Come Casual

      Freedom of religion was envisioned by our forefathers to be the allowance of worship of God as presented in the Bible by whatever means a person wished.  When they said “separation of church and state” they wanted to ensure the government did not dictate the manner in which that God was worshipped.  However, it is obvious they wanted the inclusion of a “Biblical God” in government by their frequent references to God in the founding documents.  Other religions in America and Europe at that time were of such small measure to be of little consequence.  I doubt any of those men dreamed of what was to come.

     First, the atheists.  Atheism is a sort of religion.  As in Christianity and Judaism where there is a belief by faith that there is a God, the atheists believe by faith that there is no God.  Both beliefs are by faith because neither can be proved.  Atheists were not new to our forefathers but the voice they have today, aided by a liberal judicial system, would astound George Washington and his colleagues.  The strict interpretation of the separation of church and state being applied to our institutions and lives today will serve to weaken the core “Judeo-Christian” values on which our country was built.  References to God are being stricken from our government buildings and public schools, and the traditional institution of marriage between a man and woman is being assaulted (it would be simple enough for gays to have a civil union recognized by law to serve their needs).  These changes are being pressed by vocal minorities with special self-interests not in keeping with the welfare of our nation.

     However, the main threat to our doctrine (and Law) of freedom of religion is the growing presence of the Islamic religion in the United States (and the world).  This is a religion centered around the God of the Koran which has its own laws and dictates.  The problem comes when Islamic peoples place their religious laws above those of our government.  Their allegiances are to Islam and not America.

     Our free society allows Muslims to live in America and some openly express their contempt for us and their desire to destroy our country.  We cannot know what is in the mind of one so that brings into question the thoughts of all.  These Muslims are protected by our laws now, but how long will the American people allow the protection to continue?  Herein lies the coming breech in our venerated Freedom of Religion.

                                                                                           rlkilgore@chartertn.net          2009

Talking about oneself rivals baseball as the nation’s pastime. Much of poetry is a prime example. If “I” and “me” were removed from vocabulary, many would have difficulty speaking.

 A child is given birth by the parents and has nothing to give in return except love. An obedient, loving child is a joy. A disobedient, disrespectful child to the obliging parents ranges from disappointment to burden to curse.

 Perhaps life on earth is Heaven and Hell, the reward or punishment side by side. Perhaps life on earth is only Heaven (or only Hell). Most likely it is neither.

 Jesus told his disciples,”………..do this in remembrance of me.” because he understood that was the ultimate they could do for him after his death. Remembrance of those we love after they are gone, and perpetuating that memory in future generations, is the ultimate gift we can give them.

 Life is a chess match and time is our opponent.

 I have observed, with a few exceptions, the less hair a man has on the top of his head the more he wants in other places.

 The savior of religions is that they are able to take any thought or event and twist it to their own ends.

 The main difference between standing in the shower and the rain is that rain doesn’t come in the right temperature.

 Each man has more than one life, some he lived before and one where he straddles the line between then and to be.

 I always wanted to be recognized for my looks. I didn’t know it would come in the form of a senior citizen’s discount.

 I discovered today mayonnaise doesn’t readily spread on a slice of tomato.

 Have you noticed how dogs like to smell of each other’s rear ends but they don’t like for us to blow in their faces?

If we truly believe Heaven is as we say then why do we take medicines and treatments to avoid it and why do we punish murderers for sending us there?

I wonder who started the rumor Barack Obama is smart.

Capitalism is built on the backs of laborers and the laborers are better off for it.

The flaw of socialism - if the pie is divided equally no one will bake the pie.

The rich man may have more idle time but his air conditioner isn’t any cooler or his bed any softer.

The Republicans are not the party of “No”.  The party out of power is the party of “No”.

Prayer seems akin to having an imaginary friend.  There is nothing wrong with having someone to talk to, someone who will listen without interrupting.

 The veracity of the deity is not as important as the strength of faith.  Faith is the reality.

                                                                          rlkilgore@chartertn.net

If death were as peaceful slumber
Sailing on a gentle sea
With cooling warmth from summer breezes
And lying there were she with me
To fill love’s idyllic dreams,
Ambrosia for eternity,
Then hasten coming of that day.

Futility begs a minute glimpse,
By means worldly senses lack,
To dispel musings wary
Of conjecture’s wishfulness
Gauging immortality -
But certainty is today’s possession
And there reason enough to tarry.

                                      rlkilgore

rlkilgore@chartertn.net

As far back as history records
there seems to be,
Even with skeptics,
A universal craving for life
To continue after death.
Religions are a means
Of organizing the afterlife
Into a form the mind
Is able to manage.
But, is the notion
of life prior to birth,
Which human senses lack
The capacity to recall,
Any greater reach?
Perhaps we are a cosmic existence
Of which life on earth
Is an interlude,
A sojourn, a vacation -
For some a pleasant week
At the beach and for others
A nightmare
Where all the flights get cancelled.

                                rlkilgore

You, Profaneness, flung in blasphemy,
Reeking contempt with arrogant bravado
Of Hell’s abyss, you are a belief
Of disbelief whose consequences
Require no answer, for there is
No other, other than yourself.

But what of you, Pious Pride,
Ensconced so smugly in your convictions?
What influence you wield, what power
And wealth to proselytize by cajolement,
And if failing, bloodshed, regardless
Of your creed or your sect or culture.

Whether viewed as light to darkness
Or darkness passing into Light,
Passion holds no sway.
Which is the blinded fool
Is, perhaps, only he
Who presumes to know.

                       rlkilgore

It seems to me Bill Maher has replaced Madalyn O’Hair as the face of atheism. Why would one take it upon himself to attempt to dissuade others from their opinions or discredit their beliefs when those beliefs, with their morals, are the basis on which our country is set, regardless of the validity of those beliefs? The primary reason I can see is to boaster one’s ego, fame and wealth.