"What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion?" he begins. "I mean, if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars? Why does it build huge churches, but fail to feed the poor?" He correctly points out that religion has given spiritual endorsement to many military campaigns over the centuries, and that there have been times when scarce resources have been invested in church buildings instead of food programs. Bethke charges the church with hypocrisy when he says, "Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice."

It is meaningful to me that the season of Lent always overlaps the basketball season. Basketball is a big part of my family's life. My husband has passed his obsession for the game onto my sons. They have played in our local league for the past few years. This year, my older son was fortunate enough to have played on the team that currently stands in first place in his age division, with my husband as his coach. They head into the championship playoffs this week with an impressive 14/2 win/loss record. I am very happy for my son and his teammates and coaches. They have worked hard and played hard. I am very proud of my son. However, a few weeks ago, as Lent began and as this season of winning began to wind down, I began to reflect on another basketball season a few years ago when I was just as proud of him, but for different reasons.

The question for all of us is how do we respond to those with whom we disagree, whether they happen to come from the right or the left of the ideological spectrum? Calling for sincere apologies in the face of crude and denigrating comments is more than appropriate. Actively working to encourage advertisers to remove their support from a television or a radio show is another fitting avenue of response. Speaking up for what we believe is also important. But what else can we, or should we, do?