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American Government and Christianity - America's Christian Roots
Probe Ministries ^ | 2004 | Kerby Anderson

Posted on 08/29/2004 10:42:44 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

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To: Melas; Modernman; risk; Robert_Paulson2; tpaine; malakhi; Phantom Lord; antiRepublicrat; NCPAC; ...
Oh, goody, another "Christian Nation" thread.

They never tire from attempting to WISH it into being.

Some people, it would seem, just cannot get over the fact that they cannot, in our system, force others to recognize the "superiority" of their beliefs.

And make no mistake, that's what the point of all this fantasizing is.

21 posted on 08/29/2004 5:48:31 PM PDT by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: AmericanFaith
Why do you need the "blessing" of the government for YOUR religion, and its power to force others to recognize its "superiority", if it's The Truth? Surely government force is unnecessary. Why does other people believing different things, or not believing anything at all, bother you so much that you want the government to do something about it?
22 posted on 08/29/2004 5:53:27 PM PDT by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: Long Cut

By your logic, we should tolerate any deviant behavior such as sodomy or atheism as long as they don't interfere with our own day-to-day lives. Yes it does bother me if a muslim moves in next door to me, and yes it does bother me if the media condones homosexuality to such an extend that I can't protect my children from it without unplugging the TV altogether. I don't support Christianity because it is MY religion, but because it is the one true way to mankind's salvation. Everyone insists on their right to define their own morals and "life my life as I choose so long as I don't interfere with my neighbor's right to do the same." What about our right to live in a country free from pagans and terrorists? But you do have a point that it is infeasible to force any religious doctrine upon the country, at least in a literal sense. Outlawing the practice of islam would probably cause riots (not to mention make people vote democrat in droves), although I personally wouldn't have a problem with it. We need to start with smaller victories and slowly change this country's culture back to the Christian values we once had.


23 posted on 08/29/2004 6:32:25 PM PDT by AmericanFaith
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To: AmericanFaith
Also, don't forget that refusing to recognize the superiority of any doctrine is what secularism is all about. We don't need another pledge of allegiance fiasco or Roy Moore controversy.
24 posted on 08/29/2004 6:36:09 PM PDT by AmericanFaith
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To: AmericanFaith

"If our government accepts cultural deviance, it is signaling a green light for out children to stray off the path."

It is up to the parents of a given child to decide what is or isn't "deviant," and then it is up to the parents of the child to get him/her on "the path" if the child strays from it. It is the parents' role - not the governments', thank God!

A free society engineers itself. A free society honors all religious beliefs, while allowing its equally protected citizens to have no particular beliefs whatsoever, if they so desire.


25 posted on 08/29/2004 6:38:23 PM PDT by NCPAC ((Live without Fear: Don't worry about what may happen. Concentrate on what must be done.))
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To: AmericanFaith
"By your logic, we should tolerate any deviant behavior such as sodomy or atheism as long as they don't interfere with our own day-to-day lives."

How is "sodomy" deviant? It is practiced daily by married, heterosexual couples, if you actually know the definition.

Likewise, "atheism" is not only not "deviant", but is something that you would never even know about another person, unless they told you. Even then, it would not affect your life in any way concievable.

"yes it does bother me if the media condones homosexuality to such an extend that I can't protect my children from it without unplugging the TV altogether."

No law says you even have to have a TV.

" I don't support Christianity because it is MY religion, but because it is the one true way to mankind's salvation."

As far as you know.

"Everyone insists on their right to define their own morals and "life my life as I choose so long as I don't interfere with my neighbor's right to do the same.""

Yep. Gotta problem? If your neighbor's not violating your right to life, liberty, or property through force or fraud, he is by definition not bothering you, and any discomfort you have with him is YOUR problem, not his.

"What about our right to live in a country free from pagans and terrorists?"

The terrs are being handled. The pagans have as much right to their religion as you.

"We need to start with smaller victories and slowly change this country's culture back to the Christian values we once had."

After reading your posts, I can only wonder what this means.

26 posted on 08/29/2004 6:49:44 PM PDT by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: DannyTN
"Christians are the majority but our rights are being restricted."

Exactly what rights of yours, previously enjoyed, are being so restricted? Be specific, and keep in mind that rights only confer to individuals, not entire religious groups.

27 posted on 08/29/2004 6:52:03 PM PDT by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: qam1
" A republic/democracy type of government"

"Consent of the governed"

" Trial by jury"

" Due process of law"

Seems to me we got these things, at least, from the Greeks and Romans...all pagans.

28 posted on 08/29/2004 6:55:36 PM PDT by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: NCPAC

I agree that the government should be our last line of defense, but it reality it is our only line of defense. Too many parents are letting the liberal media raise their children for them. Someone needs to step in and do something. A country that accepts the homosexual lifestyle,for example, is not "free". Quite the opposite, it makes us all slaves by forcing us to accept a deviant lifestyle which is not compatible with Christianity. Call me an extremist, but I am not an anarchist and I truly feel there are some rights we simply should not have. The secularists want a "free society" where homosexuals and muslims can act as they please, yet Americans with honest Christian values are forced to live among these heathens. If Kerry wins (God-willing he won't), Christianity will change from a core value to something you practice in the privacy of your own home / church.


29 posted on 08/29/2004 6:56:30 PM PDT by AmericanFaith
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To: Long Cut

If sodomy is so innocent, then how do you rationalize the protection of marriage? And I think you know I'm talking about the homosexual kind.


30 posted on 08/29/2004 7:00:08 PM PDT by AmericanFaith
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To: AmericanFaith

Tolerates atheists? What are you proposing, that the government kill of all the atheists? You're backing yourself into a corner here, and you'd better explain yourself.


