GOP's `Christian nation'(party platform)

Boston Globe ^ | July 12, 2004 | Cathy Young

[take]

GOP's `Christian nation' AFTER A SHORT respite from the fight over the Pledge of Allegiance, the Republican Party has once again thrown itself into the fray over issues of church and state. This time it's the Republican Party of Texas, President Bush's home state, which has approved a plank in its platform affirming that

"the United States of America is a Christian nation."

The plank, which also pooh-poohs "the myth of the separation of church and state," has elicited protests from Jewish groups. So far, however, it has not been rejected by the national Republican Party. This is in contrast to a similar flap in 1992: A statement by then-Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice at a Republican governors' convention that

"the United States is a Christian nation"

was met with rebukes from leading Republicans, and Fordice eventually had to apologize. True, the Texas Republican Party's plank also includes the "Judeo-Christian" formula that the national Republican leadership defended in 1992 ("our nation was founded on fundamental Judeo-Christian principles based on the Holy Bible").

[F16Fighter]

"If the US was a Christian nation it would have stopped the slaughter of millions of Christians in Sudan. After all Sudan is a a worthless third world country with practically no military force to worry about."

This much is true...

However, since the Sudan's oil supply is inconsequential to the World's Elite -- including our own here in America -- the lives of its people rate slightly below that of baby seals and dolphins....

Aaah -- the moral ethics of the Secular Humanist.

[F16Fighter]

"I object as much as anyone else to the Democrats' anti-religious and anti-Christian bigotry, but this plank is just stupid."

Maybe you should digest the "plank" before hurdling yourself down PC Alley.

[F16Fighter]

" I've heard people from that area of the Country claim that Catholics aren't Christians."

And I've heard of Catholics who believe everyone else is going to hell.

Your point?

[Smartaleck]

"Yeah -- one was an Espiscopalian, another a Quaker, another a Baptist, etc....IOW, 95% Christian and 100% Euro-Western."

What denomination were Franklin, Jeffereson say?

[Smartaleck]

"No need to elaborate on it? That is not what they are doing." Sure they are. Were they not they would have taken the words from say the Declaration of Independence....."endowed by their Creator". It doesn't say endowed by God or Christ etc.

[Smartaleck]

"All they are saying that when founded the country were founded on Christian principles"

Are they Christian principles or are they Hebrew principles? The 10 commandments arise out of the Hebrew Bible and if I'm not mistaken, many of our legal laws are promulgated based on the tenants expressed therein?

[F16Fighter]

"What denomination were Franklin, Jeffereson say?"

Allegedly Deists who advocated in and abided by Judeo-Christian ethics...

Now can you kindly explain what part of "95% Christian and 100% Euro-Western" you couldn't quite comprehend?

[F16Fighter]

"The words from say the Declaration of Independence.....[says] "endowed by their Creator". It doesn't say endowed by God or Christ etc."

It's only TWO dots to figure this one out.

Are you possibly that much in denial?

[Smartaleck]

"Allegedly Deists"

Nothing alleged. They were avowed.

[jf55510]

Nothing alleged. They were avowed.

So because two of the founders were diests that means there was nothing religious in the founding of the coutry?

[jf55510]

Were they not they would have taken the words from say the Declaration of Independence....."endowed by their Creator". It doesn't say endowed by God or Christ etc.

Since 95% of founders were religious they were one and the same.

[jf55510]

Are they Christian principles or are they Hebrew principles? The 10 commandments arise out of the Hebrew Bible and if I'm not mistaken, many of our legal laws are promulgated based on the tenants expressed therein?

Quoting from the platform, "Our nation was founded on fundamental Judeo-Christian principles based on the Holy Bible."

[Smartaleck]

Quoting from the platform and the topic here........

"Christian Nation – The Republican Party of Texas affirms that the United States of America is a Christian nation,...."

[Smartaleck]

"Since 95% of founders were religious they were one and the same."

This misses the point. Just because one is "religious" does not necessarily mean they are Christians.

The country was founded on Christianity? Most founders would probably acknowledge some type of religious influence, but not necessarily Christianity me thinks.

http://religion.aynrand.org/quotes.html

Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli (June 7, 1797). Article 11 states:
“The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”

From Jefferson’s biography:
“...an amendment was proposed by inserting the words, ‘Jesus Christ...the holy author of our religion,’ which was rejected ‘By a great majority in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindoo and the Infidel of every denomination.’”

[philosofy123]

Aaah -- the moral ethics of the Secular Humanist.

I thought Bush claims to be "born again"!

[miloklancy]

The U.S. is a religiously tolerant nation founded by Christians. This is what the Forefathers intended and if we turn our backs on this fine tradition, we are headed for religious chaos. The same kind of chaos which motivates Islamists, who wish our country harm. Give me Jeffersonian America any day.

[HostileTerritory]

I'm Jewish. I understand your wish to bring me into Christ, but I hope you understand that if that should ever happen to me or the tens of millions of other non-Christians in the U.S., it should not be through the efforts of our government.

[Luke]

I'm Jewish. I understand your wish to bring me into Christ, but I hope you understand that if that should ever happen to me or the tens of millions of other non-Christians in the U.S., it should not be through the efforts of our government.

Dear HostileTerritory:

We stand as brothers on this. I concur with you that our government should never adopt an official 'religion'. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights should never be weakened.

It would however be my prayer that ALL would come to know the GOD that you and I both worship. It is my understanding that our beliefs differ in only HOW one obtains salvation. You could probably help me understand the first part of my Bible with a deeper appreciation and love than I now have (those books that Moses wrote). And I would be more than willing to help you understand the latter part of my Bible. Until that time let me say that it is my belief that Christians should always pray for and SUPPORT GOD's CHOSEN PEOPLE no matter where they reside ...but especially those in Israel. I would love to visit there one day.