Should Federal prisons ban religious books from library jails?

No

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by Roger Knight

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As Ronald Reagan once said,"here we go again!"
The absolute resounding answer should be NO! Just when and where are we as a people going to stop trying to censor the beliefs and views of other people simply because we do not agree with them?

I believe that the greatest majority of Americans believe in God. It is my deepest conviction that a true, personal relationship with one's personal God is the greatest asset any human has. While I admit I am mostly influenced and believe in Judeo-Christian principles, that does not set me up as an arbiter on anyone's religious beliefs or degree thereof. To deny inmates access to religious books and publications would be absurd and a disservice to said inmates, God, and the society to which one day they will hopefully be reintegrated into.
I would much rather have an ex-inmate who chose to seek God, improve his or her life via a set of God based spiritual values, than one who spent his or her time in prison just becoming a better criminal, via association with more hardened criminals which is most often the case.
No one is perfect, and certainly these folks aren't in prison because they were model citizens. Why should we then deny them an avenue to a better value system, faith in God, and a desire to become a better human being, maintain or regain their sanity while confined, and come out a better citizen, a positive contributor to society instead of a taker?

Ask yourself, what would Jesus do?, what would Abraham do?, what would Mohammad do?, what would Buddha do? We as humans should be concerned with learning about God's teachings, and apply that which we manage to understand in our own lives. Always realizing that our human frailties impair us from ever really understanding, much less truly interpreting God. That our job is this World is not to tell others WHAT to believe, but to live our lives in such a manner as to perhaps attract others to our way of life/religion.

I must say that I am a liberal democrat. I happen to really believe in the American people in general, but somehow we are losing sight of what America is and should be all about. The rights of the individual are being eroded by small but very vocal groups whose purpose is to force their agenda and their views down our throats. I have no problem with debate, but when such groups try to legislate their views and beliefs upon the lives of the rest of us I find that offensive not only to me personally, but also offensive to my vision of America. We all know the old saying about " the squeaky wheel gets the grease" and unfortunately, that is seemingly the wheel the politicians are in tune with.
But, how about the rest of us? We are in essence the other three wheels that keep quietly turning in common rhythm. We just want to get the wagon where it needs to go......How about US?

I already stated that I am a liberal Democrat, having said that, I am sure that some feel I am simply "betraying the cause" on separation of Church and state,.....Well, I am NOT.
Any one out there who hates God so much that they can't stand to hear His name....Well, I have a right to say it, and you have a right to not pay attention.
And, since all those dollar bills you own have the words " In God we trust".....If you don't want them, or find that offensive, please do feel free to send them to me.

To those who want to legislate abortion, I feel you are not really legislating the medical procedure itself, you are trying to legislate an act which should be a private and very personal decision between the individual and her God, or his and her God.
Don't go bombing abortion clinics, killing doctors, nurses and others and tell me about "right to life". Your argument becomes an oxymoron.

I have/ you have the RIGHT to pray, in school, at home, at a football or baseball game, or for that matter pretty much anywhere you choose to. Just so long as you do NOT force others to do as you do, or stop what they are doing. I / you have the obligation to allow others to pray to whomever and wherever they choose.

I believe that there should not be government endorsed, or government forced religious beliefs on anyone, nor should the pulpit be used to promote ANY political party, candidate or affiliation.

Our nation's forefathers came to this continent to escape religious persecution, to build a new nation where the individual could choose his or her God, or even choose to not believe. That is what our founding fathers wanted for us.
Suddenly 231 years later, we have grown so fat, so affluent, so all knowing, some would say that we now think we ARE God, that we can force our beliefs or lack thereof upon others....
That is just wrong, I am happy with my God. I pray you find yours, and that you find peace in your heart towards others.

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