Palin: America is a Christian nation

[Dan J 277]

I agree, the US is a christian nation. One nation, UNDER GOD. However, we are tolorant of other beliefs. Look at any map of the US showing the different religions by area. It is christian. If you don´t fit in, then you are the minority. Is it a bad thing ?. IMO, no. You just don´t follow the christian faith. The majority of US CITIZENS DO. Sorry, I have no stats or references to back this up but we all know its true. Accept it. If you don´t believe or follow another god, go right ahaed. MOST of us in this country are tollorant of you, however, don´t deny our foundings.

personally, I am not the most religous in the world. But I do believe. And I will continue on after I die. Spegehetti man or not! I, like many others in this great land, are christians, weather we follow or not. So don´t even think the US isin´t just because of your beliefs.

I´m sick and tired of seeing things changed so they won´t OFFEND the minority. Don´t believe----no problem. Don´t make the rest of us not believe eaither!

Besides, what have I got to lose if I´m wrong?

The Under God references came out of the Red Scare of the 1950's. So its basically capitalist propaganda against communism.

Edited April 28, 2010 by Dan + Gemvita

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"separation of Church and State".... where do you get this stuff?

You are confusing some Constitutional concept with the social atmosphere of the country.

This country by it's culture, traditions, founding and people is clearly a "Christian nation".

IN fact, if you disagree, tell me what has more influence?

Most forward thinking countries do not officialise or endorse one religion over another. Are you saying that the US is backward? Tut tut.

AFAIK the US does not have an official state religion, so clearly it is silly to suggest otherwise.

Now if it is a question of the US being influenced by Christian "traditions", this would more true. But the phrase "Christian nation" implies some sort of possessive ownership. Sure, Christianity is the biggest religion in the US, but you don't have any more right than a Muslim or a Jew to legislate according to your beliefs.

[Heracles 417]

Reading comprehension turned off today, buddy?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

How is that forcing and demanding atheism? Technically or otherwise. You're seriously deluded.

It's you who is deluded actually. The lack of belief is still a belief. I already gave you an example of what freedom of religion is and should be. Even in the public sector, it allows the individual to decide whether they want to participate or not. Completely removing anything religious from anything government is definitely not that. It's actually pushing atheism -a belief. It's also why few countries outside the US do such a thing. Giving people the choice promotes tolerance and diversity rather than hostility; thus, once again, why it's practiced in most other first world countries.

Atheist have managed to pull the rug over people here and made them falsely believe that freedom of religion means promoting atheism.

[Dan J 277]

It's you who is deluded actually. The lack of belief is still a belief. I already gave you an example of what freedom of religion is and should be. Even in the public sector, it allows the individual to decide whether they want to participate or not. Completely removing anything religious from anything government is definitely not that. It's actually pushing atheism -a belief. It's also why few countries outside the US do such a thing. Giving people the choice promotes tolerance and diversity rather than hostility; thus, once again, why it's practiced in most other first world countries.

Atheist have managed to pull the rug over people here and made them falsely believe that freedom of religion means promoting atheism.

Ironically if you look at history, you are quite wrong. Western Europe is very secular, why? Because most countries had a state church, some still do. By pushing a single religious choice, the only other choice for many people is to be non-religious.

Relgion has flourished in the US, simply becacuse there has never been a state Religion. People have always been free to chose whatever religion they want to participate in, which leads to sort of a free market of religions. Those that can adapt to the needs of the people survive and flourish, while those that dont, die in obscurity.

An interesting correlation is this. When the Religious Right began to assert itself in politics beginning with Reagan, the growth of the non-relgious/aethist faith group started picking up soon after.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's you who is deluded actually. The lack of belief is still a belief. I already gave you an example of what freedom of religion is and should be. Even in the public sector, it allows the individual to decide whether they want to participate or not. Completely removing anything religious from anything government is definitely not that. It's actually pushing atheism -a belief. It's also why few countries outside the US do such a thing. Giving people the choice promotes tolerance and diversity rather than hostility; thus, once again, why it's practiced in most other first world countries.

Atheist have managed to pull the rug over people here and made them falsely believe that freedom of religion means promoting atheism.

Atheists are not trying to pull anything over anyone - there is no 'conspiracy of atheism'. I am sure there are some atheists who do try to persuade religious people to abandon religion in ways that are inappropriate, in the same way that some religious folk do this to atheists. Living in a country where there is freedom of speech that's normal and natural and constitutional and we all have to learn to live with that, a cross we have to bear if you will

As for religious symbolism and government. Personally, as an atheist, I don't have a problem with government workers adorning their personal spaces with whatever symbolism strikes their fancy so long as they continue to apply and lobby for legislation in a non discriminatory fashion.

