Should politicians be required to hold Christian values? Does adhering to the Bible make someone more deserving of winning an election?
Those are the questions sparked by controversial recent comments from an Ohio Senate candidate and a former national security advisor.
Faith Fight
Two nominees for an open Ohio Senate seat are in a war of the words, with one claiming he holds the strongest Christian values, and the other saying that simply can’t be possible... because he’s Jewish.
The frontrunner for the nomination in 2022 is Josh Mandel, a Jewish man who has repeatedly emphasized his ‘Judeo-Christian values’ in an effort to court evangelical Christians. His website declares him decidedly “Pro-God”.
His opponent, Mark Pukita, is using those very values as an attack line.
“Are we seriously supposed to believe the most Christian values Senate candidate is Jewish? I am so sick of these phony caricatures,” a voice says in a radio ad run by Pukita’s campaign. “I agree,” says another voice. “If we keep electing people like this, we’ll keep getting the same terrible results.”
At a recent campaign forum, Pukita was on the defensive when asked to respond to claims that he’s anti-semitic. "In terms of antisemitism, all I did in an ad was point out that Josh is going around saying he's got the Bible in one hand and the constitution in the other,” he stated. “But he's Jewish. Everybody should know that though, right?"
While Pukita’s campaign stopped short of saying that Mandel’s Jewish faith should disqualify him from public office, there are some out there who might think it should be.
Mandatory Christianity
Michael Flynn, former Army lieutenant general and national security advisor to President Trump, caused a stir at a recent rally when he called for a single unifying national faith:
The comments were met with immediate criticism – and alarm – from many sectors. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of the United States constitution and a plurality of religious beliefs have existed in the country since its founding. To say that the U.S. must adopt one single religion flies in the face of that tradition.
And yet, there seems to be some popularity around the idea. Josh Mandel, the Senate candidate, signaled support for General Flynn’s comments on Twitter.
Nor is he alone. Activist Jacob Wohl, who himself is Jewish, said "I firmly believe that every Jew in America should decorate their home with Christmas lights. It's called assimilation. America is a Christian country."
One Nation Under God?
The comments reminded some of a controversial 4th of July newspaper ad from Hobby Lobby earlier this year that read “ONE NATION UNDER GOD” and included quotes from the Founding Fathers to assert that America is in fact a Christian nation.
Critics, however, point out that many of the Founding Fathers were Deists, and that the First Amendment grants freedom of religion to all Americans. They argue that the idea of religious freedom doesn’t just cover your right to practice whichever branch of Protestantism you prefer: It means the freedom to practice any faith or no faith at all.
Still, it’s hard not to acknowledge that in some ways, America is a Christian nation – at least symbolically. There are signs of Christianity’s influence in nearly every aspect of daily life. “One nation under God” is recited in schools across America during the pledge of allegiance, and “In God We Trust” adorns our currency. Not to mention that an estimated 93% of Americans are preparing to celebrate Christmas next month.
What is your reaction?
98 comments
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Reverend Kurt
I see this as an affirmation for the concept of separation of church and state.
The role of a politician is too navigate modern issues and formulate laws. OK some are seen to be feathering their own nests and some are seen as being quite despicable. Whatever your opinion of politicians, they are a product of our present time and deal with present issues.
The holy books of both religions addressed a period of history and civilisation over 2000 + years in the past. It was a totally different society compared to ours. Both holy books (Christian and Jewish) advocate, encourage and condone rape, incest, murder,theft, paedophilia and demand compliance . If you are not one of their fold , you are not seen as human and need to be "cleansed'.
I for one think our world has enough issues to face in the present, than to resurrect the ethics and morals of a past much harsher society. Imagine if countries behaved like those people mentioned in the scriptures. Do you really want such a politician for today?
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Not a Christian, but doesn't the faith teach, "Thou shalt not bear a false witness?"
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Susan Ann Zierlein
The United States Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Don't think we should change that.
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Pink Clover
Agreed. And it should include freedom FROM religion. We would all be a lot better off.
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Pink Clover
Agreed. And it should include freedom FROM religion. We would all be a lot better off.
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JT of the plains
Consider the Constitution's Article VI which specifies that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
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Rev. Dr. G. Waldron
The problem is so many of these so-called evangelical white "Christians" are going so far to the fascist side that they are rivaling the jihad extremist Moslems. Giving a rifle to Flynn in a church? How many Lutherans or Catholic supported Hitler or at the least didn't stand up to him?
