Newsday, June 7 2008

http://www.tmsfeatures.com/tmsfeatures/subcategory.jsp?file=20080529ctngs-a.txt&catid=1709&code=ctngs

Q: This letter is long overdue; but after reading of Msgr. Tom Hartman's illness, I can't procrastinate any more. I'm a life-long "Suthun Baptist." When I first learned about the God Squad column, I was skeptical, expecting to see theological answers that were wishy-washy, watered-down, feel-good, the-devil-is-the-only-one-responsible. I soon realized I was wrong.

Your column is one of the first I read on Sunday afternoons. One surprise is how often I agree with you. Even when I don't agree, I respect your approach and the thought process you used to formulate an answer. Your answers combine theological expertise with insights based on experience and the practical realities of life.

When I discuss your column with others, I tell them it displays a constant theme: God is the master of the universe and there is a TRUTH. While Jews, Catholics and Protestants may have different opinions regarding that truth, there is still one truth. In some cases, the truth offers room for different individual positions. Sometimes, there's room for only one and we may disagree on what that position is.

Both you and Fr. Hartman have gained my respect and I'm confident that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is most pleased. Msgr. Hartman, please allow this "prodigal" Protestant to pray for you. Shalom and God bless you.

P.S.: My wife's spiritual journey has been more varied than mine: Methodist, Catholic, then Baptist, and she too enjoys your column. - R., via godsquadquestion@aol.com )

A: I receive many letters and though it may seem self-serving to include such a positive one, rest assured that I could have easily chosen another identifying the accommodations God has prepared for me in hell. The reason I chose this lovely missive from a Southern Baptist brother in faith is that it makes an important theological point I rarely get to make in such a direct way.

I do indeed believe God is the Creator and Master of the Universe, and I do indeed believe there is a moral truth in this universe. Such truth is not personal, subjective or relativistic. It's not just what any one of us happens to believe. Opinions that contradict this truth are not all equally valid.

Moral error is objectively and absolutely wrong, and moral virtue is universally correct. If, for example, one happens to believe that killing innocent people is morally justified, this is wrong-obscenely wrong-and is wrong whether the person correcting you is a Christian, Jew, Muslim or atheist. Moral truth is the kind of truth we cannot (BEGIN ITALICS) not (END ITALICS) know. For some, the apprehension of the moral truth comes from faith, and for others it comes from unaided human reason, but the idea that we can't make a universally valid moral judgment about what someone else believes to be right and wrong is ridiculous, divisive and destructive of the moral fiber of our culture. It would mean that Hitler and Gandhi made equally valid moral choices.

I urge you to check out a new book by secular philosopher Austin Dacey: "The Secular Conscience: Why Belief Belongs in Public Life." Dacey disagrees with most religious opinions about the big ethical issues of our time, and I disagree with him. However, I strongly agree with him that it's wrong to reject an opinion about some moral issue just because the person who makes it is religious.

All of us, secularists and religious folks, must talk to each other and be prepared to give good reasons why we judge some act right or wrong. Saying there's just one truth in the world doesn't free any of us, religious or secular, from the responsibility to give good, sound, accessible reasons for our moral judgments. That's what Dacey believes, that's what I believe, and that's what the best religious thinkers I know believe...and it took a Southern Baptist to help me say it. Thanks.

Coordinator Gerry Dantone's response in "Asking the Clergy" in Newsday

Newsday, April 19, 2008

Gerry Dantone, coordinator
Center for Inquiry Community of Long Island, Huntington:

Question: Do We Have A Moral Responsibility To The Environment?

Humanists believe that all decisions and acts have an ethical component and that we cannot shirk our ethical responsibilities in favor of obedience to dogma or faith in a higher power; the responsibility remains ours. If we want to leave behind a better world for our children to live in, it almost goes without saying that we must take care of the planet. The religious often question why nonbelievers would make any sacrifice for others without a belief in God. The answer is because humanists care; it is innately human and natural for us to care about each other, and no magic need be invoked to explain why we care; natural selection explains it easily. Rather than praying for the food, water, peace and security from the God who never has supplied enough even to the innocent, humanists believe that a reasoned, scientific and compassionate approach to our problems is the best way for humanity to save itself.

Send faith questions you'd like us to pose to: Sylvia King-Cohen, Newsday, 235 Pinelawn Rd., Melville, NY 11747-4250, or sylvia. king-cohen@newsday.com

Coordinator Gerry Dantone's letter to the NY Daily News

NY Daily News, April 17, 2008

Greenlawn, L.I.: Your April 15 editorial "Benedict the brave" said that "reason without faith" leads to "deadening of the soul." It's true that pure reason is insufficient basis for a moral system, but faith is not the missing ingredient. Caring - concern for oneself and others - is what's necessary, along with reason, to form a moral system with a goal of improving the well-being of humanity. It's known as humanism.

Gerry Dantone
Center for Inquiry Community of Long Island

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/04/17/2008-04-17_voice_of_the_people_for_april_17_2008.html

For the entire CFI Community of Long Island news archives go to:

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Who are we? What do we do?

The purpose of the Center for Inquiry is to promote and defend reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor.

The Center for Inquiry is a transnational nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that encourages evidence-based inquiry into science, pseudoscience, medicine and health, religion, ethics, morality, secularism, and society.

Through education, research, publishing, and social services, it seeks to present affirmative alternatives based on scientific naturalism.  The Center is also interested in providing rational ethical alternatives to the reigning paranormal and religious systems of belief, and in developing communities where like-minded individuals can meet and share experiences.

On Long Island, the Center for Inquiry has fostered a large community where supporters of our mission can meet, network and collectively make their presence felt by the media, elected officials and general public.  As you can see below in our listing of upcoming Events, and our Community News and Past Events archives, we sponsor public forums and social events as well as represent the Community of Reason in print and electronic media to growing effect.

For those of you who have an inquiring nature; or who feel uncomfortable with the idea of the supernatural; or who question moral systems that do not seem to take into account the consequences on human wellbeing of their dogmatic beliefs, you are invited to investigate the links below.

For more on what the Center for Inquiry is and what it does, go to:

CFI - NYC:

http://cfinyc.org/about/

CFI - Transnational

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/about/index.html

For more on secular humanism:

http://www.secularhumanism.org