"A growing culture of radical secularism declares that the nation cannot profess the truths on which it was founded," said Newt Gingrich in his address to Liberty University's graduating class last week. "We are told that our public schools can no longer invoke the creator... In hostility to American history, the radical secularists insist that religious belief is inherently divisive and that public debate can only proceed on secular terms," he said.

The adjective "radical" is very popular with evangelicals lately: Dobson decries the "radical homosexual agenda," Phyllis Schlafly (among others) censures "radical activist judges" for doing their Constitutionally-defined jobs (hearing cases that challenge or require interpretation of the legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President), and now Gingrich blames radical secularists for the coming up with the idea that religion is divisive.

However, it was the founder and main deity of Christianity, Jesus Christ, who said it first: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters…he cannot be my disciple." It is human nature to love one's mother, father, wife, children, and siblings. However, just as the bumper sticker says, "Jesus Christ was a radical." He taught that religious belief must overcome secular emotions - familial love was no longer a good thing if it interfered with devotion to Jesus.

It is not hostile "to American history" or to world history to point out that religious belief has caused exactly what Jesus ordered it should: hatred of one's own kin if they do not believe as you do. Only Christians in extreme denial can say that religion has not caused some of the most evil human actions on earth. During the Inquisition one of the milder forms of persecution that the Catholic church practiced was to make certain believers wear yellow fabric crosses on their clothing to identify them to others. Strange. Why would Christians want to brand other Christians? Because they weren't "real" believers, they weren't Catholic. Even though belief in Jesus Christ is what makes one a Christian, that wasn't enough. Divisive religious doctrines made even the believers enemies.

In Mr. Gingrich's, Dr. Dobson's and Ms. Schlafly's worldviews, secularists are interfering with religion. And yet, no where else in the world are people as free to practice religious faith as here in America. Gingrich complains that schools do not "invoke a creator" officially, yet the Christian religion is alive and flourishing in schools. Drive by any high school in America and watch the Christian students praying at the flagpole. Go inside and see kids stop in the middle of the hall to pray aloud with their friends. Attend a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting conducted by a staff member/coach. Everyone may not agree with Christianity, but disagreement is not persecution.

Gingrich and his fellows don't seem to be happy with freedom to practice their religion; they want us ALL to practice their religion. They want the state to endorse their Christian religion as our national religion. But even if that happens, America won't be the heaven of harmony they envision. Even if they burn the heathens (again), all the believers won't be in agreement. Certain Christians will have to wear yellow crosses sewn to their vests. Secularists agree: Jesus Christ himself demands it.