As regards policy, no government policy should be framed in such a way as to mandate one adheres to a particular faith in order for that policy to be implemented. Again, that goes back to my original point that the constitution is confusing because it suggests that the rights that we confer on each other are derived from an external entity - god and that we must fashion laws to placate this entity because of his benevolence in conferring these rights. That is quite erroneous and leads to confusion. The rights we confer on each other are based on the notion that everyone is born equal and free and has the right to carry out their business in whatever fashion suits them best so long as they comply with the laws of the land and do not seek to impose their will on someone else who is equally trying to carry out their business in their own fashion.

Edited April 28, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[Heracles 417]

Ironically if you look at history, you are quite wrong. Western Europe is very secular, why? Because most countries had a state church, some still do. By pushing a single religious choice, the only other choice for many people is to be non-religious.

Relgion has flourished in the US, simply becacuse there has never been a state Religion. People have always been free to chose whatever religion they want to participate in, which leads to sort of a free market of religions. Those that can adapt to the needs of the people survive and flourish, while those that dont, die in obscurity.

An interesting correlation is this. When the Religious Right began to assert itself in politics beginning with Reagan, the growth of the non-relgious/aethist faith group started picking up soon after.

History is irrelevant in this discussion, I am talking about 2010. The wide adoption of the aforementioned more tolerant approach used my most other first world countries speaks for itself.

Pushing atheism is against the constitution, yet the government is technically sanctioning and promoting atheism. I call it like it is. Let's not pretend it's not.

[Peikko 1,575]

History is irrelevant in this discussion, I am talking about 2010. The wide adoption of the aforementioned more tolerant approach used my most other first world countries speaks for itself.

Pushing atheism is against the constitution, yet the government is technically sanctioning and promoting atheism. I call it like it is. Let's not pretend it's not.

Who is pushing atheism? How is the government sanctioning and promoting atheism over other beliefs?

[alienlovechild 75]

Obama: The U.S. is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.

"It is important to note that “if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/9959057/Barack_Hussein_Obama_US_one_of_the_largest_Muslim_countries_in_the_world/

[Empress of Groovy 373]

History is irrelevant in this discussion, I am talking about 2010. The wide adoption of the aforementioned more tolerant approach used my most other first world countries speaks for itself.

Pushing atheism is against the constitution, yet the government is technically sanctioning and promoting atheism. I call it like it is. Let's not pretend it's not.

Are you confusing secularism with atheism?

[Dan J 277]

History is irrelevant in this discussion, I am talking about 2010. The wide adoption of the aforementioned more tolerant approach used my most other first world countries speaks for itself.

Pushing atheism is against the constitution, yet the government is technically sanctioning and promoting atheism. I call it like it is. Let's not pretend it's not.

Defending freedom of religion is not promoting atheism. Getting rid of freedom of religion to support a state religion often results in many people choosing to be non-religious, since they no longer really have the freedom to choose their own.

[Peikko 1,575]

Are you confusing secularism with atheism?

[웃 910]

Obama: The U.S. is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.

"It is important to note that "if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world."

http://blogs.telegra...s_in_the_world/

Not really though...We still don't even make up 2/10ths of 1% of the world Muslim population....There are approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and under 3 million in the US...

Edited April 28, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Are you confusing secularism with atheism?

Indeed. There's a difference between non-religious and anti-religious.

[Heracles 417]

How are you guys so delusion? Especially those of you from the UK. Banning anything and everything religious in nature from anything government is pushing one religion.

So which approach or model is better for equality then? A government that celebrates, endorses and encourages its citizens and residents diverse beliefs. Or a government that must have no participation in religion whatsoever - status quo of the US. One approach is used by most other first world countries, they other approach is not.

Nevertheless, I'm still waiting to see exactly where separation of Church and State is in the Constitution. Spare me with the letters.

[_Simpson_ 250]

As it should be. People are getting more logical and thinking through the absurd belief that there is a flying spaghetti monster watching over the human species that it created a few thousand years ago. The first man was not Adam. The first woman was not Eve. There were no talking snakes and talking bushes. There was no old guy named Moses that lived to be 500 and waved his cane and magically parted the sea. There was no great flood or great ark. There was no man named Sampson who was super strong with long hair and super frail with short hair. There was no guy named Jonah who lived inside a whale for a day and came back out the next day unscathed. There is no lala land (heaven) that people go to when they die. You don't receive a punishment of feeling like your entire body is engulfed in flames for AN ETERNITY because you do not believe in the flying spaghetti monster!!!!

I feel like the above explanation should be given to 5-year olds but as hilarious as it is, there are millions of brainwashed adults out there, not sure why!

It's actually really hard to see the light when you were born and raised in a religious household because you were brainwashed into believing in illogical fairy tales and spaghetti monsters since birth. All the silly religions are NO DIFFERENT from greek mythology!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a bunch of myths, rumors, lies, and illogical nonsense!!!!

Who cares? Do you have the truth? Why piss on what other people believe? You had nothing specific that you were trying to debate all you wanted to do was make Christians look like idiots.

Edited April 28, 2010 by _Simpson_