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How Does God Fit In America?
A few may say He does not, but for the vast majority, He does fit and it's important just how that should look.
For people of faith, God is seen first and foremost in a personal, not civil way. Many people of faith believe that they have a personal relationship with God through accepting the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ His Son.
That experience is beyond philosophical--it is a lifestyle with eternal consequences. It is not surprising that these people cannot be neutral concerning social matters.
But can anyone really achieve neutrality on such matters? Christian or atheist?
Michael Newdow, our national village atheist (according to columnist Maggi Gallagher) recently told the courts that, "It's a case of people who believe in treating people equally and people who believe in not treating people equally." Of course for people like Newdow, fairness means atheists get what they want and theists do not.
With the Newdow case back in court, debating if God has a place in American culture, Mitt Romney's "Faith in America" speech and Mike Huckabee's rise to the top of the Republican slate of Presidential candidates, this subject is dominating the news.
Romney said, "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom...Freedom and religion endure together or perish alone."
Mike Huckabee has been assaulted about his personal faith and how that might affect his decisions since his rise to the top--as lately as yesterday morning on Good Morning America. Yet his popularity continues to rise.
I have recently read several thoughtful and provocative articles on the subject of God and His place in the culture of this country.
I want to direct you to two of them. I believe it would be helpful and informative to take some time this weekend and read both.
I recommend Maggi Gallagher's column posted on Yahoo. "Is America Under God?"
I also recommend an article written by Joshua Bosshardt (Lewis and Clark) which was carried in a number of newspapers. I read it in the Spokane Spokesman Review. It was published last month. The article is comprehensive and can be used for a personal reference. It's titled "Freedom of Religion, Not Freedom From Religion."
I personally believe that faith and freedom are, in the end, inseparable. Even as the ancient book of Proverbs teaches that as a person thinks in his heart, so is he, so a nation will, in the end, become what it believes and what it teaches it's children.
There is a struggle for the soul of this country. Never has it been more evident than now.
If you agree and feel what we are doing in this regard is valuable, please stand with us in your prayer and financial support.
Thank you and God bless you and God bless America.
________________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
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6 Comments:
"Of course for people like Newdow, fairness means atheists get what they want and theists do not"
Well, given that the atheists want EVERYONE to be free to practice their own beliefs with the Government (the communal voice of all) being silent on the issue, while the theists want EVERYONE through the communal voice of government to be forced to support and exhalt their faith, I don't see how this negates Newdow's statement.
Jeff in Bellevue
As Gary states, religion has become a major factor in this presidential campaign. People have the freedom to make choices according to religious faith.
However, the Constitution states that there shall be no religious test for government office. So while, individuals may have religious preference, the government may not.
And, precisely because people do make judgements based on religion, the absolutely only way to keep government neutral is to keep religion out - completely.
That is why there are no gods in the Constitution.
God in America and God in Government are two separate issues. Your desire to mix them is what scares the hell out of non-christians.
Mark in Tigard
I'm appalled that Jeff in Bellevue and Mark in Tigard so incredibly misunderstand Christianity. The Constitution gave us freedom OF Religion, not freedom FROM religion! All faiths are relevant to the individuals themselves. Christianity understands that. But all law is based on Christianity's Ten Commandments! It is a very MORAL set of commands. Without law we would simply have anarchy - something nobody wants. Christians do not SHOVE their faith down anyone's throat, as does Islam. Without Christianity, there would be NO tolerance for other religions. This Christian nation has tolerated and protected other religions since its inception. So Mark and Jeff, get educated! Atheism IS a religion! Unfortunately, it helps no one. Christianity, on the other hand, is this nation's life blood. Without it, our nation will perish.
Marilyn,
I bet you think you told me! Funny that your refuation failed to address either my points or Mark's.
Let's put on our hip waders and delve into your "arguments":
"But all law is based on Christianity's Ten Commandments!"
Given that the Decalogue predates Christianity, isn't it just a wee bit arrogant for you to claim Christian ownership of it? Also, the idea that all law can be traced back to this and only this source is just ignorant. Modern law owes far more to Hammurabi's Code (created two millenia before Christianity came into existence) than it does to the Decalogue!
"Christians do not SHOVE their faith down anyone's throat, as does Islam."
Really? So was it Islam that put an acknowledgement to their God in our nation's pledge and on our nation's currency in the 1950's? Nope, that was Christians!
Is it Islam trying to put taxpayer funded chreches on the lawns of our city halls? Nope, Christians again! Seems like your point has been disproven.
"Without Christianity, there would be NO tolerance for other religions."
LOL, really? Do you think the Crusades and the Inquisition are prime examples of this tolerance?
"This Christian nation has tolerated and protected other religions since its inception."
Really? Were they protecting other religions when Covenants on housing that forbade any sale to Jews in perpituity were legal (as recently as the 1950's)?
"Atheism IS a religion!Unfortunately, it helps no one."
No, it isn't. A lack of belief in other religions simply isn't a religion, terming it such is just ignorant. If you took the time to talk to a few atheists, you'd find that it has helped many people throw off the shackles of ignorance and come to know, enjoy and protect our world.
"Christianity, on the other hand, is this nation's life blood. Without it, our nation will perish."
Pish-posh! Our nation is founded on Enlightenment principles, which have very little to do with Christianity. They could be applied just as easily to a Buddisht, Shintoist, Islamic or Atheist Nation!!
Frankly, your post reeks of uninformed Christian Triumphalism. You should really educate YOURSELF, before attacking others for not coforming to your ignorance.
Jeff in Bellevue (who wonders if the censors will see fit to allow this post, since there seems to be a distinct pattern of FFN supporters being allowed to engage in personal attacks while the attacked party's response is censored).
Marilyn, just ignore Vishanti. He thinks he knows everything already and his ears are closed to actually learning anything. All we can do is pray for him/her.
Steve
So Steve, are you just slow on the uptake our are you really so ignorant as to believe that all non FFN supporters posting here are the same person?
Jeff in Bellevue
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