Is there widespread “anti-Christian bias” in the federal government? President Trump apparently believes so, and the White House is establishing a task force and anonymous tip line to unearth the suspected "perpetrators."
Last week, an internal cable bearing Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name was sent to state department employees and U.S. embassies announcing the task force, which will hunt down “anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration.” The task force was mandated by an executive order signed by President Trump in February.
Many Christians cheered on the announcement, hopeful to end what they see as broad government persecution against their faith during the Biden era. However, others feel this is a solution in search of a problem – and they fear the initiative will be selectively weaponized against LGBTQ+ state employees and critics of Christian nationalism.
Tipping Off the Task Force
The message from Washington urges State Department employees to submit reports against any colleagues they suspect have contributed to the anti-Christian bias.
Reports will be made via a tip line to allow those leveling accusations to remain anonymous. “Reports should be as detailed as possible, including names, dates, locations (e.g. post or domestic office where the incident occurred,” the cable reads.
Employees within the department were reportedly shocked. “It’s very ‘Handmaid’s Tale'-esque,” said one State Department official.
How Do They Define Bias?
When the memo was first reported on by Politico earlier this month, one question was on everyone’s mind: What constitutes “anti-Christian bias”? The memo outlines a few details, but was often light on particulars – though critics say it’s not hard to read between the lines.
While there were some vague and broad definitions of anti-Christian bias (“mistreatment for expressing one’s sincerely held religious beliefs in the workplace”), the specifics often narrowed in on employees who may have been chastised or punished for expressing disapproval of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Mistreatment for opposing displays of flags, banners or other paraphernalia” is one of the examples of anti-Christian bias the memo specifically mentions, a likely reference to pro-LGBTQ+ Pride flags flown at embassies or hung in employee offices.
“Policies related to preferred personal pronouns” were also highlighted as an example of anti-Christian bias, again a clear allusion to nonbinary and trans people.
Under the new memo, what was once official state department policy could also be viewed as anti-Christian. “Mistreatment for refusing to participate in events or activities that promoted themes inconsistent with or hostile to one’s religious beliefs” is also listed, which could refer to inclusivity initiatives under the prior administration.
Any employee who faced “discrimination, harassment, exclusion, disciplinary action, adverse security clearance determinations, or any other adverse action” due to these reasons is encouraged to report the offenders on the anonymous tipline.
Exposing Discrimination?
Backlash against the task force quickly spread online, but there was one group thrilled with the announcement: evangelical Christians, who allege that they endured massive religious persecution during the Biden administration – and they’re ready to bring it all to light.
“Anti-Christian bias has been incredibly widespread at the federal level all throughout the last four years,” said Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) senior VP Ryan Bangert. ADF CEO Kristen Waggoner wrote, “this order is important because it exposes the Biden administration’s deliberate targeting of Christian beliefs through discriminatory policies – beliefs shared by many other religions. No one should be threatened or harassed for publicly expressing or living out their faith.”
How Far Does This Go?
Critics argue that not only is it ridiculous to assert that a group constituting two-thirds of the U.S. population is facing religious persecution, but also that the memo was written so vaguely that even the most benign criticism of Christian nationalism could be classified as anti-Christian bias.
“[The task force] will weaponize a narrow understanding of religious freedom to legitimize discrimination against marginalized groups like the LGBTQ community,” wrote the Interfaith Alliance, which combats religious influence in the US government.
“What exactly qualifies as ‘anti-Christian bias’ in this context?” pondered Freedom From Religion Co-President Dan Barker. “Displaying a rainbow flag? Saying ‘Happy Holidays’? Upholding science-based public health policy? This directive isn’t about fairness or equity – it’s about enforcing a Christian nationalist agenda.”
What do you think? Was there widespread bias against Christianity in the federal government over the last four years? And how does one define "anti-Christian bias" in the first place?
57 comments
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John Alex Paxson
These posted replies only enforce the fact that we are all still divided.
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Lisbeth Kieran Bushey
I bet they'll still claim it's not anti-Christian bias if they decide to fire a Quaker who doesn't stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Neil Patrick Hines
John Adams stated that we are not a Christian nation, as did many others. White Christian Nationalism is a dangerous doctrine. .
