Happy Good Friday!
The lines between religion and government are often blurred. Jesus was executed by the Roman government for his religious preachings. The Christian Crusades were fought in the name of religion with the prize being new territories to rule. During the Spanish Inquisition, Catholics killed 150,000+ people for their non-Catholic beliefs. While he was sovereign Henry VIII killed people for denying his new Church of England was the true faith. His daughter Mary, a devout Catholic, succeeded him and reversed that practice to kill Protestants. Her sister Elizabeth became ruler and returned the country’s mandatory devotion to the Church of England or face deadly consequences. Hitler led the unconscionable massacre of six million Jews during the Holocaust.
Yesterday, the internet was buzzing about the threats to the Jewish people in East Ukraine. Fliers addressed to “Jews of Donetsk” from the “Independent Donetsk Republic” ordered Jews to pay a $50 registeration fee to avoid deportation or property being confiscated. The leaflets were signed by ‘Your People’s Governor Denis Pushilin.’ He has publicly denied any involvement in the anti-semitic action.
One of the principles the USA was founded on was religious freedom. Yet, even here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, we hate behind a facade of christianity. Politicians push legislation mired in their own religious convictions. The East Ukraine incident is disturbing. We need to be aware on a global, national and personal level that we don’t persecute people for their religious beliefs. No one should hate in the name of God.
I firmly believe in the separation of church and state except on Good Friday. I’d love for today to be designated a federal holiday. My God would want me to have the day off. TGIGF!