Michael Lux, senior vice president of People for the American Way, said he “wishes Washington would think more about civil discourse” as he welcomed a crowd of about 100 people last night in the Memorial Union.

Lux’s speech was part of an ongoing lecture series titled “Civil Discourse in a Democracy,” sponsored by the Institute on National Affairs.

Lux mentioned the topic of censorship during his speech on religion and politics. He said he “applauds the students who are fighting the censorship” at Iowa State.

“Keep fighting no matter what the costs,” Lux said. “I admire them.”

Lux’s speech focused largely on his disagreement with the Christian Coalition and its founder and chairman, Pat Robertson.

“My main problem with the Christian Coalition is its wanting to impose their beliefs on others,” Lux said. “Robertson believes that he speaks for God.”

Lux said Robertson wants to abolish public schools, and privatize social security, and said he is against majority rule in South Africa. Lux also said Robertson does not believe in the separation of church and state.

“I don’t think that most Americans believe that he speaks for God [with these statements],” Lux said.

Lux continued his lecture by quoting Robertson’s beliefs about the Christian Coalition. Lux said Robertson has said that Hinduism is a form of devil worship and feminists are socialists who want to get divorces, kill their children and become lesbians. He also said Robertson has called fellow Christians the “anti-Christ.”

After quoting some of Robertson’s beliefs, Lux outlined five beliefs of the People of the American Way, a nonpartisan constitutional liberties organization.

“Religious doctrine alone is not sufficient to base government policy,” Lux said of the first belief. “Just because you believe something doesn’t make it right.”

The second belief of the group is that religious tests should not be required to run for political office. “You should be welcomed as an American,” Lux said.

The last three beliefs he stated were that public institutions should not show approval or disapproval of religious beliefs, political discourse should respect religious differences and political discussion of morality should be for the private good, not for public life.

Lux said, “No one should claim to speak for God. What we believe should motivate us and get us involved in the happenings of today,” not impose our beliefs on others.