Protestantism

» pink101 - Main Thrust

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From my small studies, the main thrust that fueled the American Revolution against the British tyranny appears to have been the desire for Liberty.
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Of all the causes known to humanity, Liberty seems to be capable of the strongest driving force. Liberty and Freedom are NOT the same thing and they were NOT seen as the same thing by our revolutionary ancestors.
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As I read about the Liberty Pole concept that grew in New York city I saw secularism being born in America. Liberty was the indispensable force that won the war in spite of any single individual person. And, it was Liberty that allowed the Dutch to live side by side with the other ethnic groups of New York. Liberty allows us and others to interact with those for whom we would otherwise despise and it swings both ways--not just for us; but for the others as well. Something Iraq could use as of now.
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By the way, there is an interesting side note. The image of the Liberty Pole itself is quite telling. And, it came to be--I believe--the model for floor lamps. You have seen a lamp with its five foot stalk that is oranamented with Roman type designs and topped off with a shade that can resemble the cap on the Liberty Pole. I wonder about that. Intriguing.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Main Thrust

In response to Main Thrust posted by pink101:

Of all the causes known to humanity, Liberty seems to be capable of the strongest driving force. Liberty and Freedom are NOT the same thing and they were NOT seen as the same thing by our revolutionary ancestors.

Very true.

As I read about the Liberty Pole concept that grew in New York city I saw secularism being born in America.

Well...other than Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen, there were very, very few secularists in the American founding generation. The FRENCH Revolution was the secularist 18th century revolution - not the American one.

» pink101 - Secularism vs Sectarnianism

In response to Main Thrust posted by BrianTubbs:
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The people of New York were brought together under a common cause at the Liberty Poles that were raised in front of the Brittish Army Barracks over a period of years beginning in 1766.
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Their sectarian differences were set aside on the common ground of Liberty.
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That is secularism--plain and simple. I'm not saying that the Sons of Neptune were secularists. I am saying that secularism was being birthed on the common ground of Liberty. And, that it was the drive for Liberty that won the Revolutionary War. The war had a commonly shared cause amongst the people. And, like the people of this day, they looked for leadership. That, to me, is how America came to be a secular nation state--we met on common ground of Liberty with separate religious ideologies. Now, the attempt is to do away with our Liberty on behalf of sectarian ideologies.
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I forget the author and the title; but, one of Jimmy Carter's advisors wrote a book on the subject of leadership to which the president was said to subscribe. The book discussed leaders who reach into their public for a moral cause by which to lead and those who gain power and impose their ideologies on a public. I may be wrong; but, I suppose George Washington was a leader of the first classification--a moral leader. Whereas, George Bush appears to be imposing his ideologies on the people of the world from his position of power.
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Two distinctly different types.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Imposing

In response to Secularism vs Sectarnianism posted by pink101:

Pink, EVERYONE - to some extent - seeks to "impose" his or her ideology on others. Someone's views or some group's collective will must and WILL prevail in society.

» pink101 - Imposing

In response to Imposing posted by BrianTubbs:
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I know that is a mind set some possess.
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But, I don't think it is necessarily so. There is a process in which people seek the common ground of our Liberty. And, Liberty for you to have your ideas and for me to have mine comes out of that common ground where we meet.
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Take a look at you and me. Here we are, at Liberty, on some common ground. Get into a controversy with some and see how long you are allowed to keep your Liberty.
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Secularism is the common ground where we find our Liberty.
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Do you have any of those floor lamps in your home? Everytime you look at one, you can think of Liberty. Jesus brought Liberty into the circles of religion. His meeting with the woman at the well was an example. Was she a Samaritan? Was he a Jew? Did they meet on common ground?
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:)
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Boston Yankees had a Liberty Tree. And, that idea spread out and all the way into Georgia--you most likely know that. And, the Brits hated those Liberty Trees and Poles. They cut them down and turned them into fire wood. And, what their actions fueled was the Great War of the American Revolution.
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - In Fact

In response to Imposing posted by pink101:
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As we go into the annals of our Jerusalemic history, we might find that Jesus is the originator of the concept of Liberty in which we can all have our differences but remain bound together in Liberty.
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Give it some thought.
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Working Up A Post

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I'm trying to work up a post on the controversy regarding American History.
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Here's the link for American History at Suite101.

Here's the link for American History at Suite101.com:
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http://americanhistory.suite101.com/
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I am doing some small research into the controversy regarding the way American History is taught in America's public school system.
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Hopefully, I will be able to contribute worthwhile information.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Here's the link for American History at Suite101.

In response to Here's the link for American History at Suite101. posted by pink101:

I've visited Mary's section several times and have offered some comments.

Standing by for your post on what we've been discussing.

» pink101 - Here's the link for American History at Suite101.

In response to Here's the link for American History at Suite101. posted by BrianTubbs:
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I've visited Mary's section several times and have offered some comments.
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I see that.
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I've come to a position regarding the controversy regarding the way American History is taught in our public schools. You might say it was predictable that I would agree that there is definitely a serious problem. Something must be done.
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And, as I'm doing some small study, (more than I've ever done up and until now) I can see that very few Americans have any grasp at all on what led up to the War for Independence. And, I'm sure that will prove to be the case right down through the years on most historical events. I think the problem is systemic for our society.
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-- posted by pink101