NationStates Jolt Archive

All my life I've attended a church where no mention of politics has ever come up. And I got used to this. Then, my family switched to a new church. And being the tolerant son I followed as well (it's been a rough year and didn't want to create friction.) And so I'm at the Christmas eve service, and the pastor starts off on a tangent about how he's pissed that he can't have a manger scene put up in front of town hall. He complains about the "atheist government" for a bit before going back to a normal Christmas sermon. It was odd, and I found myself very uncomfortable, as I disagreed with him on such a point.

I find it hard to believe that people actually fail to understand the difference between secular government and atheist government. How some people want there to be such an involvement in the government.

Just an odd little though from me.

I find it hard to believe that people actually fail to understand the difference between secular government and atheist government. How some people want there to be such an involvement in the government.
People like that believe that their religion is the only true religion, and thus they should get preferential treatment.

The key point of most religions is that they ARE the only true religion.

The idea is to be tolerant of those who dont realize that your right.

Everytime people politicise their religion they betray it.

People like that believe that their religion is the only true religion, and thus they should get preferential treatment.

That's just scare tactics used to make people fear the involvement of religion (any religion) in politics.

Yes, I always say no Religion in Gov. is the right way to go, if you go any other way that corrupts the gov. *No religion also means no Atheism, Monotheism, and Paganism. (sorry for my gross mis-spellings)

What happened to good, ol' separation of church and state?

Yes. Yes indeed.

Everytime people politicise their religion they betray it.
so true.
I'm adding that quote to my signature! ^^

Now is a good time to quote a forgotten American - John Leland.

“Never promote men who seek after a state-established religion; it is spiritual tyranny—the worst of despotism. It is turnpiking the way to heaven by human law, in order to establish ministerial gates to collect toll. It converts religion into a principle of state policy, and the gospel into merchandise. Heaven forbids the bans of marriage between church and state; their embraces therefore, must be unlawful. Guard against those men who make a great noise about religion, in choosing representatives. It is electioneering. If they knew the nature and worth of religion, they would not debauch it to such shameful purposes. If pure religion is the criterion to denominate candidates, those who make a noise about it must be rejected; for their wrangle about it, proves that they are void of it. Let honesty, talents and quick despatch, characterise the men of your choice. Such men will have a sympathy with their constituents, and will be willing to come to the light, that their deeds may be examined. . . ."

All my life I've attended a church where no mention of politics has ever come up. And I got used to this. Then, my family switched to a new church. And being the tolerant son I followed as well (it's been a rough year and didn't want to create friction.) And so I'm at the Christmas eve service, and the pastor starts off on a tangent about how he's pissed that he can't have a manger scene put up in front of town hall. He complains about the "atheist government" for a bit before going back to a normal Christmas sermon. It was odd, and I found myself very uncomfortable, as I disagreed with him on such a point.

I find it hard to believe that people actually fail to understand the difference between secular government and atheist government. How some people want there to be such an involvement in the government.

Just an odd little though from me.
Same thing happened to me today. My parents switched to a different church because my mom wanted to attend a smaller service. Both churches are nondenominational, the only way to go :)

Well, I come back for winter break and go to church this morning. We had a guest speaker who was the chaplain for the ciy police. He was very anti-PC and brought up a little bit about homosexuality. The service today made me realize two things. One, I am glad my preacher is more open-minded. Also, Southern Baptists are probably the worst denomination in Christianity.