[Illbay]

This wasn't about the minister's faith in God, or should not have been.

It should have been about the minister's service to the legislators, and to the state of Maryland.

Of course, in our era of hyper-individualism, where we each think about ourselves, and what WE want to say first, it doesn't surprise me that a situation like this would be seen by certain types as an "opportunity" to create controversy.

[Hoppean]

Of course, in our era of hyper-individualism, where we each think about ourselves, and what WE want to say first

I'm not accusing you of being a liberal, so don't take this the wrong way, but as I read your post it occurred to me that one of the problems liberals run into is that they are the kind of people who worry so much about looking out for the other guy that they find it impossible to defend their own causes and cases. If you're busy arguing for the other guy, who's left to argue on behalf of you? I think that hyper-altruistic impulse is one that really permeates American society to its detriment. Me, I find American individualism rather inspiring.

[lizma]

It should have been about the minister's service to the legislators, and to the state of Maryland.

No. This is where I disagree.

I don't think religion should serve the government, I think government should respect religion.

I think it serves our country and our civilization best to respect the qualities we admire in each other and tolerate the differences.