[Nfbmo] Question about the religious affiliation of the NFB

[Gary Wunder]

Hello Dan. You already have a number of thoughtful and informative posts on
the subject. I would only add that we are, like the founders of our country,
believers in freedom of religion. Blindness is the thing that unites us. All
of us are free, and I would even say obligated, to show thanks to the God we
believe in for the blessings we have. Having said this, I can tell you that
if someone outside the traditional faiths we have comes to offer a prayer or
asks for space for a service, we'll grant that request. We will be more than
an organization that talks about religious freedom; we will honor and value
it. Since I am a Christian, I can listen to any prayer offered to God and
add my own ending. In no way should a person's religion ever stand in the
way of him being able to fully participate in the National Federation of the
Blind. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of DanFlasar at aol.com
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 10:58 PM
To: nfbmo at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbmo] Question about the religious affiliation of the NFB

Hi - thanks for all those who have worked so hard to put  together another 
informative and successful state convention.   St.  Joe did a great job and 
though the food at the banquet wasn't quite up to par,  the program was!   
Lois really knows how to move things along and  the banquet speech was the
best I think I've ever had to good luck to hear at  any state convention
anywhere!
 
    I have a specifically legal question to ask  about the NFB.
    When telling some of my international friends today  about the
convention, what topics were presented and what the agenda  was about, one
of them asked me if the NFB was affiliated with any  religion.  This came
about in reference to my mentioning that there  was a prayer breakfast.
They asked me what religion the NFB was associated  with.
    I've noticed that there doesn't seem to be a  particularly wide range of
religious diversity w/in the NFB of Missouri - that  is - it seems to be
predominately Christian and that there are Christian  prayers offered at the

beginning of the daily session.   My question  is, I've never seen any 
reference of any affiliation in any chapter, state or  national charter
documents.  I ask this question because members of  other religions such as
Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism and  Buddhism prefer to be a part of 
organizations that are  non-denominational.   I have assured them that NFB
membership 
and  services are non-discriminative in every way but I couldn't answer that
there was not some general religious affiliation.  I was surprised to learn
the Habitat for Humanity, another organization I support, identifies itself
as  Christian.
   So can anyone answer this for me?
Thanks very much,
Dan
 
      
    
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