Dear God,
Why didn't you save the school children in Littleton, Colorado?

Sincerely,
Concerned Student

AND THE REPLY...

Dear Concerned Student:

I am not allowed in schools.
Sincerely,
God

Part of me agrees with the sentiment of that small, farcical exchange between God and the student.  The God that all of us worship is oftentimes absent from our culture and behavior.  Still the apparent tone of the letter does disturb me.

Is the author speaking of the God that we all worship?  The God who speaks of unconditional love and forgiveness.  The God who is
more compassionate than judgemental.  A God who fosters an environment of development and progress.  A God who empowers people to use his (or her) lessons for self reflection and modification. Instead does the author speak of a God who restrains humans in a world of revisionist morality with the intent of maintaining the power of the church.

Does the author endorse religion as the single solution to the problems that plauge our society?  Does the author believe that saying a prayer at the beginning of the day and posting the Ten Commandments in the classroom will solve these problems?  I would hope for the former, but would bet on the latter.  If not the authors intent, then the mentality of the reader would oftentimes delve to deeply into the second notion.

Religion, in its base form, teaches very similar lessons in execution of one's daily life.  Love and respect other people, maintain the family, live for the hope of a better tomorrow; are integral parts of all religions.  We, as humans, have transfigured God into our own image.  We have God speak in our own vernacular.  We allow ancestors and even occasionally peers to claim to be his messenger.  Therefore, the image of God is not consistent with all people.  The details of allowing a universal God into schools (or for that
matter government) leaves a deep danger of making God into blind conformity rather than an individual journey.  I fear we would loose spiritual and individual development through religion in favor of going back to a mentality of "don't do it  because it angers God."  No real progress can be attained through restriction.  Development of intellect, body and soul are the only true paths to this progress.

God, in my mind, empowers us.  Allows us to see injustice, pain, and suffering.  Encourages us to confront such transgressions of divine will.  God might have tried to intervene in Littleton, Salem, or Paducha.  Not through WWJD bracelets but through encouraging others to stand up to Clebold and Harris and do something to protect their children, themselves and the two boys.  Perhaps if police officers, school officials and neighbors worked together to help the two boys or at the least intervene, this tragedy
wouldn't have happened.

God and the church are vital links in the process of assisting our youth.  In my job, I strive every day to involve the faith community in the mission of youth development and family improvement.  The spirit is just as important as the mind and body.  Still that journey must be made by the individual not by a youth minister or the voice praying over the intercom in the morning.  Churches and the minister help facilitate that process.   Believe it or not they do have access to schools and youth.  Not just in Columbus but everywhere.  In an environment that allows a student choice in participation without ostracization.  The problems lie not in their access, but in their choice of participant and methods used to reach them.  Development through God is much better than fear of God.

The Indiana General Assembly last night passed HB1180 allowing display of the Ten Commandments in public places such as courthouses and schools.  Thank God!  All our problems are solved now!

The Ten Commandments are neither more nor less important than the other 603 commandments given in the Five Books of Moses - and posting them in a school doesn't address the problem of school violence any more than would posting a sign reading "Thou shalt be a winner" in the LA Clippers locker room.

While I agree with Bob that faith is an important community foundation and is necessary in a child's developmental process, I can't reconcile that with this simple fact: allowing religion anywhere near our public places is tantamount to allowing Christianity in our public places; not out of the malice of our Christian neighbors but by simple deign of their majority numbers and lack of understanding of minority concerns.  That's unacceptable...even more unacceptable than having no god in public places.

Violence isn't caused by the absence of a deity.  It is caused by alienation or poverty or any number of other factors.  We should be addressing those problems and not erecting golden calves in our schools and courthouses.  "The Lord helps those who help themselves."