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This is my broad generalization for the day, but...
Why don't Christians settle for equal time with other faiths, and non-faith, in government, public schools, public buildings, art, media, literature, etc... They want equal time for Creation in schools, but not with Native American creation stories. They want their 10 commandments in court houses, but not the tenents of Buddhism. And demanding superior treatment over other beliefs in these venues of authority is not freedom of religion. See what I mean?

2006-08-28 07:28:32 · 47 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

47 answers

Dear Furious Chem: Yes, I see. I agree.

This stems from Jesus stating a truth about His Role - which was selected for Him by The Holy Spirit. Jesus had answered a Call that was put out through the Sonship for one who would fulfill the role that the Creator had at the center of His Plan - for our Return from the Separation that had occurred.

Many great teachers have existed. But Jesus was the one who FIRST fulfilled his role given him - perfectly.

When he said, "I am the Way - no one comes to the Father but through me " - it led to feelings within those who followed him - first, confidence feelings which then, sometimes, turned into superiority feelings. Depending upon the follower !

This is not to be faulted in Jesus. He spoke the truth. But the small ego mind of man - when following him - USES it to make themselves feel "more wise, more empowered than others - above others - for they know - and others do not." This is not pretty - for any of us. Jesus did not intend this - at all. He spoke a truth, and we do with it what we do . . .

In my reading, he instructed about this problem. He says in this reading, "Is [He] the only God's Helper [ teacher] ? No, indeed. For the Christ takes many forms with different names until their one-ness can be recognized."

This last sentence is the most important because He says that all teachers are Christs also ( Messengers) , no matter what they call themselves: Buddha, Socrates, Confuscious, etc..

Why are they all One? Because the Holy Spirit is the One Who taught them what they all came to know (and then taught).
The Holy Spirit developed the Messengers. They express what they have learned somewhat differently - for it came through their own unique personality, and is expressed through them that way. But they are all teaching the same Truths. There is only one Truth - expressed in different manners.

Jesus, further instructed, " It is possible to read [His] words and benefit from them without accepting Him into your life." Also, "Thank God for Helpers [teachers] for they will lead you Home."

"The Holy Spirit established Jesus as the leader in carrying out [God's] Plan since He was the first to complete his own part perfectly. All power in Heaven and earth is therefore given Him."

That is the distinction Jesus has in correlation to other teachers.
Simply, choose the teacher that strikes the appropriate note in yourself. And, never take your eye completely off of Jesus. There are, in University life, Chairmen of the departments. Then there are the professors under the Chairmen. That is the situation - and a similar situation.

I, myself, have incorporated all religious thought into my learning. I am richer for having taken in the beauty and poetry of many other religions, including mythology and North American Indian chants of the Lakota. And, I chose to be firmly Christian -after all my learning. What do you choose? Be Free Willed and happy !

2006-08-28 08:21:22 · answer #1 · answered by Lana S (1) 4 · 1 1

Currently our state's tax payer funded college requires all graduate to take a course in the Qu'ran before they can graduate. Not Middle Eastern culture - or even Islamic culture - the Qu'ran.

The public shool district in which I live does teach Native American religious beliefs as part of it's Social Studies class. Fifth grade. It also offers a class on comparative religion which invites a leader for each religion to address the class - except Christian.

The art history course taught in our public high school does include artwork based on Greek and Roman gods, Mayan gods, Egyptian gods and more. The literature class includes Greek mythology, which was their religious texts.

But neither the public schools or the publically funded college can teach anything about the Christian religion. Students in my school district have had the Mayflower Compact removed from their history books because it mentions God. The literature class no longer allows the reading of a book of the Bible for credit, but they can the read and report on the Qu'ran.

I would be GLAD to settle for equal time. Right now, they government seems determined to gave us NO time. But they are not enforcing the same restrictions on any other beliefs.

We do respect freedom of religion. It is those who are stealing those freedoms who are the problem.

2006-08-28 07:47:58 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1 0

I don't know what Christians you are referring to, but I would settle for "equal time." The fact is that often Christians are told that we are the only ones who are being banned and pushed out. For example, a local college is allowed to have religious alters to dead spirits around Halloween but not a nativity scene at Christmas.

Many people who aren't active followers of Christ but have a religious background feel that some of the things that hold sentimental value for them have been stripped away in the name of "separation of church and state." That seems to be the case with taking away things (like the Ten Commandments) that have been posted on and in historical buildings for more than 100 years. Removing those things that have religious significance from our historical past is incredibly offensive.

2006-08-28 07:44:18 · answer #3 · answered by happygirl 6 · 0 1

I have seen it myself, many times.

For the most part, it is a force of habit- The Christian Religions were so long on top of the world, that now, when they are being pushed out of Government Powers, and when it is unacceptable to push religion on children of others, many panic. They have been taught to believe ( I will not say brainwash, per se, but they have been a good deal mislead for centuries) that their religion is the one true belief system, that their God is the one and only true God, and that all other faiths are flawed and ultimately, evil in nature.

