“Is there in fact any government today that may be said to be a flag carrier for Christian values?”
First of all, what are ONG, DLL, bachi boys, and OP?
I have not read the entire Bible, but have read chunks on my own and studied and discussed sections for a college “Greeks and rhe Bible” course. When you say “Christian values” do you mean only the New Testament, or do you also include the Old Testament?
Jesus did not always avoid violence. I remember the incident of his overturning the tables of the money changers in the temple. They were charging outrageous sums to change the many kinds of coins used in the Roman Empire. All sacrificial animals had to be bought with Jewish coinage. This was a violent act, but hardly torture. Having not read the entire New Testament, I don’t know if there might be other more violent episodes, even acts of torture. Certainly the crucifixion was a torture scene, but performed by Romans, not Jews, although set in motion by one segment of the Jewish religious leadership, all as part of God’s plan for his son.
On the other hand the Old Testament had some pretty brutal episodes, including genocide of non Jewish peoples.
Some governments definitely have state religions. Some of these are European countries, and we have certainly heard a lot about those who have Islamic forms of government including Sharia Law, like the Taliban and Saudi Arabia. According to the wishes and votes by our founders, the US Constitution specifically tries to keep religion out of politics. A number of US citizens do not practice a Christian religion or are agnostic or atheists. This does not keep them from practicing a sort of ethical code. For example, the idea “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is part of the code of all major religions, and many non-churched people.
I don’t think there is any government that completely practices “Christian values” or even the stated values of some other professed religion. They sometimes don’t even practice their people’s generally accepted ethical values. Since the US was NOT established as a Christian nation, we would be doing well if our government simply followed the generally accepted ethical values of our people and Constitution. Our US government fails in this regard far less than some other governments, such as the current Russian one controlled by Vladimir Putin. [You may fire when ready!]
I mean little by the phrase, per se. I responded to another who used the phrase.
--- "[You may fire when ready!]
Sorry. mate. There will be no "incoming salvo" from me. Rather I shall annoy you with agreement as I highlight what your wrote:
"Since the US was NOT established as a Christian nation, we would be doing well if our government simply followed the generally accepted ethical values of our people and Constitution. "
Especially the Constitution.
Firstly, my wife recognizes that had you added “but they don’t” after your last use of the word “Constitution” then we might have agreed with you. Secondly, your following sentence IS a justification for you perspective. Lastly, you go on to demonize Putin. Good job. You hit almost all the bases.
“Bachi boys” is probably a reference to the Afghan practice of bacha bazi -dressing up boys like girls, and having them dance for homosexual pedophiles