Prayer is a practice of closing ones eyes, and asking for existence from fantasy beings. If only those consumed by religion would open their eyes, and use critical thinking and reasoning instead of underhanded non-assumption of the problem.
It was not in any way an underhanded or "left handed" compliment. It was genuine and sincere.
There are many problems in this country Ruby. Not the least of which is religion interjecting itself into our judicial systems, or candidacy consideration.
Every time a potential candidate so much as farts an association with a given religion or their "love for God", a million more Christians truly and honestly blindly jump on board. Some even believing it is a "sign from God". It's embarrassing to an impartial process, but, it
is using marketing to specific demographics as a tool. It works extremely well because there is a significant demographic of Christians from varying educational backgrounds and proficiencies.
Wrong!
Whenever you bind religion to government you are preferentializing the religion at the bare minimum, and enforcing under color of law its teachings at the other end of the spectrum. Either case is uncalled for in government.
*gasp* So we should
immediately assume Christianity as the national religion thereby stopping the Muslim advance and institutionalization of Sharia Law here in the U.S. ?
Here's another thought for you. What if we tell both Muslim Doctrine
and Christian Doctrine to stay the hell out of our government?
Man, that would be excellent! How truly equitable!
No, these countries are being "forced" to kowtow to these acts of religion under the guise of "religious freedom". The difference between these countries, and our country, was that our founders were wise enough to fully comprehend the
fundamental need for the separation of Church and State.
Do you understand why Ruby?
As one framer put it, paraphrasing, "So that government and religion may stay respectively pure of one another."
It is disingenuous, and downright corrupt to demonize the institution of one religions practices will simultaneously claiming that only
yours possesses morality. Thus has been the basis for generations of religious war on an entire continent, and preceding wars of mass genocide worldwide. No religion in our government, just as the framers intended. Thanks.
You do not get what since9's inference was. Well, maybe you do!
since9 was specifying that since there was a large number of Christians (The old argument that more means "right". An argument a Christian would say is baseless in a room wherein he was outnumbered by atheists or those of another religion) that it was effectively "their" government. He must have forgot that "Liberty" is one of our enumerated rights, and Liberty does not necessarily mean democracy. Doing the right thing demands that you move beyond your religious bindings, and step out of those shackled shoes for just 2 seconds of a debate on equality.
I believe
your statement was meant to imply that it is everybodies government. To that end I agree, and to that end I demand equality across the board. Equality without the consideration for religion.
Do you care if I believe in no supernatural or fantasy being at all?
Does it offend ones Christian sensibilities to realize that I teach my child to be polite, loving, caring, considerate, compassionate, and rational without reading a book written by man, purporting itself to be from God?
Does it offend ones Christian Sensibilities to understand that my child has never heard a single excerpt from the Bible or even seen one yet she would share her chocolate milk with you, her toys, her books, or help you clean up a room? (Oh good golly how is this possible without a fictitious belief in imaginary creatures?!?!)
Does it offend ones Christian sensibilities to realize that I agree that the majority of the economies issues and our world involvement is perpetuated by corrupt government, and that I came to this conclusion without closing my eyes and praying to spaghetti monsters??
Does it offend ones Christian sensibilities to realize that many of the "Christian" electorates in office are one of the many sources of
problematic responsibility for where our country is heading?
We are suffering a lack of morality Ruby. However, none of it has to do whatsoever with Christian beliefs. It is primarily brought on by those with no work ethic, and those who believe it is our duty to play world police.
Your Bible, the Jewish Torah, the Qu'ran, and the Book of Mormon are equally meaningless in response to this.
However, making
just,
rationalized,
honest decisions without the
influence of religion just may be the best way to make everybody happy, and get some serious stuff done. In fact, I assure you its the only way.
Furthermore, as you are a Christian, I am sure you have contempt for the presence of homosexuality. You see it as immoral.
Well Ruby, the reality is that these "immoral" people are far more moral than your religion teaches, and many would die defending your freedom of religion even as you wipe your posterior with their character and choice of lifestyle.
Just keep that in mind.
Many people in this country also believe in Shiva.
Many people believe in the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Many people believe in no God, but being one with the universe.
Your pointing to the majority is, as usual in all debates, meaningless in all ways but to point to the size of the mindless mob. A majority does not equal "right". All conclusions must be reached with critical thought.
Also, psychologically speaking,
nothing stems from a "belief in something beyond the mortal" except for that which the mind places there in the first place. That is a psychological fact.
You cannot claim that morality stems from God, when the existence of God stems from the mind.
A study deep into the minds and hearts of the framers via the works they have left behind will show you that it was not.
We
do have great freedom in this country Ruby. I love this country. I love the bill of rights. I love the concepts it was founded on!
Not the Bible. I can answer that with absolute certainty.
The guiding principles behind the "great experiment", are driven from the collective years of social studies and governmental experience of our framers. Our nation is so unique, that you cannot even begin to understand how insulting it is to infer that it is religiously derived.
No Judeo-Christian religion would purposefully disassociate itself from its government intertwining at said governments conception!
To even try to say so would be devoid of any logic whatsoever.
The founders were fully aware of the Church of England and its impact on its citizens within the British empire, particularly, prior to the instatement and ratification of the Catholic Relief Act.
Do you have
any historical perspective whatsoever on the history of religion in Government and
why the founders specifically wanted a wall of separation between the Church and the State?
If not, please read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disenfranchising_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation_Act_1661
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Uniformity_1662
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventicle_Act_1664
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Mile_Act_1665
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_Act_1695
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disarming_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_Act_1836
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banishment_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registration_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popery_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occasional_Conformity_Act_1711
These are just a few. Let me know if you need a few hundred more.
People want to live here Ruby because they believe, as Muslims, Hindus, Taoists, Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovahs Witnesses, Atheists, Deists, Satanists, Jews, Sikhs etc, that they can experience religious equality in a government that does not place importance of one religion over another.
You do not mean that you "do not expect an answer", but rather that you have turned a blind eye, closed your mind, and cemented your belief in a specific thing without so much as an inch to give in consideration for another perspective.
Cementing firmly my prior comment as absolutely true.