Sick and Tired of ‘God Bless America’

New York Times ^ | 02/08/2016 | Susan Jacoby

[SeekAndFind]

THE population of nonreligious Americans -- including atheists, agnostics and those who call themselves "nothing in particular" -- stands at an all-time high this election year. Americans who say religion is not important in their lives and who do not belong to a religious group, according to Pew Research Center, have risen in numbers from an estimated 21 million in 2008 to more than 36 million now.

Despite the extraordinary swiftness and magnitude of this shift, our political campaigns are still conducted as if all potential voters were among the faithful. The presumption is that candidates have everything to gain and nothing to lose by continuing their obsequious attitude toward orthodox religion and ignoring the growing population of those who make up a more secular America.

Ted Cruz won in Iowa by expanding Republican voter turnout among the evangelical base. Donald J. Trump placed second after promising "to protect Christians" from enemies foreign and domestic. The third-place finisher Marco Rubio's line "I don't think you can go to church too often" might well have been the campaign mantra. Mr. Rubio was first christened a Roman Catholic, baptized again at the age of 8 into the Mormon Church, and now attends a Southern Baptist megachurch with his wife on Saturdays and Catholic Mass on Sundays.

Democrats are only a trifle more secular in their appeals. Hillary Clinton repeatedly refers to her Methodist upbringing, and even Bernie Sanders -- a cultural Jew not known to belong to a synagogue -- squirms when asked whether he believes in God. When Jimmy Kimmel posed the question, Mr. Sanders replied in a fog of words at odds with his usual blunt style: "I am who I am. And what I believe in and what my spirituality is about, is that we're all in this together."

[CharleysPride]

‘America the Beautiful’ is a Much better song, GBA sucks, it is the worst of the patriotic anthems because it is slow, dull, and authoritarian. God has nothing to do with it.

[mjp]

THE population of nonreligious Americans -- including atheists, agnostics and those who call themselves "nothing in particular"

The secular humanist, postmodernist, and marxist libtards are able to have a subjectivistic, relativistic, pragmatist, morally neutral morality, which permits them to have a permissive morality, pluralistic morality,and experimental and alternative lifestyles where anything goes.

[ex-snook]

People should learn that God Bless America is a prayer not the national anthem.

[Teacher317]

Hey, 89 percenters, shut up and let the 11 percenters shove their views on everyone instead!

[huldah1776]

There is only One who is true to self, the I AM of the Bible. We will some day experience life without the Holy Spirit restraining the evil ones who will take the mark. Imagine the horror of bernie and minions unleashed.

[Scutter]

Screw you, New York Times. I am so sick of these anti-religion nut jobs. No one is forcing them to sing God Bless America.

[huldah1776]

Yup...”Even more critical is the necessity of reclaiming the language of religious freedom from the far right. As defined by many pandering politicians, “religious freedom” is in danger of becoming code for accepting public money while imposing faith-based values on others.”

This author who quoted Thomas Paine in defense of reason, should realize that the Judaic/Christian faith rule of loving your neighbor as yourself can not be surpassed by any other secular value and is in practice failed every day.

[DaveyB]

NY Values!

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I bet this ugly, old cow's husband is sick and tired of waking up to this every morning.

[Yosemitest]

Send BOTH groups TO HELL !

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Despite the extraordinary swiftness and magnitude of this shift, our political campaigns are still conducted as if all potential voters were among the faithful.

That's probably because most non-religious types aren't automatically offended by the idea of religion - most of their friends and family are religious, they wouldn't dream of trying to trample on the faith of those who are religious, and the religious faith of candidates probably isn't what drives their voting decisions.

It's the devoutly atheist types, who've turned atheism into it's own religion, who view everything through that prism.

[subterfuge]

Great point. Don’t go ordering God to do stuff.

[subterfuge]

I don’t think you’re doing it right.

[mulligan]

No, and one day Susan you will find out you took the wrong fork in the road.

[Vigilanteman]

That’s where they are headed, but they would prefer to build their hell on earth.

[Yosemitest]

Then we should NOT wait !
Do it NOW !

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

which permits them to have a permissive morality, pluralistic morality,and experimental and alternative lifestyles where anything goes.

And yet, without the slightest sense of irony, they moralize like the worst preachers they condemn.

There really is nothing more ironic than a moralizing atheist.

[Organic Panic]

I’m sick and tired of an athiest disgusting homosexual agenda being forced in everyone’s face day in and day out. Where’s my binkie NYT?

[Tudorfly]

Bernie is channeling Popeye: “I yam who I yam.”

[CharleysPride]

‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ is a fine song. May be too divisive because of its history, though.