How do we know when a Christian person (or anyone else) is heading along the path to extremism? We don't. We accept a person's religion in America, and having that freedom means we can sometimes be abused.
Religion has done an incredible amount of good in this world. It has also done an incredible amount of bad. Extremism of any sort is nearly always a disaster waiting to happen. It's a mental disorder. We are bigger and stronger than that. I believe in the Christian principle of "do to others what you want done to you." I say worship your God as you see fit as long as it doesn't impose any hardship on me. I'll do the same. Keep religion out of government, including schools, and in the churches and homes where it belongs.
I pray that America doesn't let fear and misunderstanding, and destructive group think, and bloviating political demigogs make us lose our heads. Let's do those things in our society that help us avoid the terrorist disasters like San Bernardino and Colorado Springs, but not at the loss of our freedoms and basic principles. Let's have open and non partisan discussions, in a respectful climate, using compromise and reason to find solutions to these problems.
Topics might include:
(1) Gun control
(2) Immigration screening standards
(3) Intelligence gathering
(4) Individual privacy standards
(5) Separation of church and state
(6) Political campaign funding
(7) Law enforcement standards
and I'm sure there are others. I dare say that no one has a complete and thorough solution, but using reason and cooperation, over time, might show the way.
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“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
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