
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 4, 1993                   TAG: 9308040544
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WATCH OUT FOR THE LIONS

IN HER commentary on July 21, Government and religion have to mix," Anne B. Kincaid quotes many to back her opinion against church-state separation. I highly regard the founders and others of our past. But the Bible says, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

I don't believe in forced religion upon a captive audience. I think it builds antagonism and deep resentment against religion. We see a case of imposed religion in Daniel. He was thrown into the lions' den because he worshiped at home rather than fall down before a golden image. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego told the king, We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. For that they were cast into the fiery furnace. And when any brand of religion is forced upon the people or the government of the United States, I think you will have have a version of the lions' den and fiery furnace. ELLIS J. CARTER MARTINSVILLE

by CNB