:22). However, when a woman anointed Christ with expensive oil, his disciples criticized him for accepting the gift rather than selling it and giving the money to the poor. Jesus, hypocritically, rebuked his disciples (Matthew 26:6-13).

David N. Miles
Orange Beach, AL

From the August 9, 2008, edition of the Pensacola NewsJournal (FL):

'Wickedness'

Joyce Guy ("Our fault," Letters, July 31) states that America is no longer godly, is filled with wickedness and has called God's judgment down upon us. Evangelicals preach doom and gloom because they feel threatened by the positive values and institutions that have made America great.

They loathe religious tolerance, the First Amendment and the secular public school system. Hence, they tilt at windmills. Enjoying the pleasures of life is a favored windmill. Unfortunately, their ranting often promotes intolerance, hate, ignorance and infringement upon the rights of others. I find it hard to believe that there is a god who is the irrational ogre portrayed by evangelicals. Of course, it is the fear of God that brings tithes into church coffers.

While FDR said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself," Pat Robertson and his ilk know that they have nothing to fear but the disappearance of fear.

Regrettably, from the time many children first receive religious indoctrination they are told they are born sinners, may well burn in hell and are not worthy of God's grace. Instead, children should be encouraged to feel good about themselves. This would benefit not only the children, but ultimately all of society.

David N. Miles
Orange Beach, AL

From the August 5, 2008, edition of the Montgomery Advertiser (AL):

'How can Bible be conduct code?'

We owe Gary Hardin a debt of gratitude for pointing out the irrationality and danger of using Scripture as a guide for human behavior.

As he so clearly points out, the Bible advocates treating women as second-class citizens. Since this cannot be justified using reason, we can only conclude that the Bible must be rejected as a valid code of conduct.

Furthermore, we cannot allow God to sit in judgment of human behavior.

Of course, the Southern Baptist Convention is not the only Christian conservative organization guilty of promoting biblical intolerance. In May, the Vatican decreed that the ordination of women priests would result in automatic excommunication of the women and bishops who tried to ordain them.

The purpose for the decree was to make the existing ban more explicit. The decree was a Vatican backlash against growing support among Catholics for ordaining women. The church said it could not change the rules banning women from the priesthood because Christ chose only men as apostles.

This is astounding in the 21st century. Because an intolerant Christ had an irrational disdain for women, the Catholic Church must not consider improving itself?

World conditions for the past two millennium are convincing evidence that the apostles, including the "rock" upon which a church was built, were inept at spreading a gospel of peace and good will.

Women could only have been a welcome addition to Christ's inner circle.

David N. Miles
Orange Beach, AL

To the Editor,

It’s peculiar that this Age of Information is so wasteful, as so much of it is devoted to trivia and the avoidance of serious dialog. My experience confirms that newspapers, for instance, avoid discussions about faith and beliefs. Nevertheless, I press on, especially since the beliefs of presidential candidates and belief in public life have become fodder for the media, therefore, why should the common man be excluded? In this letter, I will not write any things which are not generally known,-only opinions based on them.

To begin, according to polls, the majority of Americans attest to some belief systems and regard faith as a major important factor for life, as if faith is synonymous with morality, to such an extent that, for instance, an atheist will never be elected president. In this regard: article VI of the U.S. Constitution states, “No religious test" shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public”... Where are the protests?

Any individual's conscience should neither be questioned nor assaulted because it does not or may not conform to special interest religious faith-bodies, in a society of diverse beliefs, nor should a candidate feel compelled to appease, curry favor with, or even tacitly agree with one over the others’ agendas. This is the corner they should never be forced into, but they are. This situation has gotten way out of hand.

Still keeping within the self-imposed confines of known beliefs, I wish to address a belief common to major religions, namely that those who in good conscience reject because they cannot accept, what to them are certain beliefs irrational, unsubstantiated, and they are therefore, condemned to eternal torments. That judgment is the Ultimate of extreme prejudice. If this is an acceptable belief of these faiths towards dissenters, to what extent does it influence the decisions, attitudes, and in general, judgments toward them) to anyone who does not “share” their faiths, including our elected and electable, representatives? (If this is contrary to many believers, where are their voices?) Let us also consider those who cannot wait for dissenters to be punished eternally, but do it themselves in the here and now.

