Atheists: Proof that democracy needs Christianity to survive...?

Question

When the US government suspended the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 (which prevents the Army from policing its own citizens) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, who stepped up and helped the government maintain order? The secular humanists? No--it was Christians. A clergy response team volunteered to explain to the Christians of Louisianna that the Bible demands that they be obedient to their government (Romans 13), and hand over their personal firearms.

What have atheists ever done to preserve democracy that even remotely compares to this?

Source:
http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=6937987

Answer 1

If you think ordering the populace to hand over their firearms is supporting America's democracy, perhaps you need to go study and find out what it means to be the United States.

Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory to itself than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid or produces only atheists or fanatics. As an engine of power, it serves the purpose of despotism, and as ameans of wealth, the avarice of priests, but so far as respects the good of man in general it leads to nothing here or hereafter. [Thomas Paine; founding father of the United States]

The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession.
-- Abraham Lincoln

Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.
-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Answer 2

Wow. Ignorance is astounding. So any non-Christian democracy existing before and after the spread of Christianity was actually *relying* on Christian clergy to come along and tell citizens to be obedient to their government!!!???

Wow-a-wee-waa!!

Thanks for your insight!!! Convincing people that 'The Government is Here Because Of The Lord' really helped all those Jews in Germany...


Lastly you ask:

"What have atheists ever done to preserve democracy that even remotely compares to this?"

What, you mean how have atheists convinced people that in order to preserve democracy they must accept that government is appointed by 'God'???

None, I reckon. Is that close?

Maybe you could answer two questions:

1. Is the US a democracy or a republic?

2. The Six Nations enjoyed the oldest (listed) participatory democracy on Earth. How did Christianity 'preserve' that?

Answer 3

Where were these "good christians" when our "good christian" founding fathers were writing into the constitution during the constitutional convention that negroes were only 3/5 human, women were to stupid to vote and slaves were private property? You can be sure, that no secular humanists are klansmen in the KKK. Christianity is a requirement for induction. And slick, I'll venture to say that I've done every bit as much for democracy as you have. Maybe more. Make that probably more. In fact, definately more since I would never be a member of the many groups that embrace christianity.

Answer 4

Yeah, and I'll bet you that these "helping hand" agencies wouldn't have stepped up to help if they hadn't known about all of the funding that they were going to get coming their way. That's why they have their non-profit status...it assures them a nice lifestyle...free of taxes...& a constant stream of money coming their way! All in the name of GOD. Nothing Christian about lining your own pockets & being able to get a first hand look at the available property that is now part of the land grab scheme of Katrina. Wake up...Atheists would NOT have been that organized or ruthless simply because most are NOT a part of an ORGANIZED ORGANIZATION! D/A

Answer 5

Thomas Jefferson was an atheist, and he did much more than you mention. He was the architect of American democracy. I hate to imagine how life in the USA would be now, if such people as you were in charge, rather than Jefferson, Washington, Adams, Franklin and others who had seen enough religious tyranny in England. These men were Deists, not Christians. Some Deists, e.g. Jefferson, became atheists. There are many nations past and present who knew nothing about Christianity, and they have done fine, often better without it. Your outlook is far too narrow and tends to see only what it wants to see and that is something that can be distorted to appear to support your beliefs.

Answer 6

"Deed not creed"

If close to 80% of Americans are Christian - Guess what 80% of your volunteers will be? You are an idiot and a liar - that's such a good little christian....

Now for the truth - brought to you by your warm and loving atheist:

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/newsroom/secular_humanist_aid_and_relief_organization_responds_to_hurricane_katrina/

http://humaniststudies.org/enews/index.html?id=207&article=1

In times of crisis, "deed not creed" is the mantra of atheists, humanists and other freethinkers. Ignoring the predictable calls for prayer and penance in the face of natural disaster, the secular community responded generously to January fundraising campaigns for the East Indian tsunami. Now, a number of organizations that promote secular values in the U.S. are offering ways for non-religious Americans to provide financial help to the victims of hurricane Katrina.

Answer 7

What have atheists ever done to preserve democracy that even remotely compares to this?

Atheists have made it so that Democracy in America doesn't turn into a Theocracy. That the police in force the law and not morality.

Answer 8

I'm not going to post a Christians VS Atheists answer, because Im sure there were non-Christians who help in our American culture. However, I would like to point out that there are millions of dollars and thousand of hours that go into ministries that help millions of people in our country throughout the year that are run by Christian organizations. They are in place because Jesus said to feed the poor and take care of the ones who cannot take care of themselves. If we stripped all of that away in our culture, the government could not bear the burden of all those lost dollars and humanpower that are put into these programs that help all of us.

Answer 9

I wasted my secular time donating money, adopting a abandond cat and driving 2 truckloads of supplies for those devistated by the storm. My 2 athiest nurse friends wasted their time doing medical work up there. Yep, it was only the christians that helped.

Answer 10

Ooh, you're pointing out one instance of good Christian behavior and saying that our country wouldn't have survived without them. NEWS FLASH: the founding fathers didn't want our country to be ruled according to one particular religion and didn't want one to be favored over another.

The reasons atheists haven't contributed that much (may I point out Bill Gates/Warren Buffet - 40 billion dollars to charity, anyone?) to our society is because if they had come out of the closet, they would have been ridiculed and insulted, along with a few death threats possibly. If it were me, I would just keep my mouth shut. Atheists have probably contributed much more than you might think, they just never admitted that they're atheists.