A Background On Guru Nanak The Founder Of Sikhism

Ken O’Brien

Regrettably we have another mass murder shooting, this time in Oak Creek outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin at a house of worship.

It is clear, simply from watching broadcasts of events, that there is almost no knowledge of the religion that has been victimized by this event.

I feel somewhat compelled to provide some information on this tragic incident since my ex-wife was, in fact, a Sikh. 

I will depart from my usual practice and produce in its entirety the excerpt from Wikipedia on Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

Creationism? Really? What About Geometry Or Medicine?

Ken O’Brien

The U.S. ranks 25^th internationally in terms of educational scores in mathematics and 17^th in science.

Is it really any wonder?

We have been witness to a growing hostility to science and an indifferentism to the absolutes of scientific truths from religious fundamentalists for several decades. I’ve elaborated on the dangers of this trend in a past article.

Turning Public Schools Into Christian Madrassas

Ken O’Brien

Imagine that you live in the strongest military power in the world.

Your society leads in science, education and art.

A storm of religious fundamentalism begins to sweep through the region, undermining the “secular” elements of the community, imposing the primacy of scriptural tradition. Belief in science begins to be questioned, art becomes more focused on spiritual correctness and education emphasizes conformity with religious orthodoxy.

Christian America? My Letter to the Editor

Ken O’Brien

The following letter appeared in today’s Southbridge Evening News:

To the Editor:

OK, Mr. Steeves, I hear you ranting.
 I hear you loud, but not clear.
 You have written two editorials within the last week that make loud and inflammatory statements. I am a dedicated local guy. I am trying to help the community in whatever way I can. People know me and know what kind of a citizen I am. I am also a devout Christian. I would love to address your concerns and misconceptions, but frankly I’m not wholly sure what they are.
 Please use your next editorial to explain, in better detail, what it is that you believe is the problem with this being a Christian nation — which, by the way, is exactly what our founding fathers established us to be.
 You are absolutely right that any religion that is used to coerce, manipulate and otherwise hinder freedom(s) is wrong.
 However, truth is truth. The truth must be acknowledged and adhered to, without overstepping boundaries of compassion, mercy, justice and inalienable rights. Please give me some examples, specifics, of this oppression and manipulation you vaguely refer to and I will gladly discuss them with you.

Bob Chernisky

As one who is becoming tired of the interminable injection of religion into politics at all levels, I could not resist the need to respond.

Religion and Health Insurance

Ken O'Brien

Last Sunday in Catholic churches around the country priests told their congregations that they opposed new government rules that would require church sponsored institutions to offer contraceptive services in their health insurance programs. Other Christian denominations also vented their opposition to this requirement.

America's newest demagogue-in-chief, Newt Gingrich, seized on the subject to rail against "Obama's war on religion".