Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
When George Washington retired he visited Newport, RI at the request of the city's Rabbi. I guess members of his congregation were concerned about their futures under the American regime, many of them having be persecuted under European monarchies.
Washington assured them, "May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants – while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid." The vine and fig tree is from Micah.
I don't think anyone believes the Founders wanted a Christian nation. All of them knew the Bible better than any of us.
They did not want religion banished from public life, to be practiced only in behind closed doors, in the dark, or to have no place in public life.
At the time the Constitution was adopted, the Anglican Church was the established church of Connecticut. When Tennessee obtained statehood, it's laws were the Ten Commandments. Neither was thought to conflict with the US Constitution.
How the country went from this to prayer being prohibited in schools and Santa Clauses from public places, and how some people think this is consistent with our founding and good is a long and twisted tale. We have wound up almost in the place we always sought to avoid.
And what exactly is that place? Why should Christianity have a more prominent place in government than any other religion?
State run public schools did not exist then. Pray in church if you want we don't need it in our public schools. What good would school prayer do anyway?
Is Santa a religious figure? I must have missed him in the Bible.
This is a simplistic, ignorant, childlike belief in what atheism is.
Atheism has nothing to do with morality or immorality. It is simply not believing in God/s.
The only "consequences" for all of us are those a society puts in place.
Oh, by the way statistically the more secular a nation is the more law-abiding the country tends to be.
Perhaps, but if those who are in power are atheists, why wouldn't they change the laws to enhance their quality of life, even if it comes at the cost of yours?
They would be weak and foolish not to. If they don't, a stronger atheist will replace them.
You are entitled to believe otherwise, but it is merely entitlement.
That's because you are entitled. There are real atheists out there who will bury you. Athiesm is the true DARWIN religion. If you are weak, you are dead because there will always be a more REAL atheist than you lurking in the background, looking for an opportunity to get that cash.
Im three sentences, you manage to grossly misrepresent/misunderstand Darwin, atheism, evolution, and human social life.
Do you require a 1000 year old book to tell you how to behave like a decent human being? Many people do not. They are perfectly capable of knowing right from wrong without reading the old Testament.
just like the bill of rights codified the rights of man, the ten commandments codified the laws of god.
Quote:
If you think about it - Christianity is the REAL YOLO religion. You can murder someone - then ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus into your heart and *poof* you are forgiven.
not true at all. talk to your local priest and ask them about the forgiveness of ones sins, and the confessional, and you will find one common thread, and that is that priests will generally NOT give penance if you do not fully confess your sins, and make a REAL effort to avoid continuing down the same path of sinfulness. in other words you cant just go out and kill someone, and then ask for forgiveness and receive it, for either a priest or even god.
back in the days of the inquisition the church sold indulgences. pay a sum of money to the church, and receive a document that absolves you of your sins. and that was abolished after a number of priests protested the effort.
Quote:
Originally Posted by burdell
I'm just curious if Matthew changed when he went from being a tax collector to a disciple?
yes he did. tax collectors at the time were often times brutal in their work, like the IRS on steroids. so he went from a brutal collector for the government, to a kinder more gentile man following jesus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DRob4JC
Nobody knows... it doesn't matter... if it did, we would know about it.
The point is, Jesus did not require Matthew to change in choosing him. He accepted him as he is.
it is true that jesus did not require people to change when he accepted them as a disciple, because he knew they would change on their own. he also knew they would have to change as a result of dealing with the public in his name.
you might want to go to Wash DC. The Capitol, the Supreme Court and most other government building are filled with religious phrases and symbolism. Some of you need to get out more.
Everyone should be athiests. That way you can do whatever you want without consequences, especially if you're in a position of power.
Atheism is the real YOLO religion. Do whatever you like.
Atheism is not a religion and it's perfectly possible to develop a robust ethos without a supernatural father figure.
As someone once put it, if you're an atheist, you can rape and murder all you want. Well, I'm an atheist (agnostic atheist, to be precise) and I do in fact rape and murder all I want - which is to say, I don't.
If you need the threat of eternal damnation to keep you in line, the rest of us had better hope you never lose faith. Think of the monster that would be unleashed.
Perhaps, but if those who are in power are atheists, why wouldn't they change the laws to enhance their quality of life, even if it comes at the cost of yours?
Because empathy and enlightened self-interest work just fine without the carrot of paradise and the stick of eternal damnation.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
