Quote: "We should be tolerant, but we should NOT let them [Atheists] have any say in our government!" WTF?!?!?

Question

This isn't really a question regarding religion, but the intersection of religion and politics.

Correct me if I am mistaken, but doesn't every American citizen have the right, privilege, and obligation to have a say in "our" government, regardless of his/her religious affiliation?

This sort of statement truly terrifies me, because it shows just how deeply intertwined religion and politics have become in the U.S.

Last time I checked, the U.S. was still a democracy, not a theocracy, right?????

Posted in response to this question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060803142744AAi64uT&r=w#NbUvWDK6UjWEjhdOfGrm

Ninadecaramelo: I think you kinda missed this one; I am quoting an answer that another gave to a different question. This is not my claim or statement, and I am not commenting on any particular religion.

If you read further, you will see that I say pretty much what you say - that one's religious belief (or lack thereof) should not determine whether they can "have a say in our government."

The person is NOT a troll, but a regular respondant - level 5.

Sorry, I can't spell out what WTF means.

What
The
F***
?

Ok Don H - a republican democracy then, influenced by both ancient Greek (direct democracy) and ancient Roman (formed as a republic after dismantling the monarcy). Fair enough? :-)

DuckPhup: thanks for the reference.

Answer 1

I wish I could speak for every individual Christian, but I can't. However, as a member of the body of Christ, I apologize to you for those that are misguided. Part of "loving your neighbor" is accepting the laws of the country/state/county/city that you choose to reside. This country was built on the foundation of seperation of state and church. I am a staunch advocate of this foundation, because theocracies always fail with much turmoil and death. Politically (and Biblically) I believe tolerance should be taught. I will debate beliefs until I'm blue in the face, and I will never tell someone that I think it's okay for them to live without Christ, but it my job as a Christian, not as an American. If it can be recognized as wrong without Biblical doctrine, it should be enforced by law. In my belief that life begins at conception, I am pro-life. However, by recognizing that marriage in this country is viewed as a contract, I refuse to say that banning same-sex marriage is anywhere near appropriate. It is the clergy and church's decision, not the federal or state governments. Again, I apologize for the fact that you have been wronged by Christians that think they are doing the right thing without consulting Holy Scripture as a whole, instead of the popular method of reading one or two verses without keeping their Theology systematic.

Answer 2

Wow, that is just straight up crazy sh*t! These people have gone too far in assuming their ideas are the ideas of everyone, especially in our government! I cannot believe someone was ignorant enough to say that. It really scares me too.

Look, people, I know you think all your morals and laws and whatnot are really great and I know they may seem like they should extend to everyone, but not everyone feels the same way you do. That is a very big assumption to make! What the Bible says does not matter one single iota in making laws for a nation where a separation of church and state is mandated by the government. You cannot try to make the laws of God the laws of the United States, just because it bothers you that some people do those things you think are bad. NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH YOU!!!! YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT AND DO THE RIGHT THING IN YOUR OWN LIVES!!! I know that that sometimes means you have to have experiences that go against your religion, but they do not go against the religious beliefs of every rational person in the US, so you cannot make a law banning it! When it comes down to a choice that may have some strong religious feelings on one side, this government cannot take religion into consideration!

Answer 3

MINE MINE MINE!!! Just gotta love and find it scary how some people are so convinced that it is just THEIR world...even scarier that there are those like that who are made "leaders."

To be perfectly honest, I think an open minded non religious person might be best in office...one that will not make any laws against believers, but leave the religion out of politics and leave our world open to everyone and to believe what they wish.


P.S. Teacher2you2000 and any others, no offense, but I am tired of these Christians that seem to think they have been the discriminated ones all this time in history. Just because a few other people decide to finally "take a stand" against their forced dogma in recent years. Stop acting like such victims all of a sudden, it is just the same as if whites suddenly started claiming to be the victims and saying they need to take a stand now!

Answer 4

I'm not sure it has ever actually been a democracy. A democracy would have a congress filled with plumbers, mechanics, hamburger flippers etc. All the laws and the entire legal judicial system is based on the ten commandments. Some say the the ten commandments were the first written judicial code.

If you consider how many Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and catholic presidents we have had The grand total comes up to about 1.

Answer 5

Luckily secular government protects the rights for each citizen including atheists. If we are citizens we vote like anyone else.

Some people choose to ignore that our government was not created out of christianity. To them they will always have a say and sometimes they do perhaps more than they should because they are the biggest voting block. Politicians know this which is why they target it.

Now perhaps, seeing such statements, people will be shocked into doing their civic duty and making their voice heard. Too many people just don't do it. Government needs to remain secular and represent all the people.

Answer 6

First of all, could you post the link to the message?

