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Keeping the flag and religion separate
Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | 7/25/05 | Joel Connelly

Posted on 07/25/2005 6:31:11 AM PDT by BRUMama

In a season that lots of Americans associate with "God and country," the head of the Church Council of Greater Seattle recently marked Independence Day by insisting that symbols of the two remain separate -- for the good of both.

"After all these years of secrecy, I'm now ready to make a confession: I am a serial flag remover," the Rev. Sandy Brown,executive director, wrote in July's edition of The Source, the council's newspaper.

"I've removed the American flag not just from one church I served as pastor, but from all three," wrote Brown.

Such a confession is risky in today's America, even done from this corner of the Left Coast.

Brown could find himself in a shout-a-thon on the Fox News Channel, which regularly wraps Bush administration policies in the aforementioned flag.

His remarks could make it onto the FreeRepublic.com Web site, home of hate e-mails ranting against a "Godless" nation.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Philosophy; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: freeperbashing; leftwingchurch; liberaltheology; oldglory; politics; religion
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The author of this article thinks that Rev. Sandy Brown would be in lots of trouble with Fox News and Free Republic, "home of hate e-mails ranting against a "Godless" nation."

Freepers, what do YOU think?

1 posted on 07/25/2005 6:31:11 AM PDT by BRUMama
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To: BRUMama
Free Republic, home of hate e-mails ranting against a "Godless" nation

Can someone post the URL to this version of FR - I can't seem to find it. What is this, censorship?

2 posted on 07/25/2005 6:36:10 AM PDT by agere_contra
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To: BRUMama

His remarks could make it onto the FreeRepublic.com Web site, home of hate e-mails ranting against a "Godless" nation.
-----
Well, good news. Even this leftist rag is feeling the FR heat -- nice try!!!


3 posted on 07/25/2005 6:38:28 AM PDT by EagleUSA (S)
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To: BRUMama

"emails"?


4 posted on 07/25/2005 6:41:50 AM PDT by Let's Roll ( "Congressmen who ... undermine the military ... should be arrested, exiled or hanged" - A. Lincoln)
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To: BRUMama
Idiots just can't help themselves now can they? Why mention FR at all? We are the most diverse group in the world.

The reason I say that is because I was stupid enough to post something that was just an observation of what we have come to as a nation and I got FLAMED by the holier than thou (not) at this place because church, schools, and morality should have NO connection. Go figure.

5 posted on 07/25/2005 6:44:34 AM PDT by Sunshine Sister
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To: BRUMama

I just LOVE when Freepers get attention!


6 posted on 07/25/2005 6:44:36 AM PDT by mlc9852
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To: BRUMama
Mainline churches oppose Israel. That's all I need to know.
As for the good reverend, why not just ignore him ?
7 posted on 07/25/2005 6:46:45 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Scratch a Liberal. Uncover a Fascist)
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To: BRUMama
Freepers, what do YOU think?

I'm of the EIB school. We always need to have a couple of these NUTZ on full display so we don't forget just how depraved they can get.

BTW there's NO shortage of examples these days.

8 posted on 07/25/2005 6:50:57 AM PDT by Mister Baredog ((Minuteman at heart, couch potato in reality))
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To: BRUMama
I don't know about Rev. Brown's motives, but I think removing all symbols of the state from churches is a good thing. After all, I don't go to church to worship America, its government or its flag. I'm a Christian first and foremost.


9 posted on 07/25/2005 6:51:15 AM PDT by sheltonmac ("Duty is ours; consequences are God's." -Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson)
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To: BRUMama
One of the reasons that this good, God fearing pastor was able to remove the flags from his church was that many good men (soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen) had died face down in the cold mud or drowned in an unforgiving ocean so that he could do so.

Many persons, these days, forget that the freedoms that they enjoy (and abuse) were bought in blood in some foreign land by a person who will have no more children or spend their last days with their grandchildren.

They continue to enjoy this freedom because, even now as you read this, good men and women are guarding their tokus 24/7 in many different locations through out the world.

