Church and State: Depends on which Church

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One of the controversial stories being tossed around lately in southern Wisconsin is the one involving a Christian based group of athletic ordained ministers known as the Power Team. Since I am a Christian, the only way I felt I could demonstrate my own perspective on this subject was to remove my own bias and change the religious nature of the organization from Christian to Islamic. Of course there are huge differences between the two religions, but I recognize the fact they are both religions.

(Note: This story is true. However, the names have been changed and the photo has been pixelated and modified to add realism to this work of fiction. Any similarities with real people or places are coincidental.)

The Arabian Knights are a group of mullahs and Islamic clerics who give motivational speeches to corporate groups, schools and other civic gatherings. Arabian Knights members wear colorful uniforms topped off with a white turban and use feats of strength, such as ripping telephone books in half and bending steel bars to spread a message of academic excellence, abstinence and personal choices. It’s members believe that the basic tenets of Islam such as avoiding mixed bathing, abstinence and regular fasting are well suited to help children defeat growing problems like obesity and the pressures of promiscuity and materialism they face in a liberal based society. Besides, since the horrific events of 9/11, they believe this is a good opportunity to educate people about Islam and smooth out some of the old suspicions and hostilities. The faith-based group does not however promote Islam during a school show, and have promised officials to never mention religion.


Their Web site bills the performing muscular mullahs as having the power to help two or three out of every 10 people accept Allah. Their mission statement is "To reach people with the words of Muhammad which an ordinary mosque meeting or event cannot. Drawing people through the use of performing visually explosive and spectacular feats of strength by incredible athletes who share with them the life-changing message of the Quran."

The Arabian Knights have been performing at hundreds of public schools throughout the country and were scheduled to appear in Latache, Tennesse, when a resident expressed concern about the groups religious background. The school district and four others, quickly canceled a series of March assemblies. Qassim Khalizad, the Arabian Knights marketing and events director, said the group tailors each show to fit its audience and never have and never will mention the two no-no’s of public schools – religion and politics. Khalizad said, ”We’ve performed in over 6,000 schools now, and this is the first time we’ve ever had a show canceled out of concern about our message.”
(end of fiction)

Question: Does this change your perspective at all about the separation of church and state?

Certain religious groups, think tanks and media outlets blame far-left groups for this most recent church – state debate.

JM Excerpt:
“These far-left fringe groups want to instill a sense of fear in Americans that anything with religious undertones is off limits in a public setting.” – Brian Rooney, Thomas More Law Center spokesman

He must be talking about me because I injected a religion other than Christianity into this debate or he might mean the lone person who spoke out in opposition to the group. Everybody knows that dissenters and questioners of authority or the status quo must be far-left radicals.

However, some parents have growing concerns over this and wish their children not be exposed to any sort of religious indoctrination.

God has been kicked out of the public schools.

What a thing to say—to presume that Almighty God can be kicked out of anywhere. No, as James Dunn is want to say, “God has a perfect attendance record.”

Touché.

Related Links:

John Foust: Power Opinion
Truth about Church and State