And for the longest time, the Christian Church had a strong sway over our Government Powers. Christians have been taught to love and care for all- but they have also been taught to fear for them, for their 'trespasses against God', and so, since many are so loving, they feel they must 'save' them- they must do something to stop us from going to Hell for eternity.

They have a hard time accepting Freedom of religion, when they are taught that unless you believe in God, you will live in torture in the afterlife- something that I am sure must be horrible to grow up contemplating.

So really, they're just trying to look out for us, because what they've been taught makes them feel compelled to, because they don't understand.

2006-08-28 07:39:42 · answer #4 · answered by aht12086 2 · 1 1

My kids are allowed to learn about other beliefs in school, such as Eastern religions, but nothing about Christianity in the confines of the school.

One thing you may not be aware of is that schools legally have to allow time for a child to practice their faith, but not inside the schools. So the schools legally will offer release time to attend religious instruction. Usually 2 hours per month. The religious body is required to secure the parents permission and the kids ride a bus provided by the religious institution and transports them back. A parent can also revoke permission at any time.

2014-10-02 20:19:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I'm fine with equal time but that's not what Atheists want. They want to stamp out my religious freedoms entirely. Why don't Atheists respect freedom of religion?

2006-08-28 07:41:33 · answer #6 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 0 2

thoughtful question......and yes, even though it's not "always" like that it frequently is. I think it's because they feel compelled to convert people to Christianity, whereas if you are Jewish, you don't feel a need to convert anyone to Judiasm, in fact it's not encouraged at all. If you told a Rabbi you wanted to convert, his first response would be to talk you out of it.....you would have to ask 3 times for him to consider talking to you seriously about converting.

I'm just glad that I'm Jewish and don't have to believe in a God that burns his "children" in a fiery hell, I could never believe that an all-powerful being could be horribly cruel against his own creations.........maybe that's why?

2006-08-28 07:39:10 · answer #7 · answered by aggie babe 3 · 2 1

Why arent people kind and nice to each other? Why cant they realize that watching someone in distress and not doing something will only hurt themselves? you can add similar questions to this. The point is, people are governed by feelings, it permeates everything, they have the capacity to do complete class acts and can also make them complete morons. But here is one thing that comes into play, choice. If people try, even once in a while they can do a lot of good, but they need to try. Maybe not succeed, but they need to try.

Sorry for the digression, but it comes down to that point, choice of actions on deep belief. Choosing to respect other people. I dont know how anyone can teach people to open their minds to different ideas. But that is one of the major factors in all these things.

-Sam

2006-08-28 07:44:01 · answer #8 · answered by sam_van 2 · 0 0

Why don't Christians respect freedom of religion? (We do, have we held a gun to your head to make you convert? NO)

This is my broad generalization for the day, (Broad is the way to destruction and wide is the gate, many there be that find it.)
but...
Why don't Christians settle (If "Christians settled" then they would not be Christians in the first place. God didn't settle for man's self destructive ways, He loves us so much. That's why He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins, so we would not have to settle.) for equal time with other faiths (they are not fatihs, they are RELIGIONS, Satan's answer to man's god problem.) and non-faith, in government, public schools, public buildings, art, media, literature, etc... They want equal time for Creation in schools, but not with Native American (No such thing as a native American, they are of Asian descent, the earliest immigrants to the Americas.) creation stories. They want their 10 commandments in court houses (Does your religion have ten commandments you would like posted?), but not the tenents of Buddhism ( Name them). And demanding (We have demanded nothing, we have not gone to court to have your stuff removed from anything) superior treatment over other beliefs in these venues of authority is not freedom of religion. See what I mean?

No, just a bunch of useless jibberish as usual.!

By the way, we pay just as much, if not more taxes which support the public schools. So, why shouldn't we have equal time. You get what you want for your dime, why shouldn't I get mine?

2006-08-28 08:01:06 · answer #9 · answered by Linn E 3 · 0 1

Oh, I see exactly what you mean. The predominant arguments, even though they are incorrect, is that this is a (1) "Christian" nation, (2) founded by believers in "Christianity." The only thing correct about the first argument is that in this country the largest religious group happens to be Christians. They seem to have trouble recognizing that means nothing legally and that they have no right to demand special treatment in public schools. Sometimes I think they failed to ever take a civics class. The second argument fails in its entirety. The founders' religions varied widely, from Unitarian to Deist to Christian. Not exactly a shock that they took such great pains to keep our Constitution secular.

2006-08-28 07:39:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 2

I see what you mean, but I see the opposite viewpoint. My kids are allowed to learn about other beliefs in school, such as Eastern religions, but nothing about Christianity in the confines of the school.

One thing you may not be aware of is that schools legally have to allow time for a child to practice their faith, but not inside the schools. So the schools legally will offer release time to attend religious instruction. Usually 2 hours per month. The religious body is required to secure the parents permission and the kids ride a bus provided by the religious institution and transports them back. A parent can also revoke permission at any time.

So, if a parent does want religious instruction of any type given to their children, they have this option available and I support this option for the kids.

2006-08-28 07:36:55 · answer #11 · answered by Searcher 7 · 3 1

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