Religious entities should not be “special interest groups”, a dividing sword, nor should they be allowed to force government to legislate against private matters of conscience, behavior, which hams no one, serious health care progress.

Contrary to accepted propaganda, “faith” is no assurance of a morally good conscience. There are many outstanding examples that “faith” can be a camouflage for a corrupt one.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Carl Scheiman
Walpole, ME

From the July 19, 2008, edition of the The Other Paper (Ohio):

'Strickland supported the theocrats'

On matters of policy, Gov. Ted Strickland has not been as far from Rod Parsley as Michael Sheline’s letter suggests (Letters: “Strickland was near, not with, Parsley,” June 12)

For example, Parsley has long supported severe restrictions on adult businesses, and Strickland accommodated him by allowing Senate Bill 16 to become law last year. The bill was a direct assault on a $250 million industry in Ohio—including the jobs of about 10,000 Ohioians—at a time when the state’s economy was already in the dumper. Parsley and his followers surely approved of Strckland’s handling of the bill. But their accolades were earned at the expense of thousands of working Ohioans that Strickland was willing to turn into criminals for the offense of providing harmless entertainment to others.

Parsley also has strongly criticized the fundamental American principle of the separation of church and state. Although history shows that nothing is more divisive than entanglements between government and religion, Strickland supported the theocrats when he ordered the Department of Natural Resources to place a blatantly Christian display back in a state park. The department had removed the display after a complaint from a minority religion, whose sensitivities and rights Strickland obliviously didn’t care the least bit about.

When he’s thought that political advantages could be gained, Strickland has clearly been willing to pander to the religious right by supporting their divisive “culture war” instead of focusing on problems that seriously affect the lives of Ohioans. That’s just one of the reasons why many people are now wondering whether he’s a real Democrat.

Joseph C. Sommer,
Columbus, OH

From the July 16, 2008, edition of the The Anniston Star (AL):

'Not quite true'

Re "Influence of Christ" (Speak Out, June 21):

Letter writer Mike Sutton chides Einstein for calling the Bible "childish." Einstein was probably contemplating the passage where trees talk to each other, Judges 9:8-15.

He states that Einstein's "greatest contribution was the knowledge of how to destroy the world with the atom bomb." In 1905, Einstein theorized the relationship between mass and energy. He determined E=mc2. This made him no more responsible for the atom bomb than gravitation made Isaac Newton responsible for plane crashes. In 1939, Einstein warned President Roosevelt that the Nazis were working on an atomic bomb. In 1940, the U.S. Army Intelligence office denied Einstein, a pacifist, the security clearance needed to work on the development of the atomic bomb.

Sutton parrots the creationist claim that there is no "evidence of transitional forms." However, there are australopithecine fossils that provide a link between apelike animals and humans.

Sutton states, "History shows that the Bible has also motivated more acts of kindness, charity and sacrificial love than all the other books ever written." He provides no examples. The Bible has motivated slavery, wars of aggression (crusades), extreme cruelty (Inquisition and witch-hunts) and today, disdain for anybody not subscribing to the Bible-thumper's beliefs and practices.

David N. Miles
Orange Beach, AL

From the July 8, 2008, edition of the The Times Daily (AL):

'Rational morality'

In his July 3 letter, "And we wonder why ..." Michael Darling parrots the hackneyed Christian conservative cry, "We kill millions of babies in the name of family planning, women's rights, and convenience." While a few Christian fanatics, e.g., Andrea Yates, do kill their children, "we" do not kill millions of babies.

Scientifically, life is a progression from sperm and egg to zygote, then to blastocyst, embryo, fetus and finally a newborn child. Egg fertilization is the first step in the nine-month process whereby the potential human becomes an actual human.

