A retired Air Force veteran responds to Mr. Brisco's criticism of Ruether's call to the churches.      [4-19-04]

I also retired from the Air Force. My impressions were entirely different from those of Mr. Brisco. In Vietnam and Cambodia I saw that we were trying to establish dictatorships of our choosing. In most situations that I have seen we are continually backing tyrants who will keep the status quo. The middle east knows that we destroyed the one democratically elected government in Iran. The US did this to keep Russia encircled and a flow of oil coming. We have continued to back the House of Saud in order to keep oil flowing from the middle east. The manner in which we continue to back Israel is a basic cause of anti American feelings throughout the entire world, especially in Islamic countries.

People such as Mr. Brisco are plentiful in the South. My grandfather was in World War I, my father in WW II and I was in Vietnam. In fact I did some of my training at Wilford Hall in San Antonio. Why am I against this country when I speak out against what I believe to be mistaken policies? I can support my country without supporting someone who believes that God speaks to him. The only people I know who hear God's voice are off their medications. Bush may be suffering from long abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Thanks to Dr. Ruether for helping us to formulate arguments against the fundamentalist right. The Jewish, Christian, and Islamic fundamentalists should be isolated to some subcontinent and let the rest of the world live in peace.

Until the US recognizes international law again we will continue to be the most hated nation in the world. We need to read JFK's speeches regarding foreign policy and law in hopes of returning to be the nation with a beacon of hope for the entire world. We cannot become a nation such as Israel and occupy Iraq for 40 years. Hopefully, this nation has not become so hardened that it will condone killing on the basis of intelligence reports. Intelligence by both our country and Israel has been very poor recently.

Thanks, John F. Payne, M.D., USAF, Ret.

Click here for an earlier comment from Dr. Payne.

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Grove City professor criticizes the thinking behind Ruether's call to the churches to bear witness against the "American messianic nationalism" of our time

This critical response has come from Dr. Earl H. Tilford, Jr., Ph.D., Professor of History at Grove City College.  This essay was written for publication elsewhere, but he has offered to share it here.  [4-2-04]

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Viet Nam veteran responds to Earl Tilford with an affirmation of Christ's peace in the face of violence    [7-10-04]

Bob Smith, a Viet Nam Green Beret veteran, responds to Earl Tilford's criticism of Rosemary Radford Ruether's Call to the Churches to bear witness against the "American messianic nationalism" of our time.   Dr. Tilford draws on his own military experience to argue against Ruether, and Smith, also speaking as a veteran, argues that Christ offers a better alternative than military force.

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March 24, 2004

Amen.

A powerful piece. Outstanding observations of the time in which we live.

I pray the call to action is heard.

Brian Jordan

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In Southwest Georgia, the problems are not only associated with the fundamentalists but also with the members of the mainstream churches such as the Presbyterians and Methodists. You cannot imagine the hate that erupts from the religious right in this region if one speaks out against their ideals.

After citing two of the four false theological ideas, I was threatened with death by one good Christian and bodily harm by three others. Conversion must begin in the churches; preachers such as Falwell and Robertson must become an example for good to these fundamentalists rather than the hate that they now indulge.

Dr. Ruether definitely has a plan which may bring the world peace and hope.
 

John F. Payne, retired orthopedic surgeon

Dr. Payne later added this example:

Marthame Sanders [Presbyterian mission co-worker who has been serving in the Palestinian Christian village of Zababdeh, near Jenin] is to be in Valdosta next week, but this has not been announced in any of the local churches. This includes the local Presbyterian church. The local Methodist church immediately said they would not announce the chance to hear what is happening in the West Bank. All ministers do not need to be fundamentalists, but in Southwest Georgia they are forced to adopt this stance or they will not have a pulpit.

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A self-affirmed atheist writes in appreciation for the authenticity and courage of Ruether's statement.

[We received this note on March 24, and are posting it here on March 29, 2004]

Hi,

I have just read this essay [Rosemary Radford Ruether's "Call to the Churches"]. I would like first to say that I am an atheist, not because I don't feel religion has no value, but because I do not think that church makes or defines a good person (e.g. [the attitude that] going to church on Sunday, even though they will be sending an army off to kill civilians on Monday, makes them a good person, in anyone's eyes let alone their 'God's'). I feel that good people will be good no matter if they are/were religious or not. The other reason is, that people have high-jacked religion for anything they see fit.

This article best describes this simple and completely woeful misuse of religion for what it is, a dangerous and brainwashing excuse to exercise the greed of some to the detriment and cost of others.

High praise should be given to the author for having the courage to say something so true in what is a very trying time; true leadership is great to see. If only more people in religious and political circles had that standard of backbone and told things like this, religion and the world would be better off.

Please pass my comments on to the author,

Thank you.

Rob Buckley

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A retired Air Force officer responds to Rosemary Radford Ruether's call to the churches with condemnation of her "misinformed hatred for this country." But he promises to pray for her.

[4-13-04]

We need a new generation of prophets to arise to denounce the misuse of American might for blatant power-mongering and self-enrichment of the super rich. Even more, we need new prophets who will redefine how America can become, once again, one nation among others in a world community that seeks "liberty and justice for all."

"Power mongering ... self-enrichment of the super rich?" Is that what I and hundreds of thousands of other US military men and women have committed much of our adult lives to? I think not.

As a recently retired military officer, my comrades and I have spent a life time defending the right of "scholars" such as Dr. Ruether to cast forth such nonsense as that I cut and pasted above. Over my 30-year career, I both supported and participated in numerous military interventions, all led by the US military, in various hotspots throughout the world. I have seen the destruction, the abysmal poverty, and the sense of hopelessness that permeates a society long under the "thumb" of a vile regime. I have also had the joy and satisfaction of seeing the looks of relief and have heard the cheers from those who once suffered unimaginable terror at the hands of a vicious dictator or some other power-hungry, in-it-for-myself despot, but were now--for the first time in their lives--able to freely pursue their dreams.

The US has, throughout its short history, been THE one country that cared enough--and had the capability--to deliver other country's from the hands of these tyrants. We were among the very few nations who recognized freedom wasn't free--that there was always a price associated with that freedom. And, today, we continue to demonstrate our belief and commitment to freedom, as American blood again flows in far away Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and several other locations around the globe.

It hurts me to see the DR Ruethers of our world so stridently condemn our beloved country. It dismays me to see her use her profound intellect and abilities to tear down the very entity that allows her to spew forth her misinformed hatred for this country. I can only pray for her.

Regards, Worthey Brisco

Mr. Brisco, who recently retired from the US Air Force with nearly 30 years of service, lives in San Antonio, Texas, and is a member of Thousand Oaks Baptist Church.

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