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Michael Arthur Lueras
Does Donald Trump self-identify as a Born Again Christian? Why not? Satan can masquerade as an Angel of Light. Does Donald Trump pray? Why not? Satan asked Allah for a Reprieve until An Appointed Day - asking God for something IS prayer - and got it. But Jesus once said, "There are those who say that they are of Me but they are not of Me." (Matthew 7:21-23) And consider this from Isaiah 29:13: "These people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me."
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Thom
Displaying a rainbow flag? Saying ‘Happy Holidays’? Upholding science-based public health policy? This directive isn’t about fairness or equity – it’s about enforcing a Christian nationalist agenda.”
This is the truth. This countries under and uneducated citizens think we are a "White Christian Nation"! Surprise, we aren't. This is about the fear of bigots not having the power they think they are deserved by a prophet who was much darker skinned and Jewish. Two factors today, if he was to return, he may just suffer persecution again. But will those Christians crucifie him on the cross again?
The Mormans, think they are the chosen. The Christians think they are the chosen. How about we all say we're human and we're all chosen to move onto the next dimension we exist in after our physical matter deteriorates. Isn't it much easier to just all be human, than trying to decide who is superior? We're killing our spaceship. It it dies we all die. We're all equal in this aspect.
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Colleen McAllister
As a white evangelical born-again Christian woman I strongly disagree with tRump and his followers. This "task force" is nothing more than a witch hunt against anyone who opposes him or even appears to. There has never been an anti-Christian bias in our government. And honestly tRump is no Christian. The hatred was loosed upon us when he took office the first time. It has only gotten worse. This task force is another nail in the case for democracy. Beware.
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Stacey Owens
The true meaning of Christian in the greek: (Christianos or Christos which means, a follower of the Messiah or anointed one). Some of you here may know, Jesus didn't claim followers as christians, he called them deciples. Yet Paul did say, "if anyone suffered as a christian, Paul said, "for them to glorify God"). Paul wasn't concerned about the term Christian but the believers focuse should be on worshipping God in Christ.
Jesus said, You shaltl worship the Lord thy God, and him only shall you serve. Our worship should only extend to worshipping God not on christianity or on what the world is doing. Correction belongs to God, He does the work. Our relationship is with the Father not of works. The actions of this administration is of God but to show the world He is YWEH. Just like Pharaoh, it was for Gods propose It is written that he would come but as a deceiver. He is called the Beast, he would have the same power as the first beast before him. The first beast was religious and the second beast will honor the first beast in his religion. But his religion, is him. Trump is doing exactly what he sent to do, he wants loyalty. As it is written they will say, who is greater.
Don't be moved by what is taking place in the world. It has been written.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.a Because of the joyb awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and give up.
YWEH is in control, Amen.
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Thom
A diagnosed, psychopath is who Trump is. A PhD's perspective from her history with him and his actions. He uses your religious pios to gain control of you and others. He was not sent here to do what he's doing.
We're all human. Religion has no place in government due to that fact. All people must be treated equally and loved. Is that so hard. When you place your religious beliefs above treating a fellow human equally, your placing yourself above all. Considering yourself a God. A Christian, as I've witnessed all my life.
He's a $#@@& grabber. Remember? He has sought out relationships for sex with men who want female children as sex toys. I don't think your "God" would approve.
We're heading down a very dark road in this country empowering far too many racist bigots who only want to control the human race as Hitler did. Next we'll be committing genocide.
We will have Christians to blame for it again. As well as power hungry men and women as well as those women bow down to men.
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Henry Buehler
Rubio: All nations should respect Christians’ right to declare Christ is king By Jacob Magid Follow Today, 8:06 pm Share 60 In a statement marking Easter, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls on “all nations to respect the right of Christians to declare Christ is King.”
“Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the king of kings and lord of all nations,” Rubio tweets. Secretary Marco Rubio
@SecRubio · Follow Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the king of kings and lord of all nations. This Holy Week and Easter, I call upon all nations to respect the right of Christians to declare Christ is King.
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Rev. BH
The technique of "urging State Department employees to submit reports against any colleagues they suspect have contributed to the anti-Christian bias." is also useful to simply screw over people you don't like.
e.g. Joe is a cheapskate who never grabs the lunch check. Let's report him as anti-Christian and get him fired!
or - Charlie takes on all that extra work and makes the rest of us lazy. Let's report him as anti-Christian and get him fired!
