Dr. Ben Carson is fed up with secular progressives swindling Americans out of their religious rights. He recently made a comparison between the United States and Soviet Union to The Washington Times that is likely startling to many.
"We used to characterize the Soviet Union as a godless, evil empire. Like many societies before them that were based on communism or socialism, the Soviets had seen fit to minimize the importance of God and, in many cases, wreaked unimaginable persecution on religious people." He went on to say, "Why is faith in God anathema to such states? It's because they need to remove any authority besides themselves as the arbiter of right and wrong."
Carson shares how, last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke out against the Euro-Atlantic countries--including the U.S.--for becoming removed from Christian values. He goes on to explain that while some would eschew this as untrue, it is cause for Americans to think since many are too concerned about mention God or Jesus in public for the sake of offending someone's politically correct sensibilities.
Most strikingly, Dr. Carson provides eloquent insight on the misuse by secular liberals and progressives on the separation of church and state.
"The separation clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is being inappropriately applied to a host of situations that involve religion," he says. "By reinterpreting the law to mean separation of God and state, as opposed to the original intent of keeping the church from having undue influence over state affairs and keeping government from ruling the church, the secular progressives have succeeded de facto in redefining part of the Constitution."
This begs the question if secular progressives have succeeded in redefining a section of the Constitution, how many other sections can they successfully redefine without the interference of the informed public?
Carson argues that to toss aside biblical principles in our governing is to display that we feel there is "no authority greater than man himself." Scary indeed.
Carson recounts a personal example in which he was hanging a "Think Big" banner in a public school when he was approached by lawyers attempting to stop him. They claimed the "G" in "Big" really stood for "God" and thus it was a violation of the First Amendment. He casually invited them to carry the discussion over to the U.S. Supreme Court. (He already had an appointment there the following week to receive the Jefferson award.)
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor agreed with Carson that he had in no way violated the Amendment and allowed him to proceed with his banner-hanging.
Dr. Carson did not back down from the opposition, but how many uninformed or politically sensitive Americans would have been taken in by these lawyers' false claims?
Carson also recalled another story, related to our nation's founding. Picture the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The delegates are in disagreement over the writing of the Constitution; they don't know how to write it. So the then 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin reminded them of their frequent and successful prayers during the War of Independence and they followed suit and knelt in prayer. The result of this prayer was the writing and completion of this nation's Constitution.
From them on, each congressional session would be opened with a word of prayer.
Carson then states the all-powerful verse meant to guide nations into repentance and blessing, 2 Chronicles 7:14.
"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land."
Dr. Carson warns us that we must not forsake the faith and values thereof that have made this nation great.
Read Dr. Carson's full commentary at The Washington Times.
