The media had a heyday with Army Lt. Gen William Boykin, who serves as Deputy Undersecretary of defense for intelligence and war fighting support. He dared to characterize the US's war against terror as a clash with "Satan," and Islamic radicals' hatred of America "because we're a Christian Nation."

It didn't matter that the general made his comments at private church gatherings and prayer breakfasts. His biggest offense is that he's an evangelical Christian - like Judge Roy Moore of recent Ten Commandments fame. And judging from the ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, it's safe to assume that the First Amendment in twenty-first century judicially active America applies only to pornographers and terrorists detained in Guantanamo Bay.

The Pentagon launched an investigation while Gen Boykin's critics piled on: among them, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and the Commander-in-Chief himself, who distanced himself by saying, "He didn't reflect my opinion."

But what exactly was factually inaccurate about the general's comments?

It's obvious to all but the history revisionists - that's a polite term for atheists - that the United States was founded on evangelical Christianity.

Dissenters argue that there is no mention of "God" in the Constitution. But the Constitution is a procedural document, not one that was written to outline the philosophy of the Founding Fathers. Many churches have simple constitutions describing the workings of trustee boards and the nomination of elders or deacons. For matters pertaining to doctrine, members are often referred to a church's statement of faith or the Bible.

In much the same way, we must refer to America's "statement of faith," the Declaration of Independence, if we are to gain an understanding of the philosophy that led to America's founding. That core philosophy was clearly elucidated by its author, Thomas Jefferson, as being established by the "Creator," and his granting to all men "certain unalienable rights" based on the "Laws of Nature, and of Nature's God."

While we may not have a Christian form of government, the ideas of pluralism, post modernism and moral relativism have been taken to extremes, acting as public veneers over a largely under-reported Christian sub-culture.

According to a new study from the Barna Research Group of Ventura, California, there are nearly 50 million born again adults who shared their faith in Jesus Christ with non-believers during the past year. "The evangelistic efforts of this group span the gamut from street preaching and door-to-door witnessing to evangelistic conversations and counseling with personal friends."

That sounds like a lot of evangelical Christians in America to me. And one thing they believe strongly is the Bible's admonition to love and support the Jews and, specifically, to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem." No doubt, this is the predominant reason Islamic extremists hate us.

But is our battle against them a battle against "Satan"?

I think we need to refresh our memories as to what President Bush himself said on January 29, 2002, during his State of the Union. Referring to North Korea, Iran and Iraq, he said, "States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world."

If these states are evil, it is no stretch to draw the conclusion that we are ultimately battling Satan, the author of all evil.

The apostle Paul explained that the real battle of good vs. evil is a cosmic one, taking place behind the all too familiar scenes of war and terrorism that play out on our television sets every night during the evening news.

He wrote that this struggle isn't against flesh and blood, but "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

General Boykin's comments may have been embarrassing to his superiors when they were fanned into a major conflagration by a media bent on destroying anyone who takes his Christian faith seriously.

"Real Answers™" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. To contact the author or The Amy Foundation, write or E-mail to: P. O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901-6091; [email protected]. Visit our website at www.amyfound.org.