This is in response to Cal Thomas’ column and Dee Wampler’s letter in the May 20 edition of the Globe.
Christians fervently believe in ascension into heaven (or hell) of the human soul. Hindus believe in reincarnation of that same soul into a different form of life back on Earth. Sort of like soul recycling, I suppose. Some Muslims believe that 70 virgins await their bidding upon arrival in heaven. They don’t mention how the virgins may feel about that belief. Some folks believe that there is no soul, and it is pure dust to dust after death.
None of us can see with human eyes across the great divide and know for sure exactly what follows death of the human body. We all can see with “eyes of faith,” however, depending upon which faith we accept. The Constitution allows freedom of religion. To me that allows anyone to have any faith with which to view the unknowable. The same goes for creation.
Dee Wampler looked for written words proving Christian faith on the part of the Founding Fathers. Folks on the left look for written words supporting privacy (choice) from those same Fathers. Right-wing folks justify written words (2nd Amendment) to bear arms whose only purpose is killing (OK, killing for protection against other would-be killers). The last time I checked the Ten Commandments, killing was prohibited. I can find biblical reference to outlaw eating lobster, much to the chagrin of folks in Maine.
In my view, government has no business dictating matters of faith. We should all be free to follow the precepts of any faith (or even lack of faith) in accordance with the Constitution. When political arguments take on the mantle of faith to justify legislation for all people of all faiths, such arguments are weak to my human, as well as spiritual, ears.
Anson Burlingame
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Faith
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
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Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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