A Christian America- Good or Bad?

from JoeUser Forums
America - the New Christian State?

Has anyone else noticed that since Bush has come to power how Christian Polarized the US has become?
I am a-religious, but I am not sure if the US was indeed to become outwardingly Christian what wouls this mean?

I personally do not like my politics and laws influenced by religion.
My gut says it would be the end of the America we know now.

Thoughts?
religion
4,496 views 19 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
An America where Christians are more Christlike...Great.

An America based on true Christian values... Great.

An American Theocracy... Devestatingly horrible.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I personally do not like my politics and laws influenced by religion.

Well unless I imagined my history classes, that's the america we live in. One influenced by christian thoughts, yet not controlled by them. And I'll second what ParaTed2k said as well.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top


But wouldn't an America more strongly influenced by Christian ideals mean the lessening of some of the freedoms we see today?

Ted, I know you are a huge advocate of small government, yet why do I get this feeling we would start to loose individual freedoms as the Religious movement here picks up steam and becomes more entwined with US politics?
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
But wouldn't an America more strongly influenced by Christian ideals mean the lessening of some of the freedoms we see today?


Absolutely not. Christ was all about personal freedoms. Personal freedoms are a by-product of We, the People taking responsibility for our own actions. Personal Freedoms can't exist in a society where "it's not my fault".

Christ is so willing to respect your freedom of choice that he won't even force anyone into heaven. You make your choices, and exercise your freedoms. But You accept the consequences of the choices you make. That is freedom.

That is why I think an America based on True Christian values would be great.

why do I get this feeling we would start to loose individual freedoms as the Religious movement here picks up steam and becomes more entwined with US politics?


I don't know. Could it be because you look at Religion as restrictive? A theocracy is restrictive by nature, under a theocracy, you wouldn't be free to practice your beliefs. That is why, even though I am a deeply religious person, and a member of one of the most organized of "Organized Religions". I wouldn't want the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to be the leaders of the U.S. anymore than I'd want to see any other religion run the country.

A government that looks to the ideals of True Christianity would not be restrictive, but a government that imposes Christian ideals would be awful. That is the difference.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

You threw out a straw dog that has no legs.  How has it become more Christian?  DO you mean the Christians are more Vocal?  Or that the laws are being written to conform to Christian principals (this is and has been true since the creation of this nation).

I cannot really discuss until you put some legs on this dog.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
You threw out a straw dog that has no legs. How has it become more Christian? DO you mean the Christians are more Vocal? Or that the laws are being written to conform to Christian principals (this is and has been true since the creation of this nation).


Point taken Dr.

Yes, with an openly Religious President I see the Christian movement becoming more Vocal in the US.
I am not trying to argue that they are becoming more vocal, only what if..

If Christians became more and more vocal in Politics, Media, Lobby groups, ect.. and started having a larger say in laws in the US, would a Christian America lead us in a good direction or bad direction?

I could see possible good because maybe the US could use a dose of better morals
I could see possible negative because they could take this dosage of morals to an extreme and lead us to a Facist Christian State

I almost see us becoming a State like in the Movie "A Handmaids tale" - minus the sex slavery part
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

If Christians became more and more vocal in Politics, Media, Lobby groups, ect.. and started having a larger say in laws in the US, would a Christian America lead us in a good direction or bad direction?

I can see that already happening.  But the checks and balances will allow them to get a greater voice, but not pass their religion on us.  For to do that would require a supermajority and I dont see that happening.

Back in the 80s, Falwell and Robertson came up with the moral majority.  And in it, they said that the christian right was silent.  And so it was.  They voted, but did not pontificate.  Falwell and Robertson gave a voice to it, but only to their part.  Now we see more of them voicing on their own. 

That is neither good nor bad.  It is american.  The 'Christians' cannot even agree among themselves, and are definitely not a monolithic block that could impose 'A Handmaids Tale'  (I read the book too.  Excellant one).

I think what is spooking people is that the silent majority is no longer silent.  But while it is a majority, they do not speak with one voice, but many.  SOme accept abortiojn, some abhor it but wont impose their views, and others think it is murder.  That is but one issue.

As for Bush being more religious.  I find that kind of funny.  He is not a hypocrit when it comes to his faith as many presidents have been.  And I guess that scared some people who thought religion was a quaint cottage industry practiced by toothless rednecks down south.  But I dont see his election or any ones election as pushing us to a theocracy. 

