Barbecue Ribs and Christianity On A Lazy Summer Day

It started out as one of those lazy days in Carson City, where it’s not too hot, but it’s not too cold!

It’s just right!

But, when the mercury begins to creep into the triple digits, I am glad I take advantage of the cooler temperatures early in the summer season, because I hate to cook on my patio when it is 100 degrees in the shade!

This is the reason I go straight to my favorite BBQ restaurant for my semi-annual feasting of pork ribs, with corn bread, cole slaw and beans, coupled with my favorite adult libation.

It is a personal experience that brings out the epicurean decadence in me, and is in complete defiance of my physician, my friends and family, and my wife!

As my favorite waitress laid before me my porcine delight, I began to salivate in anticipation, as I gave thanks to the aforementioned lazy summer day in Carson City.

With my head looking down at this wonderful feast, and as I began to raise my first rib to my waiting mouth, out of nowhere I heard and angry voice that demanded: “Are you Karl Neathammer?”

Now, my parents taught me that if you approach someone that you don’t know, the correct protocol of basic courtesy is to introduce yourself, extend your hand in friendship, which puts you on an equal footing, in hopes that a friendly dialogue begins and hopefully a new friendship will take root.

However, before I could answer, this individual’s verbal onslaught towards me began. I had many ways to quickly educate him (some of them would have been very painful) but I continued to try and eat my ribs, however, I decided to be somewhat charitable but cautious and let him talk.

“Who’s asking?” I asked.

“It’s not important for you to know who I am, but know this: I am a true conservative, a true patriot, and a God fearing Christian, and you’re not! I have read your opinions on Carson Now, and unlike you, I know that America is a Christian Nation, our Founding Fathers were Christian’s, our Constitution was based on Biblical Law, and you’re the type of so called “conservative” that wants to destroy our Republic.”

Meanwhile, my beans were getting cold, my appetite for my semi-annual rib feast faded quickly and my enjoyment of a lazy summer day in Carson City was shot to hell!

But, once again, being charitable but this time being extremely cautious, I rose to my entire 6’ 5” 220 lb. frame and told this individual it was time for him to leave!

Am I to assume that one cannot be a “true conservative” if one is not a Christian?

First, this individual was under the assumption that I am not a Christian and by definition not a moral man, or a believer in God. Whether I am or not, is no one’s business, and it is not a requirement to be a conservative. Not now, not ever!

But, for the edification of this ignorant fool and his followers, perhaps they should read the words of the Founding Fathers, written in their own hand.

So, that I can go back to enjoying my barbecue ribs on a lazy summer day in Carson City, while trying to be charitable, but much more than extremely cautious!

The Founding Fathers Speak!

1) “Enforced uniformity confounds civil and religious liberty and denies the principles of Christianity and civility. No man shall be required to worship or maintain a worship against his will.” Roger Williams, Puritan minister and founder of Rhode Island, in The Bloudy Tenet of Persecution, 1644.

2) “As the government of the United States of America is not on any sense founded on the Christian Religion, – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen (Muslims), – and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” –Treaty of Tripoli–initiated under President George Washington, 1796–signed into law by President John Adams, 1797ratified unanimously by the Senate, 1797–published in full in all 13 states, with no record of complaint or dissent.

3) “But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed.”–John Adams, letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816

4) “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship… I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Danbury Baptist Association, CT

5) “I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.”–Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Miller, 1808 [note that this does not say Christian religion; it refers to all religions, equally]

6) “History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose.” –Thomas Jefferson to Baron von Humboldt, 1813

7) “Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise.” –James Madison, letter to William Bradford, April 1, 1774

8) “Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?”–James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance, addressed to the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of VA, 1795

9) “What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people… A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not.” –James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance, 1785 
.

10) “During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.” –James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance

11) “He had no faith, in the Christian sense of the term– he had faith in laws, principles, causes and effects.” –Supreme Court Justice David Davis, on Abraham Lincoln

12) “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” –First Amendment, Constitution of the United States