We should be thankful, believers or not
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Bridget A. Trail
Published: March 25, 2008
T.G.I.F.
Not a restaurant, not a sermon but a letter to the editor.
Over 2,000 years ago, our Lord knew to die on a Friday! Can you imagine going to work on a Monday and saying: “Thank God it’s Monday!”
At one time Manassas was known for having the most churches per population than any other small town in America. Manassas Christian Churches have been preparing for Easter by providing services
that inspire and give hope to all who choose to attend.
Palm Sunday, All Saints’ Knights of Columbus presented a dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. On Wednesday at noon, Trinity Episcopal conducted services with Bible reflections. St.
Thomas had a “Good Friday” eulogy recitation with music about Jesus on the road to Calvary.
Whether we are believers or not, shouldn’t we be thankful for our American freedoms to worship without fear on any day, at anytime, in any place of worship, no matter our beliefs. I thank God for his
Easter message of life after death and I believe in his Son’s resurrection.
BRIDGET A. TRAIL
Manassas
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( phdee ) on March 29, 2008 at 5:50 pm
The song goes “blessed are the believers, they shall inherit a heartache”—Anne Murray.
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Posted by ( phdee ) on March 29, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Religion is like money the root of all evil. People gomto church to be seen, or because they hold a position in the community that requires it.
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Posted by ( barnun ) on March 28, 2008 at 1:14 pm
it’s always the activist minority that you see or hear, giving the perception that they represent all of those from that side. Seb21, if you check your history, the crusades were the christians rebelling against persecution, the founding of the US was the result of many christians running from religious persecution again. All of the cases you see in our supreme court are someone trying to stop christian beleifs again. the door to door group would be the mormoms, not your neighborhood church. I dont want them at my doorstep either, but in all fairness they are trying to spread good, not preaching death to infidels, or the kind of Hate that Rev Wright preaches. sure, there are whacko’s and extremists in every general social class of people, but they do not represent the mass.
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Posted by ( jVA ) on March 27, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Religion and politics… yikes!
You know the funny part of this discussion is that I think seb21 and the more religious posters on here are arguing different sides of the same coin. I have a feeling that the majority of my Christian friends and neighbors don’t really care what my personal beliefs are, or whether I go to church or not. I feel exactly the same way about them.
Unfortunately the people you read in the paper or see on tv - from either side - are often extreme, loud, and obnoxious in their convictions. We’re all understandably irritated and put upon by them.
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Posted by ( Godsaveus ) on March 27, 2008 at 11:04 am
Seb 21 who ever you are, it seems to me that you have some conflict about your perception of Christians; first you attack them saying that they discriminate, ridiculed, cause pain, persecute others, deny jobs all in base of their belief . It seems to me that you are talking about another religion. I can see that in the Middle East but not here, you miss something else, burning churches, kill to the ones that convert to another religion, and also use kids to blow themselves and kill innocent people.
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Posted by ( seb21 ) on March 27, 2008 at 8:33 am
cobra, you must be in denial. Christians the most persecuted people on Earth? Please! From the bloody days of the inquisition to the countless wars and untold amounts of discrimination, ridicule and pain caused to those of different faiths or beliefs, it seems to me that they cannot stop persecuting others who differ in opinion. The responses to mine only further that point. Perhaps I have just encountered the worst kind of Christians in my lifetime, for in my personal experiences I have witnessed nothing but a complete failure to accept another’s beliefs and a condemnation of anything short of their own ideals. I do not say I am against those who believe in Christianity, for I have known some to be tolerant and kind, good people. However, I am against the ones who walk door-to-door with Bibles in hand invading our homes with the intent to force conversions, the ones who picket in front of abortion clinics without understanding the pain and grief of those who visit them, the ones who will deny jobs or houses to someone for their faith, the ones who force innocent people to hide their religious beliefs from all around them for fear of reprisal, the ones who deny gay couples matrimony, and especially the ones that blindly tell others that they are right above all fact and reason no matter the arguement. Aside from jVA’s comment, not one of you thought to yourselves the reasoning why someone such as myself is hurt by the past and present actions of the Christian church. All I see is individuals refusing to try and understand my reasoning behind my opinion, and then attacking for the sole reason that mine differs from yours. This is the kind of closed-mindedness so prevalent in this country that I cannot stand. I praise those who are caring, good, righteous and accepting, but they are quite scarce in this country. I would indeed exercise my right to leave given the opportunity, and I absolutely plan to in my lifetime.
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Posted by ( barnun ) on March 26, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I’m not sure that i am familiar with any supreme court cases that are christians demanding to take down religious symols of any other faith. there have been however, many cases in court trying to force christians to stop what they’ve been doing since the beginning of this country. The Crusades 1000 yrs ago were an act of rebellion against the tyranny of intolerence. It seems it’s the christians are the only ones that stand up for the rights of the unborn children. Our laws are founded on Christian principles. there are some that feel like rules, right from wrong, basic morality, are ideals that are being shoved down their throats. why do raise your voice when you scold a child for playing with a light socket ? So they’ll hear you, remember and live another day.
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Posted by ( scorpio ) on March 26, 2008 at 10:44 am
“If only more Christians were as accepting of other religions as their scripture instructs them to be”?!?
In which chapter of the Bible did you read this passage, my friend? This doesn’t even make sense!
“Evangelism shoved down your throat”?! We are not allowed to pray in public in the name of Jesus or have nativity scene on Christmas anymore because we are sitting silent while our religious rights are taken away from us! We are witnessing blow after blow on Christianity from liberal judges and we are still turning the other cheek.
It is time all Christians to make their voices heard and to come out of the closets - everyone else seems to have done it already…
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Posted by ( PWCMom ) on March 26, 2008 at 9:34 am
Seems rather hypocritical, doesn’t it? I always was taught, in the Roman Catholic faith, that Christianity was about tolerance and compassion for others. While I am not a practicing Catholic any longer, I find that these so called “Christians” don’t tolerate anything other than what they believe. And that stretches across all religous lines. Until we recognize and respect each other’s beliefs, we will continue to have wars, arguments and other disagreements. I don’t think that this is what was intended. There is ONE God, and HE is the ultimate judge and jury, not man.
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Posted by ( jVA ) on March 26, 2008 at 9:29 am
Why so touchy? I didn’t really see anything intolerant at all in this letter.
I’m not a church-goer at all, but I agree whole heartedly with Ms. Trail’s letter. This IS a great country where we are free to go to church (or not).
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