Part 5: Answering Previous Questions

Here’s another answer for a question(s) included in a past posting. This one is from October 10th: Various questions continued:

·         How do jobs get created by public policy? Answered

·         How does the economy really work? What are the primary elements of economic theory and how they work? Answered

·         What public policy efforts actually move the economy in one direction or another? We want the factual information, not opinion, please! Answered

·         Is homeownership an ideal our nation should embrace? How well are we doing? Answered

·         How do we measure effectiveness of the education system? If it is lacking, how do we fix it and who pays for it? Answered

·         How do we replace the “oil standard” economy with another energy base? Would this produce more jobs and a more stable foreign policy in the Middle East? Answered

·         What role should religion play in government? Any?

·         If religion is to be kept separate from government decisions, why then do we make laws about homosexuality, abortion and other elements based on religious tenets or dogma?

·         If religion is not public policy to be discussed, then why do we ask candidates about their religious beliefs and affiliations?

·         How diverse is our nation and is that a good thing?

·         Are all terrorists Muslims? Should we be afraid of all Muslims?

·         Is America a Christian nation or not?

New answers added today:

What role should religion play in government and why?

This is a short answer. There will be more tomorrow in answer to the next set of questions. You will see why today’s answer is so short!

There are a few roles to be fulfilled by religion:

• Reminder of moral standards of right and wrong
• Maintenance of civility of discourse, process
• Keeper of cultural health as we move forward into the unknown future

Some standards are suggested so we are fair minded and intellectually empowered

• All religions have an important message to share with mankind; not just one religion
• Diversity of religious thought must be valued; Islam, Christian, Judaism, Taoism, Buddhism, etc. have long been rich spiritual partners with all of mankind
• Remind ourselves that not believing is also a spiritual discipline; it should be respected in the marketplace of ideas; allowed to co-exist peacefully with the other religions
• Spirituality is a personal belief journey of each person; it must be respected at all times; we must understand that we are not all in the same belief position at any given time; the conduit of life is always moving us along through many individual phases and not all together

As government attempts to understand potentials, opportunities and problems to manage, technology and newly discovered knowledge may define a new moral dilemma. Religious and intellectual disciplines should partner well to help us resolve temporary discomforts posed by past, present and future social realities.

Meanwhile, edicts by churches, denominations and other religious founts of wisdom should have no currency with government. Respected yes; power no.

In this regard the US Constitution is a brilliant document. Let us not distort it.

December 10, 2011