Posted on 11/29/2004 7:24:42 AM PST by Pitiricus
We are not a Christian nation. If we were, we wouldn't have the problems that we have today.<<
Original sin covers that one - Christians are not perfect you know. Also, Christian tolerance and respect for other peoples have allowed us to be infiltrated by non-Christians.
the fact is most Americans where born within just a few miles or so of a church - so there!
See my quotes of John Adams... he didn't recognize Jesus as God... Neither do I BTW...
:-)
Isn't that the truth.
Interesting, but also biased towards certain aspects of Christianity in America...Totally ignored the continuity of Baptist church thought, the impact the Restoration movement, and some other very strong impulses in the American religious experience...The Evangelical movement didn't just pop up out of a vacuum. Article does hint at the tendency in America for churches that compromise with the core teachings of Christianity to become less and less important to those who really believe and more and more of a social club/service body with less and less impact on people and fewer and fewer members, to be replaced by churches where the belief is still taken seriously.
No doubt this is what happens when you don't have state sponsored churches...but it doesn't take away the fact that America is a country where even if it's not technically Christian by law, it is Christian in culture in many ways, which is causing the conflict with the atheists trying to establish Atheism as the offical doctrine of the public sector...Christianity does very well, normally, under persecution...the more they persecute us, the more committed a lot of us get!
There is a vast difference in the appreciation of Christ's Godhead between Unitarians in 2004 and Unitarians in 1804, absolutely.
Your post only re-inforces that John Adams was an anti-papast (which he was), not a non-Christian.
Even all Christians do not believe this. Some believe that an infinite God could not be contained in a limited human form - they believe that Jesus revealed to human beings the true nature of their Source (God) and he demonstrated that the knowledge of this could overcome any human limitation or problem.
It is ok with me, however, if you want to believe that Jesus is God. Everyone in this country is free to believe as they wish regarding religion without persecution or ridicule as long as they do not get too bizarre in that belief.
The quotes you posted don't suggest Adams' denied the divinity of Christ, only that it was made "a convenient cover for absurdity." He did not denounce the religion, only the misinterpretation of the religion.
I did see your quotes. Adams takes issue with organized religion (particularily Catholic) dogma, which is not found in the Bible. He also takes issue with actions taken in Jesus' name. But your last quote reveals that he believes in the divinity of Christ, which puts him squarely in the "Christian" camp. If you read his biographies and letters, which I have, you will realize that it is beyond dispute.
Tailgunner, you are correct.
The U.S. is not a "Christian nation". It is a (non-sectarian) republic, predominantly peopled by Christians of every conceivable variety, with an admixture of many other religions.
That is very well said...
He is, you will find out, As simple as that!
Why, thank you! ;o)
Nonsense. Where do you get this stuff? I riducule anyone I please. It's my right as US citizen as enumerated in the first amendment. And I find any belief (or non belief in Christ) as bizarre. How's that?
Answer:
Israel?
Exactly.
Our nation was founded upon the Biblical Worldview.
Those who hate the biblical God have been trying to undermine our Constitution and the objective rule of law that undergirds it, ever since.
We used to be a Christian nation. We have fallen as a nation and now reside in a post-Christian era, with remnants and vestiges to that past in the protestant, evangelical movements. But this was never a Christian theocracy. It wasn't intended. It was born out of the caldrun of the dark ages, on the the reformation, then those emboldened sought to be able to worship God as they understood the scripture. The clarion call across Europe postLuther was sola scriptura...only the scripture. No one has the authority to override the written word. Out of this and after Gutenbergs revolutionary invention, the stage was set for moving into a virgin homeland and expanding westward. Most of the colonies were established to allow a certain type of denominational worship, but to not exclude those who did not. But all were Christian vintage. Not islamic,not hindu,not Budhist...Christian in their world view. Forming a nation and its laws from the foundation of that world view. And propelling that nation of laws of an essentially moral and religious people who held in their boosom that knowledge of moral absolutes. There have always been people who didn't believe in the divinity of Christ, but as a nation we held to his teachings until about 50 years ago. That is when we moved to a postChristian era. Francis Schaeffer wrote "A Christian Manifesto" 20 years ago and addressed this subject better than I ever could. Highly recommend it.
My statement applied to reasoning, mature, open minded individuals - you are, of course, free to demonstrate whether or not you are in that group.
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