"Christian Nation" mumbo jumbo cleared up once and for all.
By: bluegal @ 12:59 PM - PDT
Well, one can hope. Garry Wills and I are both believing Christians, though certain fundamentalists would argue that, since Wills is Catholic and I'm Quaker, we don't count. His interview on Fresh Air (NPR) Thursday was the strongest and most lucid argument FOR the separation of Church and State I've ever heard: separation of Church and State ENCOURAGES religious practice among individuals, rather than stymies it.
In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and state, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its enemy."
The entire interview is about twenty-five minutes long and well worth the listen.
Fresh Air from WHYY, October 4, 2007 · In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and state, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its enemy." That, as Wills tells guest host Dave Davies, hasn't stopped fervent believers from challenging the concept.
> "Christian Nation" mumbo jumbo cleared up once and for all.
> By: bluegal @ 12:59 PM - PDT
> Well, one can hope. Garry Wills and I are both believing > Christians, though certain fundamentalists would argue that, since > Wills is Catholic and I'm Quaker, we don't count. His interview on > Fresh Air (NPR) Thursday was the strongest and most lucid argument FOR > the separation of Church and State I've ever heard: separation of > Church and State ENCOURAGES religious practice among individuals, > rather than stymies it.
> In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and state, > Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that > separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its > enemy."
> The entire interview is about twenty-five minutes long and well worth > the listen.
> Fresh Air from WHYY, October 4, 2007 · > In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and > state, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that > separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its > enemy." That, as Wills tells guest host Dave Davies, hasn't stopped > fervent believers from challenging the concept.
Fundamentalism isn't about any particular religion - it's about the impulse to dominate and control others. In any religion, fundamentalism is an expression of the psychopathic authoritarian impulse.
> "Christian Nation" mumbo jumbo cleared up once and for all.
> By: bluegal @ 12:59 PM - PDT
> Well, one can hope. Garry Wills and I are both believing > Christians, though certain fundamentalists would argue that, since > Wills is Catholic and I'm Quaker, we don't count. His interview on > Fresh Air (NPR) Thursday was the strongest and most lucid argument FOR > the separation of Church and State I've ever heard: separation of > Church and State ENCOURAGES religious practice among individuals, > rather than stymies it.
> In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and state, > Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that > separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its > enemy."
> The entire interview is about twenty-five minutes long and well worth > the listen.
> Fresh Air from WHYY, October 4, 2007 · > In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and > state, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that > separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its > enemy." That, as Wills tells guest host Dave Davies, hasn't stopped > fervent believers from challenging the concept.
Sadly, you are wrong. The "christian nation mumbo-jumbo" IS NOT cleared up once and for all.
Why not?
Because the true believers are just that -- true believers. They are not interested in facts, logic, history, reasoning, or even good sense. The "bible" tells them, their preachers tell them, and they believe. Period. End of discussion.
Remember Monica Goodling? It's a shame that she faded from the public eye so quickly -- this young woman came from an evangelical christian family, was home-schooled (using textbooks purchased from evangelical home-schooling suppliers), educated (if you can call it that) at Patrick Henry College (a christian college), and completed Pat Robertson's law school where they teach "a biblical approach to the law." She knows that the US is a christian nation. She knows that George Bush is a christian man. She is totally devoted to George Bush because of his christian beliefs. So -- she would not hire, in fact, she fired, anyone who was not completely supportive of George Bush.
And what's worse is that eight years of Bush has put hundreds of people like this into the federal bureaucracy where they can cause serious damage for years and years.
I wish it were the end of the "christian nation mumbo-jumbo" but I'm afraid it's just the beginning.
<PopUlist...@hotmail.com> wrote: > On Oct 7, 5:34 am, Raymond <Bluerhy...@aol.com> wrote:
> > "Christian Nation" mumbo jumbo cleared up once and for all.
> > By: bluegal @ 12:59 PM - PDT
> > Well, one can hope. Garry Wills and I are both believing > > Christians, though certain fundamentalists would argue that, since > > Wills is Catholic and I'm Quaker, we don't count. His interview on > > Fresh Air (NPR) Thursday was the strongest and most lucid argument FOR > > the separation of Church and State I've ever heard: separation of > > Church and State ENCOURAGES religious practice among individuals, > > rather than stymies it.
