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The Problem With Christian Privilege In The U.S. Government

Skwim

Veteran Member
.


"In this video for The Thinking Atheist, Sarah Levin, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Secular Coalition for America, does an excellent job summarizing the problem of Christian privilege:

As she says, it wasn’t that long ago that Catholics were the ones being discriminated against. But now that the Religious Right is in power, they’re perfectly fine pushing their beliefs on everyone else in a way they would never accept if it occurred in the other direction.

… If you really care about this nation living up to its values, even if you’re in the majority, even if the status quo is reflecting your beliefs, you should care about this country enough and be enough of a patriot to be willing to put that aside for the benefits of protecting religious freedom for people of all faiths and none.
The irony is that Levin and other activists aren’t working to impose atheism upon the country. They want a government that’s neutral when it comes to religion. And yet they’re the ones who are always unfairly deemed “militant” or “aggressive.” The Religious Right always seems to avoid those labels for no good reason.

Be sure to check out the two other videos she made here and here. [BOTH ARE WELL WORTH WATCHING]
source

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Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
.


"In this video for The Thinking Atheist, Sarah Levin, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Secular Coalition for America, does an excellent job summarizing the problem of Christian privilege:

As she says, it wasn’t that long ago that Catholics were the ones being discriminated against. But now that the Religious Right is in power, they’re perfectly fine pushing their beliefs on everyone else in a way they would never accept if it occurred in the other direction.


… If you really care about this nation living up to its values, even if you’re in the majority, even if the status quo is reflecting your beliefs, you should care about this country enough and be enough of a patriot to be willing to put that aside for the benefits of protecting religious freedom for people of all faiths and none.
The irony is that Levin and other activists aren’t working to impose atheism upon the country. They want a government that’s neutral when it comes to religion. And yet they’re the ones who are always unfairly deemed “militant” or “aggressive.” The Religious Right always seems to avoid those labels for no good reason.

Be sure to check out the two other videos she made here and here.
source

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hmmm.... I find it biased in complete context and certainly not balanced in any form.

Example... "Waiver Foster Care"... with no way to see if it is correct it is also an association fallacy. "I found one instance and now it means it is permeating all over the US". What were the condition of the waiver? crickets.

No mention that if you can't accept the homosexual agenda then you can't have an adoption agency violating religious rights.

Also, no mention that there are other agencies that can fill anybody's order.

Separation of Church and State benefits even Christians? Well, history has proven that is wrong.

I am a patriot and think atheists can have their beliefs. So she is misinformed. And enforced Christianity? Whaaaat?




So, summary:

  1. a great Christian bashing "because they don't believe like we do"
  2. Forced "you must do it the atheist way or no way:
  3. Besides, If you really are a patriot, you would let Christians be Christians and let people believe what they want to believe.
  4. Atheist ideology is trying to be oppressive against faith
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
hmmm.... I find it biased in complete context and certainly not balanced in any form.

Example... "Waiver Foster Care"... with no way to see if it is correct it is also an association fallacy. "I found one instance and now it means it is permeating all over the US". What were the condition of the waiver? crickets.
Do you not get the concept that in granting one organization the privilege of discrimination you've set a precedent wherein all similar organizations can do the same?

Also, no mention that there are other agencies that can fill anybody's order.
And what if there are no other agencies around? "Tough luck kid."

Separation of Church and State benefits even Christians? Well, history has proven that is wrong.
Well it's certainly curbed a lot of Christian attempts to bring the country closer to a theocracy, or at least a "Christian Privileged Nation" which, happily, I can see you bemoaning. :D


So, summary:
  1. a great Christian bashing "because they don't believe like we do"
  2. Forced "you must do it the atheist way or no way:
  3. Besides, If you really are a patriot, you would let Christians be Christians and let people believe what they want to believe.
  4. Atheist ideology is trying to be oppressive against faith
Okay, I'm calling
Troll very small.png
here. I know you're brighter than this.

.


.
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
hmmm.... I find it biased in complete context and certainly not balanced in any form.

Example... "Waiver Foster Care"... with no way to see if it is correct it is also an association fallacy. "I found one instance and now it means it is permeating all over the US". What were the condition of the waiver? crickets.

No mention that if you can't accept the homosexual agenda then you can't have an adoption agency violating religious rights.

Also, no mention that there are other agencies that can fill anybody's order.

Separation of Church and State benefits even Christians? Well, history has proven that is wrong.

I am a patriot and think atheists can have their beliefs. So she is misinformed. And enforced Christianity? Whaaaat?




So, summary:

  1. a great Christian bashing "because they don't believe like we do"
  2. Forced "you must do it the atheist way or no way:
  3. Besides, If you really are a patriot, you would let Christians be Christians and let people believe what they want to believe.
  4. Atheist ideology is trying to be oppressive against faith

Did you know 7 states have laws that restrict atheists from holding public office? Christian privilege DOES exist. Now, if you would please tell me, do you support or oppose laws that ban atheists from holding public offices?
 

joe1776

Well-Known Member
So, summary:

  1. a great Christian bashing "because they don't believe like we do"
  2. Forced "you must do it the atheist way or no way:
  3. Besides, If you really are a patriot, you would let Christians be Christians and let people believe what they want to believe.
  4. Atheist ideology is trying to be oppressive against faith
Wow, these atheists must be wicked smart! For the first time in the history of the planet the minority is oppressing the vast majority.
 

viole

Ontological Naturalist
Premium Member
Wow, these atheists must be wicked smart! For the first time in the history of the planet the minority is oppressing the vast majority.

