WHEN THE 110th CONGRESS convenes today, Buddhists will outnumber Muslims by a stagger margin of 2-1. As in there will be, count ‘em, two Buddhists (Representatives Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Hank Johnson of Georgia!?) and one lonely Muslim, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota. Apart from the whole Church-and-State thing, this seems like progress. Anything to dilute the Christian concentration in Congress, though we still far from God-proof.

Though Ellison’s decision to get “sworn in” (as a photo op) with his hand on the Koran caused an Islamophobic flap, Hirono and Johnson managed to keep the focus off their religion, saying it’s a private matter. We do know is that Johnson became a Buddhist (of the Soka Gakkai International sect) 30 years ago and that Hirono, who was born in Japan, was raised in the mainstream Jodo Shu tradition. And maybe that’s all we need to know. As Hirono said herself, “I think that political leaders should not [make religion] a central part of why they do anything.” Except of course when it comes to designating public holidays. A day off on the Feast of Eid, anyone? Roshashana? Buddha’s birthday? Hell yeah! (Assuming there is a Heaven and Hell.) •