Urgent - Please help keep government out of churches By Jim Watson, March 2012 A scary candidate Believing in something more powerful than ourselves can provide great comfort for some individuals. That's fine. As long as those individuals avoid imposing their personal beliefs on others. Even no matter how strongly they feel that that other person needs to believe the way they do. This is why an inclusive government tries to keep religion's influence on policy to a minimum. That is a fair and just way to conduct affairs of state for a nation of vast religious diversity. Constitutionally ignorant Paul Blair is the pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is free to preach politics and endorse candidates from his pulpit (as he has done), but he is then not free to accept tax-exempt status from that same government (imagine how much of our debt could be reduced if we simply taxed the big business that is religion). If we could get government out of churches then pastors and church leaders could get involved in politics and the tax revenue to government debt and services would be worth millions. More info Historically ignorant Pastor Blair is the leader of Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ. Now, remember, that Oklahoma was originally populated by native tribes (and relocated tribes) with their decidedly non-Christian belief systems. If Oklahoma is going to be reclaimed, then it would revert to native beliefs, not Christianity. Pastor Blair is running for the Oklahoma State Senate. Look at his campaign logo. Yep, there is his church steeple with a cross on top and a flag flying from the steeple. The cross is above the flag and the flag (government) is emanating from the church. This is frightening. Can you imagine what would happen to freedoms in America if we became a Christian fundamentalist theocracy? Another reason to keep religion out of government is that we won't be able to agree on which religion should dictate policy. There are hundreds of Christian denominations alone, even if we ignore the belief systems from Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and all the others that are represented in Oklahoma. Paul Blair is a Baptist and will likely incorporate Baptist creed and beliefs. As a state senator, I doubt Pastor Paul Blair would be able to govern in an unbiased manner for Jews, Muslims, and non-believers (each of whom Paul is required to believe will suffer for all eternity in Hell). Blair's opponent in the State Senate race is Clark Jolley. His logo includes the image of a capital dome. Government, not religion. Ignorant voters Candidates should not be elected primarily because of their "Christian values." That was the main reason given for why so many Okies supported Rick Santorum in the Oklahoma Republican primary. We experienced that with George Bush, who turned out to be delusional and dangerous for America. Tip: Please vote to keep religion out of government. Paul Blair's website • Clark Jolley's website • Email Jim Watson • Filename to share: http://www.jamesrobertwatson.com/paulblair.html