Ben Stein's Confession

Ben Stein's Confession
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by
him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession: 

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and
I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for
being Christians. I think people who believe in God are
sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have
no idea where the concept came from, that America is an
explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the
Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my
throat. 

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea
come from that we should worship celebrities and we
aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I
guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But
there are a lot of us who are wondering where these
celebrities came from and where the America we knew
went to. 

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a
laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended
to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you
thinking.

In light of recent events--terrorists attacks, school
shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine
Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few
years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our
schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better
not read the Bible in school.

The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not
steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said
OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our
children when they misbehave, because their little
personalities would be warped and we might damage their
self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We
said an expert should know what he's talking about. And
we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no
conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and
why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their
classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we
can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do
with, 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' 

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then
wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we
believe what the newspapers say, but question what the
Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through
e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you
start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think
twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and
obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but
public discussion of God is suppressed in the school
and workplace. 

Are you laughing yet? 

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not
send it to many on your address list because you're not
sure what they believe, or what they will think of you
for sending it. 

Funny how we can be more worried about what other
people think of us than what God thinks of us. 

Please pass it on if you think it has merit. 

If not, then just discard it. No one will know you did.
But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit
back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and Respectfully, Ben Stein