I am a conservative and I welcome the votes of the moral majority when it comes to electing a president.  I shudder when we dont get a real choice from the democrats (Clinton, on paper was a good choice, just a lousy president).  But I dont support much, if any of their agenda.  I doubt I will ever see a candidate that I can support 100%, so I have to rank my wants and then go with the best candidate available.  So do they.

In short, I do not worry about the voice of the christians.  They may be a majority, but they have many voices.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

sushi,

Congratulations on finding an area on which we agree VERY strongly. I oppose ANY authoritarian state, and although I am a fiercely devoted Christian, I find myself at odds with the politics of the majority of my contemporaries, and the theology of a substantial percentage.

If we were to be run as a "Christian" nation, those differences would only increase and I would find myself a definite minority.

Excellent post.

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
We've become the antithesis of what Christian really means. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to love...it's as simple as that. What we (the US) are doing in the world is not motivated by love.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Check out www.pearlsbeforeswinevol1.com for a new interpretation of Nostradamus' prophecy. Nostradamus predicted the happenings of which we speak. I learned a lot from this book.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Unless I'm greatly mistaken this country started out with a loud Christian voice. Considering how well it's turned out till now I wouldn't mind seeing this country return to a moral conservative minded people. The funny thing about the Christians getting louder is, they'd only have to get louder to be heard among all the liberal rights activists. I think right now they are trying to gain equalibrium between liberalism and conservatism.
I think that the founding fathers are rolling in their graves right now, because the country they created is so far gone from what they wanted it to be. But free speech without responisbility, over-activists and all sorts of stuff happened. Well, I'm for going back to our roots.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
America is about freedom of expression. An environment where people can't function based upon their moral beliefs is oppressive. A nation that forces you to hide your religion isn't truly free.

We are coming to the same state that France and other nations have reached. We are now debating whether personal expression is infringing on the rights of others. If we follow the route of China, and make it illegal to compel others toward a religious belief, we will have to imprison people for following their ideals, just as China does today.

The idea that the US has something to fear from Christianity is silly, given it is common practice to deny people appointments and station BECAUSE they dared utter their beliefs.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thoughts?

Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad..................

And personally, I have absolutely no interest in this country or myself being more Christ-like. Why would I? I am not a Christian. But, to presume that I am without a moral compass because I am not Christian is racist, discriminatory, and no better than any other religion-based nation. I don't want to see this country fashioned after any goddamm religion.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
But, to presume that I am without a moral compass because I am not Christian is racist, discriminatory, and no better than any other religion-based nation.


Easy to say when you have the benefit of a moral system directly derived from religious belief. This country is already fashioned, and it has never been about telling people they can't make personal decisions based upon their religious ideals, or express those ideals in a public venue. Now, though, try to get appointed as a judge if you are openly pro-life.

What's really happening is that people are trying to re-envision it in a way that makes religious belief and expression frowned upon, or even stifled.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
But, to presume that I am without a moral compass because I am not Christian is racist, discriminatory, and no better than any other religion-based nation.


I don't see how it's racist. Besides, I don't see anybody saying that non-Christians have no moral compasses.

I don't want to see this country fashioned after any goddamm religion.


I don't want to see this country fashioned after any doggone progressivism/liberalism!
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
It shouldn't be fashioned after any one ethos, but be a reflection of the will of all people. Sadly, some people interpret that to mean only the will of those whose will is sanitized of anything religious.

Oddly, in a free country, it seems the people restricting the expression of religious belief are on the side of "freedom"...
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Easy to say when you have the benefit of a moral system directly derived from religious belief


which moral system would that be?

Now, though, try to get appointed as a judge if you are openly pro-life.


i'd have no problem with a pro-life advocate being appointed a state judge unless there's a possibility he or she would be called upon to render an impartial decision in a case involving pro-life issues. i would have a problem with the appointment of anyone who publicly advocates an issue if it's likely he or she will be called upon to adjudicate a case involving that issue.

What's really happening is that people are trying to re-envision it in a way that makes religious belief and expression frowned upon, or even stifled


that's an opinion to which you're certainly entitled, but it seems a bit disingenuous considering this is the only first-world nation in which political candidates set up photo-ops on sundays and go to considerable effort to convince voters they are more pious than their opponents
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Unless I'm greatly mistaken this country started out with a loud Christian voice


the pilgrims may have been among the first to arrive in what is now the us, but they didnt "start out" the country.