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Thom
Amen Revern BH. But these people are the Christians who use their religion to do just those very actions.
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Brien
I am laughing a lot these days. The people have spoken, and the ones that took the time to speak said "Trump". Many people chose not to vote, so you get what you get. I hope that I get to see all of these at the end of his term. Will they be better off? Will all of us be better off? Only time will tell. As far as the constitution goes, violations depend on which set of lawyers wins the debate.
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Thom
Brother Brien, yhe only this better after his first term was my investments. That's not important. The human race, equality, and coexistence is all that we really need. As long as Christians want to be the superior race, by the way, only the Mormons are getting in, in their eyes, we will have nothing but hatred and war on our soils. But I guess we're all use to that. Might ss well have it in our own borders.
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Rev. MichaelRS
This would not be necessary if hate toward or mocking Christianity has not become socially acceptable.
Mostly because if somebody does either of the above they know that, overall, the worst Christians are going to do is TELL them they're going to hell and that they will pray for them to repent before it's too late.
However, if people did it to a religion like Islam there is no shortage of people in that faith that would personally and actively try to facilitate their exit from this Earth and their journey to Hell.
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Chris
On top of everything else, these people claiming to be Christians are doing so many things Jesus said not to do while denouncing things Jesus said to do. They've proven they don't care about the Constitution, they don't care about We the People, they don't care about anything but their bank accounts. So what are they going to deem "Anti-Christian"?
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Reverend Paula Copp
The Constitution has essentially been nullified…
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ServantOfJudgement
Hardly so Paula, otherwise I'd have angry guys at my front porch demanding my firearms. You'll need a liberal at the wheel for the abolition of the constitution.
No, I don't think the constitution that the president who showered with his daughter violated has been nullified. Why didn't you say anything when the Hair Sniffer in Chief directly violated the supreme court's ruling? Was it because Cortez the killer and all the other liberal drones applauded and demanded going against the supreme court?
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Lisbeth Kieran Bushey
Here's AG Bondi talking about taking firearms from people without due process after Parkland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5tP3OLhmA0
What's going to stop them from weaponizing that? Nothing. Not even a 9-0 SC ruling stops them.
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Reverend Paula Copp
You are, as usual, uninformed and incorrect, SoJ…May whichever god you serve help you…
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ServantOfJudgement
Too hard to accept Ms Copp I know. Truth is bitter as hell
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John P Maher
TO QUOTE Mr. GEORGE CARLIN, ITs ALL B S, JUST AS ANYTHING THAT COMEs OUT OF THE MOUTH of TURD tRUMP I D D. JUST LIES and B S !
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
I go back to our Founding Father's. SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!! And how can this person call himself a "Christian" when his actions are totally fascist????
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James Mounts
Please explain how one excludes the other. Christianity is a religion. Fascism is a form of government. Fascists can be Christian, and Christians can be fascists. I admire your fervor, but your facts are lacking.
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Chris
A Christian is a follower of the teachings of Jesus. A fascist acts in opposition to those teachings. So while a fascist may claim to be a Christian, that does not in fact make them such. It is not by your words but by your actions we may know you're a Christian.
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James Mounts
And, as for "separation of church and state", please see my previous comment.
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Merlin
The only thing that makes sense, Demonic . John 8:44 KJV. —Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
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ServantOfJudgement
You've just described 95 percent of all government agencies.
Thank God Trump hired Musk and others to take care of your worries. You're not alone, I was worried too but I'm feeling better now.
Demonic indeed, I'm sure you've heard the last president was taking showers with his pre teen daughter.
Good bible quote. Keep em coming.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Trump is demonic and so is musk.
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ServantOfJudgement
Robert, is Biden? He showered with his pre teen daughter. Is that demonic?
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Wilberta M. Berry
No one could be more anti Christian than the felon who did that infamous photo op holding the Bible upside down and backwards. 🤦🏼♀️ To associate such a blatant phoney with Christianity is an effront to anyone who seriously considers themselves a Christian. I wish the media outlets would stop lingering and reporting on every nonsensical ignorant thing that comes from this current regime. Plus the Constitution says to keep the church and state separate. If the felon can ignore the Constitution, I wish people would start to ignore his ignorance. His agenda and regime doesn't represent the majority of Americans.
