By Tom Kelly
Editor and Publisher

Many people know what the Bible says, but have read it only in bits and pieces, frequently in pursuit of proof of a point of denominational dogma. Many know what the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution say when they have a personal or institutional point to protest or protect, but have never read the entirety of the founding documents which established the nation's system of personal liberty and government by the people.

As we take note of the 233rd anniversary of the original 13 American colonies' self-declared independence from the British Empire on July 4, 1776, we encourage a reading of the founding documents--from beginning to end. You could do that one evening after supper; the Bible will take you somewhat longer, but is worth the time spent. And in each reading--both of the American founding documents, and the Bible--you will find things you didn't know were there, things you've always known which don't mean what they did when you read them the first time, and things you know for sure that aren't there at all.

The liberties that come from the words in both of these pillars of American life--the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the Bible--take special significance at this season, as we watch and listen to the ongoing upheaval in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in which its citizens clash with its religion-based government, seeking one simple commodity: Freedom. Our Declaration of Independence adopted July 4, 1776 is based on the premise that all men--a generic term referring to the human race, not merely males--are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights which the government may not diminish nor take away. The U.S. Constitution--adopted by the states in 1787 "in order to form a more perfect union" after an inconclusive interim of eleven years under an imperfect document called the Articles of Confederation--provided from the beginning that there would be no "established" religion, mandated, supported or controlled by the government. Citizens are therefore free to pursue their own private religious faith, free of government interference or doctrinal rules. The continuing national debate on the implications and limits of this right will not be resolved in this commentary. Suffice it to say that American citizens remain free to worship or not to worship according to the religious order of their choice, pray according to their conscience, to train their children in their chosen faith, and to live their private and public lives according to a system of morality and ethics which is part and parcel of both religious faith and government acknowledgment.

The contradiction of terms in the title by which the Iranian government identifies itself--The Islamic Republic of Iran--is nowhere more clearly shown than in the demonstrations which have gone on for days following a national election which is bitterly protested. In the jargon of politics, a republic is one in which the people rule through elected representatives, normally chosen at regular intervals for specific terms. As can be seen plainly, the Iranian nation, whose history of empire goes back to pre-Biblical times as Persia, can only be called a republic in a limited sense, as the final rule is by a body of religious leaders, who call the shots--literally, shots. Gunfire, as the people continue to protest what they believe is an unfair election. How long will this go on? How will it end? It might be appropriate to say, "God only knows!"

What would it be like in America if the final say in government was held by an unelected body consisting of the first ten televangelists on the cable network, plus the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Prophet of the Mormon church, the head of the Church of Christ Scientists, president of the Seventh Day Adventists, and the Archbishop of San Francisco? And which one would you like to pick as the Head Ayatollah? Think about it before you answer.

Have a Happy Fourth of July.

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