Scheer on Pat Robertson

As an ex-Christian fundamentalist with a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, I concur with Robert Scheer’s Sept. 23 Column Left, “The Way as Written by Boss Tweed” [concerning a speech given by Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson on political strategy].

From the very beginnings, these folks have wanted a theocracy and, in a very real sense, that’s biblical, having to do with the “Kingdom of God.” However, their take on the kingdom has little to do with the Jesus who sacrificed himself for others and had tremendous compassion for the world’s “rejects.” Instead, it has more to do with capital-gains tax cuts, gun ownership, the triumph of capitalism and an end to individual conscience and choice, hardly biblical concepts.

LAWRENCE TONSICK

Pasadena

* Sheer correctly depicts Thomas Jefferson’s feelings about Christianity--”To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself.” But in his contention that liberals can lay better claim to that moral code than can the Christian Coalition, he replicates an omission normally found in liberal arguments: Jesus and Jefferson were speaking of individuals, not the government, as being responsible for “inculcating universal philanthropy.”

MEL WOLF

Burbank