Rabbi Lapin regrets his choice of words (stated on Glenn Beck's program). The Rabbi now says: ... "Though I am not excusing my mistake, what was I thinking? I was remembering the following words from the sermon given by Reverend George Docherty in February, 1954.
"...This age has thrown up a new kind of man - we call him a `secular'. He does not believe in God, not because he is a wicked man but because he is dialectically honest These men, and many I have known, are fine in character and in their obligations as citizens and good neighbors, quite excellent. But they really are `spiritual parasites' and I mean no term of abuse in this. I'm simply classifying them These excellent ethical seculars are living upon the accumulated spiritual capital of Judeo-Christian civilization and at the same time, deny the God who revealed the divine principles upon which the ethics of this country grow " These words, which persuaded President Eisenhower to add the words "Under God" to America's Pledge of Allegiance, echoed in my mind, but trying to convey them in a 10 second television sound bite was not a good idea. All I did was hurt people and jeopardize relationships. Success in both life and business comes from relationships and being careful about words is a vital part of nurturing relationships. My friend Noah Alper learned this and other lessons as his road to business success went hand in hand with his search for God. "
