 A haven for faith  By Craig M. Kibler, The Layman Volume 34, Number 7, Posted November 30, 2001 Out of the dusty mists swirling around the life-changing destruction that Sept. 11 has become, America seems to have rediscovered its public voice about religious faith. Signs proclaiming “God Bless America!” and “Pray For Our Country” and others proliferated outside restaurants, convenience stores, shopping malls and elsewhere. In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks, members of all faiths – Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, others – fell to their knees to pray at home, at work, at school, or wherever they happened to be. In the weeks since, attendance at worship services has soared. Members of Congress stood in front of the Capitol and sang God Bless America. President George W. Bush led a religious service at Washington National Cathedral attended by former Presidents Bill Clinton, George H. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. Thousands of churches across the country participated in Faith and Freedom Sunday. The pages of newspapers and magazines suddenly included prayers, devotionals and homilies; the nation’s airwaves broadcast similar material and entire programs about faith. Prayer vigils have become a regular occurrence. “We’ve seen a resurgence of public religion – Americans are rediscovering the power of faith,” Fox News reported. Country’s founding That rediscovery shouldn’t come as a surprise in a country settled in many cases by people seeking religious freedom from oppressive governments abroad. That freedom, also not surprising, gave rise to the religious diversity celebrated today as one of the underpinning strengths of American society. No, the shocking events of that unforgettable Tuesday morning clearly and simply spurred a public renewal of belief – a belief long half-buried beneath the enticing societal shadow of secularization. The shining light of that public renewal has illuminated what always has been true in this country – ingrained in the American psyche and codified in the First Amendment – an unshakable commitment to religious freedom. An endless attraction More than that, though, is this freedom’s endless attraction for people around the world, best symbolized, perhaps, by Emma Lazarus’ poem on the Statue of Liberty:
After September 11, Americans of all faiths know that we can no longer huddle within a cloak of presumed safety and dismiss incidents of religious violence as if they only happen elsewhere. Neither can we allow our recent tragedy to diminish our commitment to protect and preserve religious freedom in this country. This freedom gives hope to the world, making America a magnet for believers and a target for terrorists. It allows people of various faiths both to practice their beliefs peacefully and to challenge one another’s ideas within the context of a civil community. Does what one believes matter? Of course it does. Are some faiths rooted in error? Scripture and human history confirm that they most certainly are. But falsehood best comes to light when in conversation with the truth. And the religious freedom that this country reveres offers a safe opportunity for that engagement. Craig M. Kibler is director of publications for the Presbyterian Lay Committee. |
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