In response to Cal Thomas' recent column, "Dems jump on God-talk Express," he claims that likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain did not take part in the recent forum that included Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, because McCain "apparently saw it for what it was: an attempt by the Democrats to get back in the religion game."

I consider this an insulting and sacrilegious comment, as I do not consider my Christianity a "game." It is the most important part of my life, and has been for 76 of my 91 years.

The conservative right have claimed a monopoly on Christianity. The late Jerry Falwell said on international TV that all Democrats are godless liberals. Can anyone imagine Jesus being so judgmental about half of the American people? He said, "Come, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

Jesus loves each of us, and doesn't want anyone to perish.

Christ also said, "Be ye therefore merciful as your father also is merciful; judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive and ye shall be forgiven; give, and it shall be given unto you...."

Since being a liberal has been made to sound like a dreadful offense, just short of a serial killer, I think we should see what the dictionary says about the words "liberal" and "conservative." Conservative means "averse to change, unprogressive, moderate orthodox, traditional, fundamentalist." The pharisees in Jesus' day were the religious and political leaders, and Jesus called them hypocrites several times. Jesus lost his life because he was none of the above, and while changing the whole world for all time.

Liberal means "generous, open-minded, favoring social and political reform, broad-minded, fair, unprejudiced, tolerant, progressive." All of these adjectives describe Jesus, so I would be proud to be called a liberal. Jesus said the second-most important commandment is "Love thy neighbor as thyself." He also said "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

It would be so nice if we could love more and judge less.

EVELYN LUTON

Elizabeth City