American is NOT a Christian Country
2003-10-28, 9:36 a.m.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated conservative columnist. I read him sometimes because � well, it�s like a train wreck. Ya just gotta.

Here is the column I'm talking about.

This is the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

I went to Mr. Thomas� website (www.calthomas.com) and this is the email I sent him:

Mr. Thomas:

I read your 10/27 column with interest. I think you're missing a basic point: in America, we contend that we are a country of inclusiveness. Smart on our part since we are, in fact, a nation of immigrants. Arab countries have no such contention. Lt. Gen. Boykin's remarks were offensive because he forgets that the country he represents is made up of all kinds of people - tax paying, law abiding citizens who deserve the respect of their government.

Though many people confuse the first amendment to mean that the government should totally stay out of religions, what it actually does, Mr. Thomas, is define America as NOT a Christian country at all but a country that has no state religion. We are a country that has, for the time being, a majority of Christians but we are not a Christian country.

It is my opinion that those who cannot hold a respectful position on all of America's citizens has no place in public office.

End of the message to Cal Thomas. I�m sure he doesn�t personally answer email that he receives but I�ll be sure to let you know if he does respond to mine.

I swear I am sick of hearing about this being a �Christian� country. It�s true (according to statistics at www.adherence.com that Christians make up 76% of this country. However, over the course of 1990-2000, there was a 110% increase in the number of nonreligious/secular people. That�s still only 13% of the population, but obviously one that is growing. Actually, if we want to base our designation as a country solely on numbers (we �are- 76% Christian and if that makes us a Christian country, then �) we would be a Catholic country since Catholicism is the largest denomination in the US with 24.5% of the adult population. Baptists come in second at 16.3%. And, you know something� I�d bet that most of those who would like to identify us as a Christian country would be horrified to think that we could be identified as a Catholic country.

If we could stop thinking of ourselves as isolated from and superior to the world, we�d see that, though Christianity is still the largest religion in the world with 33% of the world�s population, Islam isn�t far behind with 22%. And quite frankly, we�re outnumbered. If we�re 33%, that leaves 67% of the world population as non-Christian.

You know that expression about how if we don�t pay attention to history, we are doomed to repeat it? Witness the fall of Rome. Modern Style. It�s bound to happen.