We cannot buy into 1700s mindset

In response to my March 14 column, a writer from Hiawatha (March 22 letter) said my words “basically stated our Founders writings are useless in today's mindset.”

That is not what I said, and I disagree with his opinions.

I do admire and respect the faith and commitment of our Founding Fathers, and because of them, we are still the great nation they hoped to create. What I do believe, however, is that we cannot buy into the mindset of the 1700s in the 21st century. The “ideals” they cherished in their era would not be acceptable in 2010. Our culture has changed as the world has changed. Should we go back to

human slavery and

the subjugation of

women?

That gentleman also quoted Scripture; so here are other words of Jesus: “He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” And He was speaking to men ready to stone to death a woman taken in adultery, but no blame was placed on the man she dallied with. And yes, the men put down their stones and slunk away.

So the world of Bible times was not the world we live in today either. Jesus was a radical, a change agent who disapproved of much of his own culture. All I am trying to emphasize is that we cannot buy into the mindset of ancient times; no time frame is perfect, no culture is perfect. We grow in grace only as we change in positive ways. Amen.

The Rev. Laura Lee

Odegard

Waukon