The CULT - American White Evangelicals - is destroying the country and American Christian values. Yes, there are other American values that may or may not have a religious connection, but in this article, it is about a so-called "Christian" politician that uses faux religion as an instrument for his benefit not others and certainly not for God.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
The Pope and the Catholic Church supported the Nazi's and Hitler during the war and there efforts to eliminate the Jews. After the war the Pope and Catholic Church helped countless Nazi's avoid prosecution by helping them escape to South America.
White Evangelicals Christians are just perpetuating a modern form of Manifest Destiny in the United States. They still feel God gave the White European Christians to steal, pillage, rape and kill for in the name of a White Christian God.
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Nadine E. Wright
Oh brother...that's what's wrong with our country...thoughts just like this where you see "racism" everywhere & insist that all Evangelical Christians "feel God gave the White European Christians ...to steal, pillage, rape & kill in the name of a White Christian God"...getouttahere with that nonsense. Always looking around every corner for someone else to blame instead of owning up to standing up & actually doing the right thing.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Do you not know American history? How could you know know about Manifest Destiny? Or the phrase, "Go West, young man". Or how about the only good Indian is a dead Indian? Any idea who slaughtered the Native Americans stealing their land and food? Need a hint? They were white and they were Christians doing it in the name of God.
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Gerardo Salazar
You’re lying and you know it; Catholic Church was persecuted in Germany and countless Catholic lays and clergy were sent to concentration camps, prison or were executed. The Vatican and the church rescued thousands of Jews by issuing false documents, lobbying Axis officials, and hiding Jews in monasteries, convents, schools, and even at the Vatican. Read about Bishop Clemens August Graf von Galen and perhaps learn something new. Of course there were Nazi sympathizers among Catholics and even scores of Americans this side of the Atlantic dreamed of a racist Nazi state; remember Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh, American heroes with their hearts in Berlin?
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White Owl
Here's your answer to that Catholic side of your question.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_persecution_of_the_Catholic_Church_in_Poland
Ignorance is the real blight on the world. Everyone should educate themselves before engaging others.
Blessings & peace to you all.
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David Atkins
As a Christian, I am alarmed by the threat of Christian nationalism. For someone to even suggest that America should be a Christian nation should set off alarm bells for all Christians. This nation was founded by Christians such as the Pilgrims who fled from Christian persecution in Europe.
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Alexander Penley
I'm Buddhist: just NO. I also live in the town where the first public hangings of Jewish people took place during WWII. Religion doesn't make the person. Their level of compassion does.
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Shango MasterExorcist, D.D.
Christianity is a Jewish cult, so if both candidates support Judeo-Christian values, maybe they both should talk about something else, like issues related the the election.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Shango, as the mythological Jesus, was Jewish, so must his father, the Christian God, be Jewish. So we have to reconcile the mythologi-fact, that a God, who was Jewish at the time, before he arranged to have an earthly first Christian son, sent his now Christian son - to be tortured to death (crucified) because he (the then Jewish God) screwed up, by allowing some of the humans he created, to do evil.
Then the Romans murdered the Christian Jesus, and the new Pope (Peter) blamed it on the Jews, rather than rightly on the Romans - in order that eventually the Roman Catholic Church, could be headquartered in the Vatican, which then was a part of Rome.
God, started off as a Jew, but converted himself into a Christian, so that he could be the same religion as his son.
And now you know the rest of the story.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
My god and goddess never belonged to any religion, and don't care what religion (or lack thereof) anyone belongs to or believes in. They just want us to be happy, without hurting anyone or anything. Blessed be!
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Cindy L Edgar
I agree 100%
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Dr. Jerry Moyes
Well said
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Gerardo Salazar
Excuse but do you read what you write before pressing the SEND button? Your ideas are so absurd that they sound like words coming out of a deranged, prejudiced and frankly highly ignorant person.
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John D. Partin
William Dusenberry, how could the Romans have murdered Jesus when you say that "Jesus is mythical", since mythical or imaginary people can't be murdered? Tacitus in his Annals of Imperial Rome said that Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, had Jesus put to death, which he couldn't have done to an imaginary or mythical person, and Tacitus was known for stating if things were only legends and he made no such admission. God isn't or wasn't a Jew just because He sent His message to Jews, but was only giving it to those who were most open to receiving His message in the world. If other people would have been more open to receiving His message, He would have spoken to them, but that wouldn't have made Him one of them, either. Jews and other people are human groups, while God is a Spirit and so above human groups.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
I they guy wants one religion for our nation, why does he get to play God and tell us which religion it should be? There are 50,000 Christian religions in this country, then there are Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Witches, Buddhists and countless more. Any religion which would want me to become a member of I would not want to be part of.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Cindy — when one’s religion (especially the one in which one was brainwashed into as a naive little-bitty child), has been successfully brainwashed, such a brainwashed child, is easily convinced into voting for the likes of the Antichrist DJ Trump, I maintain the right to criticize such religions.