Secondly, no sane Christian I know would ever state that anyone should be barred based on factors such as religion.

My guess is the person is a troll or someone who is so far out there that they can't be taken seriously.

People like that are extremist and most people including Christians would disagree with that person's ethic. They are not representing the vast majority of believers.

My advice would be to ignore a person like that, they are not speaking for Christians.

Answer 7

Religion and politics have ALWAYS been intertwined in the US... It's only been recently that they are beginning to separate and it's because the Atheists keep crying "separation of Church and state" - which isn't really in the constitution by the way...

Atheists have been trying to take over this country for the last few decades... since the 60s... of course you would know that if you actually knew US history...

Answer 8

In some states atheists can't hold office. So that is in part a government policy. Freedom of religion (less your atheist). Sounds christian. What happened to freedom? If we ever go as far as you say, I will pull up stakes, and go elsewhere, because the country would go back to the stone age. Some guy asked "What if the justice system worked like Christianity?". That gives a good picture.

Answer 9

Hello Zenhighway, Zenbach here. Have you ever been to Salt Lake City, Utah? That is what happens when the whackos take over, watch the news, those Muslims do the same. I believe government is government, and personal beliefs are yours and yours alone. When you push your beliefs system into peoples lives, it is upsetting because they never stop to think others believe differently. "Bible Thumpers" are scary because they are brainwashed and then get some power and really go nuts, i.e. George W. Bush.

Answer 10

What religion are you? What's your question really? You're making a statement that atheists shouldn't be allowed to vote. I would hate to be in America if only Muslims had the right to vote--or only Jews had the right to vote--or only Christians had the right to vote. When everyone votes, it all balances out for the best outcome. Look at the Middle East where religion rules. Do you think that's better?!?!?!

Answer 11

You have a problem with that? It's a lot more serious than you think. Check this out:

George Bush, Sr., to a AA reporter Robert I. Sherman in August 27,1987, while serving as vice-president and running for President, Full text of exchange follows:

Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are Atheists?

Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the Atheist community. Faith in god is important to me.

Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are Atheists?

Bush: No, I don't know that Atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

Sherman (somewhat taken aback): Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation of state and church?

Bush: Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just not very high on Atheists.

http://www.ethicalatheist.com/docs/separation_church_state.html

There is very good reason to be afraid. Christian 'Dominionists' (Reconstructionalists, theonomists) have largely usurped the local level political apparatus of the Republican Party, and are engaged in a sub rosa process to politically motivate moderate Christians under the false cover of religious issues such as morality and family values. The goal is nothing less than the takeover of all elective offices in the USA.

Their doctrine comes from the Bible, starting with the term 'dominion' at Genesis 1:28... “And God said unto them, [Adam and Eve] Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have DOMINION… over every living thing.” They interpret DOMINION as: “... a supremacy in determining and directing the actions of others or in governing politically, socially, or personally.”

They want to remake the USA as a theocracy... and they are succeeding.

Its most common form, Dominionism, represents one of the most extreme forms of Fundamentalist Christianity thought. Its followers, called Dominionists, are attempting to convert the laws of United States so that they match those of the Hebrew Scriptures. They intend to achieve this by using the freedom of religion in the US to train a generation of children via home-schooling and in private Christian religious schools. Later, their graduates will be charged with the responsibility of creating a new Bible-based political, religious and social order. One of the first tasks of this order will be to eliminate religious choice and freedom. Their eventual goal is to achieve the "Kingdom of God" in which much of the world is converted to Christianity. They feel that the power of God's word will bring about this conversion. No armed force or insurrection will be needed; in fact, they believe that there will be little opposition to their plan. People will willingly accept it. All that needs to be done is to properly explain it to them.

All religious organizations, congregations etc. other than strictly Fundamentalist Christianity would be suppressed. Nonconforming Evangelical, main line and liberal Christian religious institutions would no longer be allowed to hold services, organize, proselytize, etc. Society would revert to the laws and punishments of the Hebrew Scriptures. Any person who advocated or practiced other religious beliefs outside of their home would be tried for idolatry and executed. Blasphemy, adultery and homosexual behavior would be criminalized; those found guilty would also be executed. There are two conservative Christian pastors in Texas who have advocated the execution of all Wiccans. Ralph Reed, the executive director of the conservative public policy group the Christian Coalition has criticized Reconstructionism as "an authoritarian ideology that threatens the most basic civil liberties of a free and democratic society."

Wake up. Take a stand. Do something. By allowing this insidious agenda to progress, we are sowing the seeds of our own destruction, while these religious nut-jobs are paving the way to Armageddon with gleeful anticipation.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/HistoryOfReconstructionMovement.html
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/Clarkson_RiseOfDomionism.html