Christians have been whining for 2000 years to be oppressed. They are just spoiled brats. The moment you object that their beliefs are not more important than the beliefs of some other religion, they think you send them to the lions.

Ciao

-viole
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Do you not get the concept that in granting one organization the privilege of discrimination you've set a precedent wherein all similar organizations can do the same?
An "exemption" isn't a "privilege of discrimination". We get exemptions on all types of zoning, property taxes etc. If you earn "less than" you are exempt of income tax etc.

They are simply making leeway for religious beliefs.

And what if there are no other agencies around? "Tough luck kid."

What if the world stops tomorrow? (if we want to play "ifs".

Well it's certainly curbed a lot of Christian attempts to bring the country closer to a theocracy, or at least a "Christian Privileged Nation" which, happily, I can see you bemoaning. :D

Never has been a Theocracy and never will be.. People use that as scare tactics

Okay, I'm calling
35614_b1066feb45862f15d1c13b9a3034ac76.png
here. I know you're brighter than this.

EXACTLY!!! YOU GOT IT! :D

As ridiculous as the video.

Just used the same standard that they used. :)
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Christians have been whining for 2000 years to be oppressed. They are just spoiled brats. The moment you object that their beliefs are not more important than the beliefs of some other religion, they think you send them to the lions.

Ciao

-viole
Are you whining like a spoiled brat? :)
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Did you know 7 states have laws that restrict atheists from holding public office? Christian privilege DOES exist. Now, if you would please tell me, do you support or oppose laws that ban atheists from holding public offices?

I suppose that could be true , but can you give me a little more substance? And, yes, I oppose laws that ban atheists from holding public offices.
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Wow, these atheists must be wicked smart! For the first time in the history of the planet the minority is oppressing the vast majority.

OHHHhhh.... I must have gotten South Africa wrong. Apartheid was a figment of my imagination... Thanks for the education.
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
I suppose that could be true , but can you give me a little more substance? And, yes, I oppose laws that ban atheists from holding public offices.

Good to know you oppose said laws. Here are the quotes of the state constitutions that ban atheists from holding public offices. Some of them are more explicit than others. Perhaps the most explicitly discrimnatory is TN,which bans not only atheists, but also people who disbelieve in heaven and hell, from holding public office.Discrimination against atheists - Wikipedia
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
Christians have been whining for 2000 years to be oppressed. They are just spoiled brats. The moment you object that their beliefs are not more important than the beliefs of some other religion, they think you send them to the lions.

Ciao

-viole

To be fair, Muslims are even more spoiled, given that they throw violent tantrums if someone even pokes fun of their pedophile prophet.
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Good to know you oppose said laws. Here are the quotes of the state constitutions that ban atheists from holding public offices. Some of them are more explicit than others. Perhaps the most explicitly discrimnatory is TN,which bans not only atheists, but also people who disbelieve in heaven and hell, from holding public office.Discrimination against atheists - Wikipedia
Interesting...

Just wondering, are these laws still in effect? And was it put there in the first place because the United States was a Christian nation? If not, why?

I did note: "However, these laws are unenforceable due to conflicting with the First Amendment and Article VI of the United States Constitution:[100][101]".
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
Interesting...

Just wondering, are these laws still in effect? And was it put there in the first place because the United States was a Christian nation? If not, why?

I did note: "However, these laws are unenforceable due to conflicting with the First Amendment and Article VI of the United States Constitution:[100][101]".

I highly doubt the laws are actively enforced, as they clearly violate the constitution. However, the fact that they are still technically in effect is concerning to me.

As far as to why they were put in place, I am not entirely sure. One cannot accurately state that the United States was established as a "Christian" nation. Jefferson, one of the most fundamental founders, was an agnostic deist, not a Christian, and openly denied all of the "miracles" of the bible. Jefferson Bible - Wikipedia
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
An "exemption" isn't a "privilege of discrimination". We get exemptions on all types of zoning, property taxes etc. If you earn "less than" you are exempt of income tax etc.
They are simply making leeway for religious beliefs.
No, they're establishing a prohibition based on religious belief.

What if the world stops tomorrow? (if we want to play "ifs".
But that's the premise your operating under: what difference does it make if there's someplace to go to. Thing is, there isn't necessarily someplace else to go to without instilling a burden.

Never has been a Theocracy and never will be..
Well that's nice to know, but considering the many attempts by Christians to inculcate their religious beliefs into the secular operation of the country, if it wasn't for the injunction of the First Amendment those exact beliefs and practices would be in place.

Creationism would be taught in public school science classes.

People would not have to have their children inoculated because it contradicted their religious beliefs.

A community could declare that only symbols of the Christian faith could be erected on government property.

Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy's Roommate, would not be on pubic library shelves in Wichita Falls, Texas because Christians in the community disapprove of the books' depiction of homosexuality.

In Alabama forty-four different elementary through high school level textbooks would be excluded from the curriculum because the school system was teaching the tenets of an anti-religious religion called "secular humanism."

.

 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
I highly doubt the laws are actively enforced, as they clearly violate the constitution. However, the fact that they are still technically in effect is concerning to me.

As far as to why they were put in place, I am not entirely sure. One cannot accurately state that the United States was established as a "Christian" nation. Jefferson, one of the most fundamental founders, was an agnostic deist, not a Christian, and openly denied all of the "miracles" of the bible. Jefferson Bible - Wikipedia

I always wondered about Jefferson since I have seen quotes both for as well as against. I think I will study up on it.

As far as "why" they had those laws, certainly the "Christian nation" narrative would explain it.
 
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