by Stephen D. Wilson

Created on: February 16, 2008   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

Faith, what a truly wonderful word. It so many uses, a very pretty name, an encouragement when things aren't going their best, or a word that describes how you know there is a God, or Higher Power in the Universe. In the end faith is a very personal word for each of us, and so are our religious beliefs, and they should stay that way.

The two things you are never supposed to talk about at work are politics and religion, why? Sooner or later, someone will be offended. Then you'll both be off to your managers office to sign a piece of paper that states you don't play well with others. Political Office is not chosen by a church, nor should the church be involved in any way other than to act as guide for the congregation if they are asked.

The fact that all of our (U.S.) political leaders are sworn in on their family Bible is as close to politics as I think religion should get. This decade has been more less, for good or bad, had religion forced down our throats politically. The President makes no bones about his faith, and that's fine, except when he dedicates program funding to only religious groups.

I should point out that my family and I are all Pentecostal. My wife is Lutheran, my daughter baptized into the Assembly of God. Strange how the same passages mean different things based on which one of us you speak to. At my roots are people that talk in tongues and dance to music played in their heart. I really only have a few issues with one religion, but that would be on a different subject.

This year, we have a Baptist Minister, a Mormon, someone that may have been Muslim. In the last election we had a Catholic running.I freely admit that I know next to nothing about LDS, other than they were not received well in our fair country until they reached Utah. From there, they teach their gospel. Would any one doubt that the main message in all religions in the world is one of peace? ANY!

There are extremists in every religion, some are very dangerous. WE know who they are, maybe not where, but certainly who. We cannot help but know them. They force us to react to them every time they take a car laden with bombs and for the sake of their God, blow it up in a market square, killing hundreds. They are so proud of what they have done that they made a recording proclaiming their intent, oh wait, they're wearing a hood over their face. Never have understood that, if your proud to die for Islam, don't hide your face, Allah may not be able to recognize you in heaven for killing

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