Greetings from Canada

Mrs. Weinstein

I’m a Presbyterian minister who, in the course of twenty years of ministry, has received a fair share of hateful and ignorant correspondence. I think your stance on teaching folks about their constitutional rights is wonderful. As a moderate Christian who tries to live by the golden rule, I can’t understand how people of faith can be so intolerant. I am very much aware of the religious divide in the United States, and how it has caused far more harm than good. I am also very much aware of the fact that your constitution creates an environment of religious tolerance for all Americans. I have to admit that I’m unlikely to read your book; I can’t bring myself to face the kind of hate that I have heard spewed forth far too often; however, I pray that your efforts bear the best fruit possible, and that there will come a point in time when we all can share our views lovingly, respectfully and with a desire to learn from, and support, one another. On behalf of all people who believe that we can love each other as we love ourselves in any religious, agnostic or atheist environment, I applaud and salute you.

May your day be filled with joy and good things.

(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),

Bonnie and Mikey have read your email and asked me to respond to you.

Your beautiful and Christ-like email has touched the hearts of those involved with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).

It seems that when we are in or about to be in a battle over religious freedom, God in His mercy uses people such as you to lift us up. They are rare and we treasure every one of them.

Mikey is Jewish (not an atheist) and prays three times a day to the same Father we do. Mikey doesn’t act alone. Christians make up seventy-five percent of Board, Advisory Board, volunteers and supporters. Out of our 40,000+ soldier clients (1 can represent up to 50 and 1 represents 100), ninety-six percent of them are Christians. We actually fight for the rights of Christians more than any others

We are not anti-Christian but we do fight against the Evangelical/Fundamental/Dominionists that are causing division; have hijacked our military and want to turn our soldiers into “Warriors for Christ”; who want to turn our military into “Government paid missionaries”; demand to be able to proselytize our mainline Christians to join their sect under the Great Commission of the bible; want every soldier – regardless of their belief or non- belief – to participate in mandatory Dominionists events; and wreak havoc upon the careers of those that refuse to join.

You are correct in that our Constitution allows for religious freedom for all. That is what we fight for when our military oversteps those freedoms. We do not act on our own but on the complaints of our soldiers when it happens.

Those involved with the MRFF come from different backgrounds with different experiences and each of us has our part to play.

We believe in the Golden Rule, too.

I don’t blame you for not wanting to read the hate email we receive. It breaks my heart to see the vile, bigoted, hateful, judgmental, anti-Semitic emails – that sometimes have death threats in them – coming from Christians almost every day. I weep over them sometimes and pray that God opens their eyes.

I will be printing out your email to keep it close by to read, not only on a daily basis, but especially when we get hate mail from Christians.

You have made our day and for that we are forever grateful.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

May God bless your socks off!!!

Pastor Joan

MRFF Advisory Board Member