4th Of July

 What religion offers to culture and to a society is that we are interdependent, created by love and for love.  It gives a balance to the idea that a society is all about production and profit, security and comfort in income, power, and independence.  When we fear that there will not be enough for me and for someone else, religion can give a counter view of things.  When we say that we want a certain homogenization of society, religion counters that.  The best of religion says that all are welcome, that in sharing what seems scarce there will be enough.  Ethnicity that would diminish the “other” is not religion as I know it.  It is fear.  It is false pride.  It separates.  It lacks humility.  Our country had some religious principles in its founding and there has always been tensions, and even war, over these principles and economic interests.  So we keep working on it.  We are always a work in progress.  Unless we become oligarchies, dictatorships, or military rule.  Happy 4th!