Faith cannot be separated from community life in America. It is intermingled with the affairs of daily life because the people around us carry that faith. A bugler plays “Amazing Grace” at a community memorial service, and an athlete publicly thanks God for their victory and strength. The victim in a high-profile case broadcasts, “With the guidance of God, I will prevail and help others who have suffered…” A health facility posts a plaque that states, “Grounded by our faith in God, this facility seeks to provide…” A plea for prayers is heard during a national tragedy, and an acknowledgment of God’s divine intervention is overheard from the next booth in a restaurant. A chaplain offers an invocation at a public meeting thanking God for His blessing and guidance, and a funeral card memorializes the deceased with an inscription of the 23rd Psalm. Who can snuff out the magnitude of faith expressions that existence in our world?
Particularly amusing this week has been the man who filed a motion against the county for installing our country’s motto over the courthouse doors, stating he believes in the Red Road religion and not in God. This man is quoted as saying that the signs remind him every time he passes that “Christians” think he is going to hell. The country’s motto, however, does not say, “In Christ We Trust.” (Oh, how I wish it did.) It simply says, “In God We Trust.” The use of the word God is very generic in this context.
The man’s claims to the Red Road belief seem to carry little importance to him. The Red Road belief has a similar philosophy of eternal life as the Christian’s belief does. The Red Road religion proposes that each person begins life before conception. As they live out their life, they may choose the Red Road by living a life of enlightenment and strength, staying clean of all greed and negativity. In contrast, the person who chooses greed or negativity or other such dark lifestyles is choosing the Black Road. The Black Road will burden the person with a load of misery accumulated during the lifetime which is carried on when one passes. (See www.nativetimes.com)
This man who filed the motion is currently jailed for attempted murder of his wife. Does the Red Road religion condone behavior that attracts charges for attempting to murder someone? Wouldn’t his actions be considered those of someone living their life on the BLACK ROAD, and not the Red Road? Would it be fair to conclude that the man’s own belief system is condemning him rather than that of the Christian’s belief? He is obviously not living by the very religion he says he believes, and maybe believers of the Red Road would want to remind him in their own words that he is walking down the miserable existence they describe as the Black Road.
Please don’t underestimate the power of expressing your faith to others. Join the chorus of voices described in the first paragraph with your own public expressions of thanksgiving, testimonies, and moments of prayer.
Myra Mansfield is a law enforcement chaplain with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and serves as a volunteer for several community organizations.
Eileen Slater says
Excellent point, that the accused’s own belief system is condemning him as much as anything he could infer from the generic God of the national motto.
Charlie Jernigan says
Ms Mansfield has disturbingly crossed the line dividing accusation from conviction when she writes, “Wouldn’t his actions be considered those of someone living their life on the BLACK ROAD, and not the Red Road? Would it be fair to conclude that the man’s own belief system is condemning him rather than that of the Christian’s belief? He is obviously not living by the very religion he says he believes, and maybe believers of the Red Road would want to remind him in their own words that he is walking down the miserable existence they describe as the Black Road.”
The point is not whether attempting to murder someone is wrong under this belief system or some other one. The point is whether a non-christian can get a fair trial in Anderson County.
I think that a jury of his peers like Ms Mansfield would fail that test.
Skirnir Hamilton says
The God in the national motto is not a generic god. Typically we do a lower case god for a generic god and an upper case god for the Juedo/Christian/Muslim God. So yes, I think the question still stands on whether a non-religious person, or say an atheist, should have to see such a motto every time they step into the courthouse. My answer, is no, they should not have to. Christians are forcing their beliefs unto others by posting it, in my opinion.
Denny Phillips says
Why are the “we” and “trust” capitalized?
Denny Phillips says
Why are all the letters on the whole sign capitalized, for that matter?
I believe Biblical version is “God” not “GOD”.
Johnny Beck says
I suggest we immediately require pre-trial surveys of all participants: judge, jury, lawyers, etc. to make sure their objectivity wasn’t corrupted by the signs, because obviously they are all SO easily manipulated. And the law books need to be closely checked to make sure the signs didn’t edit them too. And we need visor dispensers in the parking lot so that the easily-offended don’t HAVE to see those signs.
And what about the parts of roads that are “sponsored” by church groups, we couldn’t possibly get a fair ticket if we get pulled over on one of those could we? In fact, we should be offended that they even get a sign.
And I’m offended that Lady Justice even exists. I mean, how could any man POSSIBLY get a fair trial? Where is Gentleman Justice?
Oh the horror of all of the things that we HAVE to see due to the loss of free will and common sense.
/sarcasm
Denny Phillips says
Myself, I defer to Ric Bird, Liason for the Eastern Band Of The Cherokees, who reminds us “We are all God’s children”.
http://www.wdef.com/news/story/Red-Clay-State-Park-Marks-Trail-Of-Tears-175th/STpgR1du4EiCFJojBb9PMg.cspx
Vision_From_Afar says
Let’s just break these down, shall we?
“A bugler plays “Amazing Grace” at a community memorial service”
– Which community? If it’s organized by an non-governmental entity, like VFW or Lion’s Club or Kiwanis, etc., there’s no problem.
“an athlete publicly thanks God for their victory and strength”
– Personal expression, no problem.
“The victim in a high-profile case broadcasts, “…” “
– Personal expression, no problem.
“A health facility posts a plaque that states, “…” “
– If it’s privately owned, no problem.
“A plea for prayers is heard during a national tragedy”
– A bit of a grey area, but if it’s a generic plea (i.e. – “Pray for those effected”) as opposed to specific (i.e. – “Pray to God and Jesus…”), and the plea is from a gov’t official speaking from their office, it might be an issue.
“an acknowledgment of God’s divine intervention is overheard from the next booth in a restaurant”
– Personal expression, no problem.
“A chaplain offers an invocation at a public meeting thanking God for His blessing and guidance”
– Aaaaand, here’s the rub (I assume you mean gov’t meeting (School Board, City/County Council, etc.). No, no, no, no. Just look at that meeting in Alabama recently to see how wrong this can go. A moment of silence let’s everyone pray, or not, and keeps it neutral to all parties involved in a public meeting.
“a funeral card memorializes the deceased with an inscription of the 23rd Psalm”
– Personal expression, no problem.
You can’t throw all of these out like they’re the same thing, because they’re not, no matter how much you might want them to be.
– James Upshaw