Ditto, any religion, that knows that all females are the root of all evil; and religions which oppose the use of birth control, hate gays, science and democracy, and teach little kiddies that they guilty, of having murdered Jesus, because God, the Christian Father, says they did,
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Cindy L Edgar
You are a real idiot for one you have no idea what you're talking about and and for two you have no right to judge anybody Christianity is worse than anything that I could ever do
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Ennyl Yesac
A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men. — Bertrand Russell
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I'd say the best spiritual principles to improve this world with are altruism, and the practice of humility, with or without religious convictions.
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Ronaldo
How many of the so-called "Christian moral values" come solely from the New Testament? The values to which I aspire are based on the Ten Commandments, which apply as much or more to the Jewish as to the Christians. Many "Christians" throughout history have committed considerable atrocities. It is one thing to claim you are Christian, and another entirely to actually behave as one. Many Buddhists are very moral people, as are many Wiccans. Christ did not define moral behavior, and His followers are not the only people that exhibit moral behavior. Morals have virtually nothing to do with religion and have everything to do with your behavior towards others. To claim that only a Christian can be moral defies the Christian concept of acceptance and tolerance.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
There’s no such thing, as Christian values, as I’ve found out by asking any self-identifying Christian, whenever I ask them “what are Christian values?” They no longer “love their neighbors” — unless they are their fellow tribal members — and most hate the gay, females (even when they are one, especially if they voted for the misogynistic Trump) the science minded, and now, anyone who’s opposed to fascism.
Christian values are akin to GOP ideas about freedom and patriotism — they only apply whenever they’re accused of being fascistic, misogynistic, racist, homophobic, or zealous religious fanatical enemies of anyone who’s not a member of their own tribe.
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Daniel Gray
Ok only idiots claim that the Founding fathers were deists. There were in reality only TWO who would fit that claim, the rest were protestant and methodist. The two who were deists were George Mason and John Dickenson and history proves this with their writings.
Secondly Pukita is upset because he is so far behind in the polls that he will never be able to catch up and he knows it.His campaign is already on its death bed and he just cant stand the fact that he is losing.
And whats wrong with voting like this? I didnt see any of you complaining when Omar took her congressional oath on the Koran, nor did I see any of you complaining when Ellison took his congressional oath on the Koran. And where was your condemnation when Johnson took his oath of office on a Catholic Missal?
Just more click bait as it seems that the monastery is just having to make things up to have something to write about.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Cindy — when one’s religion (especially the one in which one was brainwashed into as a naive little-bitty child), has been successfully brainwashed, such a brainwashed child, is easily convinced into voting for the likes of the Antichrist DJ Trump, I maintain the right to criticize such religions.
Ditto, any religion, that knows that all females are the root of all evil; and religions which oppose the use of birth control, hate gays, science and democracy, and teach little kiddies that they guilty, of having murdered Jesus, because God, the Christian Father, says they did,
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Rev. Laurie G. Cleveland RN
We are one nation under God. Since all of our forefathers were members of the Masonic fraternity up until JFK, we believe as a nation in Judeao-Christian beliefs, i.e. Bublical. It's the stupidest thing th at I have ever heard, one being better than the oither because of the way that they practice their religion. Actually, neither is a good example of his faith. You need to walk the walk and show your faith, not this ridiculous one upmanship! Do you really think that God is amused with either one of these idiots that would stoop so low as to say I am better because. How about showing the people how committed you truly are, not just in public life, but private. And what's going to happen if they get into office? If they stoop this low now, you can bet that they are just talking heads that really will not stand up against a good bribe when it comes their way!
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Jeanie Agmon
People can be atheists and agnostics as well. Nobody has to have faith or believe we our one nation under God. Everyone should be accepted no matter what they believe. Or don’t believe.
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Donald Richard Starns
My Uncle John was a member of the Kiwanis Club. I myself was a Cub Scout. What religion should I be practicing?
