A recently published opinion by the Rev. John Boonstra incorporating God and the Wild Sky wilderness issue made me uncomfortable and angry (“It’s time Wild Sky received a congressional blessing,” Nov. 14). Faith, for me, is a private and personal relationship with God. Introducing religion into the debate will only serve to distract from the fundamentals of this issue.
Arguing that you are more pious or closer to God if you do not recreate in a certain way as prescribed by the Washington Association of Churches is a perilous position to take. The complexities of this issue require an open and free discussion without the emotional distraction of religious leaders threatening your personal faith.
It is unfortunate that our religious community leaders are using the scripture and invoking the name of our Lord to create coercive arguments for steering the faithful to their political ends. Interpreting religion to gain a political advantage is not a productive process in our democratic system. The debate over wilderness is a very emotional topic. Adding religion to the mix will only intensify the emotions of the debate and sidetrack the open dialogue necessary to reach a reasonable conclusion. The Wild Sky debate needs to be open and free from religious steering.
The means by which you choose, as Rev. Boonstra put it, to seek solitude and refresh your soul should not become a litmus test for Christianity. Whether you choose to enjoy our beautiful country by foot or motorized vehicle, you should not feel as if your belief in God is being challenged. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Mindy Walker
Mountlake Terrace
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