America is not a Christian nation.

[zone]

Are you kidding me?! We can talk about Jesus without worrying about being killed; we can carry a Bible around; we can tell others about Jesus. There's a difference between people making fun of you cause of being a christian and being persecuted. We're in no where close to the state of China or any other those countries so we're totally fine. We are so spoiled lol

We can talk about Jesus without worrying about being killed << true.

we can carry a Bible around << not everywhere

we can tell others about Jesus << unless you offend them or hurt their feelings, in which case you can be charged.

We're in no where close to the state of China or any other those countries so we're totally fine << one more terror event/executive orders come out: just like north korea ... gulag usa.

 

[zone]

Amen sis. The government is no longer by the people. it is who ever can buy enough votes. Which should be scary for us all. We have become to dependant on government.

they said exactly how they'd do it.
and they are.
BIG AGRA has almost completely taken over Mom & Pop.
MONSANTO runs the argiworld now.

just that durned Second Amendment holdin' things up.
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm

 

[eternally-gratefull]

they said exactly how they'd do it.
and they are.
BIG AGRA has almost completely taken over Mom & Pop.
MONSANTO runs the argiworld now.

just that durned Second Amendment holdin' things up.
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm

Its more than this.

if I can give you more govt aid (liberal) I will get your vote (lower class) if i can give you more tax breaks. I get your vote (upper class)

the middle class is left without a voice. and have to pay for both of those promises.

we need a new tea party to appose taxation altogether. We did fine without taxes for over half our lifetime (as a nation) and fought to get out from taxation of the brits. Taxation and the results of it has brought this ocuntry down (then again Greed has alot to do with it)

 

[superdave5221]

Amen sis. The government is no longer by the people. it is who ever can buy enough votes. Which should be scary for us all. We have become to dependant on government.

Hey Zone, EG! You hit the nail on the head. It is all about buying elections, with our, (um excuse me the Fed's) money. We are being deprived of our rightful property so our government can buy votes under the guise of "redistributing wealth", also illegal under the constitution. Obama's entire election was based on buying votes in the form of entitlements, and the $800 billion stimulus was mostly used for that purpose. It certainly did not create any jobs.

Our government has created a vast wasteland of dependency. Those who are dependent on the government must continue to vote those in who will continue to take care of them. Those who are dependent on government are willing to give up their freedom for the security of being "taken care of". Those who are responsible to themselves, their families, and to God, only wish to be given a stable environment, free of unnecessary goverment regulation and overburdensome taxes, to allow them the freedom to care for themselves.

No one will argue that government should have a hand in helping those in need, as should the private sector. But this should be done in a way in which irresponsibility and laziness is not rewarded, and dependency on government is not encouraged. Politicians have encouraged this dependency, because it is good for them at the voting booth.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Hey Zone, EG! You hit the nail on the head. It is all about buying elections, with our, (um excuse me the Fed's) money. We are being deprived of our rightful property so our government can buy votes under the guise of "redistributing wealth", also illegal under the constitution. Obama's entire election was based on buying votes in the form of entitlements, and the $800 billion stimulus was mostly used for that purpose. It certainly did not create any jobs.

Our government has created a vast wasteland of dependency. Those who are dependent on the government must continue to vote those in who will continue to take care of them. Those who are dependent on government are willing to give up their freedom for the security of being "taken care of". Those who are responsible to themselves, their families, and to God, only wish to be given a stable environment, free of unnecessary goverment regulation and overburdensome taxes, to allow them the freedom to care for themselves.

No one will argue that government should have a hand in helping those in need, as should the private sector. But this should be done in a way in which irresponsibility and laziness is not rewarded, and dependency on government is not encouraged. Politicians have encouraged this dependency, because it is good for them at the voting booth.

You want to teach a man how to live, teach him how to fish and hunt. You want to teach a man how be dependant on you and make you his God. Give him free food.

when calamity strikes that affects everyone;

the first man will survive.

the second will die because he don't know how to survive. and the man who gave them money will no longer support him because he cant.

 

[needmesomejesus]

We can talk about Jesus without worrying about being killed << true.

we can carry a Bible around << not everywhere

we can tell others about Jesus << unless you offend them or hurt their feelings, in which case you can be charged.

We're in no where close to the state of China or any other those countries so we're totally fine << one more terror event/executive orders come out: just like north korea ... gulag usa.

