Christianity and our Nation.

I might as well because you have no answer. Buh-bye

 

Noah and the Ark come to mind here. Bible God didn't just command genocide, he did it himself.

 

It was not about revenge, it was to keep their beliefs in pagan gods away from Israel. God wanted them to worship him, not pagan gods

 

Child sacrifice is a weird thing for you to be using as your example, given that Christianity is a religion founded on a human/demigod sacrifice. Objecting to vicarious redemption though the suffering of another is a criticism other religions can level at Christianity.

 

They weren't even living with the Israelites. And if that was the point, then why does the Bible provide the justification that I mentioned instead? And why slaughter the children and the livestock?

 

It WAS the reason, and despite of their efforts to get rid if them, Israelis ended up adopting some pagan worship anyway. Why the children? One time they failed to kill some children, and few generations later they had become a tribe which was a sworn enemy of Jews. What other justification does the Bible provide?

" Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God” -Deuteronomy 20:18

The pagans, the false gods and their habits: idolatry, incest, child sacrifice, homosexuality, and bestiality etc had defiled the land and would have defiled the Jews as well.

 

There were plenty of other examples where the children were spared. This infanticide order was an exception. The reason you are giving here is not the one given in the Bible. Hell, even Deuteronomy 20 says this is incorrect. The verse you are citing ONLY applies to the land given to the Israelites. It lists specific tribes this applies to. The Amalekites were not among them, nor were they living on said land. The justification given in 1 Samuel 15 was as I said: ritual, intergenerational revenge.

 

In most case it is the reason given in the Bible, and Amalekites fought with Caananites against Israel and exercised the same things others in the area did, and it was not only one exception. They destroyed many tribes, including the children. There are some examples where there were other reasons for the slaughter.

 

Well Christianity probably had an influence. And most Americans identify with it. But nobody can agree on just exactly what Christianity is, even knowing that in concept it should be one thing. Considering that Jesus never forced his gospel on anyone or took over the government and enforced his doctrines. Then it stands to reason that it is a matter of choice. Hence our second amendment securing individual religious liberty.

 

interesting bit of American history

"Christmas history in America"

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas

"The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings."

"It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. "

 

That may have been to in US and England, and then 're-invented' officially in US, but It was celebrated as a family centered holiday in Europe, and in US by European immigrants before 19th century. Santa Claus, and Christmas decorations etc are also not an American invention.

 

the corporatization of Christmas is when it really caught on

 

YOU believe the Bible.

It only makes sense to point out that by YOUR religion, you are making serious mistakes.

 

Let's remember that people ESCAPED England and Europe due to profound religious intolerance.

I'm sure it was celebrated as a family centered holiday IF you happened to be of the "correct" religious beliefs.

Otherwise, you might get dead because of believing in the militarily weaker version of Christianity.

Once religion is a matter of politics and military power, one doesn't have to go much farther to accept it as a commercial observance - something that could be quite a bit safer.

 

Um....they escaped the Church of England, and Catholics. The protestant reformation was as early as 1517, and lot of European countries ditched Catholism at that point, especially the Northern countries, and even to this day they are heavily Lutheran.

 

You judge my faith also? What business is it of yours?

 

I'm not criticizing your religion. There would be no point in that. I'd have to be nuts to think I could convince you to change your religion.

The point is that you believe in the Bible. So, one way of having a meaningful discussion is for me to have some familiarity with your belief.

Then we can have a more even footed conversation.

You could do the same with me, but I don't see evidence that you could do that.


While I don't mean to be critical of your religion, I do strongly support the importance of having our government be secular - that is, NOT tied to a religion. Our founders saw that as seriously important, as they formed a nation out of colonies that had disparate beliefs, and who were well versed in the problems noted in England and earlier, when government and religion were tied.

 

I don't adhere to a religion, but you fail to state yours.....that is generally the case with agnostics,atheists, humanists and statists. It is always most seemingly non threatening to operate in shades of grey. I agree entirely with the Founders that we will never return to "State Sponsored Religion" as was practiced in Europe in Colonial times. In fact it is practiced today in many places. We have Catholicism in Spain, France, etc. Humanism in the Nordic Countries, and Statism in China and North Korea.

