The inherent problem with atheists at helm of government can be seen by recounting life under rule of French atheist Maximilien Robespierre. More than a century after Queen Elizabeth executed Catholics, and 200 years after Bloody Mary was being bloody, Robespierre was sending thousands to guillotine. The atheistic government of Joseph Stalin killed millions and Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge slaughtered hundreds of thousands.

Protestants, Catholics, Muslims and atheists have one thing in common: When any sectarian group controls government, people die. Yet that was norm of world history until 17th century.

A place at table

Perhaps most momentous day in American history was February 5, 1631 when a free-thinking British preacher named Roger Williams alit from a ship in Boston’s harbor. Williams purchased land from Indians and founded a community that became Rhode Island. Unlike other colonies, Rhode Island separated civil and ecclesiastical governments. No sect would control government. Rather, all would have a place at table.

Williams’ philosophy of religious liberty was perceived to be an invitation to disaster. But anticipated quarreling among sects never materialized. In fact, arrangement resulted in religious harmony. No religious institution felt threatened by any other, for all were free to believe (or not believe) as they pleased. There was no reason to burn your neighbors at stake for having too many holes in their sleeves.

And that takes us back to original question.

Why do Libertarians — Christians, atheists and other sectarians — manage to get along? The answer is simple. Like Williams, we understand principle of inclusion. Everyone has a place at table. And so, I can relish thought of being most religious guy in Libertarian Party without fear of Charlie sending me to gulag. Erstwhile, my Christian friends will continue to call me most libertarian guy in Baptist church.

###

In background to all that potato chip crunching-- Brian Wilson’s lyric about a chariot that would somehow take a chubby little boy far, far away from yellow linoleum floor in kitchen of California tract house where he had rolled himself up in a ball to absorb kicks and slaps poured out on him by his Dad and future Beach Boy Manager---Murray.

None of it bruised his body in car. No shame in that car.

When something comes up to me They don’t even try Cos if I had a set of wings I know I could fly.

Flying home on Dempster, right by canal. Mid day traffic light so I can move. My faithful green Honda now transformed into cherry red, gleaming chrome:

She’s got a competition clutch With a four on floor and She purrs like a kitten till tail pipes roar

So if I stopped at Steak and Shake, I wouldn’t get a Triple Steak burger. I’m not THAT far gone. That would be for people who actually had a problem. I’d limit it to a double. And a small fries. A medium coke. No way would I get a large coke.

And then there are families of these 10,000 bad guys. That’s a lot of people!

But I wouldn’t have a Triple Steak burger. I had control. And maybe there really were ten thousand real bad guys out here with me driving east on Dempster into Evanston. Maybe they were REAL bad guys. And it wasn’t a political stunt or first shot in real class warfare.

Maybe we had more cops out there now. Maybe we got back some of money we spent on war to pay for cops, for feeding hungry kids, sheltering battered and bruised kids, maybe it was all like getting a refund at that Home Depot right behind Steak and Shake. Maybe I could go in there fat and happy full of steak burger---my second lunch having soothed my hungry and ravenous soul—maybe I could go stand patiently in line in Home Depot and they would offer a refund on war. Something to credit my account. And somewhere deep inside giant warehouse I would find nourishing commands that would somehow feed my empty soul.

I get pushed out of shape and its hard to steer when I get rubber In all four gears.

My first lunch? A few minutes ago? Forgotten.

Just as soon as I bit into that double steak burger, I wouldn’t be hungry anymore. Then I could bop over to Home Depot. Get a few necessities for house. Throw on some old Beach Boys tunes and cruise on back home. I’m sure that ten thousand people who were arrested today---I’m sure that’s a good thing. Wouldn’t want people to think I’m a wild eyed liberal or something. Soft on crime. And I am in control. Not a Triple Steak burger. Only a double.

With cheese.