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Not by any rational or constitutional perspective. I'm not sure the word "God" was even used in the earliest Christian Bibles. I'm pretty sure the word "God" is Germanic in origin. Nor is the concept of a monotheistic God purely Christian or exclusively Christian.
The rest of what you say shows a deep and profound misunderstanding, or downright ignorance, of history. I have a degree in history do you?
You are correct as to the origins of the word God (or Gud in German). However, by the creation of this Nation, it was already in widespread use throughout the enlgish speaking world. It used liberally splashed through the Wycliffe Bible, the first full English translation crafted in the 1400's (it is available at biblegateway.com) and was already in use for centuries in the British Empire, "God Save The Queen".
You mentioned a degree in history, did you not?
When a Christian speaks of God, he speaks of no other than his own. Christian religious doctrine (falsley) claims that no other deity exists, so Christians who are pantheists are very rare, if they exist at all. It was not the Jews who put it in place, it was not the Muslims either.
Indeed, in a thank you letter to the Knights of Columbus, the organization who lobbied for the inclusion of 'under God" into the pledge... "From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our Nation and our people to the Almighty."
And there is simply no way anyone could convince me that the KoC was thinking of anyone else's diety during their lobby campiagn.
The Establishment Clause clearly states "NO LAWS", not some, not a few, but NO.
Finally, I challange you to discredit anything historical I have posted concerning this subject.
It shouldn't be difficult for someone with a degree in history.
Still I guess a bit of education might be better than cold derision.
Manifest Destiny is a nationalistic term in origin and execution. Although many religious types felt US should be an example to the world they didn't all feel it should be expansionist. Jefferson and Lincoln, two of our least conventionally religious Presidents, were expansionist. Further noted religious skeptic Thomas Paine stated of America
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand"
Expansionism was embraced by many religious, for religious reasons, but also rejected by many of the more religious Whigs. Much later Creationist Williams Jennings Bryan, who has many many qualities I dislike, was adamantly opposed to US imperialism. Either way the basis was nationalistic or at most a mix of nationalism and deism.
I hope that helped. People are very ignorant on history and geography in this country so might fall for any oddball view.
Firstly, let me say that I never make the mistake of lumping all Christians into one group, as you have done above. No, not every Christian supported slavery or expansionism, but Manifest Destiny was an excuse to expand our borders, and Christianity was it's root.
It was used heavily in the 19th century to explain away the flawed notion that the United States was destined to be, a destiny of divine origins, and therefor the Nation was (supposedly) well within her rights to expand where she will.
Heavens, man, it's available all over the internet, and was taught to us in grade school in the 1960's. How you can attempt to discredit something widely know make me suspect you of intillectual dishonesty merely becasue your religion was called into play.
Okay seeing as it was linked to concepts of Providence and the Divine it does have a religious aspect, but the intent and purpose was always more nationalistic than anything. It was never part of any Christian denomination or school of thought I'm aware of, except maybe Mormons, and the term originated with a journalist. A journalist who was later devoted to Spiritualism.
I think you want to connect it more directly to Christianity than makes sense because you want it to be linked to Christianity. And that's fine if that's what you need, but I don't deem that very credible.
Last edited by Thomas R.; 07-24-2009 at 05:34 AM..
From dictionary.com hy⋅poc⋅ri⋅sy
1. a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
2. a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.
3. an act or instance of hypocrisy.
Synonym: deceit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stepside454
Christians are sinners just like anyone else. He knows porn is wrong , but he struggles with the temptation, no differant than anything else that people are tempted with. Instead of calling him a hypocrite ,politely tell him that those arent appropriate(unless that wouldnt be allowed by your employer of course).
I find it funny how if non religous people do something that they are ashamed to have people know about its just wierd, but if its a Christian or religous person, that makes them a hypocrite.
Religious tend to say one thing and do another.
They tend to tell people what to do with their lives and frequently behave morally superior.
I don’t think that the OP was asking if she should say anything to the person. She was noting his hypocrisy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stepside454
or , if non-religous people do stuff.... its OK..because there is nothing really wrong.. they can do whatever,with nobody to answer to. but if a Christian does the same thing..than oh, your bad.
Same thing only worded differant I know. Christians just know that what they do is wrong & do it sometimes anyway..they sin, like I said, just like anyone else. Hopefully they understand its a sin.
Non-xians know the difference between right and wrong. Are you saying that only christers know what’s right and wrong? Or are you just fearful of this hell thing after you die?
Porn is neither right nor wrong. It just is.
The hypocrisy is open for mocking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stepside454
maybe this is a better example. lets say this is a storey in the local paper:
A springfield area cab driver was arrested today for sliciting a prostitute on the north side.
or :
A Springfield cab driver was arrested today for soliciting a prostitute on the North side, Mr. XXX is also an Elder @ First Christian Church.
If the naughty person does somsthing bad ,& his a church goer, they make sure everyone knows about it, & what church that person goes to. but the other guy, ahhh, hes just a cab driver
a) You must live in a small town;
b) that offense is supremely funny and mockable.
And filled with hypocrisy. A church leader needs to practice what he preaches or not preach at all.
Just because he listens to Christian music, has a house full of Christian stuff, and talks to you about church stuff does not mean he is a Christian.
So, if they don’t fit your definition of a Christian, then they are not. That’s not how it goes; they’re self-identified; as are you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas R.
Nonsense. In my life experience, and online, atheists are all the time telling people how to live. An atheist friend of my mother's was quite willing to tell her she was wrong for having six kids, that her beliefs were sexist, etc. He was also willing to say that people with low IQs shouldn't breed and so forth. Other atheists guilt people about the environment or for living in "falsity" or not reading what they've read or being closed-minded or whatever.
Atheists include some of the most evangelizing and judgmental people out there. Hindus don't seem interested in writing "The Abrahamic delusion" or "Yahweh isn't as good as Brahmin." The *Atheists can't seem to get enough in judging people for being irrational and deluded.
*Capitalized to differentiate from just regular "atheists." By "Atheist" I mean professional "Atheists" rather than people whose atheism is only one part of themselves and not per-se defining.
The only thing atheists have in common is not believing in a god thing.
You’re labeling a person who has all of his own beliefs but does not believe in a god thing; there is no underlying commonality among atheists except for a non-belief.
Hindus aren’t being bombarded daily by christers trying to convert them as we are in the west.
Quote:
Originally Posted by I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA
Christians and non Christians face the same temptations, but the difference is how they handle those temptations. Of course everyone sins, I never said Christians don't sin To say otherwise would be stupid. Any temptation can be resisted with God's help, but not everyone ask Him for help.
I don’t believe that anything is a sin; that’s a Christian concept.
[quote=chielgirl;9924238]So, if they don’t fit your definition of a Christian, then they are not. That’s not how it goes; they’re self-identified; as are you.
So, if they don’t fit your definition of a Christian, then they are not. That’s not how it goes; they’re self-identified; as are you.
/QUOTE]
No not my definition, God's.
Sorry, but that's a giant cop-out. If a 'christian' does something wrong or bad, they're automatically not a christian.... how ridiculous. Christians ARE self-identifying and as long as you believe jesus is your lord an savior, YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN. If that person does bad things, they are a bad christian, a hypocritical christian etc etc, but still a christian.
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To say otherwise would be stupid. Any temptation can be resisted with God's help, but not everyone ask Him for help.
