About this Site

• No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices. —-Edward R. Murrow, CBS television broadcast, on See It Now (7 March 1954)

Huston Smith, the eminent religion scholar whose book Why Religion Matters," states in his book The Illustrated World's Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions:   "In addition to our own traditions, we listen to the faith of others, including the secularlists.   We listen first because our times require it.   Daily the world grows smaller, leaving understanding the only place where peace can find a home.   those who listen work for peace, a peace built not on religious or political hegemonies, but on mutual awareness and concern.   For understanding brings respect, and respect prepares the way for a higher capacity, which is love.   Understanding then, breeds love; but the reverse also holds.   Love brings understanding–the two are reciprocal.   So we must listen to understand, while realizing that to the extent that compassion increases we will listen more attentively, for it is impossible to love another without hearing that other.   If we are to be true to the wisdom traditions, we must attend to others as deeply and alertly as we hope that they will attend to us.   For as Thomas Merton once noted, God speaks to us in three places: scripture, in our deepest selves, and in the voice of the stranger. Said Jesus, "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you."   Said the Buddha, "He who would may reach the utmost height, but he must be eager to learn"   (p. 245, New York: HarperCollins, 1994)

This quote, more than any other, delineates what this website is about.   This site is about reason, something that the America of today is losing in the radical unreason of the lies mixed with tiny bits of truth inherent in the soundbytes of AM conservative talk radio, in right wing blogs that exploit the collective fear birthed in 9/11, who twist religion to fuel their own quest for power and control, while maligning other faiths that do not line up to their vision of Christianity.   The Republican Party of the 21st century has hearkened back to a past of intolerance in its quest for absolute power and thus, is not the same party it once was.     It is because of our high regard for the religious traditions of the world as well as the highest respect for the American Enlightenment tradition in our political history that this blog is about openly questioning how religion is used in politics, giving a voice to the moderate religious voices of this country which up to now have been largely ignored even though the moderates make up the largest segment of the American voting population.   It is our greatest hope that by opening up a channel for dialogue, even with those who will not agree with us, that we may realize the truth of the words of journalist Edward R. Murrow who so bravely showed that the voice of reason could slay the dragons of fear and irrationality during the Red Scare, when, for a time, America embraced intolerance culminating in the same type of repression it also feared: "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men â€" not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy's methods to keep silent, or for those who approve. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of a republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.   The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn't create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it â€" and rather successfully. Cassius was right. "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.   Good night, and good luck. " (from the CBS telecast See It Now, 1954)

We are not descended from fearful men.   And the actions and intent of the Republican Party today are exactly the same as their former Senator McCarthy's, and in this, intolerance shows it cris-crosses the aisle in the highest reaches of government; instead of using the tradition of statesmanship and mutual respect to garner allies, they have discovered the great power that fear and lies can have to manipulate the masses.   This work, indeed the passion behind this blog is the search for truth, the defense of freedom of speech, and the implementation of reason on unreasonable words and actions, in order to promote understanding, and from understanding peace.   We welcome you on this patriotic journey and welcome your articles and comments.

Going beyond politics, religion may have had a profound impact on your personal life, for good or for ill.   By sharing your experience, you may be helping someone who is going through similar experiences.   Perhaps your grew up in a cult, maybe your family's estate was destroyed because the assets went to a church, or maybe you found peace and life purpose through your religion or your sense of spirituality.   A growing number of Americans today no longer are affiliated with any particular religion.   As a source of information for seekers who do not want to go to church, we'd love to share your story here.   Visit our submission page for details.