Dear Editor:
Thanks to Bob Watson's May 18 report in the News Tribune, we can learn what Franklin Graham told Missourians on May 17 in his Decision America Tour 2016 held here in Jefferson City.
According to Watson's report, Graham recommends that people of all religions should vote only for Christians who "stand for truth and Biblical principles." He claimed that Christians should be elected because "it's the Christians who built this country," and because Christian politicians can be counted on to be fair to all.
Personally, I found Graham's recommendations related to the holding of public office and to voting, as quoted in Watson's article, to be hard to defend. I also discovered that Graham is promoting an inaccurate, whitewashed interpretation of American history.
His ideas have serious flaws:
Regarding American history, evidence shows that people of many religions, not just Christians, have helped to build this country. In addition, we have had times when Christians, along with others, have treated members of minority groups unfairly. Consider our nation's history of slavery and segregation. Many politicians and church leaders in the South and elsewhere have used the name of God and the Bible to justify brutal behavior toward their fellow men, women and children.
As for governing the nation by God's Biblical principles, Christian theologians interpret the Bible's words in diverse ways. We also find many examples of states governed by religious doctrines that have turned into oppressive tyrannies.
Regarding our Missouri Legislature and the U.S. Congress, members include people of different religious traditions who have stood for justice, who are committed to truth and who have behaved in exemplary ways. No single religion has a monopoly on people who deserve the public trust.
Finally, regarding our founding documents, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights specify, among other things, that there is to be no religious test for any public office and that there is to be no law respecting an establishment of religion. James Madison in Federalist Paper Number 10 warned against the rule by any single faction, which is exactly what Graham is proposing.
While I support Graham's right to believe and propound his own religious beliefs, I believe his recommendation for Americans to vote only for Christians committed to govern Biblically is prejudicial, divisive and inconsistent with the ideals upon which this nation was founded.