Natural abortion (miscarriage) can occur during the gestation period. PDR Family Guide to Women's Health gives an estimate that miscarriage terminates 30 percent of pregnancies. Does anyone other than the potential parents ever rue, or render judgment on, natural abortion? Apparently, the "creator of life" has no problem with natural abortion. President Bush, who is advised by his "Heavenly Father," has made no overtures to provide funds for the study and prevention of miscarriage. If God and our president are not worried about natural abortion, why should a woman with an unwanted pregnancy hesitate to get a medically induced abortion?

Using EEG recordings, science has shown that until 30 weeks, the fetus does not have cognitive capacity. The capacity for human thought is what distinguishes a human being from other living organisms. Murder applies to actual humans, not non-cognitive forms of life - e.g., fetuses.

Reason dictates attaining quality of life. Religious dogma mandates quantity of life without consideration for the future of the unwanted child, the physical and mental health of the mother, and the adverse affects unwanted children and frustrated parents have on society.

A rational morality considers the rights of an actual woman, not the conjectured rights of a potential human.

David N. Miles
Orange Beach< AL

From the July 5, 2008, edition of the The Columbus Dispatch:

'Ouster of Dann wasn't by the book'

In their politically motivated efforts to drive fellow Democrat Marc Dann from the office of attorney general, Gov. Ted Strickland and Democratic members of the Ohio House of Representatives didn't let the Ohio Constitution and other laws stop them ("Strickland meant business on Dann," Dispatch, June 21).

Their impeachment resolution was brought under the Ohio Constitution's Section 24 of Article II. That section says the House can impeach an official "for any misdemeanor in office." Black's Law Dictionary defines misdemeanor as a crime less serious than a felony and says the archaic meaning of the term encompasses any crime, including felonies. Either way, a misdemeanor is a crime.

Because there was no evidence that Dann had committed a misdemeanor, no authority existed to remove him under the constitutional standard for impeachment. Former Gov. Bob Taft met the standard, but Dann didn't.

To get around the problem, Strickland and the Democratic representatives used the less stringent standards for removal under Section 38 of Article II and the statutes implementing that section. Specifically, the standards came from Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3.07, which lists the grounds for removal for misconduct in office.

But both Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3.07 and 3.08 specify that those standards apply to the judicial method of removal. It involves collecting signatures of more than 600,000 qualified electors and then having the matter heard by an appellate court, whose decision can be appealed.

By bringing the impeachment resolution under Section 24 but not using the removal standard contained in that section and, instead, using the standards that apply to an entirely different procedure, Strickland and the Democratic representatives acted unlawfully and fraudulently. Their resolution was intended to deceive the public into erroneously believing that an impeachable offense had been committed.

Additionally, Democratic leaders applied force and intimidation by having the state inspector general ransack the attorney general's office and seize computers and other property, thereby crippling Dann's ability to function in office. The inspector general previously hadn't used such strong-arm tactics even against the Bureau of Workers' Compensation after the announcement in 2005 that millions had been stolen from the agency.

Other governmental offices, both at the federal and state levels, often investigate allegations of workplace sexual harassment. But they somehow manage to do it successfully without "shock and awe" raids that seriously disrupt the operation of workplaces.

Strickland and the Democratic representatives should be ashamed of their unlawful and unethical conduct, which drove Dann from the office the voters had elected him to hold. A stronger case could be made for removing those officials from office than for removing Dann.

The entire episode was a huge miscarriage of justice and an affront to democracy.

Joseph Sommer,
Attorney, Columbus, OH

From the July 3, 2008, edition of the The Mountain Mail (Socorro, New Mexico):

'‘Right Side’ Writer Should Check Facts'

Rick Coddington wrote recently concerning my belief system, humanism. I do wish that, when someone sets out to define me, he would check his facts. 

 “Remember, a religion is “a cause, principle or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.” A religion doesn’t require a god to be a religion.”

I’m not sure where Mr. Coddington found this definition, but it’s unfamiliar to me.

