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Why popular religion is fading in AmericaPublic transit benefits all of usActually, the Electoral College preserves Iowans’ voiceWhat stopped the apprehension of criminals before now?Immigrants are our neighborsDanger in vaccine skepticismPipeline concerns remain plentifulWe are all to blame on health care affordabilityLeach was unmatched on policy knowledgeA hard-to-find principle nowadaysTerror of gun danger visits the ruling classA suggestion on porch piracyWhy popular religion is fading in America
Religion, in its various forms and beliefs, has always played a prominent role in American society, with a majority of the population identifying as Christian. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the focus of popular religion in America. Instead of proclaiming the gospel and promoting spiritual growth, many churches and religious leaders have become preoccupied with social issues and political agendas.
Among the reasons for this shift is the increasing polarization in American society. With the rise of social media and 24-hour news cycles, people have become more divided than ever before. This has profoundly affected the realm of religion, with many churches aligning themselves with particular political ideologies and focusing on issues such as abortion, crime, LGBTQ rights, and immigration. While these are important topics, they have taken precedence over the core teachings of Christianity, such as love, compassion, and redemption.
Another factor contributing to the growing anemia of popular religion in America is the desire for relevance and acceptance. In an increasingly secular society, many churches and religious leaders have sought to make themselves more attractive to a wider audience with “easy believeism” and feel-good sermons by focusing on social justice issues. This endeavor often comes at the expense of true spiritual transformation. Instead of teaching the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ, many churches have become more concerned with being seen as progressive and inclusive.
The Rev. Wayne M. Hoffman, Urbandale
Public transit benefits all of us
As a downtown Des Moines resident, I fully support the Register editorial board’s call for collaboration to fund and sustain DART. Public transit is essential to any great city, and Des Moines is no exception.
One of the reasons I love living downtown is that it’s one of the few areas in the metro where you don’t need a car to get around and can utilize almost every route the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority has to offer. Cities are more vibrant, sustainable, and equitable when people have real transportation options beyond driving. DART helps connect residents to jobs, schools, and services while reducing traffic and environmental impacts.
To secure DART’s future, Des Moines must meet its funding commitments, even if it means difficult budget choices. A franchise fee is the most practical short-term solution, but state lawmakers must provide better, long-term funding options, like hotel or sales taxes, to reduce DART’s reliance on property taxes.
Public transit benefits all of us — whether you ride the bus or not — by fostering a more connected, thriving community. Let’s invest in DART and ensure it has the resources to grow and adapt to our region’s needs.
David Jennings, Des Moines
Actually, the Electoral College preserves Iowans’ voice
The Dec. 15 guest columnists who recommend abolishing the electoral college have muddied the waters again by obfuscating the real facts.
The framers of the Constitution of the United States (who were primarily Virginia farmers) did not want high-population cities with large populations of immigrants deciding elections. They believed that the land-owning agricultural sector of the population should exercise a predominant role in deciding the electoral results.
Just as the framers of the Constitution gave each state, no matter how small its population, two United States Senators, these same two senators translated into two extra electoral votes for these small agricultural states.
Therefore, to eliminate the Electoral College would totally reverse the intentions of the framers of the Constitution of the United States. Since this Constitution has served us so well for 250 years, does any Iowan (or resident of any other primarily agricultural state) really want to give in to those who want the overwhelming Democratic majorities in California and New York to decide the rest our national elections?
At the time of the establishment of the United States of America, democracy was reserved for those who were more deeply invested in their citizenship. When this guest column makes the claim that the Electoral College makes Iowa irrelevant, in reality the exact opposite is true. Without the Electoral College, Iowa and every other small agricultural state becomes irrelevant in presidential elections.
Donald C Parsons, Sioux City
What stopped the apprehension of criminals before now?
Good news/bad news.
Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with 25 other Republican governors, announce that they are “fully committed to supporting the Trump’s administration efforts to deport dangerous criminals, gang members and terrorists who are in this country illegally.”
That is the good news. The bad news is that, based on the wording of this statement, evidently the governors have not been fully committed the last four years to removing these dangerous individuals from our communities. Why not? I thought our law enforcement professionals were always fully committed to apprehending and arresting criminals, gang members and terrorists, whether they were in our country illegally or legally.
Then, once apprehended, they were either incarcerated or deported if here illegally. Am I wrong?
I hope not. Maybe the Republican governors were just politically motivated and felt obligated to release such a statement to score points with the incoming administration and make themselves appear to their constituents that they are now fully committed to protecting them from this scourge.
Kevin Shawgo, Nevada
Immigrants are our neighbors
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” This is the Gospel (Luke 10) restatement of God’s fundamental expectation of His people. Jesus’ response to the question “Who is my neighbor?” is His parable of the good Samaritan.
If He was responding to that question from us Iowa Christians today, the role of the Samaritan might be filled by an immigrant. Immigrants are doing tough important work and contributing to our communities. Some of them are undocumented; many of these are waiting for decisions on asylum requests to which they have a right under U.S. and international law.
