This morning I tuned into a radio program that purported to be all about the "community of Faith." It really annoyed me; enough to want to write about why I was so annoyed.

We started hearing the phrase "community of Faith" in the 2000 campaign of George Bush, as he and his handlers cynically worked to solidify their fundamentalist base of support. Since then, it has become a generic tag for anyone with a supernatural component to their religious beliefs; a catch-all for everyone from the most radical of fundamentalists to the loosest of spiritualists. Its utility lies in certain politicians being able to claim that the "community of Faith" believes thus and such about this or that issue and therefore supports whatever political position they want. In other words, it is a tool of propaganda.

The problem is that there is no such thing as a "community of Faith." The briefest survey of the history of religions confirms this. Beyond the fact that the beliefs of Catholics, Christians, Mormans, Moslems, Jews, Hindus, Budhists, etc. vary widely, there is the simple fact that they have been torturing and killing each other for millenia. Does anyone really think this can be called a community?

But I have a deeper problem with "community of Faith." It should be obvious that there can be no such thing as a community without everyone having a tremendous amount of faith; faith that we have in each other as human beings; faith that we all live according to the law; faith that we will respect and honor each other. As a simple example, it would not be possible to drive a car in traffic without faith in the abilities and honor of other drivers.

I am a "person of faith," though I subscribe to no specific Faith. A lifetime of reading and studying and thinking has led me away from all Faiths. There are many others, like me, who do not subscribe to supernatural beliefs, but we are still "people of faith." Speaking for myself, I resent the implication that having no Faith, I have no faith, and therefore should be viewed as a political enemy.

Instead, let us discuss specific issues. On some issues I agree with some people of Faith, and should be viewed as an ally. And on other issues, I disagree with people who, like myself, have no Faith, and should be viewed as an opponent.

It is time to put away politically divisive labels.