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Dennis Chevalier
Amen
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ServantOfJudgement
Conceptually speaking, all Christians become so with their first step from the quagmire of their former life society encourages towards Jesus and his way of living. None ever make it there in life, they can't. That means every single Christian is an imperfect sinner even unto death. One will easily find fault in any person claiming to be a Christian. Conversely, that same fault will be found in the person who pointed it out in the first place. Jesus said that of us and I've never been able to disprove it.
Holding a bible upside down and backwards is probably the low end of things, definitely not a sin. How do you hold bibles? No matter how you do, it will be upside down and backwards from the right perspective.
I've read it somewhere that the average American citizen commits 3 felonies each month without knowing it. For example, when I trade a dozen eggs for a bag of frozen wild caught fish, it puts my buddy and I at odds with federal law. I do that one quite a bit.
Dearest Wilberta, between the two of us in our lifetime we'll have committed over a thousand felonies.
As far as Americans supporting our President, he did win the popular and electoral vote so there's that hard fact you'll have to somehow come to terms with.
Finally, I don't think you really care about constitutional adherence. No democrat cares about constitutional adherence. Indeed, to the demand and encouragement of most democratic politicians, president Josephine Biden has directly and knowingly violated the constitution against supreme court rulings. Not just once either.
Let's cut the fluffy pillow talk. You're side loves what trump does when you do it. You demand it. Well, ya got it now don't ya?
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Wilberta M. Berry
SOJ; speak for yourself about felonies. You know nothing about me. However, I stand by my statement. The felon is no more a Christian than Satan is. He uses whatever it takes to push peoples buttons and to abuse the system and the rule of law. If he has to fake Christian rhetoric to take advantage of the feeble minded low IQ and information Americans, that what he does. Plus America can not be a "Christian" nation because the Constitution says no religious preference. Maybe you need to read the Constitution. If the founding fathers would have wanted a religious country, it would have been so. None of the founding fathers were Christians. Read your history books, if you have any.
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Thom
Amen Brother Maher
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ServantOfJudgement
Wilberta, if you've ever driven down the road or been driven down the road with an egg in your possession you've probably committed a felony for that alone. It just gets worse from there.
I'm sorry to bring this news to you but there are so many laws that you've absolutely committed several federal crimes. More that 35.
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Henry Buehler
Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law Hardcover – August 6, 2024 by Neil Gorsuch (Author), Janie Nitze (Author) 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (525) 4.2 on Goodreads 1,001 ratings See all formats and editions America has always been a nation of laws. But today our laws have grown so vast and reach so deeply into our lives that it’s worth asking: In our reverence for law, have we gone too far?
Over just the last few decades, laws in this nation have exploded in number; they are increasingly complex; and the punishments they carry are increasingly severe. Some of these laws come from our elected representatives, but many now come from agency officials largely insulated from democratic accountability.
In Over Ruled, Neil Gorsuch and Janie Nitze explore these developments and the human toll so much law can carry for ordinary Americans. At its heart, this is a book of stories—about fishermen in Florida, families in Montana, monks in Louisiana, a young Internet entrepreneur in Massachusetts, and many others who have found themselves trapped unexpectedly in a legal maze.
Some law is essential to our lives and our freedoms. But too much law can place those very same freedoms at risk and even undermine respect for law itself. And often those who feel the cost most acutely are those without wealth, power, and status.
Deeply researched and superbly written, Over Ruled is one of the most significant books of the year. It is a must-read for every citizen concerned about the erosion of our constitutional system, and its insights will be key to the preservation of our liberties for generations to come.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
The Christians Project 2025 gets another win and this is an unbelievably HUGE win for the Mormons. But as we all know the hatred of the Christians has never been more prevalent in the US than right now. What the Christians are doing IS against the word of God, what we are told in the Bible and the teaching in the Bible and the teaching of Jesus.
Best to become a Mormon now as God loves them the best. The Mormon church is worth over $230 BILLION dollars invested in real estate, stocks, bonds, shopping malls and businesses. Time run out and buy your magic Mormon underwear and start reading the Book of Mormon.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
I don’t think it’s the REAL Christians that are despised, it’s the christian nationalists that are. They are divisive and disgusting.
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ServantOfJudgement
I asked my flavor of AI to educate me about Project 2025. It did.
