[2banana]

"They believe that they answer to a higher power, in my opinion, which is the kind of thinking that you had with the people who flew the airplanes into the buildings in this country, and the people who did the kind of things in London."

The old Christians = islamic terrorists because they all believe in some kind of religion argument.

For a comparison:

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It is a nice sounding theory that when you separate the Christian Church from the state, you get stability, but it does not pass the common sense test.

For instance, I know it is the first words out of any atheist mouth when you try to talk with them about Jesus, “Explain the Inquisition," and “Look how evil the church was!" and "Look what they did in the name of Jesus!"

It is true that about 500 years ago, Christian fanatics killed about 10,000 people over a 100 year time period (about 100/year) in the name of the Roman Catholic church. It is a shame on the record of an organization that claims to be promoting the ministry of Christ.

Now compare this record to the example of the countries that have officially done away with religion. To the countries that have outright banned religion and imprisoned those who try to practice it (the ultimate test of the theory of separation of church and state).

Yes, I am talking about Communist countries. In the Communist Manifesto, Engel and Marx declared, "Communism abolishes all religion." In my father's lifetime, the numbers of people that officially atheist countries have murdered in the name of no-religion is staggering; the USSR slaughtered 20 million, China slaughtered 10 million, Communist Cambodia slaughtered 2 million, Communist North Korea has/continues to murder untold numbers, Communist Cuba has/continues to murder untold numbers, the list goes on.

The grand total is at least over 50 million dead in the last 80-year time span (over 600,000/year). Even comparing the worst time of "Christian Persecution" to an average time of a just one country that has officially and forcefully separated church and state, the conclusion is obvious: Christianity has a huge calming influence on government.

By 2banana

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[mdmathis6]

"They believe that they answer to a higher power, in my opinion, which is the kind of thinking that you had with the people who flew the airplanes into the buildings in this country, and the people who did the kind of things in London"


Our founders cited belief in a higher power as reason for founding our country...it was seen as religious duty to defy tyrranny that would keep the people from folling their God!

[BamaGirl]

Great analysis. I'll remember to use this in my arguments! Thanks for that! :D

[Hawk1976]

It goes further than that. Ferdinand and Isabella actively petitioned the Pope to have control over the inquisition in their country, Spain. The Pope finally allowed warning that the use of torture and the level of punishment was no greater than in the current church doctrine.

Of course the inquisitor's now controlled by and answering to the Spanish royalty wasted no time in ignoring the Pope's warning. You could say that while religion played a part, the church did not. It was religion in the hands of the rulers that allowed a lot of it. Though don't mention the same things happening to Protestants and Catholics in other areas, say Britain for instance. The concentrated power of religion in the hands of the top level of national government was what the founding fathers were against in the first amendment.

[RoadTest]

"The old Christians = islamic terrorists because they all believe in some kind of religion argument.


For a comparison:


It is a nice sounding theory that when you separate the Christian Church from the state, you get stability, but it does not pass the common sense test.

For instance, I know it is the first words out of any atheist mouth when you try to talk with them about Jesus, “Explain the Inquisition," and “Look how evil the church was!" and "Look what they did in the name of Jesus!""

But you can't equate Christian with Catholic. I'm sorry, but it was the Vatican that waged bloody war against the Christians for a thousand years after the Roman Emperors did the same.