The big concern in America is the left's drive toward the religion of "Statism" thus the openly practiced chant "Death to America". The American standard has always been we are a "God Centered Republic". The push for being a "State Centered Institution" where we derive our substance and faith as well as rights, is becoming more and more obvious. Especially in the effort to drive the mere mention of God and His ties from any effort to educate.

 

It is always the case that the mockers, isolate a scripture that they don't believe anyway and fail to use it in the context of scripture in it's entirety. They use it only to justify their narrative. We can also quote Sol Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" and apply it in the same way to those that would try and eradicate Christian Faith.

 

I've stated my religious beliefs many times on this board. In this case, my views on God, etc. were irrelevant.

Nobody says or thinks "Death to America". There ARE those who attack parts of America - our democracy, our rule of law, our equality, etc.

We are not a "God Centered Republic" - we are a Democratic Republic where all persons may adhere to any religion they like and the government will not pick favorites or base law on the beliefs of a religion.

Yes, the government must not be teaching a religion.

 

I don't mock Christianity or other religions.

Yes, quoting a verse from the Bible isn't a strong argument, even for describing Christian belief. We see elements in the OT, such as Leviticus, that Christians don't believe pertain to our society today. A verse rarely conveys the whole.

There is a wide range of belief in Christianity - and even more when considering the Abrahamic faiths from which Christianity was derived.

Plus, America includes many other religions as well, all with equality as religions.

 

Oh yes they do! Probably a lot of your pals on this forum are ready to get real, crawl out from under their rock, and join them! https://www.freep.com/story/news/lo...-death-to-america-chants-mistake/73285383007/

Pertaining to your last statement.... I will contend our culture and government are or was predicated on a belief in God. Our basic human rights are "inherent" and shall not be infringed. They do not come from government therefore we should not be teaching "government" without acknowledging where are rights come from. Those of you who are so frightened about acknowledging God so often look to the "state" as fulfilling the duties of God. That gives a lot of them power and credit to enslave others. John Adams even acknowledged our form of government was only intended for a "religious and moral people." Today when we talk "religion" most think Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, etc. etc. Adams was far more inclusive than that. They had to be to survive. In our town our little Church had Easter services at our High school Auditorium. Does that raise your ire? Just a little? 16 people were baptized the next Sunday at our own building. Perhaps you are isolated from similar events but they are happening.

You may continue under the same battle flag as Madam Murray O'Hare. God is out of most schools and child suicide is way up. Living in rural areas we used to carry guns to school for hunting after. No one got shot. God is out of the picture and we have metal detectors!

 

Over 90% of Americans identified as Christian a few decades ago and now it is barely 60%. As long as Christians keep hitching their wagons to the Republican party who represent the exact opposite of Christ's teachings (such as helping poor, immigrants, and sick), people will see straight through the hypocrisy and continue to reject Christianity. Worshipping a false idol also doesn't help.

 

I thought everyone believes being born in America makes you a Christian.Identifying as a "Christian " is one thing. Deciding to follow Jesus is another. You have a "View" description of the Republican Party. Why don't you watch something else? Do you follow Christs teachings? If so, good for you.....but like everyone, you fail in some areas. When you try to do right, walk in faith, you will always be viewed as a hypocrite by those who don't. The Body of Christ is alive and growing. Don't get too excited about it's demise!

 

I encourage you to be a little more discerning in what you get concerned about. ONE GUY, not identified as part of any group, yells crap and YOU believe it's a movement in America? Let's hope you aren't so easily swayed.

Government does not fulfill the duties of God.

Where the heck did you get that???

Having a government rent building space at the going rate to groups interested in contracting for that space is fine with me.

If the government then refused to rent it to some OTHER religion, that would be a problem, obviously.

God is NOT out of schools. What IS out of schools is the school (government) teaching children a specific religion.

It's Madalyn Murray O'Hair.

She had a flag??

Your idea that gun violence is tied in some way to God is absolute nonsense.