Don't Muzzle Me

I just got back from the National Religious Broadcasting conference. There was a debate between Barry Lynn (Americans United for the Separation of Church and State) and Craig Parshall (NRB counsel and constitutional law specialist). It was a great discussion. Essentially Barry believes that we should have freedom of religion as long as it is kept within the walls of the church or synagogue. He obviously does not appreciate that our nation was founded by those that came here so that they could freely express their religion and not have to cow tow to the Church of England. He would greatly limit public expression of religion and agrees with the College of Los Angeles in the Lopez case.

http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4823


Craig Parshall argued that the 1st amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. It would seem that this will be a defining issue in our time. Do we go the way of Stalinist Russia, or Nazi Germany and abolish religious expression unless it validates the state. Hitler did that when he locked up all the pastors that disagreed with him and got minions in religious robes to back him in his persecution of the Jews.

As Martin Niemoller said when he was asked why he supported the NAZI party:

“I find myself wondering about that too. I wonder about it as much as I regret it. Still, it is true that Hitler betrayed me. I had an audience with him, as a representative of the Protestant Church, shortly before he became Chancellor, in 1932. Hitler promised me on his word of honor, to protect the Church, and not to issue any anti-Church laws. He also agreed not to allow pogroms against the Jews, assuring me as follows: "There will be restrictions against the Jews, but there will be no ghettos, no pogroms, in Germany."

I really believed, given the widespread anti-Semitism in Germany, at that time—that Jews should avoid aspiring to Government positions or seats in the Reichstag. There were many Jews, especially among the Zionists, who took a similar stand. Hitler's assurance satisfied me at the time. On the other hand, I hated the growing atheistic movement, which was fostered and promoted by the Social Democrats and the Communists. Their hostility toward the Church made me pin my hopes on Hitler for a while.

I am paying for that mistake now; and not me alone, but thousands of other persons like me.”

Niemoller became and ardent public opponent of Hitler and spent 7 years in concentration camps under the Nazi regime. He is probably best known for this statement:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

So even if you aren’t a Christian the muzzling of those that you don’t agree with may also mean that some day that muzzle is placed on you.