BELIEVE IT OR NOT?

Robert Ripley dealt in the odd, strangest events and people.  Some of what he wrote in his syndicated cartoon was so outlandish the public found it hard to believe.  Ripley aptly entitled his work, "Believe it or not".  Everyday, we hear, we see, we smell, and we taste, and we often feel sounds, sights, odors, and chew on things hard to swallow, see, smell, or hear.  When something doesn't pass the five senses test, we tend to not believe that it is true or real.  I don't like the looks, the smell, or taste of Brussels Sprouts. As much as I would like to deny their existence, I can't for they are real or true.  Therefore, there are times when the senses test just doesn't work.

Science and Religion

Over the last hundred years, science has replaced religion as the major source of truth.  Science had developed a method called the scientific method.  The scientific method uses empirical and measurable evidence or data gathered according to accepted principles of reasoning.  The scientist begins with a hypothesis or statement that the scientist wishes to verify through experiments.  The scientific method conflicts with the religions of the world who practice "faith" to accept things unexplained or events that appear to be supernatural.

Deceptive Uses of our Natural Rights

So here is the war:  the supernatural vs the natural.  The founding fathers of the United States declared humanity has "natural rights" (unalienable) among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.    The first ten amendments to the constitution are "natural rights" also:  freedom of religion, press, speech, petition, right to bear arms, right to search and seizure regulated, right to a speedy trial, right to a trial by jury, excessive bail, fines, and cruel and usual punishment prohibited, and states rights.

Freedom of religion has been used by some in this country to justify everything from slavery to discrimination. The intent of the freedom of religion is to protect one's right to practice religion or not practice religion.  The founders did not want a "state religion" like they had under British Rule where the sovereign was the head of the Church of England. Colonists had to pay for the upkeep and the salary of the Church of England Vicar and the Church of England facilities through the property tax they paid.  This gave rise to the separation of "church and state".  This seems very logical and reasonable for the founders wanted Jewish citizens to have the same right and privileges to worship as Baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian.  In the same way, they wanted diest to be free to believe what they wanted and they wanted atheist to have the right not to believe.

Individual Rights

The whole idea behind our government is the idea of freedom.  Freedom that grants individual rights to its citizens.  So what happens when individual rights clash.  For example, a Catholic decides to open a business and hire employees.  Does he have the right under the freedom of religion to hire only people who are pro life, anti-gay, who believe in the celibacy of priests, the infallibility of the pope and  the seven sacraments?  Can he hire only men or only white people?  Can he refuse to sell or serve to Protestants or hire children and pay them less than he would an adult?

Does the right to free speech and free press mean that I can plot and plan and make public a plan to overthrow the government?  At what point does a citizen commit treason and sedition?  Does a citizen have the right to own a canon or a tank because the citizen has the right to keep and bear arms?

The problems we face in this country have been around since its beginning.  Religion is used to justify actions that are often contrary to the teachings of the very religion that seeks to justify slavery, discrimination, or the right to take a life like that of medical personnel that perform abortions.

Politicians jump on the bandwagon of what is popular.  They want to win elections so if the people of their state or county or city want to use religion to condemn something, they may join the popular opinion.  This occurred in the South in the 1960's.  Those of us who were around, remember Paul Johnson, the Mississippi Lieutenant Governor, who stood in the doorway to keep James Meredith from registering as student.  In the next gubernatorial election his theme was "Stand Up For Paul like he Stood Up for you last fall."

This is still occurring today.  Senator Ted Cruz led an effort to shut down the government because there were many who supported the idea.  Our President is not perfect nor has he been a dynamic leader to lead us in these tough times.  Yet, those who oppose the President use language and methods that are not new in this country.  Presidents have been accused of cover-ups and abuse of power many times in the past.

My point today is don't be ready to accept everything that you read, see, hear, taste or smell.  Test it for the underlying purpose.  Why was it written?  Is it true?

Believe it or not, not everything we hear, see, smell, taste or feel is true.  Believe it or not the natural rights guaranteed by our Creator and written into our foundation as a country are often used to hide reasons based on hate, deceit, selfish gain, or ignorance.