To the Editor:

In Man for Himself, Erich Fromm gave us this valuable observation. He wrote, “Because of the fact that faith and power are mutually exclusive, all religious and political systems which are originally built on rational faith become corrupt and eventually lose what strength they have if they rely on power or even ally themselves with it.”

This seems like such a dire warning to modern-day Christians who appear to be intent on weaving their particular doctrines into our national legal system. Evidence is mounting that many politicians are using highly questionable tactics to secure public monies to advance their religious/political beliefs. Pursuing public money generated by the North Carolina Lottery as well as other tax money for school vouchers to attend private and religious schools is one glaring example of slick political/religious dealing.

Does this religious/political activity suggest that many Christians are now out on the moral and ethical slippery slope? If so, will they come to their senses and retreat? Or, will they slide on down the slope, thereby corrupting their faith as well as its potential influence for all people? Could religious/political activity eventually result in private and Christian schools having to declare themselves as actual political bodies and, therefore, be required to pay taxes as such?  

Religious institutions are losing membership. Church attendance figures are dropping, especially among young people. Does anyone know if there is any cause-effect relationship in these two trends and religious/political activity? Didn’t Jesus Christ say something worth remembering about money changers in the temple? 

Sturgill Simpson sang, ”When you play with the devil you know you’re gonna get the horn.”

Dave Waldrop

Webster