Hi everybody-
I thought you may be interested in this statement that Renee Hayes
forwarded to me (thanks, Renee!).
Eugene
>Statement on September 11 Terrorism
>
>Acts of Terrorism the Ultimate "Faith-Based
>Initiative"?
>
>September 13, 2001
>
>This statement was released by the Freedom
> >From Religion Foundation, a Madison, Wis.-based
>national association of freethinkers (atheists
>and agnostics) working to protect the
>constitutional separation of church and
>state since 1978.
>
>Representing our national membership of
>freethinkers, as well as the 18.5% of U.S.
>citizens who are not religious, we join in
>the national mourning over the events on
>September 11, a horrible and senseless
>human tragedy.
>
>However, Bush's proclamation of Friday,
>September 14 as a "National Day of Prayer
>and Remembrance" shows the pitfalls of the
>"God is on our side" mentality, and the
>dangers of religious patriotism.
>
>While it may be natural for religious persons
>to turn to religion or prayer for solace, it
>is not the role of the President of the United
>States, or his spokespersons, to urge citizens
>to pray, to go to church, to turn to faith,
>or to observe a National Day of Prayer with
>worship.
>
>In fact, it appears that the terrorist disasters
>of September 11 may well have been the ultimate
>"faith-based initiative." These terrorists
>apparently expected to find a reward "in heaven"
>and were bent on starting a "holy war" with our
>nation.
>
>Our country should not fall into the trap of
>religious terrorists: Holy wars don't have
>solutions, they just have body counts.
>
>Religion is not the answer, it is probably the
>problem. As Pascal put it: "Men never do evil
>so completely and cheerfully as when they do
>it from religious conviction."
>
>Prayer had its chance on September 11, and it
>failed. Imagine the unanswered prayers of
>hundreds or thousands of the victims of these
>terrorists. Official prayer will not solve any
>problems.
>
>We believe it is appropriate for President Bush
>to call for a Day of Remembrance, but leave
>prayer up to individuals. Civil War Col. Robert
>G. Ingersoll reminds us: "The hands that help
>are better far than lips that pray."
>
>The nonreligious are among the victims and their
>families, and are represented in the ranks of
>the heroes, the firefighters and police officers
>risking or giving their lives to save others. It
>is offensive that the President of all Americans
>disregards the convictions, even the existence,
>of the more than 10% of the population that is
>not religious.
>
>The "God is on our side" mentality was responsible
>for these tragic acts of terrorism. We must not
>compound the dangers by a "One Nation Under God"
>response.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
>Donate cash, emergency relief information
>http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/
>
_____
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Oct 10 2001 - 15:49:15 PDT