Your Opinion: Don't confuse cultural heritage with Christianity

Dear Editor:

Well, another reply to Mr. Sampson.

On April 3 Sampson's op ed somehow ties Gov. Jerry Brown's disapproval of Sen. Ted Cruz to our Founding Fathers Christianity. I'm not clear on the logic path, but along the way he made an assertion that piqued me; "a previous letter writer probably thinks Sen. Cruz is a quack, as he has the audacity to believe that our rights [do not] come from God."

Whether or not any Founding Father or other notable in our history was Christian, or believed that these United States was a Christian nation, matters absolutely not. The First Amendment to our Constitution prohibits using religion as a basis for governance. An example; a recent court case, Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. Hialeah, 508 U.S. 520 (1993).

They practice Santeria. Many would likely call it "Voodoo." It is actually an old African religion (Yoruba) with some Roman Catholicism scattered in. Sometimes they sacrifice chickens. When the church decided to build, the good Christians of Hialeah, Florida, sprang into action and enacted an ordinance to outlaw the practice of sacrifice.

The church sued.

The Supreme Court eventually found for the plaintiff, (basically they said "you have to let them kill chickens").

Now, it's unlikely that the idea of allowing a church in Florida to sacrifice chickens will resonate with many of the good people who read this.

I would like to quote from Justice Anthony Kennedy's opinion. These words do resonate with me, deeply. "Religious beliefs need not be acceptable, logical, consistent or comprehensible to others in order to merit First Amendment protection."

Writing law with a view to morality is appropriate. Writing law to enforce Christian morality is not. The recent kerfuffle in Indiana is a perfect example.

Sampson quoted a number of our Founding Fathers. I'll quote a current theologian, Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; "Advocates of Christian America have confused their cultural heritage with biblical Christianity. While Believers must exercise their views, cheapening what constitutes Christianity for political gain profanes the Gospel."

Well said Mr. Mohler.

Just for the record. I do not believe Ted Cruz is a "quack." I may not agree with everything he says, and if ever given the opportunity, I might not vote for him. But he certainly is not a quack.

Movie title
Grade: grade here
Cast: cast here
Director: director here
Rating: rating here
Running time: minutes
Showtimes and Ticket Info