The Boo Heard All the Way to Heaven

“I am playing the Devil’s advocate.” The quote that begins this column today was shared with me during a break in a radio interview many years ago when I was invited to be a participant on a talk show where an atheist and I were to submit to questions from the host and callers to the show. The program created so much interest, the producers decided to invite each of us back for a full week of programs. Each day of the week at the radio station during the lunch hour, my atheist friend and I would show up to stake out our positions on the questions from the cultural, political, theological and public policy issues of the time.

I had been warned that the callers would set me up to try and disprove my positions and to humiliate me. That did not happen; in fact, the opposite reality began to come through to the listeners of the show each day.  The person who was to represent the position as the atheist was well known for hostile letters to the editor of the local newspaper. He also qualified to run for a local political office on one occasion, and was not elected. He was well schooled in his positions, and was not shy in expressing his lack of belief in God. During the last few days of the show during a break for a commercial my atheist friend admitted to me and the host of the show that he really did believe there is a Supreme Being out there somewhere, he just did not attach the name of God to the Supreme Being. The hosts quickly asked both of us not to let that truth be known as we continued with the show. I had already noticed from statements being made by the atheist that he was having trouble speaking with deep conviction about his beliefs. The other person did confess on the air he was an agnostic not an atheist.

We have heard it said “There are no atheists in fox holes.” I am not suggesting that all people who report to be an atheist really have belief in a Supreme Being, I am only pointing to one time in my life when a person who wanted to be known as a person of no faith and a non-believer in God was truly searching for answer.

What does this story from my past have to do with events of our time? Simply stated, the removal and readmission of God in the Democrat Platform last week points to the emotional and serious ties this nation of people place upon respect for God.

Will the booing of God by the delegates in Democrat conventioin hurt their chances to win elections? Let us know in the comments.

The reaction of many of the delegates to the readmission of God to the platform is a larger issue to discuss.  From where I stand, as the result of the vote was announced the response of the delegates to boo the outcome of the vote must surely have been heard all the way to heaven.

Follow Ray Newman on Twitter @RayNewmanSr