Editor:

Re: "Vote for those who vote for Christ," Letters/Nov. 17).

This is yet another example of the totalitarian fascist mindset of the Christian right wing camp. A better header for that letter would read "legislate morality through politics." Anyone who doesn’t go along with their totalitarian propaganda is labeled anti-Christ. You think Christians are so persecuted, how utterly pathetic. If you want to experience real persecution try being openly pagan or Native American, whose culture and beliefs were trampled by the government with the help of churches.

Your so-called holy days all fall close to pagan/heathen holidays, i.e., Nov. 1, All Saints Day; Dec. 25 is the birth of Mithra, the Persian sun god. Pagan Yule celebrations, March 21, Ostara, transformed to Easter. All the customs surrounding Christmas (especially), are Germanic and heathen in nature. One example which I have given before, the so-called Christmas tree (real name Yule tree), is another form of tree worship or reverence, was practiced widely by pre-Christian Northern European people. The church condemned tree worship, but had no problem taking this custom and calling it theirs. Talk about blatant hypocrisy, that’s just one example of many. For a deeper understanding of this subject see the book "The Germanization of Medieval Christianity," James C. Russell.

It seems certain Christians think they have the right to shove their narrow-minded beliefs on those who believe different. These are the same parasites who go door to door or try to infiltrate public schools, or use the political system to spread their agenda. Mind control through indoctrination is their main tool to work their will on others.

Mainstream religion has always been about control and power over others -- keep them dumbed down and subservient to the cult. Unfortunately sheep need a shepherd, individuality is too daunting an undertaking so they let manipulators (church leaders) control and guide them. Separation of church and state is a very wise necessity put in place by the founding fathers.

STEVE G. FORD, Casper