No apology needed for Sen. Nuxoll’s comments
Following her protest of the first Hindu prayer in the Idaho Senate March 3, led by Reno cleric Rajan Zed, Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll of Cottonwood stated, Hinduism “is a false faith with false gods.” Nuxoll made it clear that she couldn’t pray to any false gods.
Predictably, this prompted the apology brigade.
Andrew Jenson
Religious leaders of various faiths in Idaho and nationwide — including Christians from the Episcopal and Roman Catholic denominations — asked her to apologize for her remarks. According to a report from The Spokesman-Review, Rabbi ElizaBeth Beyer, a Jewish leader in California and Nevada said “(Nuxoll) should be called upon to offer a public apology and perhaps even be sanctioned by the Senate for her inappropriate, insensitive and insulting remarks.”
Friday, Nuxoll revised her statement to point out Hinduism isn’t a false religion, but rather one based on “false gods.” She also said she wouldn’t apologize.
She’s a Republican with a backbone. Who knew they still existed?
This whole situation is hilarious. It’s adorable to see various religious leaders demand an apology from another religious person for standing up for her faith. By asking for an apology, it’s like they’re admitting they don’t believe any one faith is the true faith, even though they are all members of specific faiths.
If it’s improper and insensitive for Nuxoll to denounce other faiths, why is it OK for them to become members of and proclaim their own faiths?
After all, by choosing to be a part of one religion, an individual immediately discredits all other religions.
By proclaiming Christianity, Christians not only discredit Hinduism, but also Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, etc. By proclaiming Hinduism, Hindus discredit Christianity. It would be pointless to identify with a religion if one is not going to proclaim it as the singular, true religion.
If any religious individual occupies a public office, they should stand by their beliefs and not cater to public sensitivities. Of course, in this day and age it’s improper to proclaim anything as “the truth,” especially when it comes to religion.
According to society’s standards, Christ can be a way, but Christ can’t be the only way to forgiveness and salvation. Proclaiming Christ as “the Way, the Truth and the Life” is now offensive and insensitive. The public at large must tolerate all religions as equal, with no one being greater than another or possessing the only truth.
Because as we all know, toleration and disagreement can’t go hand-in-hand.
Nuxoll may have also said she thinks Zed should be the best Hindu that he can be according to his own faith and she was fine with him praying in the capitol, as long as the senate also offered a Christian prayer.
But she was not offensive and intolerant by saying it’s not the true faith.This isn’t to say it’s OK for Nuxoll to insult others. If she personally attacked Zed, it might warrant an apology. However, she was making a statement of faith, and she shouldn’t apologize for it.
The religious leaders demanding she apologize should seriously reconsider their request. If Nuxoll is forced to apologize for making a statement of faith, then they all need to follow suit. If she can’t proclaim her faith for the sake of sensitivity, neither can they.
Andrew Jenson can be reached at [email protected]