ProgressOhio

I was too busy posting snarky comments about Bible verses to notice that yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. Very fine Dispatch reporter Meredith Heagney wrote a wrap-up for the condensed Metro/Faith&Values section which included coverage of atheists and secularists holding a competing National Day of Reason on the Statehouse lawn.

Diverse Beliefs of America -- Don't you love it? I think it's what Thomas Jefferson had in mind when he wrote: "It causes me no injury if my neighbor believes in 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

I once printed that quote on a sign and held up that sign at an anti-choice, anti-stem cell research, anti-gay "Christian" rally downtown. Well, if you think Christians are discriminated against, try being a secularist. Babykiller and bitch were just some of the names they called me.

While I thoroughly endorse the National Day of Prayer, National Day of Reason, TEA parties, and anyone else who wants to peaceably assemble and express themselves, President Obama has more pressing issues to deal with. I'm glad he broke with tradition and didn't spend the day with religious leaders -- he'd have to meet with every damn one of them. I think he already covered that territory during his inauguration.

Next to the Heagney article in The Dispatch was Religion Briefs (Mormons have those, I believe). There's a tragic news item about a beloved bishop who needed to have his leg amputated. I wonder, why don't all those Christians at the Statehouse pray for the bishop's leg to grow back? If God can cure disease, surely He doesn't discriminate against amputees.