I have not been in a place is USA where you can't bring a Bible. If you hurt their feelings oh well they won't have anything to charge you against. I mean thats plain silly. I'm just saying Americans need to stop complaining about us losing our freedom of religion.

 

[superdave5221]

I have not been in a place is USA where you can't bring a Bible. If you hurt their feelings oh well they won't have anything to charge you against. I mean thats plain silly. I'm just saying Americans need to stop complaining about us losing our freedom of religion.

“Without Freedom of thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public Liberty, without Freedom of speech” – Benjamin Franklin

“In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own. Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech” – Benjamin Franklin

Do you want an example of this?

From Wikipedia:
The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission's view, honest, equitable and balanced. The doctrine was abolished by President Reagan in 1987.

Democrats are trying to resurrect this because they are getting killed by Conservative talk radio. I have a few questions about their motives.

1. Why is it that only talk radio is being targeted? If this were applied to the main stream media, MSNBC, NBC, ABC and CBS would all have to fire 90% of their reporters.

2. Who gets to decide what is equitable and balanced? Could it be whoever is in power?

If we allow a foot in the door, by allowing government to regulate free speech on talk radio, what's next? Perhaps next, is that we will only be allowed to read the bible in our homes. We must diligently protect all of our freedoms, not just the ones we care about.

 

[superdave5221]

You want to teach a man how to live, teach him how to fish and hunt. You want to teach a man how be dependant on you and make you his God. Give him free food.

when calamity strikes that affects everyone;

the first man will survive.

the second will die because he don't know how to survive. and the man who gave them money will no longer support him because he cant.

Amen brother. We recently had a missionary leader in our church, who reported to us their efforts in helping poor villages in the Phillipines. It was an amazing story of how they went into the poorest villages and by giving the people hope, and showing them how to help themselves, and helping them to do so, they have transformed themselves, and their environments.

Land that was once barren is now producing bountiful crops. People who were once takers, are now self sufficient, and are instead givers to others. People who once had no hope, now have not only hope, but are happy, productive members of our world. This is spreading, and becoming more revelant in their country. This Phillipine man, who reported to us, was very proud of his country, his people, but not the corrupt government. His solution to the corrupt government was to start at the grassroots level, build character and leaders from the ground up, keep them in the country instead of exporting them to the west, and they will eventually become leaders in their own country. It is a great success story, that is only just beginning. I believe that it is the sprit of Jesus Christ in this person, and in those people, which is making the difference.

This is how it is done. Praise God!

 

[zone]

I have not been in a place is USA where you can't bring a Bible. If you hurt their feelings oh well they won't have anything to charge you against. I mean thats plain silly. I'm just saying Americans need to stop complaining about us losing our freedom of religion.

Members of The Oasis of Truth Church in Arizona had been meeting randomly for Bible study through out the week and just general fellowship in their own homes, alternating between different homes through out the week; harmless, right? Not according to the local officials in the town of Gilbert, Arizona who served them with notice that having a private Bible study (or other religious activity, apparently) has been banned in their town.

A group called Liberty Counsel is suing Florida’s Collier County Schools for banning Bibles from being distributed on its campuses even after allowing the practice for years. The organization World Changers has been distributing Bibles to students during off-school hours on the day closest to national Religious Freedom Day — held on January 16 — for some time. Yet now school district officials have declared that the Bible holds no “educational benefit” to students

Hotels in the United States ban Gideon Bibles
Each Bible placed in a hotel room has the potential to reach up to 2,300 people in its estimated six-year life span, and about 25 percent of travelers read the Bibles in their hotel rooms, according to The Gideons International, a group that has been placing Bibles in hotel rooms since 1908, reports Baptist But a growing number of hotels are opting not to allow the placement of Gideon Bibles, according to an article in Newsweek magazine.
But, alas, the word of God is nowhere to be found," the article begins.
Such hotels say society is evolving and a younger, hipper generation has no interest in the Bible. They also say they would have to cater to a variety of belief systems and could not single out Christianity

~

In fact, in the past few years several nations and states in the United States have passed laws that, in essence, make it a “hate crime” to preach what the Bible says about homosexuality. For instance, in 2003, Ake Green, a Swedish Pentecostal preacher delivered a sermon in which he stated that homosexuality is “abnormal, a horrible cancerous tumor in the body of society.” He went on to describe homosexuals as “perverts, whose sexual drive the Devil has used as his strongest weapon against God” (as quoted in Robinson, 2004). Because of these comments, he was arrested, charged with inciting hatred against homosexuals, and sentenced to serve 30 days in prison.

