[Vision2020] Response to NSA's librarian

[Nick Gier]

Greetings:
At least four writers have responded to the column in the Daily News 
(8/13-14) on religious liberty and tolerance.  I sent Iverson a draft of 
the letter below, but he has declined to respond to take up my request for 
dialogue.  You see, Phil Nesbit, I'm keep trying to engage these people.

Suggested Title: "Crossing the Line between Liberty and Intolerance"
To the editor:
At its annual convention in 1999 the Southern Baptist Convention passed a 
resolution proposing that all their churches pray that Hindus "realize the 
darkness of their souls."
Prominent Indian Christian leaders were outraged at this insult to their 
compatriots with whom they have been living in peace for 2,000 years.  As 
one of them said: "One cannot preach by annoying others."  For more on this 
topic go to www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/darksouls.htm.
Would Ed Iverson (Their View, 8/13&14) see this as a proper expression of 
religious liberty?  His pastor Douglas Wilson regularly condemns Christians 
as well as non-Christians from his pulpit and blog, so I would assume that 
Iverson's answer is "Yes."
Contrary to Iverson's implication, most Christians do not believe that all 
religions are the same.  They would also reject Iverson's insinuation that 
they do not take their obligation to proclaim the Gospel of Christ 
seriously.  They would contend that gentle persuasion, rather than 
insulting rhetoric, is the Christian way to accomplish this.
Most of us learned in high school civics that liberty without 
responsibility is license. The core of responsible citizenship is mutual 
respect and tolerance for those with differing views.  Peter Kuzmic 
(Letters, 8/18) is correct: Iverson's religious liberty (=license) leads to 
intolerance and conflict.
Iverson claims that we quote his colleagues out of context, but what is the 
context of Wilson's proposal that homosexuals should be executed or 
banished other than a "mean spirited" attitude?  What are the descendants 
of slaves to think about Wilson's claim that the antebellum South was a 
harmonious multiracial society?
I'm currently writing a book entitled "The Origins of Religious 
Violence."  My thesis is that religions that are inclusive and tolerant 
have generated far less religiously motivated violence than those that are 
exclusive and intolerant.  I've discovered that people who have claimed one 
religion as their national identity have been the most violent and destructive.
By the way, Mr. Iverson, last time I checked it was still legal to 
evangelize in the U.S., and that is because of the religious liberty and 
you and I support.
Nick Gier, Moscow


"The god you worship is the god you deserve."
~~ Joseph Campbell
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