The U.S. was not founded as a Christian nation. (Deists, America) - Page 14

Scuba Pete · #**131** 05-13-2008, 06:32 AM

Unfortunately, many anti-religious zealots try to use the separation of church and state as a method to eliminate church from state.

doppelgänger · #**132** 05-13-2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

Unfortunately, many anti-religious zealots try to use the separation of church and state as a method to eliminate church from state.

That would be for the Church's own good even more so than the state. Nothing has corrupted Christianity more than making it one with politics.

Scuba Pete · #**133** 05-13-2008, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

That would be for the Church's own good even more so than the state. Nothing has corrupted Christianity more than making it one with politics.

Go back and READ what I said. It's really not the separation that bothers me, but the attempt to eradicate it altogether.

lilithu · #**134** 05-13-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

That would be for the Church's own good even more so than the state. Nothing has corrupted Christianity more than making it one with politics.

Christianity comes out of the prophetic tradition of Judaism. The role of the prophet is to bear witness against injustice. That makes it inherently political. Religion is not about hiding away from the rest of the world in order to pursue one's own private salvation. Religion is about making the world better, about making heaven on earth. Tikkun Olam.

doppelgänger · #**135** 05-13-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

Go back and READ what I said. It's really not the separation that bothers me, but the attempt to eradicate it altogether.

Sorry, but I misunderstood you. You wrote: "try to use the separation of church and state as a method to eliminate church from state."

Which I took to mean that you were talking about the whole silly "freedom of" v. "freedom from" religion thing that I hear a lot of "conservative Christians" parrot, that somehow the establishment clause still allows the state to act in furtherance of particular religions.

My apologies.

Scott1 · #**136** 05-13-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BalanceFx

Nor does the eye of providence make the united states a christan nation.

Fair enough.... but it's certainly not the agnostic/atheist nation that some would like it to be.

doppelgänger · #**137** 05-13-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilithu

Christianity comes out of the prophetic tradition of Judaism. The role of the prophet is to bear witness against injustice. That makes it inherently political.

I strongly disagree.

Christianity is not Judaism to me. It's a mythology about inner, spiritual awakening. Heaven on earth is a state of mind. "Making the world a better place" might be an incidental benefit.