SOJ analysis: Liberal and Democratic Presidents and lawmakers have already been doing what 2025 says for their own agenda and have been for a very long time.
AI Examples: The Green New Deal, UN Agenda 2030(Formerly Agenda 2021), The Great Reset, Build Back Better, Open Society Foundation.
SOJ Conclusion: The Hive is angry it's getting effective resistance, it's not experienced that yet.
Thank God for logic in the Whitehouse. By garsh it's been a while.
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Robert James Ruhnke
SOJ, just no. You’re wrong.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Once again, SoJ is uninformed and incorrect.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
I don’t think it’s the REAL Christians that are despised, it’s the christian nationalists that are. They are divisive and disgusting.
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Henry Buehler
Praying for Armageddon indicates doomsday evangelicals are making considerable headway within America’s armed forces. In the film, investigative journalist Lee Fang interviews retired Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, a former advisor to Gen. Colin Powell, describing Wilkerson as “concerned about the role of evangelical Christian nationalists in the military.”
“Chaplains are increasingly coming from the fundamentalist sects,” Col. Wilkerson points out. “These evangelical fundamentalist chaplains go to some place where basic training graduates and they say beforehand… ‘These troops are at their most vulnerable. They’ve been wracked and trained to death. Go get ‘em.’” Col. Wilkerson adds that at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, “they had something like 70 baptisms… at the end of basic training exercises. And they proselytize and get them, take them down and baptize them and then they’re part of the Christian nationalists.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made common cause with right-wing Christian evangelicals, seeing the alliance as useful to his policies. (Last month, the Biden administration described itself as “deeply troubled” by a reported plan to build “nearly 10,000 settlement units in the West Bank that were previously illegal under Israel law. Like previous administrations, Democratic and Republican, we strongly oppose such unilateral measures, which exacerbate tensions and undermine the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.”).
Praying for Armageddon devotes significant attention to U.S. policy in Israel and how it’s being influenced by apocalyptic Christian thinking, but Schei makes it clear, “I’m not against Israel. This is not an anti-Israel film. I’m against a lot what is happening in Israel. I do think it’s really important for us as a world community to look at what is happening in Israel, because we do have to protect human rights everywhere.”
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Clay Serenbetz
This is a clear fascist violation of the 1st Amendment's guarantee of Freedom of Religion.
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ServantOfJudgement
I think that's the point mr clay. The government can't pump someone because they're Christian. It's called freedom of religion like you said.
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Chris
Nor can the government "pump" someone for being "Anti-Christian." Nothing is stopping you from being a Christian. What is being hindered is believing anything else.
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Parson Golden
Such a blatant disregard for the US Constitution.
Again for the people in the back, the United States is NOT a Christian nation. We have freedom to pursue whatever religious belief, following any of the hundreds of gods we want, and have freedom FROM religion.
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ServantOfJudgement
I wish you were here during president Biden's rule when he directly violated the supreme courts ruling to the cheering of elected democratic officials, news casters and blog commentators. I could have heard how important the Constitution was to you then.
Oh? You were here then? Huh, I musta missed your sincere concerns.
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Parson Golden
Please tell me what President Biden did that was akin to declaring that it was necessary to “hunt down Christian bias”?
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Robert Gagnon
Just trading one fanatical movement for another. But Trump is the furthest thing from any kind of good admired in any belief. That includes the warrior cast.
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Amber Fry
The President isn't restricted from that. Judges are. And if you are going to condemn someone on the left for doing it you may as well do it for those on the right who are a lot more boisterous about it. Y'all kept calling him sleepy, just how celebratory could he be?
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James Mounts
Two thirds of the citizens of The United States are Christian. For you people in the front who are always throwing around that we are a democracy, then that makes us a Christian nation. The Constitution forbids me from making any religion a "state" religion, but it also forbids you from hindering me from being Christian. And, before you throw in the "separation of church and state" argument, I defy you to find those words in the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson may have wanted them there, but he was only one vote, and democracy ruled.
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Parson Golden
That would be wrong, and a blatant lie.
No one is hindering you from observing any of the hundreds of Gods that anyone chooses to observe.