On April 29, 2004, Canada adopted a bill similar to the one established by Sweden, in which speech against homosexual behavior was added to the list of hate crimes (Robinson, 2004).

Sadly, the United States has begun to “follow suit” by adopting comparable legislation in certain states. On December 3, 2003, Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schwiker signed a bill that included homosexuality as a sanctioned lifestyle protected from “hate crimes” (crimes that could technically include preaching from the pulpit against the practice).

The Gertrude Stein Club (a non-profit, pro-homosexual group) labeled the bill as “the first piece of pro-gay legislation to become law in Pennsylvania.” In the same article, the club mentioned that 27 other states and the District of Columbia have laws that protect homosexuals against “hate crimes” (“[SIZE=-1]LGBT[/SIZE] Victory”). While preachers are assured that these bills were not passed to stifle their freedom of speech, the implications and technical reading of the bills provide for the prosecution of preachers who teach publicly God’s Word concerning the sin of homosexuality. The Swedish trial of Ake Green testifies to that.

etc etc

 

[FSUBoy966]

Members of The Oasis of Truth Church in Arizona had been meeting randomly for Bible study through out the week and just general fellowship in their own homes, alternating between different homes through out the week; harmless, right? Not according to the local officials in the town of Gilbert, Arizona who served them with notice that having a private Bible study (or other religious activity, apparently) has been banned in their town.

A group called Liberty Counsel is suing Florida’s Collier County Schools for banning Bibles from being distributed on its campuses even after allowing the practice for years. The organization World Changers has been distributing Bibles to students during off-school hours on the day closest to national Religious Freedom Day — held on January 16 — for some time. Yet now school district officials have declared that the Bible holds no “educational benefit” to students

Hotels in the United States ban Gideon Bibles
Each Bible placed in a hotel room has the potential to reach up to 2,300 people in its estimated six-year life span, and about 25 percent of travelers read the Bibles in their hotel rooms, according to The Gideons International, a group that has been placing Bibles in hotel rooms since 1908, reports Baptist But a growing number of hotels are opting not to allow the placement of Gideon Bibles, according to an article in Newsweek magazine.
But, alas, the word of God is nowhere to be found," the article begins.
Such hotels say society is evolving and a younger, hipper generation has no interest in the Bible. They also say they would have to cater to a variety of belief systems and could not single out Christianity

~

In fact, in the past few years several nations and states in the United States have passed laws that, in essence, make it a “hate crime” to preach what the Bible says about homosexuality. For instance, in 2003, Ake Green, a Swedish Pentecostal preacher delivered a sermon in which he stated that homosexuality is “abnormal, a horrible cancerous tumor in the body of society.” He went on to describe homosexuals as “perverts, whose sexual drive the Devil has used as his strongest weapon against God” (as quoted in Robinson, 2004). Because of these comments, he was arrested, charged with inciting hatred against homosexuals, and sentenced to serve 30 days in prison.

On April 29, 2004, Canada adopted a bill similar to the one established by Sweden, in which speech against homosexual behavior was added to the list of hate crimes (Robinson, 2004).

Sadly, the United States has begun to “follow suit” by adopting comparable legislation in certain states. On December 3, 2003, Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schwiker signed a bill that included homosexuality as a sanctioned lifestyle protected from “hate crimes” (crimes that could technically include preaching from the pulpit against the practice).

The Gertrude Stein Club (a non-profit, pro-homosexual group) labeled the bill as “the first piece of pro-gay legislation to become law in Pennsylvania.” In the same article, the club mentioned that 27 other states and the District of Columbia have laws that protect homosexuals against “hate crimes” (“[SIZE=-1]LGBT[/SIZE] Victory”). While preachers are assured that these bills were not passed to stifle their freedom of speech, the implications and technical reading of the bills provide for the prosecution of preachers who teach publicly God’s Word concerning the sin of homosexuality. The Swedish trial of Ake Green testifies to that.

etc etc

No, those bills are meant to protect people who are being called the F word. Fa--ot. And things such as that. A hate crime is a violent act btw. And yes, gays should be protected from hate crimes. It's ridiculous that in 2011 we are still dealing with ignorance and stupidity in the US and gays are persecuted b/c of who they are.