31 posted on 08/29/2004 7:08:43 PM PDT by Melas
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To: AmericanFaith
"Too many parents are letting the liberal media raise their children for them. Someone needs to step in and do something."

Ah, "It Takes A Village", huh?

"A country that accepts the homosexual lifestyle,for example, is not "free". Quite the opposite, it makes us all slaves by forcing us to accept a deviant lifestyle which is not compatible with Christianity."

So, we're only "free" if we're all devout Christians, huh? Or at least, "compatible" with Christianity, right? Sorry, I and a lot of others don't want to be your Dhimmis.

" Call me an extremist..."

You don't have to tell me twice.

" but I am not an anarchist and I truly feel there are some rights we simply should not have. "

Which ones do you want to take away? How many of your friends will come with you to take mine? I need to know so I can stock up on ammo.

". The secularists want a "free society" where homosexuals and muslims can act as they please, yet Americans with honest Christian values are forced to live among these heathens."

Nobody's FORCING you to live anywhere you don't want to. You can move out into the Mojave Desert if you want, or save your pennies and buy a large spread of land or an island somewhere. You could even leave the country if you so choose.

"Christianity will change from a core value to something you practice in the privacy of your own home / church."

Since it's not practiced by all Americans, or even an overwhelming majority, that's pretty much what it is now.

You can pray to Christ anytime you want, so long as you do not disrupt others.

32 posted on 08/29/2004 7:12:45 PM PDT by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: AmericanFaith

I do not believe in homosexual marriage. Marriage is a man and a woman. What's your point? Two gay guys living next door doesn't bother me. Nor does it violate a single one of my rights.


33 posted on 08/29/2004 7:15:30 PM PDT by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Those that say Christianity played no role in our Founding are simply wrong.

I've read a great deal of stuff from that time, and Christianity played a big role. Many sermons from that time were centered around the British tyranny, and how to deal with it. These sermons also involved lengthy discourses on the Rights on man, including the Right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Many talk about the duty of Free men to keep and bear arms in defense of Liberty.

And one of the most influential people in Lexington was pastor Jonas Clarke. His sermons made the case for Freedom and Liberty, and helped to form the ideological stand of the Patriots in Lexington.

Having said also, the stuff I've read from that time period demonstrates that 'religion' was different back then. It was more 'free will' based, and less controlling.

I don't think our Founders would recognize the 'church' of today, that teaches homosexuality is okay, guns are bad, and that we should submit to the gov't in all cases.

34 posted on 08/29/2004 7:18:37 PM PDT by Mulder (All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.-- Samuel Adams)
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To: PhilipFreneau
Not directly. Mentioning Christianity would have been redundant. The Founding Fathers were not redundant writers.

That's a very long piece of nothing. If it were as important as you say it is, then it would have been there. Instead they were very concerned about religious civil war, and knew better than to include anything about a particular religion.

That doesn't serve your purposes very well, now does it?

35 posted on 08/29/2004 7:19:40 PM PDT by risk
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To: DannyTN
The problem is that our government has changed so that it no longer represents Christians equally.

Most such "issues" are crass exaggerations by manipulative TV evangelists like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who toy with peoples' fears and worries to the point of propaganda.

Despite all the convenience of illegitimate "Federalist" arguments, even state constitutions in the most conservatives states indicate that your power to redress this problem is logically restricted.

One tool you may not use in order to solve this problem is to choose religious dogma or sectarian language in your laws. You must find other mechanisms. To do anything else would put us back into a situation where Some Americans were under represented or outright discriminated against.

If you use your minds you can meet the challenges our Founding Fathers presented us and rise to the occasion. Laws can be fashioned to serve within the ascribed limits.

36 posted on 08/29/2004 7:25:42 PM PDT by risk
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To: DannyTN

No doubt you're correct in your assertions but the key element to this paradigm shift is the question of why. How can people who take an oath of office to protect and defend this country allow this cultural coup d'etat to happen?....and even worse, we're letting them get away with it. Add to that immigration policy that borders on national suicide and it's even more perplexing. This country cannot last another 10-20 yr.'s under this type of social engineering idiocy......looks like our future could be a re-play of Bosnia.


37 posted on 08/29/2004 7:29:47 PM PDT by american spirit
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To: AmericanFaith
If "too many parents are letting the liberal media raise their children for them" - as terrible as that may be- that is the decision made by those parents. Reprehensible? Absolutely - but it is still their call.

"Quite the opposite, it makes us all slaves by forcing us to accept a deviant lifestyle which is not compatible with Christiantiy."

Why does everything (and I am not speaking particularly about homosexuality here) in America have to be compatible with Christianity? I am not a Christian. Am I less of an American than you?
38 posted on 08/29/2004 7:32:43 PM PDT by NCPAC ((Live without Fear: Don't worry about what may happen. Concentrate on what must be done.))
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To: Long Cut
Bravo, LC. Demagogues will always try to refashion the Constitution for their aims. The same-sex marriage advocates find collective "ghost" rights for arbitrary couples in the Constitution. I don't know where, though. The 5th circuit court finds collective rights for the National Guard in the 2nd amendment. And the theocrats find Christianity written all over nowhere.
39 posted on 08/29/2004 7:38:31 PM PDT by risk
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To: NCPAC
Am I less of an American than you?

Most of these well-meaning people wouldn't intend for that to happen. But it would. And some would be happy for it. This document is brilliant in its protections for Christians and you. Nowhere on the planet has religious teaching flourished the way it has here.

By keeping the government out of religion, the founding fathers actually encouraged it. We have some issues with socialism supporting certain anti-Christian media, but that can be solved without a single dogma entering our laws.

We can abolish the NEA, PBS, NPR, and other government agencies that encourage anti-Christian media. Let taxpayers figure out on their own which of those causes they want to support.

40 posted on 08/29/2004 7:44:21 PM PDT by risk
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