Protestantism

» Migisi - Prayer in Schools

In response to Prayer in Schools posted by BrianTubbs:
.
I have to agree with Pink that mandatory prayer was a regional or local thing. As I said earlier, 'it largely depended on the school district and in what state (Bible belt?)'. I'm going on my life experience in a northern metropolitan region - where a myriad of cultures intermingle (see my 'Windy City Muslims' thread). As an example, I attended public schools in districts where residents and students were predominantly Jewish. You can see how Christian prayer would not be encouraged. Even though Jewish students were the majority, and Jews dominated the school boards, they never demanded that ~their~ religion become part of public school policy.
.
If prayer wasn't an active part of public school life, then there wouldn't have been such a controversial firestorm after Madalyn Murray O'Hare's Supreme Court case in the early 1960s.
.
In response to the Jesus Movement, which was building then, and spreading, Bri. And, yes, there were Christian-dominated districts who ~did~ have mandatory prayer - mostly in rural areas. But as I recollect, Joe Citizen and Joe Student didn't care about the school prayer issue. The average person was far more concerned about the Vietnam War. That 'firestorm' only existed within the churches. I think that's true today... Joe is far more concerned about issues which impact everyone -- like the economy and Iraq.

-- posted by Migisi

» Migisi - Prayer in Schools

In response to Prayer in Schools posted by BrianTubbs:

.
... Henry Ward Beecher, would be quite offended at your association of vigorous, public Christianity with racism and segregation.
.
Beecher being offended doesn't changed the facts, Brian.

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - This Entire Line of Thought

.
This entire line of thought in which we question the motivation of the Christian Religionists in American politics would be funny if it weren't such a threat to world peace.
.
Now we are engaged in the tipping point stage of the Bush Doctrine that got us into the Iraq Occupation and threatens to bring on World War III. Bush is an all out fool and those who support his policy bear some degree of responsibility for the terrible imbalance that has the world teetering off to disaster!!
.
We must rid our politics of Religionism. Can you imagine our country with a preacher as its president? Wouldn't that just be an answer to the fervent prayers of every Religionist Christian? Can you imagine them with swords in their hands in the presence of god's enemies--men, women, children, and infants?
.
I can.
.
.
.

-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Preacher as President

In response to This Entire Line of Thought posted by pink101:

A preacher has as much right to hold public office as a non-preacher, Pink. People in the ministry don't surrender their citizenship rights when they step into the ministry.

And there were preachers AND theologians who served in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. Ever hear of John Witherspoon?

» Brian Tubbs - what facts?

In response to Prayer in Schools posted by Migisi:

The implication that Pink is making is that there is a direct connect between racism and religiosity. The association is either shallow or deliberately libelous - or both.

» pink101 - Preacher as President

In response to Preacher as President posted by BrianTubbs:

.
A preacher has as much right to hold public office as a non-preacher, Pink. People in the ministry don't surrender their citizenship rights when they step into the ministry.
.
Far be it from me to deny any one their rights. I would never do that. My points were clearly made and I'm sure you understand them.
.

-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Preacher as President

In response to Preacher as President posted by pink101:

It's the EXTENSION of your points that most concerns me, Pink.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I personally think it's better for preachers to avoid political office. As a GENERAL rule. There are exceptions to this. But that's NOT something the government should enforce.

» Migisi - what facts?

In response to what facts? posted by BrianTubbs:
.
The implication that Pink is making is that there is a direct connect between racism and religiosity. The association is either shallow or deliberately libelous - or both.
.
I dunno. I do think there's a link. Enter 'white supremacy' or 'Christian Identity' in your search engine.
.
Here's a Christian-based resource: http://www.apologeticsindex.org/w11.html
.
And a US map of 'hate' groups: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate....
(Compare north and south, and factor in state populations. The fact that any exist anywhere is shameful!)
.
And a 'skeptics' outline on religious hate groups:
http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/hate.htm
.
Hate immigrating into US...
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelrepo...

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - Preacher as President

In response to Preacher as President posted by BrianTubbs:

.
It's the EXTENSION of your points that most concerns me, Pink.
.
And, that is what concerns me as well. The EXTENSION of what will happen to our society if we allow Religionism to take over our politics. And, Religionists are trying very much to do just that. Listen to any debate by the Republican candidates--they all sound like preachers and Religiionist apologists.
.
I have to leave for a couple of days.
.

-- posted by pink101

» redback - Preacher as President

In response to Preacher as President posted by pink101:

It's an interesting idea that once in public office, a person's private beliefs are to be left at the door. "Do you promise?"

I suspect a Christian, more than an atheist, finds hurdles in that. Our very first religious leader to our highest ceremonial office was an Anglican Archbishop appointed as our Governor-General. His prior practices dogged him into a very early resignation. We've also had an atheist who was a devout republican trying to (hypocritically) claim loyalty to that overseas Queen 2. Now we have those pesky religious right, fighting for supremacy over their self serving opponents.

Who's looking after the children?

-- posted by redback