Ray: OK. I can believe that some of the problems in our society are caused by things out of our control, but if you ask me, religion is our biggest problem.

Greg: Oh no, here come the attacks.

Carlos: Please don’t ask me what I think.

Tracy: Don’t get me started.

Ray: That’s just part of what I mean. Look at politics these days. Every politician is going around saying “I have the truth” and is quoting some biblical verse to prove they are right.

Samuel: And not only that- you should see all the religious references that are popping up on TV these days. I don’t want to be told what to think.

Mr. Jackson: But what about the fact that our country was founded on Christian principles?

Ray: But everywhere you look, Christianity rears its ugly head. Take a look at our money, for example. In God we trust? That’s quite an assumption, if you ask me.

Samuel: And what about our national holidays? Take Christmas for example. Sure it’s mostly commercial now, but it’s still based on a religious event. So is Easter.

Mr. Jackson: Does anyone else have anything to offer? If Ray and Samuel had their way, our society would be void of any religious content. Class?

Carlos: Dear God, please help Ray and Samuel understand.

Tracy: OK, I think this class is missing the point. People can abuse religion just as they can abuse anything else. Sure, there are problems in religion. In fact, most of what you hear in the media about religion is the dark side. But that doesn’t even come to giving people a picture of what it really means to have faith in God.

Greg: Tracy is right. I know it’s not easy to understand, but faith in God is what’s really needed in our society.

Carlos: Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship-- a connection with our creator made possible by Jesus death on the cross.

Tracy: When you accept Christ you can finally have hope in a hopeless world. We can’t separate our faith from our other aspects of life because our faith is our life.

Ray: I sure could use some hope.

Samuel: So what would someone like me do if we wanted to know more about God?

Carlos: Talk to us after school.

Ray: Mind if I join in?

Greg: Please we would love to have you.

Mr. Jackson: Well, looks like our class time is up. We’ll have to get back on track with our subject tomorrow.