During this season, as I have heard again the stories of companies who will not say “Christmas,” and discussions of whether manger scenes should be allowed in public places, I began to think about the rapid decline of religion in our public lives and the role of socialism in this trend.
Throughout the last more than half century, communists, fascists and socialists of all stripes have persecuted Christians, Jews and other people of faith. From Stalin to Mao to Pol Pot and others, an estimated 100 million or more “religious” people have been murdered in atheist purges, and many millions more placed in prison, work camps or chased out of their homes as refugees.
In the United States of America, faith has been under attack for as many decades through subtler and certainly less lethal measures. Incremental attacks through the legal system have lead to much of the “political correctness” we now endure in our land of supposed religious freedom. Our founding principals have been twisted; our history revised in an effort to diminish the role of faith in our founding and also in our daily life. Everywhere, the forces of socialism have attempted to purge religion from the public stage. We must have “tolerance” for those who believe differently, they tell us…we can’t display crosses, menorahs, The Ten Commandments, or any other symbols of our Judeo-Christian culture because some may take offense and that wouldn’t be fair.
Through popular culture they have sought to ridicule faith and portray people who believe in God as empty-headed dolts. They make science their religion and say that they are the only enlightened ones, even if they have to tweak their “science” a bit to fit their world view and agendas.
Why is it such a goal of socialists to eliminate God from our lives? Do you believe it is because they are really so concerned about people feeling offended or uncomfortable? Well, they certainly don’t care whether Christians are offended. They tell us that we should not be so touchy about a crucifix in urine, its just art, after all…free expression. They say that we do not have a right to think that homosexuality is immoral, though the Bible clearly defines it as sin. And while many feel perfectly free to heap scorn and contempt on those of faith…the faithful must always show tolerance for others.
Some people may be concerned about offense…some may truly think that belief in God is unenlightened. But these are the masses, the useful idiots of the socialists. I believe, at the highest levels it has nothing to do with these stated reasons. A leader or regime who seeks to wield ultimate power over a people cannot have those people believing in a power higher than their government. Pharaohs, emperors, kings, and dictators through-out the centuries have thought themselves the ultimate power, some even claimed to be gods. They also did not tolerate worship of other “gods.”
The United States of America was founded on a belief in “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” We based our laws and liberties around the notion that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Americans see their rights coming from a power higher than the government. This creates an obstacle to those who wish to dictate your rights by fiat from the top. How can a government override a right that comes from God…unless they destroy the idea of God on the first place?
Socialists not only seek to destroy the idea of God, but further wish to replace God with the State. No longer do you need to look to God for your needs…no longer should you expect your church to help you in desperate times…No, the State is there to meet your needs – as they define them, of course. The State will tell you what is moral; it will tell you how you should live. All you need to do is give up those silly, outdated ideas of God and personal liberties. Those ideas are selfish and detrimental to the world community. You must be willing to sacrifice these childish notions for the good of the whole. And, of course, trust the State. It only has your best interest at heart.
Whether you are a person of faith or not, religious freedom and the “unalienable rights” which emanate from a higher power than government are vital ingredients to all of our liberties. We must keep government in its rightful place, as servants…not rulers. Our rights do not flow from government’s favor; this is arbitrary and disingenuous. It comes from a place that is above law and government. A place that is constant and true. Call it the Laws of Nature, if you will…I say it is God. But remember, when you cede the power to man, it will become corrupt and self-serving to those who rule. And your freedom, which is most dear in this life, will be lost.
Guard your rights jealously. Do not give them up lightly; they have been won at a great price. Always question government’s motives and always remember in The United States of America, the power of the government lies in We The People.
And, Merry Christmas.
