Consider carefully before answering.
Just suppose:
You were born in this nation, the greatest on the face of the Earth, to two parents, who have a lineage of birthright, in this nation. That makes you an American, whether you like it or not.
Your parents were of Christian upbringing, and followed all the rites associated with your growth, from a newborn babe to a young man. You participated in those rites that were deemed necessary, for you to be considered Christian, yourself.
Now, by doing so, within the writings and teachings of literature associated with these rites, you are instructed that you have now become answerable to Divinity, and that trumps anything of any kind of being an American.
But, you are an American. You have for as long as you remember, said The Pledge of Allegiance, proudly, because you ARE an American.
So now, do you drop your allegiance to the nation that is the home of your birth, and the birth of your parents, and their parents? Or, do you live a lie?
I have watched this argument build, for a long time. I have watched the challenge being bullhorned to every American across the land. Here is my answer, and phooey, if it does not fit in your round peg/round hole pegboard.
My religious beliefs are pecuilar, particular, and pertain only to me. I do not have to answer to any American, native or natural born, as to the definitions of what those beliefs are.
I am an American by birth, half-breed and proudly, by blood. I am half-Mojave. I am a disabled Vietnam veteran, so I have damn well earned the right to think, speak, elect, spit at, and pray to whom I choose.
I look with the eye of scrutiny at anybody that says that anybody who practices their peculiar and particular faith, must be of that faith first, before being an American. IMHO, should you believe that, this country doesn’t need you! Mohammedans are a prime example of this. IMHO, this means that you are willing to shape the laws of this country to your own peculiar, and particular beliefs, and what I hold dear, and what has worked for all these years since the beginning of this great nation, be damned.
While I'm not a Christian, I certainly put my American citizenship before my (lack of) faith.
While I'm not a Christian, I certainly put my American citizenship before my (lack of) faith.
I thought we kind of covered all of this with “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”?
They both have some separate areas of concern. The Church doesn't have a lot to say on speed limits for example, but those who are of the City of God must realize we are just traveling here. This City is not our real home.
The danger is that most tend to drift more into the city of man. In other words, the reason why so many Catholics are devout Democrats is that their society or family group are culturally that way, and they value their standing in that group more than the standing in the Church.