Religion.com cites the Web site Dictionary.com, Unabridged, version 1.1, in defining religion.

“1. A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

3. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

4. The life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

5. The practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

6. Something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.”

Mr. Coddington’s definition could apply to a baseball team, the Rotary International, a favorite cause such as environmentalism or much more. For me, humanism takes the place of religion but is not one.

He goes on to quote from the Humanist Manifesto, but uses an outdated version. The 2003 revision more accurately reflects current humanist thought.

“We are a society of about 304 million people. With secular humanism as our national religion, then, we have no standard for morals or ethics beyond the 304 million individual experiences, needs and interests.

I missed the establishment of my non-religion as the national religion, but I suggest that, with or without a national religion (what a frightening thought!) we all do make our own individual ethical choices anyway.

We go to Second Timothy’s description of the last days. This has been quoted to apply to the present ever since it was written. It applies now, and always will.

He cites a Hugo Black reference to an application by a particular group calling themselves humanists calling themselves a religion to gain a tax exemption.

This group may still exist, but it’s not a voice for all humanism. The American Humanist Association, the largest such national group, is classed as an educational, not religious, organization.

His mention of the Ten Commandments overlooks the ones that are specifically and only religious, and claims without reference that these are the basis for the U.S. legal system. Nowhere in our founding documents is this substantiated.

He suggests that various silly things have been done to remove religion from the public square, as if humanists were behind each. We were and are not. He overlooks that Halloween, All Souls Eve, is Christian in origin, not Wiccan.

I could go on, as Mr. Coddington does, but I (and my readers) grow weary. Mr. Coddington, check the Humanist Society of New Mexico’s Web site (humanists.net/nm) and visit one of our meetings. You can see what humanists are really like, and you might learn a bit.

Jerry Wesner,
Albuquerque, NM

From the July 3, 2008, edition of the The Mobile Press-Register:

'Require church disclosure'

In the letter, ("Churches should pay taxes," June 28) Shean A. Smith states that churches are exempt from paying taxes because they are charitable organizations. However, just how charitable are churches?

Churches claim that they make significant financial contributions to the community. How much? That is anybody's guess. Try to find out how much your church contributes to improving the community, and it is highly unlikely that you will ever know.

Moreover, when church authorities tell you money goes to support missionary work, ask for evidence that your church's proselytizing actually provides goods and services to the needy. What percentage of the budget finds its way into soup kitchens?

Secular non-profit organizations are required to file limited annual financial reports. Religious organizations do not have to reveal the slightest bit of financial data for public examination.

Why shouldn't churches file the same Tax Form 990 that is required of other non-profit groups?

Thanks to President Bush, taxpayer dollars pour into churches as part of the faith-based initiative. Yet these recipients of our largess do not even have to provide financial reports. Apparently, "separation of church and state" means it is OK for the state to provide funds to churches, allow donations to churches to be tax-deductible and keep churches exempt from property taxes, but the state has no right to ask for financial reports.

The Massachusetts House considered a law that would have required churches to conform to the same financial reporting as other non-profit organizations. The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected. No politician seeking re-election would risk church wrath.

You can be sure that if churches actually did make meaningful contributions benefiting humanity, they would have their financial statements plastered everywhere.

When a church sent a bottle of water to hurricane victims, public-relations-oriented parishioners worked overtime. There was an effusion of laudatory letters to the editor.

Some Christians claim that because of the separation of church and state, Christian organizations should not pay taxes. They have it backward. It is exactly because of church/state separation that Christian organizations should pay taxes.

By not paying the property taxes paid by other individuals and organizations in the community, religious organizations are receiving special favor from the government. Because governments do not derive revenue from church properties, my taxes are higher. I am subsidizing religion.

Why should taxing authorities treat churches any differently than other forms of entertainment? Unless there is evidence that an individual attending church comes away a better person than someone attending a movie or sporting event, then churches do not merit preferential treatment.

David N Miles,
Orange Beach, AL

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