LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Re: Guth and Christian nationalism

Just read the letter written by John Guth justifying National Christianity. John appears to argue that and previous articles on this subject should only consider his religious opinion.

John states the Declaration of Independence writes that we the citizenry should abide by Christianity as it is the only religion recognized under the Constitution. That is far from the truth as the Founders separated the Church and the State thus confirming that no religion can reign superior over any other.

Religion has no right to make or state how government shall operate. We the (citizenry) appear to forget this issue and the word SEPARATION.

He (John) states that Christianity “has provided people and societies with happy lives.” Shouldn’t he take into consideration the beliefs of others and the multiple wars fought due to Christianity? A good present example, Jews fight Muslims, Catholics fight Protestants and the Christian Right are oblivious to all others who are not of their ilk.

One must give some thought to the reason England allowed the original settlers to ship off to America. The King and his parliament could not abide those who believe in a God other than a State controlled Christianity.

Christ stated, Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars etc. etc. thus he commented on the separation of religion and government.

The Editor of the Appeal should have the right to publish his thoughts with or without Mr. Guth’s approval, however Guth must be congratulated for expressing his thought so elegantly.

Philip Treanor Yuba City

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed in “Other View” or “Guest View” columns that appear in the Forum section are those of the authors. They do not reflect the views of the editor or anyone else at the Appeal-democrat.

Re: True Christian nationalism

Kathy F. Young, featured in the A.D. Guest View last April 25, wrote the article “Christian nationalism is a grave threat to America.” She implies that Hitler used the German youth and the Christian church to build his regime. In reality, Hitler had over 1000 Christian Priests put in prison or executed. The German youth in reality were conscripted by Hitler’s Nazi regime for one main purpose: to kill Jews! Read the most unique story, “My Two Lives” by Jochen “Jack” Wurfl, a young preteen who lived in Berlin during WWII and survived the Nazi atrocities.

While in Rastede, Germany, some years ago, my wife and I stayed with Eno and Elsbeth Wilkins in their home. Eno was a teen during WWII. He took us to a grave yard of Canadian and Australian soldiers that had died in a battle some 14 kms from where he lived. Eno shed tears and merely said “Hitler was crazy.” He also related that he had just missed being conscripted into Hitler’s youth army. They belong to the German Lutheran Church and had to pay taxes to the church as citizens.

Man’s religion has very little to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me explain. It was man’s religion that led to the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades which were horribly destructive to mankind. After the reformation due to Martin Luther the new “protestants” proceeded to persecute one another. Even the Puritans conducted witch trials. Archbishop Theophilus of Alexandria persecuted the Archbishop of Constantinople (5th century), St. John Chrysostom, saying “Chrysostom had delivered his soul to be adulterated by the devil.”

Abusive nationalism occurs when tyrannical governments/ regimes/religions abuse the people they control. For example, Zimbabwe was a thriving country until a communist regime gained control and destroyed their economy. In South Africa the Afrikaners (white Dutch farmers) have recently been persecuted by the postapartheid government causing economic turmoil. Also, King George III highly persecuted the fledgling colonies before the American Revolution.

True Christian Nationalism, in the real sense, is merely having a love of your country of origin and believing in Christ and his Gospel of Peace. Abusive nationalism, the kind that Kathy Young describes, is no more than a humanistic construct intending to defame what is good and true. Abusive nationalism has and, unfortunately, will still be used by tyrannical governments to control and use the commoners (the vulgar and deplorables) for their desire for power and personal gain. For these governments, it’s not “by the people and for the people,” but “to the people and in spite of the people.”

Art Fruhling Yuba City