Why are all Christian Churches banned from the political process?
Why are your Christian Churches barred from campaigning for a particular candidate?
Why are there restrictions on what your Pastor can say from the Pulpit regarding National Politics?
And why has it always been this way, from the very inception of our Nation?
2007-05-05 09:39:52 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dusty Scribe, read "Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessment" by James Madison.
2007-05-05 09:55:31 · update #1
If you study American History carefully you will discover that from its inception it was never intended to be a Christian nation at all. In the Pledge of Allegience, the phrase "under God" was only added in the 1950s, inspired by a fear of "Godless communism".
The Founding Fathers were very clear about the separation of Church and State - they were (for the time) very enlightened men to the extent of being Deists, agnostics and atheists, and wanted religion and superstition to play no part in the government of the new nation.
2007-05-05 09:54:10 · answer #1 · answered by Simon B 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
There are restrictions on what pastors of 501c(3) incorporated churches can say from the pulpit. In a church not so incorporated, they can and do say whatever they want about the political process. They also actively campaign for the candidate of their choice. It's only the above mentioned 501c(3) Tax-exempt status churches that are the jokes and butts of American christianity which, by definition, is almost all churches. A rather subtle leash to control the herd.
2007-05-05 17:00:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd like to know where people get the myth that America was founded as a Christian nation. It was NOT, and is NOT a Christian nation, it never has been.
The founding fathers specifically put restraints upon the church when it comes to government just so that it wouldn't be a theocracy.
American is a Democratic country, and I'm not referring to the political party, it is not a Theocracy which is what it would be if it were a Christian country.
All religious organizations are and should be banned from proselytizing from the pulpit about government and to the government. We are a very diverse nation, with many different religious beliefs, it would be intolerable to almost everyone if any religion gained prominence in our government.
2007-05-05 16:54:47 · answer #3 · answered by meg3f 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you think churches are banned from the political process, campaigning for a particular candidate, or restricted on what they can say in the pulpit, you haven't been keeping up with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Liberals flagrantly disregard this law. It is only enforced as far as conservatives are concerned. pphhhttt ! in advance to your comment.
2007-05-06 22:17:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Why are your Christian Churches barred from campaigning for a particular candidate?" This isn't exactly true, we hear reports in the news about people like Hilary, or John Kerry speaking from the pulpit all the time.
2007-05-05 16:59:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the founding fathers of our nation believed in the separation of church and state. The Pilgrims came over here to get away from religious persecution and worsip God as they felt they should - not as the gov. told them to. The church is not suppose to tell the government what to do and vica versa. It's a delicate balance - we are a gov. for the people and by the people, but we allow freedoms of choice no other country allows!
2007-05-05 16:49:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you are trying to make a point which I don't get. But, why are there only Christian candidates for president? None of them will say anything against Christianity. Because they know if they do, our great Christian nation, won't give them our vote. And it will be that way for many years to come, no doubt.
2007-05-05 16:48:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It was founded as a Christian nation, but has strayed far away from those roots. We are now a heathen (or hedonistic) nation.
The reason that churches are prohibited from campaigning is a requirement inserted into the Tax Code in 1954 by then Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. This prohibition was for all not-for-profit organizations, including churches. Until then, churches and other organizations could campaign for whomever, or whatever cause they endorsed.
As to your claim about the inception of our nation, that is in error. A famous example would be when Reverend John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, preached Revolution from his pulpit, removed his robe, and revealed the uniform of a Continental Army officer underneath.
Also, Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon was a signer/ratifier of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
UPDATE: Read it already. Now, you read Daniel Webster's "Qualifications for Public Office." An excerpt here: "I am desirous, in so solemn a transaction as the establishment of a constitution, that we should keep in it an expression of our respect and attachment to Christianity - not, indeed, to any of its peculiar forms but to its general principles."
2007-05-05 16:45:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
I think the whole debate on whether America is a Christian nation is all sound and fury, signifying nothing. Either way, it doesn't affect what I believe and I'm going to go on believing them unless and until I find something that's more intelligible.
2007-05-05 16:48:45 · answer #9 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You were doing okay until you made that last statement. Some of the Founding Fathers preached revolution from the pulpets. The church was always welcome in gov't until about the 1960's. There was even a number of supreme court decisions to that effect.
But these days, we are a POST Christian nation. Thanks in no small part to the ACLU fifth columnists and their buddies in the major Media.
2007-05-05 16:45:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