Mailbag

In Theorist misses the mark yet again

There have been several letters to the Community Forum commenting on the Rev. Bryan Griem’s responses to questions posed in the Faith section. I have always been amazed at his hate-filled, vitriolic answers to questions posed regarding current political or religious issues. Rightly so, disparate voices are given a platform in this section to present their views.

Griem’s response to last Saturday’s question regarding President-elect Barack Obama’s choice of Rick Warren as one of the religious leaders to deliver an invocation at his inauguration (“Addressing inaugural choice,” In Theory, Dec. 27) has even surpassed his own high bar of un-Christian behavior and lack of historical knowledge.

First, he needs a refresher course in American history regarding the “pilgrims” and our “revolutionary forefathers”: why those pilgrims fled to this new land, and why our forefathers established a separation of church and state in the Constitution.

Secondly, suggesting that Obama might have been elected because he’s “ethnically useful” is incredibly insulting, not only to the president-elect, but to all of the Americans who actually voted with their brains this time, instead of voting for someone they’d “like to have a beer with” or someone with whom they’d like to shoot animals. Obama was elected because the majority of Americans agreed that he was the best candidate. Period.

As last, to infer that Obama’s faith is “liberal and race-centered spirituality” is the height of hypocrisy, and confirms the reverend’s own astoundingly egotistical assumption that he can read another person’s heart. Griem, you sir, are not God.

Fortunately, there are plenty of real Christians, like the Rev. “Skip” Lindeman, who exemplify everything that Jesus spoke of in the New Testament.

A big thank you to the non-Christian spiritual leaders represented in the Faith column who present a loving, positive attitude to the world outside their own faiths.

They demonstrate the true gift of spirituality: loving and caring for this Earth and all of its inhabitants, today and tomorrow.

CYNTHIA CAVANAUGH

Burbank

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