Too often we have failed to heed biblical reminders to welcome the stranger. Instead our incoming presidential administration is threatening them with summary deportation. Indiscriminate mass deportation would tear apart families and communities. During this Christmas season, the image of armed soldiers raiding immigrant neighborhoods to drag individuals away from their frightened families is particularly troubling. The many Iowans who, as a matter of faith and conscience, oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s irrational and unnecessarily cruel mass deportation plan need to contact our congressional representatives. Our voices need to be heard.
Al Charlson, Waverly
Danger in vaccine skepticism
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. frequently expresses his skepticism about vaccines along with one of his campaign officials, Aaron Siri. Siri has petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration to revoke the approval of the polio vaccine.
I grew up in rural Decatur County. There were seven kids who contracted polio who lived on farms within a few miles of one another. A few were not seriously affected, but most had severe consequences that negatively affected their lives. If this situation were to occur today, it would be national news. Since it became available the polio vaccine has saved millions of lives from this horrible disease to the point that it is virtually nonexistent in the US.
I remember every kid in grade school in the 1950s lining up to get the vaccine at school. None of the parents said no. They were just relieved to that our government and scientific/medical community were protecting them.
There were few conspiracy theorists, and no cable news networks spouting misinformation, in the 1950s. To elevate Kennedy to FDA director is a huge step backwards. Does this mean that new and existing personnel in FDA will have to express skepticism about vaccines in order to work there? How many promising vaccines will be denied FDA approval in the future due to Kennedy’s unfounded theories? We can’t go back.
Dan Lovett, Granger
Pipeline concerns remain plentiful
I recently attended the annual Pipeline Safety Trust conference in New Orleans. The conference brings pipeline industry operators, government leaders and the general public together to find solutions to make the pipeline industry safer. It was started in 1999 after the horrific Olympic Pipeline rupture that leaked 230,000 gallons of gasoline into a Bellingham, Washington creek. It ignited and killed three young men and destroyed that ecosystem.
I left the conference with mixed feelings. On one hand, the conference brings more awareness to pipeline safety, but on the other, much work is needed yet. Devastating pipeline accidents still happen every year. More pipeline company accountability is needed.
One common theme I heard while talking with other conference attendees: for the proposed Summit CO2 pipeline, bad public relations and conduct and a lack of taking safety seriously. Even Energy Transfer Partners, which operates the Dakota Access Pipeline, recently filed for intervention with the South Dakota Public Utilities commission largely on the grounds that Summit has refused to address crossing concerns.
Summit is also using intimidation by filing lawsuits against landowners and county supervisors and targeting opposition with cease and desist letters. Imagine how Summit will treat people when their pipeline ruptures?
Kim Junker, New Hartford
We are all to blame on health care affordability
As virtue signaling liberals insult health insurance companies, logical people should recall that Obamacare mandated by law that all uninsured Americans purchase health insurance. This will always be a historical fact and hypocrisy, although the mandate was ultimately rejected by the Supreme Court.
Of course, Republicans have done absolutely zero to reduce the cost of health care, and in fact have raised the cost, by preventing drug price negotiations, and outright corruption in Iowa’s nursing home industry.
My point is that, as with most things, we are all to blame, especially the partisans, who refuse to hold friends accountable.
Erich Riesenberg, Des Moines
Leach was unmatched on policy knowledge
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, I (and the farmers I worked for) had the pleasure of meeting on multiple occasions with Congressman Jim Leach to discuss policies impacting Iowa agriculture. He was always approachable, a good listener, a beacon of integrity, and easily the most knowledgeable congressional representative Iowa has had in recent memory on either side of the aisle. I have fond memories of him sitting with us in the back room of his office, in a nearly worn-out favorite sweater, discussing the intricate financial ramifications of the latest ag trade policy proposal.
He was of a long-gone generation of politicians who put good policy before party. Iowa was well-served by his years in Congress, and we owe him a debt of gratitude. This Democrat will remember him fondly.
RIP Congressman Leach.
Donald Mason, Granger
A hard-to-find principle nowadays
Jim Leach was one of the last Republican statesmen. He always put country above party.
Keith Nichols, Perry
Terror of gun danger visits the ruling class
While it is sad that the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was gunned down in New York, it made me pause and wonder if, perhaps, now, meaningful action regarding the proliferation of guns in the US would gain traction. It certainly did not happen after Sandy Hook and the murder of first-graders in 2012. How many school murders have happened since then? Too many to want to count; not to mention other mass shootings.
But now that a bigwig has been shot and his colleagues have experienced what schoolchildren across America feel every day, perhaps it might change.
Well, no, the CEOs can live in gated communities and helicopter into meetings; they don’t have to ride the bus to school and do active shooter drills on a regular basis.
It is sobering to realize that a whole generation of kids has grown up feeling unsafe just going to school. They have grown up not knowing whom to trust for sure and fearing that catastrophe could happen at any time. They might not get killed, but a beloved friend, teacher or principal or coach might. That is a traumatic way to spend your carefree youth, isn’t it?
The Rev. Deb Hill-Davis, Des Moines
A suggestion on porch piracy
Maybe if delivery service drivers rang the ding-dang doorbell when they drop off a package, there would be fewer thefts!
Annette Wetteland, Des Moines
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Publish date : 2024-12-21 22:30:00
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Publish date : 2024-12-22 13:14:50
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