Also, if it's a private business or college, they are allowed to ban whatever they want. It's not breaking the law if a hotel doesn't want a Bible in their establishment. You can still bring YOUR Bible and read it whatever you want, but they won't provide one for you through a group such as Gideon. It's unconstitutional to force ANY religious idea on a private business.

 

[superdave5221]

Hello Zone. It starts with the things you listed above. It doesn't affect most people, so most people don't care. The government gets a foot in the door, and slowly that door gets wider and wider. By the time people realize that it is effecting them also, it is too late, the door is wide open.

I hadn't really noticed the missing bibles in the hotel rooms, as I have my own. I'll have to start looking. I know that when I stayed in a Mariott, they had a book of Mormon in the drawer, instead of the bible.

Love ya!!

Dave

 

[FSUBoy966]

Hello Zone. It starts with the things you listed above. It doesn't affect most people, so most people don't care. The government gets a foot in the door, and slowly that door gets wider and wider. By the time people realize that it is effecting them to, it is too late, the door is wide open.

I hadn't really noticed the missing bibles in the hotel rooms, as I have my own. I'll have to start looking. I know that when I stayed in a Mariott, they had a book of Mormon in the drawer, instead of the bible.

Love ya!!

Dave

Well the Mariott doesn't claim to be a Christian hotel. Perhaps the owner or manager of that one was Mormon. Like if I went to a hotel run by Jews, I would expect to find Jewish scripture in the drawer, if anything at all. I don't understand why people have this false notion that America is a Christian nation and all businesses should cater to us, and then when they don't they are "oppressing" us. It's not oppression, they're doing what they want with their own business.

 

[superdave5221]

Well the Mariott doesn't claim to be a Christian hotel. Perhaps the owner or manager of that one was Mormon. Like if I went to a hotel run by Jews, I would expect to find Jewish scripture in the drawer, if anything at all. I don't understand why people have this false notion that America is a Christian nation and all businesses should cater to us, and then when they don't they are "oppressing" us. It's not oppression, they're doing what they want with their own business.

Don't get all worked up into a lather. I was not complaining, just stating an experience. Marriott hotels are owned by a guy named Marriott, who is Mormon, so it does make sense.

By the way, businesses will cater to Christians, if their bottom line is effected. I noticed that last Christmas when most people working in the stores went back to saying "Merry Christmas", instead of the politically correct "happy holidays".

And no need to go there with the "Christmas is a pagan holiday" theme.

Christmas may or may not be a pagan holiday. That is not the issue. Those who aren't Christian evidently feel it is religious in nature, for they are the ones whom we need the politically correct phrase to protect their delicate feelings.

 

[FSUBoy966]

I mean christmas IS a pagan holiday, but I celebrate it, it's not a big deal. And sorry, that wasn't directed at you haha I was expressing my disgust for Christians who put themselves on such a pedestal that if someone even suggests other ideas, they believe they are being oppressed. Sorry =P

And, most non-christians (atheists, eastern religions, etc.) also celebrate Christmas. Besides Muslims and Jews, I have friends of a lot of different religious beliefs that celebrate Christmas for the secular part of it.

But if you really think about it, no one is going to NOT stay at a hotel or NOT go to a college for banning Bibles. and they don't ban bibles really, they ban the sale or distribution of Bibles. Which is their prerogative, being a private business.

 

[superdave5221]

I mean christmas IS a pagan holiday, but I celebrate it, it's not a big deal. And sorry, that wasn't directed at you haha I was expressing my disgust for Christians who put themselves on such a pedestal that if someone even suggests other ideas, they believe they are being oppressed. Sorry =P

And, most non-christians (atheists, eastern religions, etc.) also celebrate Christmas. Besides Muslims and Jews, I have friends of a lot of different religious beliefs that celebrate Christmas for the secular part of it.

But if you really think about it, no one is going to NOT stay at a hotel or NOT go to a college for banning Bibles. and they don't ban bibles really, they ban the sale or distribution of Bibles. Which is their prerogative, being a private business.

Agreed. They are a private business, and should be able to do as they please, as long as no laws are broken, and they provide for the safety and security of their guests.

