This is Viewpoints for Saturday, March 26, 2016
Intolerance on display
Once again our former Houston County DA, Kelly Burke, who is publicly supporting a proposed, new law that supports opponents of same-sex marriage, the Free Exercise Protection Act, that Gov. Deal must sign or veto by May 3, is wrong. National corporations are threatening forms of economic sanctions against our state if this new law actually becomes law.
This is basically a battle between gay rights activists and religious conservatives. But to the bill's opponents, the bill is a "toxic mix of intolerant ideas that was fueled by resistance to the Supreme Court's decision approving the legality of gay marriage."
Almost 500 companies either based in Georgia or with deep ties to the state and belong to Georgia Prospers have agreed that the bill could harm our abilities to create and keep jobs that Georgia families depend on. This is basically a bill that provides protections to so-called "faith-based groups when they refuse to offer social, educational or charitable services that violate the organizations' religious beliefs."
— Frank W. Gadbois
Warner Robins
Interesting theology
I read and re-read many of the columns on The Telegraph's Opinion page written by Dr. Bill Cummings. The more I read the more I am driven in the trustworthiness of the truthfulness of the Bible that Dr. Cummings is disintegrating.
Surely Dr. Cummings unites himself with those whom he claims in his 12/6/15 column are "Many good 'Christian' scholars (ie Crossan, Borg, Spong, and Cummings) read them as parables or metaphors — but not as history." He claims that the parables mean:
1.) Jesus is not God.
2.) Jesus was not born of the Virgin Mary.
3.) Jesus' atonement on the cross does not reconcile sinful humanity to God 4.) Jesus' resurrection from the dead was not in physical form.
The Jesus Seminar that I have much information about, includes many theological educators who gather together to discuss and reach their conclusions about the Bible and especially the divinity of Christ. The seminar includes Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, Catholic priest John Dominic Crossan and Episcopal Marcus Borg. I don't know if it includes Dr. Cummings.
I quote only a few of their biblical beliefs and proclamations. Bishop Spong says "Saint Paul was a homosexual. Jews might be safer if we took Evangelical Christianity away. The virgin birth and resurrection were not literal events."
Priest Dominic Crossan says, "The atonement of Christ is incredibly obscene and transcendental child abuse. The virgin birth is a parable. We need open heart surgery on Christianity and our culture." Episcopal Marcus Borg says, "The Bible is a human product. Ascribing it to divine inspiration leads to massive confusion. There is a very bright future to mainline churches if they understood their traditions metaphorically and not literally. Christianity is not the only way to salvation."
Many biblical traditions can be understood metaphorically but not those including the gospel of Jesus Christ and the moral absolutes people are to live. I pray for Dr. Cummings. This is not to denigrate him. If he became a born again Christian with the assurance of his salvation, he could be a mighty man of God proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. I say this because in his 11/1/15 article he says, "Am I certain of my faith? No, I am not certain of my faith nor of my opinions and if I sound like I am, I apologize."
— The Rev. Richard Aultman
Byron
My search and Dr. Cummings
All of my life I have been searching for God. I did not realize until 50 years ago. I joined a church of my choice. I had been to different churches, even a Jewish Temple. I have listened to a dozen different preachers. My uncle was an officer in the Salvation Army for more years than I know.
There was that question in my mind. What is religion all about? Are the stories in the Bible true? I have read many different books. The Bible stories are the same, only with a different meaning. Different words often change the meanings. Why?
A thousand years ago the Bible was told by others and their meaning was different. People died because they went against the Christian Church. The Koran has many of the same stories with a Muslim slant. People are still dying because of radical Islam. Jews tell many different stories as well as the Catholic Bible. Who am I to believe?
Along came Dr. Cummings. He said, ask and you shall know. I have found a kindred spirit. I ask, why do some preachers and their flock say we are wrong? They condemn us for trying to understand God other than what religious leaders preach. All I can say is, find God as you wish and I will find God as I believe. God knows who is right and who is wrong. God will accept whoever worships him.
— Brian T. Reid Sr.
Gray
His exact words
It seems we don't remember when college tuition was not charged by many colleges as far back as 1935. Education was a stepping stone to independence as well as a contribution to our nation. Graduates succeeded and became a part of the citizenry who returned what was provided to them in the form of taxes to help educate the next generation of students, who in turn, would do the same for the ones following them.
In understanding what Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed, it would be helpful to actually read his words instead of a recycled and reworded incantation. His exact words are:
Make tuition free at public colleges and universities.
Stop the federal government from profiting on student loans.
Substantially reduce student loan rates.
Allow Americans to refinance student loan rates to a lower rate.
Allow students to use need based financial aid and work study programs to make college debt free.
To be fully paid for by Wall Street speculators.
At no time does Sanders say free college for everyone. Student rates are arbitrarily set by federal law and are not competitive. Why can't they be refinanced? We refinance house and car loans. We did bail out Wall Street who bankrupted our nation with its speculative trading. They are thriving and larger than ever so what can't they return this help in the form of education for our children who can then pass the chance of education on to the next generation just as it was done in 1935.
We are competing in a time where other nations with less than we have, offer not only free tuition but free college. We offer free high school. Who do you believe will be more prepared to be a leader on the world stage?
— Pat Fair
Macon
National news?
Thank you Winston Lawson for your letter (March 24) in which you questioned The Telegraph's decision to put a picture of prisoners training dogs on Page 1 and President Obama's trip to Cuba on Page 5. I have written twice in the past few months to express my disappointment at the paper's current practices. Neither letter was published. Why is that we no longer get any national or world news Monday through Friday? Today's front page? A picture of a child on a swing. Yesterday? A man decorating Houston Avenue for the Cherry Blossom Festival. With all of the major events happening in our country and around the world, surely there are more important stories to put on the front page. Like you, I am seriously considering letting my Telegraph subscription lapse.
— Steve Capista
Macon
This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 8:42 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Saturday, March 26, 2016 ."