America is not a Christian theocracy
20 April 2010 by Stardust
Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814
Many, if not most Christian Republicans don’t want the government and their tax money used to help the general public with things like health care and other social programs. They claim to want as little government interference as possible, but they hypocritically and constantly push for “faith based” programs which promote their own version of god delusions onto the general population. They have gotten their way with interjecting “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance long after it was written, and the placement of “in God We Trust” on our country’s currency. We are forced to swear in court on their mythology book, to say it when taking the oath for public office and when joining the military (unless we make a fuss about it, which can have negative outcomes when we do). In many places their Ten Commandments from their book of woo is on display in government buildings and even schools (until someone makes an issue of it). They want to force our children to pray along with them in public schools, even though they are free to pray to themselves any time they want without bothering anyone else. They feel the need to drag everyone forcefully into their “faith”.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU Press Mention) “It’s incredibly hypocritical that Sarah Palin, who disapproves of government involvement in just about anything, now suddenly wants the government to help people be religious,” Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told ABC News. “It is wildly inconsistent with her views on limited government to get the government involved in matters of faith.”"
If one really understands the foundations this country was built on, there should be no question as to if America is a Christian nation. But Sarah Palin and others who hold her fundamentalist sky daddy beliefs just don’t get it. On Friday, Sarah Palin said that it’s mind-boggling to suggest that America is not a Christian nation.
“Lest anyone try to convince you that God should be separated from the state, our founding fathers, they were believers,” said Palin. “And George Washington, he saw faith in God as basic to life.”
“In Washington’s farewell address, he wrote ‘Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, religion, faith, morality are indispensible supports,’” she continued. “So Women of Joy, remember that, and remember that even today this nation needs you.”
According to ABC News “two groups dedicated to the separation of church and state are now speaking out against her, arguing that she is misreading the founders’ intent.”
A spokesman for the Secular Coalition for America told ABC News that Palin is misconstruing the founders’ intent on matters of church and state.
“While the founders’ views on religion varied from person to person, there is no doubt that they believed strongly that religion had no place in government,” said Paul Fidalgo, the communications manager for the Secular Coalition for America. “John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli which stated in no uncertain terms that ‘the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.’
Palin told the women in attendance, whom she referred to as a “mom of faith movement,” that they should not listen to critics who would make them feel that their movement is “all a low-cost brand of ignorance.”
That’s exactly what it is, though. A “low-cost brand of ignorance”. She describes the fundamentalist religionist mindset perfectly. I call it “willful ignorance”.
20 April 2010, on 3:12 pm
For anyone who missed it; here’s the YouTube link to Keith Olbermann’s 4/19/10 Countdown segment on Palin’s outrageous historical ignorance, if not just outright boldfaced lying:
“Thomas Jefferson Pwns Sarah Palin and her God”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j5ncmZizJ0
As Keith has said, more than onec: “That woman is an idiot!”
Of course, another comparable idiot, is her erstwhile new buddy…Michelle Bachmann.
20 April 2010, on 3:14 pm
^ Sorry…I meant…more than once!
Sheesh!
20 April 2010, on 3:14 pm
Thanks for that link, Chuck. Keith tells it like it is, that woman is indeed a total idiotic moron.
20 April 2010, on 5:08 pm
Good link Chuck. They used the expression, “Palintology”, I like that.
21 April 2010, on 12:35 am
Even from this far away (I’m in Australia), the apparent stupidity of Sarah Palin is on display. From her foreign policy experience, seeing Russia from the back door, to her fundamentalist utterings this individual is a worry. The fact that she could possibly end up in the White House & in command should put the wind up any voting American. They are the only ones with the power to contain Palin and really need to do so. Rational Americans are rampant on the web, how can that power be harnessed and put to a singular good use (DePalinisation)? What is it with the American religious hang up? Why does a successful, enterprising nation need such rubbish and give it such prominence and importance?
21 April 2010, on 1:13 am
What is it with the American religious hang up? Why does a successful, enterprising nation need such rubbish and give it such prominence and importance?
Votes. The Republican party relies on the religious nutters to keep them in power regardless of the woo they bring along into it. It’s all about power and control and little things like disregard for science and rationality are trivial matters.
21 April 2010, on 1:15 am
And to correct myself, actually BOTH parties pander to the religious whackadoos…there are enough religious nutters here in this country with enough power to swing an election one way or another. Therefore, either party must kiss the asses of he delusional. It’s sickening.
21 April 2010, on 1:43 am
Let’s stop talking and start doing.
