Texas Baptist Forum

Compartmentalizing

I don’t mean this to be critical or judgmental, but only an expression of a concern: I believe a movement that has come into vogue in the last several years—namely “cowboy churches”—may not necessarily be a desirable phenomenon.

Could it be that those attracted to “cowboy churches” do not feel welcome or comfortable in other churches?

It concerns me that we may be in danger of compartmentalizing groups of people who attend churches. Taken to extreme, we could have plumbers’ churches, carpenters’ churches, doctors’ churches, lawyers’ churches and so on.

The bottom line should be that every person should be welcomed and made to feel wanted, loved and comfortable in every church.

Dale Person

Marshall

 

Baylor’s new Starr

Since the “give away” of Baylor University by Texas Baptists in fear that it “might” be turned into another Liberty University, Baylor has finally come back to its senses by hiring Kenneth Starr as president (March 1).

F.A. Taylor

Kempner

I’m shocked and appalled at the selection of Kenneth Starr—a partisan, right-wing Republican zealot who isn’t even a Baptist—to become president of Baylor. I can’t imagine a more divisive and destructive choice.

As a lifelong Baptist, I have always felt close to Baylor. Two of my three children earned degrees from Baylor, and I have had countless friends at Baylor. I was mayor of Waco when Herbert Reynolds worked to prevent this kind of ideological takeover at Baylor.

Kenneth Starr is one of the most divisive partisan political figures in American history. He led the partisan witch hunt to undo the results of the 1992 presidential election. Whitewater and Blackwater tell us everything we need to know about him.

Starr spent $52 million of taxpayer money on Whitewater to get President Clinton—twice the amount spent by the 9/11 Commission. That investigation was one long, unethical abuse of power. Starr’s only success was in trapping Clinton into lying about the Lewinsky matter.

Now, Starr is involved in defending the Blackwater mercenary corporation. Blackwater is responsible for the murder of countless innocent civilians in Iraq.

From what we know about Starr’s background, the board of regents is either completely out of touch or is trying to establish Baylor as a right-wing Republican university. Move over Liberty University and Regent University—Baylor is coming through.

Were the regents unable to locate a competent, ethical Baptist for president of Baylor?

Charles Reed

Waco

 

I am sure Kenneth Starr is a fine man and is well-educated, but his training has been in law. I doubt he has any idea how a Baptist university is operated, since he does not know what Baptists believe or why they do certain things the way they do them. The Baylor University regents, if they had put more time in their decision, could have found a Baptist with as much education and in the right field of study.

Baylor University is a Baptist university supported by Texas Baptists. I doubt very seriously many Texas Baptists agree with the decision the regents made in appointing Starr. I know I don’t.

The purpose of Baylor University is to educate men and women in a Christian atmosphere. Since it is a Baptist university, I would think that not only the president, but the entire faculty should be longstanding Baptists. To me, appointing Starr as president of Baylor would be like a Baptist mission board appointing a Methodist, Catholic or Church of Christ to go out on the mission field to witness for Baptists. It does not make sense to me.

I have no idea what the regents were thinking when they pulled such a stunt. I believe they should reconsider their decision in this matter.

Bob Logan

Weatherford

 

Muslim bias?

Regarding “Nearly half of Americans admit to anti-Muslim bias” (March 1): Americans are not biased against Muslims! Reality is not bias.

Just this morning, Muslim terrorists set off two car bombs; the dead haven’t been counted yet. Tens of thousands of men, women and children are hideously and indiscriminately murdered every year by Muslim terrorists. Show me the Muslim outcry over the murders. I read the above-mentioned article looking for a statement from a “good” Muslim who condemns terrorism. Such statements do not exist.

Islam is an evil religion. Am I biased? Bias is an unfounded belief. Are Christians or Jews setting off car bombs? Did Saudi Arabia or Pakistan go into Iraq or Afghanistan to stop the slaughters? Who stopped the slaughter of Muslims in Bosnia?

What is being called “bias” of Muslims is not a bias but an accurate perception. The silence of Muslims and ever-mounting mountain of dead are the testimony of reality.

Fred Rosenbaum

Gainesville