Posted on 08/09/2005 6:45:50 PM PDT by Crackingham
It doesn't have to be monolithic. All it has to do is have the government controlled by Christians with no protections for others. Those in charge then do what they believe is right according to their religion, which can be disastrous for others not of the same exact belief. Again, look at the recently deposed Charles Taylor. Going further back, it gets worse, to the point where you were killing and deporting other Christians over differences in doctrine.
This is somehow seen as a "threat." An all-out assault is currently being waged to strip Christians of the ability to speak, and participate in government, through the use of activist judges and groups like the ACLU. The opinions of Christians are slowly being redefined as "hate speech."
It is of course wrong to attempt to silence Christians as much as it is those of other faiths. I support Fred Phelps' right to picket gay funerals, however detestable I find the tactic to be. However, I doubt a Fred Phelps in charge would even allow gays to protest his policies.
Like I said - the only abliity any Christian has to impose his will is through the appropriate channels of representative government, just like everyone else.
That's the problem. Our government isn't about imposing anybody's will on anyone else. The people are supposed to be free from the tyranny of the majority with minimal government intervention in their lives.
You want an example of people imposing their will on others through government? Just look at the anti-smoking nazis.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
More on this case - and a response to the claim that everything that claims to be a religion should be given a platform equally.
Giving protection to every religion is one thing; giving pseudo-religions the opportunity to publicly pray in front of people who DO NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FAKE RELIGIOUS PERSON is entirely different.
I suppose this "witch" claims membership in Wicca, which is a faux cult/sect invented by an Englishman in the 1940s out of a hodge podge of various dibs and dabs of this and that.
Freepmail me is you want on/off this pinglist.
Note: The County Board of Supervisors should certainly be able to pick and choose whose prayers, if any, they'd like to hear.
Er... Never mind.
Hail Odin!
lol
Wicca is a federally recognized religion, reorganized after times of persecution under Christianity (remember, you used to burn these people). They used to be called pagan, druid, etc.
Mormon is a religion invented in the 1800s out of a base of Christianity.
Islam is a religion invented in the 600s from Arabic culture and Judeo/Christian thought.
Christianity is a religion invented in the first couple centuries AD, based on Judaism.
Judaism is a religion invented a couple thousand BC, evolving from earlier polytheistic beliefs.
What specifies a valid religion? Age? If so, then the Hindus have everyone beat.
> a crackpot crystal-worshipping faddist
A QVC fundamentalist?
> For the same reason our coinage bears the motto "In God We Trust"
What... a desire to "stick it" to Commies?
> For the same reason our framing document is written "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence."
Framing document? I don't seem to remember that Deist teminology in the Constitution...
> We ask God -- the real God
Odin.
> to guide His fallible creations in the work they're about to undertake.
Be better if the people asked to do a job followed the *Consitituion,* not some god or other. Hold to the Constitution and you can't go wrong. Hold to what you think some god or other is telling you, and all manner of irrational wackiness will result.
> We're a Christain nation.
Huh. One wonders, then, why the legal system in this country is based on that of the pagan Saxons and not on the Ten Commandments, then.
> Giving protection to every religion is one thing; giving pseudo-religions the opportunity to publicly pray in front of people who DO NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FAKE RELIGIOUS PERSON is entirely different.
OK, You have a Baptist and a Catholic. Each claim the other is a "fake" religion. Does the one have the right to silence the other?
But I found this bit startling:
"giving pseudo-religions the opportunity to publicly pray"
Who knew you were part fo the ACLU?
Yup. The satanists are up next.
I thank you for the debate, and your calm, reasoned responses. My limited time requires me to withdraw.
My last word: While I agree we should have as much freedom as possible, all laws (or standards - i.e. marriage) represent an imposition on someone; I was using your language.
Using an extreme example is one way to demonize an opponent, but it does not represent the truth. You will find very few Christians willing to support the likes of Fred Phelps. I think you know that. In fact, I would go so far as to question the designation "Christian" as it applies to Phelps period.
I am not familiar with Charles Taylor, but I will look it up.
You're projecting your ideology on the Founding Fathers. They never expressed this typically modern idea.
Its truth. "Validity" is proportionate to truth.
Build a bridge out of her!
Nahhh,
Even easier,
Make her cry...if she can't shed tears, she's a witch.
LOL cute graphic.
Really! Who would she be praying to anyways? Satan? Mother Nature?
I'm sure no one is otherwise listening or interested in her braying praying.
Wicca is not traditional. It is invented out of whole cloth, as I mentioned. It certainly deserves protection as far as being able to practice it, as long as no laws are broken. But it is not in the category of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and other monotheist religions.
Have you read up on Gardiner, the inventor of Wicca?
You say that "I" used to burn people...???
BTW, I am a longtime student of the Vedas.
Your hatred of God blinds you so much that it is pretty useless trying to communicate with you.
Baptists and Catholics don't consider each others' religions "fake", btw.
Comparing me to the ACLU is pretty funny.
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