It's surprising that people continue to confine the wonders of God into such a narrow definition. Certainly this group probably didn't intend to come off as vicious, but it is attitudes like these that cause social strife, wars and elitism. It is this same arrogance that drives certain Christian political groups that use propaganda to push social policies onto the public that are based on a small group's beliefs. Understandably, people feel great joy and peace when they find a spiritual system of beliefs that works for them, and they want to share it with the world. But when this sharing crosses over into invading the integrity of one' s ability to make up his or her own mind with an attitude of superiority, it turns into elitism.
Elitism results in a seperatism and ultimately results in a classification and alienation.
A prime example of our religious arrogance as a nation was at George W. Bush's inauguration. President Bush has every right to have spiritual representation in his ceremony, and it is good that we invoke God into such events, but these small, subtle hints of exclusiveness have more of an effect on the public's attitudes than many evangelists and politicians are willing to see. If President Bush wants to unite the nation, he needs to start with the way his administration is portrayed. This country may have been founded by devoutly Christian men who based many of their principles on the Bible, but they would have understood that true democracy is not achieved without the freedom to hold independent beliefs, with or without religion. If we do not honor our differing belief systems as not only part of what makes people unique but as an essential tool for democracy, we will continue to spiral into our abyss of war and disharmony.