Mark Small

I suggested we debate & arrange time, place & topics. Even w/stay-at-home order issued by Gov Holcomb, we can debate on-line, or at a reasonable distance face-to-face and stream the debate. He agreed. Since then he’s not replied to me. 4/24

People should be scared of Beckwith. In video dated 10/24/19 on his FB page, titled “The Church’s role in politics,” he claims a “Hindu, an atheist or a Jew” cannot be moral & he cant work in the middle of such people. 5/24

Implications: if you cant be moral, you lack ability to be moral and, if so, how can you be entrusted with the right to vote? Some European immigrants came to North America in the 1600s and 1700s to escape religious persecution. 6/24

Puritans in Massachusetts arrived, then promptly discriminated against “heretics” such as Quakers. Puritans hanged 4 Quakers for beliefs were viewed as heretical. 7/24

Martin Luther sparked the Reformation. The 100 Years War ensued. As Mick Jagger sang, in “Sympathy for the Devil”: “I watched with glee/while your kings and queens/fought for ten decades for the god they made.” 8/24

The Framers were disillusioned by religion. They proscribed affirmation to a deity in the oaths of office for members of Congress and the judiciary (U.S. Const., http://Art.VI , cl 3) and President. (U.S. Const. Art. II, sec. 1.) 9/24

Madison: “door of this part of the federal government is open to merit of every description, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession of religious faith.” Federalist 52 10/24

Our society is pluralistic w/more religions than Beckwith’s April, 2018, Pew Research Center survey found 1/3 of Americans dont believe in “God of the Bible” but do believe there is some other higher power or spiritual force in universe. 11/24

Slim majority of Americans (56%) say they believe in God ‘as described in the Bible’ & 1 in 10 do not believe in any higher power or spiritual force. My concerns have been voiced by other who are conservative: 12/24

“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [GOP], and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. ... 13/24

But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.” -Sen. Barry Goldwater, seen by some as the father of modern conservatism. (and Alice Cooper's neighbor)14/24

We all should fear a Beckwith who would “defend” religious freedom via persecution of those who dont believe as he does. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting establishment of religion or prohibiting free exercise thereof 15/24

An atheist parent who raises her child to believe there is no god could be held to commit child abuse since the child will be condemned to hell. A report to DCS becomes a ChINS followed by Termination of Parental Rights (TPR). 16/24

Child raised by loving LGBTQ parents, regardless of parents’ religious beliefs, would have to be removed, one would surmise. Betsy DeVos can place a such a child w/a “godly” home (and make more money to buy another yacht). 17/24

Ive said Beckwith is a dominionist, who believes only Christians should hold positions of governmental authority. Beckwith’s 1st value is “love my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” “Love and honor” of the Constitution come in at # 3 on his list. 18/24

Who determines “legitimate” Christian belief? Must “true believers” also believe in “complete immersion” for baptism or is mere “sprinkling” acceptable? If someone holds contrary beliefs, is that person a heretic? 19/24

The CONSTITUTION - as Beckwith spells it - protects ALL beliefs about our places in cosmos. Other Christians, ppl of Hebrew and Islamic faiths, Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, Jainists, and atheists & agnostics are protected EQUALLY. 20/24

In an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show,” Opie faces down a bully and steps across a line drawn by the bully. Finally the bully runs away. One thing bullies seem to have in common is cowardice. 21/24

We cant abandon 1/2 of our political sys to ignorance, bigotry & hatred - values unspoken but advanced by Beckwith nonetheless. It’s fine if he won’t crawl out from under a 6,000 year old rock to debate me. 22/24

However, he should shut his mouth about being great at debate. We value a notion that truth is discussed in the marketplace of ideas. Beckwith is cs and cannot defend his positions, so he should shut his stall and leave the marketplace. 23/24