It is my belief that most Christians very much want the government to endorse Christianity. They will say that people are free, and should be free, to practice whatever religion they choose. However, the government should endorse Christianity. They will argue that when this country was founded our forefathers did just that. And, indeed, if one were to study this aspect of the history of out country anyone who is being intellectually honest will have to conclude that our forefathers did give the freedom practice whatever religion one would choose while our government endorsed Christianity. This is a fact. One could make the argument that our government endorsing any religion at all was morally incorrect and this would be a fair argument. But the fact remains they did.
Christians who are upset about our government slowly removing itself from the endorsement of Christianity will argue that as the government did this at the time of our countries founding so should they still do this. This is part of the founding of our country. I say this is a garbage argument as it is a dishonest argument. The dishonesty comes from the fact that Christians do not believe the government should endorse Christianity because the government did so in the past, but because they believe Christianity is the one way to heaven.
Let’s say our country was founded on religious freedom but the government endorsed the religion of Islam. And through the years the government endorsed Islam less and less and separated itself from Islam. Now these Christians would have to say, if they are being honest, that in this situation they would call for the government to endorse Islam once again, after all, our forefathers did this. Of course none would. It is my opinion as a Christian that this argument should not be used by Christians as it is dishonest and intellectually inconsistent.
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This can be perceived as an agreement toward Christianity and goverment endorsed religion but it is primarily my perception with personal views. "Religions" whether politically processed or not, are a way for human beings, to be able to identify themselves with something, something far greater than our government. Set guidelines of behavior and moral standards that have created some of the most devastating wars to this date because of the power struggles of which "religion" is the best one to follow. Sad, as a believer in the Heavenly Father, the disappointment seen upon this earth, that can be accumulated from the actions of "man" in which he created. Through years of observation of watching so called christians I can say that passing judgement on anyone secures my belief is toward the hyprocritical way humans use biblical references so that they can portray themselves far beyond the scope of perfectionism. The only thing that should be hailed is the fact that as Americans we are not forced to follow any specific way to praise God, thus Freedom of Religion. It is not just Christians, but most, if not all religions that advertise and portray their way as the right way or you will burn in hell. I think what people can't handle is the loss of power, the identity of their specific religion and it being outcast from schools and court rooms, anything that had to do with God in a public setting is gone, as not to offend anyone. Can society dwell on it, No because it's our Government, the great big melting pot. Can we still choose to follow our own religious guidelines if we feel a need, we sure can. So my question is this, do you think God really cares that this planet has established numerous religions based on their perceptions of moral and ethical behaviors? It is probably better that the Government took specified religious verbage out of certain areas, I can recall court rooms stating, "Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God", I believe that was what was stated? Mentally I grew up with that instilled as a punishment tactic in thinking that God would literally strike me dead, thus creating a fear as an adult to have a bible anywhere near me. Point being we don't need the Government to portray their theorys of religion, nor do we need Christiantiy to keep trying to instill that their way is the only way to heaven, Honestly until we are dead we will never know.
ReplyDeleteDawn M O'Connor
This is interesting the thought that a christen could be dishonest ha ha. After all everyone regardless of religion is guilty of being dishonest to me religion is guilty of being dishonest many will argue that what is written in the bible has happen, However my experience is that people write what makes them look better and not always the complete truth. To me religion should not play a part in anyone’s public life. Religion has caused for too many wars that never changed anything it just killed a lot of people for nothing sometimes I think no religion would be better so everyone could stop trying to prove that their religion is right after all fighting for a piece of supposed holy ground seems very childish when the land was here before us and will be here long after we are gone. The other possibility of many beliefs is eternal life in heaven or hell after death what if eternal life if the continued life of our off spring not a place in heaven or hell. If people believed that they only had this life and no heaven or hell after, I believe people would stop fighting over such childish things and start taking care of themselves and trying to live longer and enjoy the short time we have more peacefully with each other.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Dawn's comment on May 17, 2010 7:32 PM:
ReplyDeleteYou ask the question if I think God cares that the world has created these varies religions based on their perceptions of moral and ethical behaviors. It is my personal belief that God has standard for our behavior that He would like us to meet. If a religion comes along that preaches contrary to His standards then I do believe He would be upset by this.
It is awful when people, Christians for the purposes of this discussion, use what they believe to be God's words to glorify themselves, or repress others. This is not what the Bible and God calls us to do. But only because someone twists the words of God for their own advantage do not mean that the words or god are not true in their untwisted form.
We may never know what happens after we die but we can make an educated guess based of the historicity of various religions and evidence that what various religious texts claim to have happened have actually happened. Once we find a text that has various prophecies come to pass we can assume that other prophecies about the future may come true.
Hey Noel, it's Ahmed. Nice topic for a blog. It's very controversial and one that heightens many people's emotions. I see already people have responded with angry tones. Back to the topic however, I do agree with the point you are making, that some Christians believe that Christianity is the way of life and it should be implemented in this land, that's why they push for having the government endorse it. It would be completely correct that if the example you put forth of Islam being our founding father's religions, that no one would push for the government to endorse it's founding father's religion. In the same way that they would oppose that, they should oppose having Christianity as a government endorsed religion if they didn't have double standards.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Anonymous' comment on May 26, 2010 5:24 PM:
ReplyDeleteCertainly religion has changed the world in good ways and bad ways. Religion has killed people and religion has saved (literally, not spiritually) people.
Perhaps no religion would be better, but if there is a God who created this world would He want that? Deep theological topic here.
What if eternal life meant our offspring? It is an interesting thought but ALL of the core texts of the three major religions point to a heaven and hell with description showing that it cannot be interpreted as such.
I really liked your reply. If more Christians could see religion through your eyes the work of God would get done much more efficiently.
In response to Just Another Blogger's comment on June 8, 2010 9:31 PM:
ReplyDeleteYou got it! What more is there to say?