10 posted on 07/25/2005 6:51:47 AM PDT by Citizen Tom Paine (An old sailor sends)
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To: BRUMama

Joel Connelly is a socialist creep who wrote a column last week or so about how Joe Wilson had been vindicated.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1445266/posts

I wrote him a email and perhaps some others as well, typical of all "tolerant" leftists if you think his ideas are silly and he confuses his propaganda with actual information. You are guilty of a hate crime, when actually he and his ilk are to pityful to hate.

The fact is he is so devoid of talent he's never recieved any opinions on his columns before, So he has gone on a fishing expedition to show his commie newspaper how "controversal" he is..........LOL!

The guy is a freaking idiot in other words and to make things worse he's a irrelevant idiot, I doubt more than 2 people actually read his column before someone posted one of his on Free Republic.


11 posted on 07/25/2005 6:52:05 AM PDT by federal
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To: Let's Roll

You noticed that too!

Obviously intimately aquainted with Free Republic! /s


12 posted on 07/25/2005 6:52:37 AM PDT by BRUMama
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To: BRUMama
"After all these years of secrecy, I'm now ready to make a confession: I am a serial flag remover," the Rev. Sandy Brown,executive director, wrote in July's edition of The Source, the council's newspaper.

"I've removed the American flag not just from one church I served as pastor, but from all three," wrote Brown.

I may not agree with this pastor on one other thing of his theology but as a Christian I would like to thank him from the bottom of my heart. It has always bothered me that a US flag sits in a place at the front of the church. The only flag, if any, that should be at the front of the church or flying in front of the church is the Christian flag

13 posted on 07/25/2005 6:52:56 AM PDT by billbears (Deo Vindice)
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To: billbears

I have no problem with the flag being displayed in the narthex/lobby. Many Catholic churches have this.


14 posted on 07/25/2005 7:01:58 AM PDT by B Knotts
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To: sheltonmac
After all, I don't go to church to worship America, its government or its flag. I'm a Christian first and foremost.

A year ago I went to the 4th of July weekend service at the local evangelical megachurch. I was a bit troubled by what I saw: They had color guards for each of the five branches of the armed services come into the sanctuary, to the tune of the large choir and orchestra performing the respective songs of each branch (e.g., Anchors Aweigh for the Navy). Patriotism is one thing, the 4th of July weekend is an appropriate time for reflection and celebration of our nation and our liberty; but I thought they overdid it, even considering we are at war. I thought it bordered on idolatry. (The sermon, however, was interesting and appropriate: it was a warning that our liberty is based on personal responsibility and morality, and these are in peril in this country.)

15 posted on 07/25/2005 7:03:06 AM PDT by megatherium
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To: sheltonmac

It's not a question of worshipping the government; it's simply that there is no contradiction between faith and patriotism, at least in America.


16 posted on 07/25/2005 7:04:28 AM PDT by B Knotts
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To: BRUMama

Libs just love it when they find a 'religious person' who shares their talking points: in this case tearing down American flags.


17 posted on 07/25/2005 7:05:01 AM PDT by sportutegrl (People who say, "All I know is . . ." really mean, "All I want you to focus on is . . .")
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To: sheltonmac

I would repeat, though, that as I said above, I wouldn't want the flag in the nave; it should be outside, in the narthex or lobby.


18 posted on 07/25/2005 7:07:03 AM PDT by B Knotts
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To: B Knotts

There may be no contradiction between faith and patriotism, but the two are mutually exclusive. Ever since the 2000 elections, most evangelical conservatives have been trying to create an unbreakable link between faith and patriotism. It's as if criticism of U.S. policy is tantamount to heresy.


19 posted on 07/25/2005 7:15:20 AM PDT by sheltonmac ("Duty is ours; consequences are God's." -Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson)
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To: sheltonmac
At the Immaculate Conception Church in Malden. MA, the American and MA state flags are standing proudly in the corner by the Tabernacle.
20 posted on 07/25/2005 7:21:48 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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