A question for all Christians!?

Question

I am not a christian, nor am I an aethiest.

But whenever I tell a christian that I am not a christian they simply assume I am an aethiest (ignorant). I believe in science, not superstition. My faith is based on science. That does not mean that I am an aethiest.

Now for my question..

Why do you belive that your morals, and religious beliefs have any place in politics?

The founding of our nation was based on the idea of religious freedom. I believe that religion has NO place in politics. Science has a place in politics because it is the study of the truth. Don't get me wrong, I respect christian beliefs for the most part. Just as I respect all religions. They are all fundamentally the same. Virutues should be practiced and vices should not. And I agree. I just do not belive that The Bible is a credible source of information. It is not scientific. It is not factual. It was written many years ago by people who did not understand basic physics. Why must I conform?

Why am I a moron? Because I'm not a sheep?

So your point is that not murdering and not stealing are christian ideas and christian ideas only? I disagree. Almost all cultures are against murder and theft.

Well Josh, short of insulting my intelligence you made no valid points.

I believe solely in things that are proveable. Or I try to. My faith has less to do with honoring a martyr and more to do with becoming one.

Chrysanthi,

Thank you for your answer, I apprieciate your thoughts.

I would ask you then, what should be taught in schools run by the government.. Creationism or Evolution? Which one is based on scientific evidence and theory and which one is based of faith and religious dogma?

James,

I have read The Bible. Not all of it, but I grew up going to Episcopal services, and attended Sunday school.

Many of the excerpts from The Bible clash with simple physics including jesus' resurection? Who is unrational, a person who believes in oberservable physics or a person who believes in the unproveable?

Great answer "surrounded"

I couldn't have put it better myself

D Killa,

I am speaking about christians because they make up the majority of the community that I live in and I assume most of America. I don't harness any anger toward followers of any religion and I am not afraid to call out members of other religions. Perhaps I could have directed the question to all religious followers but I chose Christians because our President is a christian, Pat Robertson is a christian, and most hypocritcal conservatives claim that they are christians. Basically I just wanted to get some views from Christians as to how they can balence science with their beliefs.

Like, how can you belive that Jesus died and then came back to life when all imperical evidence suggests that is impossible?

Belliot, great answer. That was very eye opening. It really is a delicate balence isnt it? To be able to believe everything thing you are taught and not question it? Personally, I am a sceptic, and if that winds me up in Hell, so be it. Personally, I don't think God favors Christians over any other religion. To think that he does seems like hubris.

Christian morals (10 commandments etc.) don't bother me, it is the application of those morals that concerns me.

Thank you to everyone who has answered!

Insensitively,

There probably weren't a lot of non-christians, but christianity was split up quite a bit (Catholics, Calvinists, Protestants etc.) The separation of church and state was not made solely to protect chritianity. It was made to protect personal freedom. My state (Rhode Island) was founded because of the religous prosecution of Roger Williams at the hands of Catholics.

Thanks for your answer.

Answer 1

Your religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are strictly your own business. They belong in the private sphere, and nobody has a right to challenge you on the basis of them. THIS is the core, foundational statement laid down by the US founding fathers, inspired by late-Enlightenment secularism (arch-secularist Tho. Jefferson in particular would be horrified to see his face on US currency surrounded by the dubious motto "In God We Trust"). Of course religious beliefs will influence one's political views, but iof one cannot justify one's political views in non-sectarian terms, then they have little validity in a pluralistic society.

Answer 2

Most of the places mentioned in the Bible have been located, many of the events said to have occurred in the Bible are also recorded in the history of other nations, such as the plagues of Egypt. The Bible was written as these events happened, for the most part. Genesis was written after the world came about, of course, and Revelations hasn't happened yet. The Bible is an entire book of factual information. And Christianity is not a superstition, it is the belief in a greater being (God) and the faith that what he has said through the Bible is Truth. Something doesn't have to be proven to be true, either. Many aspects of science aren't fully understood. Our limited knowledge cannot be considered the full truth, for we well know that every so often new discoveries are always being made.

You don't have to conform. Christians would be relieved to know that you'd go to Heaven once you died, but it is ultimately your choice. No one can make that decision for you. Don't worry about conflicting beliefs, either. I'm really big into all the science areas and I'm an active Christian.

Answer 3

Science isn't really a study of the truth... its better defined as understanding the physical world around us. Since it is that, it automatically discounts any supernatural event, even if that is truth.

Much of the Bible is factual, regardless of whether you believe the religious part of it. And if you look carefully, I think that the Bible offers some insight that could be backed up by science, but it's a bit much to get into in such a short space as this.

As I get older, I lose more and more faith in science. It constantly contradicts itself, and in my opinion much of it requires just as much faith as religion does (I am referring towards origin of life/evolutionary theory here). Either way, I am being taught by some guy at the front of a room out of a book.

As far as religion in politics, I don't think it's really possible to separate them completely. Since people's faith often guides their morals, that becomes the basis of their political views regarding what is right and wrong.

I am a Christian, and a creationist one. However, my faith does not hinge on whether it took 7 days or 4 billion years...

