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GA,
I forgot to ask you - how is this being received in Georgia?
Are people angry and disappointed that their governor is openly a religious zealot?
Do most people think that this is a good, healthy thing for a governor to do?
GA,
I forgot to ask you - how is this being received in Georgia?
Are people angry and disappointed that their governor is openly a religious zealot?
Do most people think that this is a good, healthy thing for a governor to do?
Depends on who you ask, but by and large he's been ignored. That's status quo (if it didn't happen in my back yard or affect my back yard....), but that's not only here in Georgia. If the Gov wants to pray for rain, well, fine - pray for rain off the capital steps - hold a rally for rain in the park, but don't have it on state property or sanctioned by the state. Most of the coverage about the event centered on AFS's 22 people who came to peacefully protest the Governor's illegal action.
I don't know what believers make of this. I know that the people I'm surrounded by are sickened and mortified by the Gov's public display and his playing of the god card. The people I refer to are non-believers. As for him being openly religious, that's par for the course here in Georgia.
Religion in Georgia, and especially outside of Atlanta, is the norm, a brand, a status symbol, and often a means for discrimination in many places. Living in the city, it's easier being an openly non-believer. Zealots are an accepted part of the landscape, except when they blow up abortion clinics.
In the meantime, I'm organizing a margarita and rain dance party.
Depends on who you ask, but by and large he's been ignored. That's status quo (if it didn't happen in my back yard or affect my back yard....), but that's not only here in Georgia. If the Gov wants to pray for rain, well, fine - pray for rain off the capital steps - hold a rally for rain in the park, but don't have it on state property or sanctioned by the state. Most of the coverage about the event centered on AFS's 22 people who came to peacefully protest the Governor's illegal action.
I don't know what believers make of this. I know that the people I'm surrounded by are sickened and mortified by the Gov's public display and his playing of the god card. The people I refer to are non-believers. As for him being openly religious, that's par for the course here in Georgia.
Religion in Georgia, and especially outside of Atlanta, is the norm, a brand, a status symbol, and often a means for discrimination in many places. Living in the city, it's easier being an openly non-believer. Zealots are an accepted part of the landscape, except when they blow up abortion clinics.
In the meantime, I'm organizing a margarita and rain dance party.
Thanks, GA - very informative and exactly what I was loooking for - I realize that there are probably strong opinions on both sides of the religious fence (that's why I wanted to ask YOU).
I guess I'm still shocked that any state governors are so open about this kind of thing - even if the prayer was not on state grounds.
Is it like that all over the South?
I live in Texas and I don't think that Gov. Perry could do that without being labeled a wacko. Maybe that's cause I live in Austin. Or maybe I'm just delusional. Wow. I've been awakened to another sad truth about the extent of the culture war in the US. Oh well. I suppose it's better to know...
The fact that the Declaration of Independence refers to "Nature's God" instead of just "God" is pretty good evidence. Here are a few quotes from Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the document:
Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
What is it men cannot be made to believe!
-Thomas Jefferson to Richard Henry Lee, April 22, 1786. (on the British regarding America, but quoted here for its universal appeal.)
I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshipped by many who think themselves Christians.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard Price, Jan. 8, 1789 (Richard Price had written to TJ on Oct. 26. about the harm done by religion and wrote "Would not Society be better without Such religions? Is Atheism less pernicious than Demonism?")
The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814
Maybe that's cause I live in Austin. Or maybe I'm just delusional
Austin - well, no wonder. Your former gov, now our Prez . . . . what's that saying .... "kids, they say the darndest things" Well, there it is, except now we've upgraded to the leader of the US (I won't say "free world" because I have major doubts on that one). And you're probably not delusional, you're just in Austin. Lucky you.
you're probably not delusional, you're just in Austin.
I think I may be delusional BECAUSE I live in Austin.
I've been so removed from the whole Christian vs. Secular debate in the US that I've lost track of who is winning.
I think I may be delusional BECAUSE I live in Austin.
I've been so removed from the whole Christian vs. Secular debate in the US that I've lost track of who is winning.
hey tell your austinites to stop moving to San Antonio:0P Ready for the cold front? 87 today...39 tonight.
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