Legislators do not owe an apology

To the editor:

I believe it is taking tolerance too far to demand apologies from the legislators who refused to participate in a Wiccan prayer. While it may have been beautifully worded, it was a prayer to another god than Christians believe in. Wiccans worship creation while Christians worship the one who did the creating.

According to Romans 1:25, 'some people would change the truth of God for a lie, worship and serve the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” To regard any of creation in place of, or as equal or above, the creator is wrong. Were it not for the creator, there would be no creation.

Demanding an apology for standing up for one's beliefs resembles Babylonian thinking in the days of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar tried using threats to force the latter three to worship his image, but they refused to bow to him, determining to stay true to God regardless of threats. Dire consequences followed, but God preserved them. Daniel was threatened with the lion's den if he prayed to anyone but King Darius, but he too regarded his allegiance to God as too important to compromise.

No one is threatening the fiery furnace or the lion's den, but reprimanding people for not bowing their heads to someone or something they don't believe in is dangerously heading the wrong direction for a country that is supposed to be free.

Margaret Bartlett

Cedar Rapids