Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I like to fancy myself as being occasionally good with the written word. And, on the days where I can remember where I left my pants, of moderately quick wit. But, I must admit, I am humbled and awed by the last couple of Pyrite's posts that I've read. Of course, it is the internet, so who knows, it could be Bill Maher, harboring a secret penchant for religious and political discourse on MMORPG forums.
I always thought Pyrite just copied and pasted Maher's writing. Maybe some of the stuff is his own. Not that I really care, I think Bill Maher has some great points and is quite funny...I wish he didn't like Clinton for pres though.
Ah, my soul is crushed. And yet, I feel better about my own virtual dribbling. I don't follow Bill Maher, so I wasn't aware the letter P was just c&p'ing stuff from his site.
I'd say we aren't a Christian nation because it seems that the country is filled with mostly agnostics, athiests, and Buddhists.
nevermind that 80% of the country celebrates the birth of Jesus..............
Of course, not 100% of those people are practicing Christians...but the internet is definitely not the best place to go when looking at demographics of people. A visit to this site would have you believing that the world is composed of about 2% Conservative Christians, a few agnostics, a bunch of atheists, a crap load of Australians, and some people from a country called Belgium that doesn't actually exist.
As to whether or not this is a "christian nation" Does it really matter? Whatever you want to call it, it doesn't change what it really is. The fact that most people in this country identify most closely with the Christian faith says a lot about the culture and values of our country, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the people who founded this country intended for it to be a "Christian nation" quite the contrary, it was important to them that it didn't become a theocratic state. And in response to that cartoon: Yeah, Thomas Jefferson was the ONLY founding father........I love it when people point to him and go "look, America isn't a Christian nation!!" while simultaneously ignoring anyone else who helped to found the country, it's rather convenient.
Would you like me to give you a nice list of founding fathers who shared Jefferson's view? I can do it.
But what I find really funny is the way you downplay his significance on the birth of this nation.
Oh, and did you also know that at the time Jefferson was alive, he was credited with devising an evil plan to create a secular government by many evangelical Christians? I can quote you some primary source documents and letters on that if you'd like too. And you might respond by saying, "well sure, there's always a few people that thought that way", but it's actually quite the contrary. It was a popular sentiment amongst evangelicals. Not so much Anglican's at the time, but a heavily popular notion amongst the evangelical crew.
So this whole debates not such a new thing after all. Some people have always tried to keep this nation secular while others have tried to inject their religion into our government. Right from the very start.
I didn't downplay his significant at all, I simply stated that he wasn't the only founding father..does that offend you? Am I wrong? Offend me? Nyah. You missed your target. Try again.
People who run everything can't complain that they're underdogs. To whit, last year, there was a highly-attended conference in Washington called "The War on Christians." Because nothing quite says "I'm oppressed," like the opulent Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.
Ah, yes, whatever happened to that plucky little cult, Christianity? Oh, that's right, they're 80% of the American people, and have taken over all three branches of government, country music, public schools, the bestseller list, and until recently, Katie Holmes. You know, Christians, I don't mind that you're part of a dress-up cult that hates sex and worships magic but the paranoia, that does scare me.
Did you know that the Missouri legislature recently felt the need to propose a resolution declaring Christianity Missouri's majority religion. No kidding. Really, you mean people aren't saying, "Gosh, I'd like to go to Missouri, but...to Jewish." In Savannah, recently, a children's book about a baby penguin who is raised by two male penguins - ahh! - was removed from the library for its homosexual overtones. Because you know penguins, in those tuxedos, with the dreamy eyes. Huge fags!
The Christian right are now officially the party of paranoia. Secularists are attacking Christmas! Gays are attacking marriage! Liberals are attacking values! White girls are being abducted at an alarming rate! You know, if you're going to be that paranoid all the time, just get high.
And the worst part is, the people bitching loudest about being persecuted for their Christianity aren't Christians at all. They're demagogues and conmen and scolds. And the only thing they worship is power. If you believe Jesus ever had a good word for war or torture or tax cuts for the rich, or raping the earth, or refusing water to dying migrants, then you might as well believe bunnies lay painted eggs.
And Jesus never said a word about gay marriage. He was much too busy hanging out with 12 guys. Now I know George Bush says Jesus Christ changed his heart. But believe me, Dick Cheney changed it back. The only thing Bush has in common with Jesus is they both went into their father's business and got crucified for it.
Thomas Jefferson called the type of Christian who trumpets his own belief in the divinity of Jesus rather than the morality of Jesus "pseudo-Christians." And that's who's running our country today. And since they thrive so much on turning water into "whining"—and get off on their endless pretend persecution, let's give them what they want. Let's go to the zoo, get some lions, and feed them Tom DeLay.
I think feeding lions Tom DeLay would be synonymous to feeding a dog some Chinese made dog food.
Comments
Ah, my soul is crushed. And yet, I feel better about my own virtual dribbling. I don't follow Bill Maher, so I wasn't aware the letter P was just c&p'ing stuff from his site.
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nevermind that 80% of the country celebrates the birth of Jesus..............
Of course, not 100% of those people are practicing Christians...but the internet is definitely not the best place to go when looking at demographics of people. A visit to this site would have you believing that the world is composed of about 2% Conservative Christians, a few agnostics, a bunch of atheists, a crap load of Australians, and some people from a country called Belgium that doesn't actually exist.
As to whether or not this is a "christian nation" Does it really matter? Whatever you want to call it, it doesn't change what it really is. The fact that most people in this country identify most closely with the Christian faith says a lot about the culture and values of our country, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the people who founded this country intended for it to be a "Christian nation" quite the contrary, it was important to them that it didn't become a theocratic state. And in response to that cartoon: Yeah, Thomas Jefferson was the ONLY founding father........I love it when people point to him and go "look, America isn't a Christian nation!!" while simultaneously ignoring anyone else who helped to found the country, it's rather convenient.
Would you like me to give you a nice list of founding fathers who shared Jefferson's view? I can do it.But what I find really funny is the way you downplay his significance on the birth of this nation.
Oh, and did you also know that at the time Jefferson was alive, he was credited with devising an evil plan to create a secular government by many evangelical Christians? I can quote you some primary source documents and letters on that if you'd like too. And you might respond by saying, "well sure, there's always a few people that thought that way", but it's actually quite the contrary. It was a popular sentiment amongst evangelicals. Not so much Anglican's at the time, but a heavily popular notion amongst the evangelical crew.
So this whole debates not such a new thing after all. Some people have always tried to keep this nation secular while others have tried to inject their religion into our government. Right from the very start.
I didn't downplay his significant at all, I simply stated that he wasn't the only founding father..does that offend you? Am I wrong? Offend me? Nyah. You missed your target. Try again.
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If Pyrite looks like this
Then yeah, you're right.
OMFG!!! I swear, no lie, I was thinking exactly the same thing when I read Pyrite's post. Bill Maher was totally what I was thinking.
Which is no insult at all to Pyrite. I love Bill Maher's sense of humor. I disagree with him sometimes, but love the way he presents his stuff.
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