If you’re on Facebook, join “Crossing out God’s Name on Our (American) Money”. But don’t stop there…
…check out Cynical-C/Stamping Out God, One Dollar at a Time
Tomorrow, I’m finding a printshop that will make me a little ol’ stamp, so I can do the same.
Petty? Maybe. But it’s rumored that xians destroy them when they find them. As the guy said, “Help them be as bankrupt financially as they are morally.”
21 April 2010, on 2:27 am
What is it with the American religious hang up? Why does a successful, enterprising nation need such rubbish and give it such prominence and importance?
I’ll go a little farther: the religiosity is driven by fear. Most are afraid that they’re losing control of their childen and their culture. And they have. There is a generation in their teens that won’t go to church. And the younger ones will likely do the same. Not enough have been brainwashed to keep filling the churches.
The churches are suffering the same as the rest of the economy, including foreclosure of buildings. After all, they carry mortgages, too. I’ve only read of one congregation that’s taking a realistic approach: “this will be good for us.” (Down-sizing from a megachurch to a medium-sized warehouse must be galling.)
They fear being irrelevant. They know they’re not respected. They’ve traded their authentic voice for a fear-driven, win-at-all-costs, pugnacious screed — which seeks to hide their terror.
From being “someone” to being treated as a “has-been” in just two generations — it couldn’t happen to a more deserving group.
The icing on this delicious cake: The ARIS study (pdf) found that the only “faith” group that is growing in all 50 states is…atheists/agnostics/none. (FYI: ARIS is conducted for the Census Bureau because it is prevented from asking such “personal questions”. ARIS stands for American Religious Identification Survey.)
21 April 2010, on 10:39 am
Let’s stop talking and start doing.
I’ve been doing the crossing out of “In Gob We Trust” on money for some time now. And by doing so we are not making the money unusable. Whereas the Christians who tear it up are breaking the law, money cannot be destroyed and damaged money is supposed to be taken to a bank for exchange for usable money. But Xians are so dramatic and would indeed bankrupt themselves in their little persecution pity parties.
My fundie aunts say that the reason that atheists and agnostic groups are growing is because the “end of times” is near and that is all predicted in their magical book of woo.
21 April 2010, on 12:53 pm
Dontcha love how they always have an “answer”?
They crack me up!
21 April 2010, on 1:02 pm
Dontcha love how they always have an “answer”?
Yep, they always have an answer for everything, made up in their own little pea brains.
21 April 2010, on 10:43 pm
Down here, we get to see quite a bit about American politics. Sad to say Fox news (we get it here too) was established by News Corp, a company founded in Australia by Rupert Murdoch. His Australian newspapers are conservative too, no quite as far right as Fox news tho’. The fundamental problem is the level of belief in the sky fairy in the US. This gives the theists the power to influence proceedings. I’ve always been amazed that the country as (for want of a better word) ‘blessed’ as the US, needs this religion thing. It’s not like you’re on the whole doing it tough and require some supernatural intervention. Yours is a fertile, abundant land, perhaps the most productive in the world. Use Thanksgiving day to thank mother nature for your good fortune.
21 April 2010, on 11:30 pm
I’ve always been amazed that the country as (for want of a better word) ‘blessed’ as the US, needs this religion thing. It’s not like you’re on the whole doing it tough and require some supernatural intervention. Yours is a fertile, abundant land, perhaps the most productive in the world. Use Thanksgiving day to thank mother nature for your good fortune.
The thing is, these people believe we all have so much here because of the great Sky Genie who gives us everything just because we are Americans. They believe we have fertile and abundant land, not because pioneers came over here and stole it from other people and took it by force, but because their Supernatural Sugar Daddy gave it to us. And now they are afraid if they don’t keep up the magical incantations and keep the “faith” that the Big Boss will be pissed off and take it all away from them. So they cling to the beliefs in order to somehow magically hang onto their stuff and money and the good life.
22 April 2010, on 10:29 am
Good idea. I might get a stamp too so I can get the fuckin’ Queen off our Canadian money.
22 April 2010, on 11:31 am
By the way, Captain Al, and anyone who might have missed it, here’s the link to the original GifS “in-House” Post (11/6/09), RE “De-baptizing” money:
http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2009/11/06/de-baptizing-money/
Lots of more “in depth” details and comments about that whole subject.
For a cheaper, handier, perhaps less incriminating(?) technique…
“Red (or black), fine point, laundry marker pens, anyone?”