No one is hindering you from pretending to be a Christian if that is what you want,
2/3 of the country claiming to be “Christian” does not in fact make us “a Christian nation”. The U.S. is not a Christian nation because of the Constitution and its foundational principles. The First Amendment, prohibits the government from establishing a religion (“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”) and that guarantees the free exercise of religion. This creates the separation between church and state. The words do not need to appear in that order to be a fact. Religious Pluralism, the U.S. was founded, in part, as a haven for people fleeing religious persecution. The government was designed to protect individuals’ right to practice any religion, or none at all, without state interference or favoritism.
Lastly, despite your claim the majority doesn’t override The U.S. is a constitutional republic, not a direct democracy. That means the rights of individuals and minorities are protected, even against the will of the majority. Just because a majority of citizens are something doesn’t give them legal authority to make anything the official religion.
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Amber Fry
Who hindered that? Nobody ever said a person cannot be whatever religion they wish. then just need to keep from forcing it on everyone else and it doesn't belong in politics. Biden was a very faithful Catholic and lived his life as such. What he didn't do is legislate to insiste everyone else be Catholic too. He knew the difference. Be what you want. Just stop trying to make laws the are strictly for Christian living.
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Axcella Maria Zed
At one point did Christ call his followers say that his kingdom was of this world? A nation with choices is a land where people have to learn to live together. For a group that has been built on the premise that other beliefs have a need to have ordained leadership we should be mindful of that we are a group of diversity. Forcing someone to do what you think is the right way is only good for controlling others not calling them out
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Axcella Maria Zed
At one point did Christ call his followers say that his kingdom was of this world? A nation with choices is a land where people have to learn to live together. For a group that has been built on the premise that other beliefs have a need to have ordained leadership we should be mindful of that we are a group of diversity. Forcing someone to do what you think is the right way is only good for controlling others not calling them out
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Lauren Boebart proclaiming, when Fang doorsteps her in D.C., that “There are only two nations built to honor God: Israel and the U.S.A.,” or Ralph Drollinger, who ran the weekly White House Bible Study Group during the Trump administration, claiming the times are currently “alive with demonic powers once hidden.” Fang gets clarification on what those demons are, exactly: “The homosexual movement, the transgender [sic] back in our military, the abortion issue.” But a crusade against progressive social ideals is to be expected from the extreme Christian right. (“Crusade” being a good example of a term that before might have been merely a colorful euphemism, but after “Praying For Armageddon” starts to be suspicious, a potential fundamentalist dogwhistle embedded in plain sight.) What is so much more frightening is how insidiously they are influencing geopolitics, specifically as it pertains to Israel, in order to create the conditions that favor Armageddon (predicted to occur on a large wide plain near Meggido, in the north of the country). Recent developments, such as Trump’s installation of a U.S. military base in Israel, are implied to be part of this master plan, and have certainly escalated tensions in the region. Footage of devastating airstrikes on Palestinian civilian dwellings proves that when you believe your mission is divine, you have no need to be humane.
Televangelist Pastor Robert Jeffress, a regular pundit for Fox News and head of one the nation’s largest parachurches, is one of Fang’s most fascinating interviews, mostly because of the serene, avuncular manner in which he assures us that “the end of the world is nothing to fear.” For those us averse to the idea, however, “Praying for Armageddon” is a compelling, sobering Revelation all its own, revealing the hitherto unimagined scale of a type of political insanity that would entrust the future to people who don’t want there to be a future at all.
Veterans and Reservists Rally to End Gaza Conflict When veterans from the air force went out in open protest, Israel's military struck back and kicked them out. Now, thousands more reservists, veterans, and civilians are demanding that the war in Gaza come to an end. The military leadership is facing a dilemma, according to Eran Duvdevani, who got 2,500 former paratroopers to sign a protest letter:
If they continue to dismiss the pilots, how will it be with all the others who signed the letters? Should they also be dismissed from service?
Extreme influence Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which stands and falls with ultra-nationalist support parties, is reported to have tightened an ideological grip on a military that has long served as a unifying force in Israeli society.
About 40 percent of all newly graduated officers come from orthodox and nationalist minority groups, says military historian Yoram Peri to The New Yorker.
Netanyahu's reshuffles in the military leadership follow the same pattern, according to Peri:
A professional, secular army is not their goal. Nor is a secular democratic society.
“It’s crystal clear that the renewal of the war is for political reasons and not for security reasons,” Guy Poran, a retired pilot who was one of the initiators of the air force letter, told The Associated Press.