> > In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and state, > > Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that > > separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its > > enemy."
> > The entire interview is about twenty-five minutes long and well worth > > the listen.
> > Fresh Air from WHYY, October 4, 2007 · > > In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and > > state, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that > > separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its > > enemy." That, as Wills tells guest host Dave Davies, hasn't stopped > > fervent believers from challenging the concept.
> Sadly, you are wrong. The "christian nation mumbo-jumbo" IS NOT > cleared up once and for all.
> Why not?
> Because the true believers are just that -- true believers. They are > not interested in facts, logic, history, reasoning, or even good > sense. The "bible" tells them, their preachers tell them, and they > believe. Period. End of discussion.
> Remember Monica Goodling? It's a shame that she faded from the public > eye so quickly -- this young woman came from an evangelical christian > family, was home-schooled (using textbooks purchased from evangelical > home-schooling suppliers), educated (if you can call it that) at > Patrick Henry College (a christian college), and completed Pat > Robertson's law school where they teach "a biblical approach to the > law." She knows that the US is a christian nation. She knows that > George Bush is a christian man. She is totally devoted to George Bush > because of his christian beliefs. So -- she would not hire, in fact, > she fired, anyone who was not completely supportive of George Bush.
> And what's worse is that eight years of Bush has put hundreds of > people like this into the federal bureaucracy where they can cause > serious damage for years and years.
> I wish it were the end of the "christian nation mumbo-jumbo" but I'm > afraid it's just the beginning.- Hide quoted text -
Sadly, it may come to a civil war. If you really want to be shocked, read-up on RJ Rushdoony and the Christian Dominionist/Reconstructionist movement. This anti-American "Christian" group wants to overthrow the republic and establish a right-wing Christian theocracy. Based out of The Chalcedon Foundation, this group of fanatics want to tear up our Constitution and replace it with Rushdoony's "Institutes of Christian Law", which stipulates death for disobedient children, among other insanities.
And Rushdoony's evil has penetrated mainstream Republican thinking.
liz_d...@yahoo.com wrote: > On Oct 7, 2:34 am, Raymond <Bluerhy...@aol.com> wrote: >> "Christian Nation" mumbo jumbo cleared up once and for all.
>> By: bluegal @ 12:59 PM - PDT
>> Well, one can hope. Garry Wills and I are both believing >> Christians, though certain fundamentalists would argue that, since >> Wills is Catholic and I'm Quaker, we don't count. His interview on >> Fresh Air (NPR) Thursday was the strongest and most lucid argument FOR >> the separation of Church and State I've ever heard: separation of >> Church and State ENCOURAGES religious practice among individuals, >> rather than stymies it.
>> In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and state, >> Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that >> separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its >> enemy."
>> The entire interview is about twenty-five minutes long and well worth >> the listen.
>> Fresh Air from WHYY, October 4, 2007 · >> In a new book about the constitutional separation of church and >> state, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills insists that that >> separation was meant as "the great protector of religion, not its >> enemy." That, as Wills tells guest host Dave Davies, hasn't stopped >> fervent believers from challenging the concept.
> Fundamentalism isn't about any particular religion - it's about the > impulse to dominate and control others. > In any religion, fundamentalism is an expression of the psychopathic > authoritarian impulse.
> LizD
I agree. Once the government and religion get into bed, you get one state sponsored religion. The Dark Ages lasted 1000 years because the Catholic church got in bed with the European kings. The wars that continued into the 18th century were religious wars between Catholics who wanted th perpetuate their way and Protestants who wanted to go down a different road. Many people who settled in the US fled from the religious oppression in Europe.
The Founding Fathers were very aware the anti-Catholic and anti-monarchy basis of the French revolution which proceeded the American Revolution. This is why we have the First Amendment.
The defeat of the Republicans in 2006 spelled the end of exceptional political influence of the Fundies who want everyone to have the same religious beliefs that they do. If they want to be deluded about the nature of the world and the universe, it is OK with me. But don't try to make me or my kids believe any of that baloney!
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