Warning: Civil religious symbols robbed of evangelical force

Regarding the Supreme Court decision about the Sunrise Rock Cross in the Mojave Preserve memorial to those killed in World War I, University of Missouri professor of law and religious liberty expert Carl H. Esbeck cautioned:

I’m not a big fan of religious symbols on government property. I believe there is a detriment because it dilutes the real purpose of the symbol. They’ve taken a symbol of the church and turned it into civil religion. This can be bad for evangelicals because when people look at a nativity scene or a Roman cross, we want people to think of the God of the Bible. If these too become simply civil religion to Americans, it makes the task of evangelism harder for Christians.

Aloha civil unions

Hawaii House of Representatives has approved civil unions and the measure goes to Republican Gov. Linda Lingle for her signature. The Honolulu Advertiser reports:

She has not said whether she would sign or veto the bill. Lingle has 45 days to decide. If she vetoes the bill, the House and Senate can come back in a one-day override session in July.

[H/T: Keori]