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A prominent and divisive issue in our country is the definition and relationship of church and state or, more broadly, culture and government. Culture is the way people behave; government is a system of rules intended to regulate or order that behavior, and there is always some tension between the two.  Often the two interact quite peacefully but sometimes they clash head-on and the conflict must be settled one way or the other, usually in court, that is, by the state.   

In our time, many conflicts arise as our country gradually shifts away from our inherited Christian culture. Sometimes an issue clearly has two sides, and the courts are able to say yes or no. In other instances, however, things blur together and people don’t know what to think. Consider Christmas. Does the Constitution permit a ‘winter’ vacation or a ‘Christmas’ vacation for public schools? Should non-public schools, charter schools, church schools, receive any form of public aid? Should there be any references to religion in public schools, courthouses, etc.? Should elected officials take an oath holding a Bible? Consider the following.

Whispers, you may recall, began with a series of sayings or quotations first posted on the classroom wall of a public school. They never had an overt religious reference, but one of these (#19) was what is commonly called “The Golden Rule”. * It was signed ‘Jesus’. A student protested the appearance of the name as an instance of support in a public place of a private religious view.

How would you have replied to that student?   

*While long earlier the idea was found in ethical teaching, the popular source is Matthew 7:19.