I live in a small town, and I've recently noticed a trend. Small churches, who are in the initial stage of existence, are leasing or buying unused storefronts in the downtown area. As you know, because of the Walmart effect, many downtowns in small towns have become decayed and unused ghosts of their former vibrance.

Many small towns have discouraged the opening of churches in the downtown, and some have even passed zoning regulations to ban it. How do you feel about this?

 

[FSUBoy966]

Agreed. They are a private business, and should be able to do as they please, as long as no laws are broken, and they provide for the safety and security of their guests.

I live in a small town, and I've recently noticed a trend. Small churches, who are in the initial stage of existence, are leasing or buying unused storefronts in the downtown area. As you know, because of the Walmart effect, many downtowns in small towns have become decayed and unused ghosts of their former vibrance.

Many small towns have discouraged the opening of churches in the downtown, and some have even passed zoning regulations to ban it. How do you feel about this?

A church should be able to open up wherever it wants. As long as it's not in like a strategic area that will just piss people off for some reason. Then there's an issue. Like the Westboro Baptist Church shouldn't be allowed to open up next to military recruiter or a gay bar lol. That's just obviously just trying to hurt someone.

I guess certain issues should come up to a vote, but others should just be assumed civil rights. Things like opening a church or a building catering to a certain group shouldn't be banned b/c of ignorance.

 

[superdave5221]

A church should be able to open up wherever it wants. As long as it's not in like a strategic area that will just piss people off for some reason. Then there's an issue. Like the Westboro Baptist Church shouldn't be allowed to open up next to military recruiter or a gay bar lol. That's just obviously just trying to hurt someone.

I guess certain issues should come up to a vote, but others should just be assumed civil rights. Things like opening a church or a building catering to a certain group shouldn't be banned b/c of ignorance.

Thank you for your opinion.

 

[superdave5221]

One more quote to think about.

&#8220;Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.&#8221;
George Washington

 

[duewell]

it is the small groups of people who enact change. the medici family alone in the course of a century influenced the world to this day. they did more to influence art, politics, banking and religion than most people know. if your a non catholic christian, it is because of this family and their influence. two members became popes and were the ones selling forgiveness that led martin luther into his works. if you have read machiavelli the prince, a great political warfare book, it is about how he was defeated by the medici. donatello michelangelo leonardo raphael galileo, to name a few all sponsored at one time or another for the medici family. aka, the italian renaissance. that's one family from history. did you know about them before you read this post? can you see how their actions shaped the world you live in today? can you accept that this still goes on today with other families?

for those who have studied, it is clear that it is the small groups of family and friends that drive and influence history. for the better or for the worse. when it comes to crime people have no trouble accepting that there is a mafia. osama bin laden participated in a terrorist attack on america. his family has legally made billions of dollars on oil since then. does his family think of him as a criminal ? historically, the people who most often lead the world into war with each other also are the ones to profit from it. do not be so blind as to think there are not other families at work in the world involved in other activities such as banking,production education and agriculture also seeking to make a profit.

all the while this has been going on other people have risen to the challenge.
trying to enact changes in their world that is dominated by these kind of families. president lincoln president kennedy, ghandi or martin luther king. just to name a few. seems like they all have something in common.

you may even have heard of Jesus. do not tell me a small group of people cant change and influence the world. imagine the changes we christians could enact on the world if we would stop fighting each other and started teaching them how to live in peace and love without greed.
the conspiracy is how few are willing to listen.

Duewell
those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

 

[needmesomejesus]

“Without Freedom of thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public Liberty, without Freedom of speech” – Benjamin Franklin

“In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own. Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech” – Benjamin Franklin

Do you want an example of this?

From Wikipedia:
The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission's view, honest, equitable and balanced. The doctrine was abolished by President Reagan in 1987.

Democrats are trying to resurrect this because they are getting killed by Conservative talk radio. I have a few questions about their motives.

1. Why is it that only talk radio is being targeted? If this were applied to the main stream media, MSNBC, NBC, ABC and CBS would all have to fire 90% of their reporters.

2. Who gets to decide what is equitable and balanced? Could it be whoever is in power?

If we allow a foot in the door, by allowing government to regulate free speech on talk radio, what's next? Perhaps next, is that we will only be allowed to read the bible in our homes. We must diligently protect all of our freedoms, not just the ones we care about.

The government should have some control, but not a lot I agree