It’s deeply troubling that a Muslim [the man mentioned is actually a Sikh) was allowed to lead prayer in the House of Representatives this morning. This should have never been allowed to happen. American was founded as a Christian nation, and I believe our government should reflect that truth. May God have mercy!
— Representive Mary Miller, as reported by Huffington Post
Sikhs and Muslims practice two separate and distinct religions, and conflating the two based on how someone looks is not only ignorant but also racist. America was founded on the principle of religious freedom. It is disgraceful that someone who has such disdain for our nation’s values can serve in the halls of Congress.
— Statement by The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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I could not have said any better than the statement from The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Our country’s principle is freedom of religious expression or non-expression. Neither theistic nor anti-theistic. We are also a pluralistic society. People of all religious beliefs or non-belief should be equally represented. I am personally ok with some reasonableness in this regard. I have no issues with a nativity display in a small town square, for example. But the congresswoman’s statement was not only ignorant but also alarming. We were not founded as a Christian nation but rather an enlightened one, where people fleeing religious persecution (including Catholics, Mennonites, Jews, etc.) could come, live and practice their faith in relative safety, so long as they were good citizens.
Sikhs follow the teachings of Guru Nanak, who lived in 16th century India at a time where the ruling class was Muslim, over a predominantly Hindu population. After a revelation received while drowning, Guru Nanak advocated a religion that was monotheistic but had a worship style that was more Indian in nature. His movement was severely oppressed by the Muslim rulers, so referring to a Sikh as a Muslim (due to the requirement that men not cut their hair, resulting in the wearing of a turban) is a historically insulting error to make. Sikh Americans are very patriotic and hard working. Many serve in the military. This congresswoman needs to get some education before making such dumbass ignorant statements about someone performing a public prayer.
We have an increasing number of Sikhs locating in Northwest Ohio. Some of them have purchased local convenience stores, gas stations, and motels. Good people. I try to meaningfully talk to them when visiting their businesses.