Agnostic here, not wanting to change anyone's religion or citizenship, based on this question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AreNsRtl4GCzn43fv5TaEOrzy6IX?qid=20060818104511AA1ERia
Just curious, to people who think this, What is wrong with you?
My name is Jim Darwin. I'm 29. I'm an agnostic and I don't believe God exists. I served four years in the Unites States Coast Guard defending the rights of Americans to worship or to not worship as they saw fit.
I have the ability to love other human persons. I have a wife and I have a son who I love very much. I love America.
So, just curious, to those who don't think non-religious persons should be American Citizens, what is wrong with you?
2006-08-18 06:59:54 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ok I have to agree with you for the 1st time EVER! That person's statement was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out there.
2006-08-18 07:05:44 · answer #1 · answered by Jim Darwin's Adversary 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, there are people who sincerely believe that to be an American one must believe in a god.
Now, the Founding Fathers (WHATEVER their personal religious beliefs...) were very careful to make it clear that's not the case. If you've ever really looked at the U.S.Constitution you'd know that there are exactly two references to religion. One prohibits religious tests for public office. The other is in the First Amendment, and prohibits laws concerning the establishment of a religion. There are exactly no references to "God", "Jesus", "the Creator", or "Christianity". If the Founding Fathers in their private papers expressed religious beliefs that only makes it more clear that when they excluded those beliefs from the Constitution, they meant to ensure that we have no official religion.
I am an atheist, and I am a fierce American patriot. Because I am an American patriot, I am appalled that the Congress followed the Soviet Union's lead in the last century in pushing to control the religious lives of the citizens by putting religious slogans on money and into the Pledge of Allegiance. America is better than that - we should aspire to be more than just another country, and those acts were steps backwards, bordering on treason.
Those today who believe that non-religious persons can't be American citizens are demonstrating that while they may love the flag and other symbols of our nation, they simply don't like America. What is wrong with them is simply that they don't have nearly enough respect for the United States.
If you want "one nation, under God", move to Saudi Arabia. My nation is better than your religion.
2006-08-18 07:05:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Jim, first of all, please do not make the mistake that so many people do here and think that one person of a certain category speaks for everyone else.
I'm a pentecostal, fundamentalist Christian who totally disagrees with Carl's philosophy and so do most of fhe Christians in this country and on this board.
We don't have to agree on religiion, and that is the beauty of this country. Like you, I love America, (although I am thankful for term limits to our current administration).
I'm sorry that this person offended you. He is totally wrong. and if you look at his post. He's not an American citizen. So to me, it's a little hypocritical for him to state who should be a "real" American!
Jim, I don't always agree with your posts, but I'm glad you are part of our country. Your posts do keep me thinking!
2006-08-18 07:18:37 · answer #3 · answered by Searcher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
*sigh* It's not even like there's a way we could enforce stripping citizenship from people without a religion. People could just lie, like they do in countries under Sharia (Islamic) law so they don't get killed.
I am also an atheist and an agnostic - while I don't believe in God (atheism), I don't think it's proveable either way (agnosticism). But I would defend people's right to whatever religion (or lack) they want to my last breath.
2006-08-18 07:17:33 · answer #4 · answered by zandyandi 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
With all the Freedoms allowed you would think a statement like that would not exist.
But it does. Sadly.
Hopefully the ones stating that do not live under the umbrella of Choice and Freedoms we have.
I really try not to make too much of those ones or even acknowledge the question.
Have a good one.
Cheers.
2006-08-18 07:10:25 · answer #5 · answered by beedaduck 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
With questions like like that I'm not sure I want to be a U.S. citizen!! Some people never cease to amaze me. What really gets me are the people that call us atheists "communist" and the majority of us are free thinkers. It's the people like the one who posted that question who follow "blind allegiance" that smacks of communism. I also served in the military and love this country for what it is supposed to stand for. Let's hope we can keep it that way despite people who want to change it!
2006-08-18 07:10:29 · answer #6 · answered by carpediem 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can't answer your question because I'm not one of those people. I am very much an orthodox Christian but you deserve citizen ship probably much more than I. The only thing in my past I've ever served is fries.
2006-08-18 07:07:22 · answer #7 · answered by westfallwatergardens 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What could possibly me a better indicator of hating America than the idea of hating the freedom of religion?
I conclude that those who want atheists & agnostics to not be part of the US, must themselves actually hate US and should be the first to leave.
2006-08-18 07:05:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
What? Thank-you for your years of service,but this is still a free country last time I checked and I'm pretty sure that there are no rules stating believe or get out.
2006-08-18 07:07:09 · answer #9 · answered by lbuajlw 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This country was founded by people looking for freedom of religion, no one should be forced to embrace a religion they do not believe.
Having said that, I'd like to add a personal comment.
I don't see how you can say you love your family and not care about their eternity.
2006-08-18 07:13:20 · answer #10 · answered by Grandma Susie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