Replies

I gather that it was Kevmo's use of the term "God damned heretics" that really is what has you perturbed - you have repeated it more than a dozen times. It seems you are unable to separate the views of the founders of America WRT religion versus politics. That some held religious doctrines that were NOT orthodox, isn't a reason to toss out everything ELSE they believed and NOBODY is advocating the murder of them or those who believe as some of them might have. To be honest, I think you are being a little hysterical over it. I repeat, they were not founders of a religion but of a nation and the basic underpinnings through their writings for how a nation can function in the best possible way for all its citizens. They certainly concluded that religious freedom was paramount to the pursuit of happiness for each person and they agreed that such freedoms are GOD-given rights along with that of life and LIBERTY. Does a person have to be a Christian to recognize that there is a Creator who has endowed His creation with unalienable rights? No, or course not. But would atheists have been able to establish this nation in the same way? I don't think so.

Let's not forget that two hundred years ago the majority of ALL humanity believed in a Creator. Those who didn't were on the fringes pretty much and belief in God was a given. It's no wonder, then, that the founders didn't see the need to expound upon their belief in God and the mentions of Him are almost matter-of-fact. "We hold these truths to be self-evident" they said, indicating that belief in God was something everyone accepted.

You ask if I want to take "both sides". I don't see that there really are two opposing sides. Kevmo correctly states that God will damn those who do not believe the truth. Jesus said we would "die in our sins" if we believed not that he was who he claimed to be. What you call "murderous hatred" is pointless hyperbole - nobody is advocating an inquisition. Cool your jets. M'kay?

boadbums: "I gather that it was Kevmo's use of the term "God damned heretics" that really is what has you perturbed - you have repeated it more than a dozen times."

Duh!

boadbums: "It seems you are unable to separate the views of the founders of America WRT religion versus politics.
That some held religious doctrines that were NOT orthodox, isn't a reason to toss out everything ELSE they believed..."

Please, please don't forget the essential fact here: spirited irish titled her thread, in part: "Damnable Heresies", and Kevmo has determined that my views, similar to those of many Founders, make me a "God Damned Heretic".

Now, it seems to me that should be a matter of grave concern to "the community at large", that both Kevmo and spirited should be sternly scolded for not only intemperate language, but unacceptable ideology.
Has anything like that happened?
Not a hint of it.
Instead, yours truly, BroJoeK, has been roundly scolded by boatbums & others for merely objecting to such insane talk.

Why?

boadbums: "NOBODY is advocating the murder of them or those who believe as some of them might have.
To be honest, I think you are being a little hysterical over it."

But, of course, you're not honest, because, if you were, then you'd have something to say -- here, on this thread -- to Kevmo about his "hysterical" words calling BroJoeK (and by implication, our Founders), a "God Damned Heretic".
And spiritually speaking, what could be more murderous in intent than calling down God's damnation on somebody who disagrees with your religious doctrines?

boadbums: "I repeat, they were not founders of a religion but of a nation and the basic underpinnings through their writings for how a nation can function in the best possible way for all its citizens."

True enough, but I again ask you to please remember: this thread is for the purpose of discussing "Damnable Heresies", and Kevmo has identified yours truly, BroJoeK, (and by implication our Founders) as one of those "God Damned Heretics".

But no, their hysteria is of no concern to boatbums.
Boatbums has nothing to say about their utter freekin insanity -- zero, zip, nada.
Instead boatbums is oh, so very worried about BroJoeK's reminders of how lunatic those people are.

So boatbums wants to be on their side, while still pretending to be half-way sane yourself, don't you?

boadbums: "You ask if I want to take "both sides".
I don't see that there really are two opposing sides.
Kevmo correctly states that God will damn those who do not believe the truth.
Jesus said we would "die in our sins" if we believed not that he was who he claimed to be.
What you call "murderous hatred" is pointless hyperbole - nobody is advocating an inquisition.
Cool your jets."

Ah, but FRiend, they do -- at least here on Free Republic.
Look at the language Kevmo uses not just to me but others who disagree with him.
He clearly wished to drive us off of Free Republic, and if he could get the "powers that be" to support him, he'd zot is in a second, wouldn't he?
In that sense, his intentions are not just spiritually but also physically murderous.

As for who "denies the truth", I'll again remind you that nobody on this particular thread has denied a single word the New Testament says about Jesus.
Yes, I have presented a small-few different interpretations of some words, interpretations which support many of our Founders' religious ideas, plus those of more-or-less 50 million world-wide "restorationists" non-Trinitarian Christians today.
And I have not asked anybody to accept those views, only that they be treated with forbearance & respect on Free Republic -- since nearly all those 50 million "restorationist" Christians should be our natural political allies.

FRiend boatbums, do you not yet grasp what's going on here?