Religion

NUMC offers Manna Ministries A free meal is provided by Manna Ministries each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meal is a restaurant-quality meal served at 303 W. Maple St. in the community center of Nicholasville United Methodist Church. The meal is open to the public for anyone in need. Takeout meals are available after 12:30 p.m. Volunteers are always welcome and can contact the office at 859-885-4481.

Christianity, according to surveys, is the religion of choice among most Americans. However, while people say one thing to a pollster, many live out a very different reality. For many in the United States — even those who claim to be followers of Christ — another religion now takes precedence over Christianity. And, like any religion, its influence is palpable. Interestingly, many adherents of what I believe is the predominant religion in America are wholly unaware of their status as disciples.

Nine of 10 Kentuckians support a state legislative proposal to mandate that public schools set aside time each day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. SB 15, called the Kentucky School Patriot Act, sponsored by Sen. Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs, is before the Senate Education Committee. It doesn’t require that students actually say the pledge, but they must stand or sit quietly and “respect the rights of those pupils electing to participate.” But what about respecting the rights of those students who elect not to participate?

Dear Editor, As often as I can, I like to give credit where it is due. I absolutely enjoyed reading the two pages of the Religion section on Jan. 4. The articles by David Whitlock, Alfred Marlote, Edward Clark and Howard Coop were heartwarming and inspiring. The story of World War II Chaplain Laida was also up there with the best.  As a local minister, I am always searching for good, inspirational reading, and it was a blessing to discover it in the local paper. Maybe I was just especially needy, but I am learning that God always supplies those needs.

Just when First Amendment principles seem to be working in public education, new fights over student religious speech threaten to reignite culture-war battles in schools across the country. It’s little known that many public schools made significant progress toward getting religion right over the past decade. Thanks to consensus guidelines supported by advocacy groups from left to right, I have found that constitutionally protected student religious expression is way up in schools — and unconstitutional school promotion of religion is way down.

On Oct. 6, the first Kentucky Freethought Convention was held in Lexington. This was the largest gathering of atheist, agnostic, humanist, and freethinkers in state history. Speakers and audience members included scientists, doctors, nurses, attorneys, former ministers, students and me. The feeling of being around good and like-minded people was inspiring. According to polls, the number of Americans who follow religion is diminishing, and the number of people who do not profess any faith is growing fast.

Dear Editor: In response to letters on removing religion from our schools, I would like to state that it is the best thing to do. Not everyone is of the same faith, and it is very closed-minded to assume that all of the children attending public school are. Therefore, it should stay out of the school systems. Everyone seems to think it is for the worse, but I believe that a closed-minded approach to a topic such as religion, would actually be worse. If you're so worried about your children's faith, take them to church.

Revivals Mitchellsburg Church of God - 6 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the church in Mitchellsburg with Chad Lainhart. Willow Grove Baptist Church - 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, the church will hold revival services, and Isaiah Super, pastor of Crab Orchard Baptist Church, will be evangelist. A nursery will be provided. The church is at 4306 Stanford Road, U.S. 150 east of Danville. Pleasant Run Baptist Church - 6 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, the church will have revival services with evangelist Kaywood Morris.

I read the response from Mr. Hogue. I must give kudos on the letter being well written, but here is the thing: I'm not an atheist. I've never claimed to be one. I believe I said I was not anti-Christian. As far as me “expecting Christians to shut up around me.” Not true. You can tell me about religion, but if you keep pressing you will be offended. If whatever you believe keeps you from stabbing me at the ATM then God bless you and I'm all for it. If anything I would say I'm anti-bully.