Answer 4

I have never took for granted that any one was an atheist when they have told me they were not a christian, I don't automatically feel any one is that dumb, when you say you believe in scientific facts? okay, then what exactly are the scientific facts?? they seem to change with the weather,yet, the bible has not changed, and it was written over 2000 years ago , and every thing it has predicted has come to pass, some things are still to come that the bible predicted, had you invested the same amount of time and effort in reading and researching the bible as you seem to have in this so called scientific facts, you would not be asking this question,
when you say religion should not be involved in school?? could I beg your indulgences? look at what has happened to our schools since they outlawed bible study, prayer etc, we have school shootings , killing several children, teenage crime has sky rocketed, what is the percentage of girls getting pregnant now while in school and wedlock and when we had bible teachings in school? how many people actually get married now but have children and in many cases dependent on society to support them? therefroe I conclude, wheather there is a god or not , tell me what bad influence does bible teachings have on any one? but, it is obvious what detrimental effect it has when not taught, so even if you don't believe in god or the bible , your children will grow up to be better people and citizens by following the bibical standards, how could anyone disagree?

Answer 5

No one is forcing you to become a Christian; if you feel pressured I’m sorry for all the idiots you make you feel like this. I am a Christian and I do believe in Jesus being the only way to heaven and all other ways lead to hell. That sounds mean and nasty, I know. I’m entitled to my beliefs like you are to yours. As for religion and politics… religion is the backbone of many people’s moral fibers. Religion or lack their of cannot be severed for politics. A person votes based on their morals and a person in power runs their term of office based on their values. An Atheist in power would not want creation being taught in school and a Christian would not want evolution taught in school. Unless you wipe out religion and believe all together you cannot separate the two.

Answer 6

I believe that my faith, morals and religious beliefs have a place in politics for the same reason you believe science does; my faith and beliefs are at the core of my behaviour, and are what I base my actions on. Simply put, I cannot separate my beliefs, my faith, from the way I observe politics, and the way I vote. Just as you could not vote for a candidate who doesnt share your beliefs in science, I cannot vote for a candidate who does not share my moral outlook. It is my contention that ones beliefs are what drives a person, what makes him or her who they are. If a person says one thing, then does another, then I question whether that person actually believes what he says he does.
To answer your final question, no one is making you "conform"; actual empirical evidence suggests otherwise- that it is Christians who are being forced to conform, or compromise on a daily basis, in all facets of life.
Just out of my own curiosity, you say you "respect" all religions, yet it is only Christianity that you seem to question. Is this a personal bias, or is there some fear of offending other religions (Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, et al) that keeps you from questioning their beliefs and morals?

Answer 7

I'm not sure where you're getting your ideas. The founders of this nation were Christian, although they were most likely deists who believed in an impersonal god...

The problem you're running into is you believe that all Christians want to run your life. You're wrong. What a good Christian Politician would do is use his faith as a moral standard with which to apply his own governing principles. I don't think (s)he would make it as a bully pulpit to "force" Christianity on the masses. There are far too many protections in the Constitution for that to happen.

That aside, the same cannot be said for extremist Islam, which has SAID it wants to force Shar'ia on EVERYONE (and we all know how that is going to be). You seem to harbor ill thoughts against Christians, why are you anti-Christian?

Answer 8

I can not answer all of your questions but this country was founded on the Religious Freedom to practice religion without Government interference the religion was Christianity , they came here to be able to practice Christianity , the Separation of Church ,and State was to keep any form Government from inter fearing with religious practices anywhere at anytime ...and this country was founded on the Beliefs of the Christian principals....saying you have the freedom to practice your religion with out fear of government interference..Back then there was no question as to which religion because the founders were christian ,and intended on everyone to be of the same foundation of this country which is that one religion ....why do you think everything concerning this country includes God.. back then if you denied God you were burned at the stake..or shot by firing squad..we were not formed on the foundation of factual proof such as science but based on spiritual beliefs...and I am not trying to insult your beliefs this is the best I can explain it

Answer 9

I don't know how you can keep Christian morals and beliefs out of politics. If you don't think that Christian morals belong in politics then it would be proper to make stealing legal or murder wouldn't be so bad either anything would go in order to be elected. Most people try to judge whether a candidate will make a good office holder by what they believe in. Would you vote for someone who thinks the poor or the down trodden shouldn't be taken care of. Your not Christian if you believe that. Almost any thing you can think of that is good, kind or caring are part of Christian morals. How are you going to keep those things out of politics. Good government is about taking care of people and science is only a small part of what needs to be done in our society. So I don't think that you can only base poitics on one or the other. After all a good Christian uses good sience.

Answer 10

Well, our country was founded by and has been dominated by Christians. Many of those beliefs, virtues, etc. have been woven into the fabric of our country.

Nobody says you have to conform. And, while there is christian influences, the constitution prohibits the institution of religion by the gov. Its just the way it is. That's why we have various watch-dog groups to keep religion from creeping into public matters.

Btw-- some parts of the bible ARE historical. Much, however is allegory and should not be taken literally. Any rational person knows this and even biblical scholars admit this.

Answer 11

I am a christian and i respect your beleifs. I also beleive that religion should be out of politics because prayer was taken out of school numerous years ago becasue of seperating church from state if religion was suposed to be in politics than students would still be praying. However i do not like when other religions such as athiests, muslums, and other religions want to take "under GOD" out of the plege because if GOD was not suposed to be in the pledge then the person who made it would not have put it in there. So agree or disagree but i still respect your beleifs.