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Cindy L Edgar
My grandfather was a part of the masonics and your point is what I still am a pagan witch
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Dr. Jerry Moyes
I'm not sure why you're brought up membership of founding fathers in the Masonic Fraternaity, but your information is inaccurate. Defining who founding gathers are, and aren't is difficult, but for simplicity if we look at the places we have specific names, who are undoubtedly founding fathers, the first and second Constitutional Conventions, including the Signatories of The Declaration of Independence, you've find the numer of Masons to be 1/3, or 33%, a signifigant nubmer, but not a majority. Those Good Men acted independent of any organization.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
We SHP’ers (Secular Humanist Pantheists) as the only known group able to actually prove the existence of God, are the only ones able to interpret what their provable God communicates to humankind.
And because SHP’ers know that nature and God are the same thing, SHP’ers hear God whenever they hear thunder, see lightening, or an eclipse of the moon.
In other words, SHP'ers see, hear and interact with God, anytime they’re not unconscious.
Unlike those whose ineffable Gods and Goddesses, talk and appear to those who probably voted for our last fascist-prone President,— the types of God-believers, whose religious views, they inherited (like their hair color) from one, or both of their parents.
ULC Bishop, William Dusenberry, DD, along with several other epistemological doctorates, whose been twice sainted, and with an academic PH.d in urban social problems.
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Simon E Blatta
Hello, Bishop. Can you show me the proof of God that your group has put together? I am curious about. Thanks for your time.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Simon; you ask me to prove that God exists — which I assumed I’d done, in my original posting.
Because, as far as I know, I have the only provable God — therefore anyone who believes in an unprovable God is an atheist — because anyone who simply accepts an unprovable God, in preference to a God which is provable, has no objective credibility and is most likely a “tribal” religionists, rather than one who selected the best religion, from the tens of thousands of various religions that can be studied, online.
Simon: the best way for those who need a religion, to find one, is to get the book “The Savvy Converts Guide to selecting a religion” and then after reading it — pick the religion that gives you the “best bang for your buck.”
Or, you can become a Pantheist — so everything you do is good; and whatever you don’t like doing is bad” — as long as you don’t intentionally harm anyone else in the process.
Simon — because God is the same as nature — do I still need to prove that nature exists to you?
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Simon E Blatta
If I accept that "God is the same as nature", then God follows natural laws-no magic, nothing supernatural-there is no reason to call it God. It's just a collection of things following the laws of the universe. It has no consciousness.
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Candice Beairs'Hodge
Church and start is separated for a reason, so things like this do not happen everyone is entitle to their own belief just need to keep it out of state business. But make their decision according to their belief
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Douglas R. Reynolds
I'm for Ohio, Josh Mandel is a political opportunist. This is his 3rd run at a senate seat. He has declared himself a trump republican and has backed Trumps big lie. Read this article about Mandel and this will tell you everything you need to know... https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/11/josh-mandel-ohio/620550/
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Lyle Roy Gleason
Rev. L.R. Gleason Here's a history lesson for you all! The words "under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance during the Eisenhower administration in an effort to root out Communists 'hiding' in our country. The thought behind this was that no 'Red atheist' would ever utter the words "under God", and therefore be exposed and arrested. How naive our government mindset was back then! It actually had nothing to do with any national religion! Evangelicals are now using this little-known historical fact to force their agenda upon us all. Every day this country gets closer & closer to becoming Gilead! BLESSED BE TO ALL IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!!!
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Rev. Rory
Thanks, Lyle. I was waiting for someone to post this.
The phrase "under God" was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance on June 14, 1954, by a Joint Resolution of Congress amending § 4 of the Flag Code enacted in 1942.
In the United States, the federal constitution does not make a reference to God, although it uses the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII.
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RevWood
Both the pledge and the money were changed in the 50s by the same kind of Christians who want to force their religious views on everyone now.
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Thom
If we do not have political leaders with morals and ethics then, we don't have good leaders. I don't want a politician who is like most clergy where they say one thing and do another, much like the US White House today. I want someone who is going to make a decision taking in the facts and affects of their decision along with the morals and ethics. If a leader looks to how their decisions affect US as a whole instead of how it will effect them, we would have better leaders. If we have a Bible thumper in the White House no decision will ever be made properly so, we must have someone who knows when to apply the teachings and guidance of the Bible.
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Charles Jude Platt
"One Nation under God" doesn't mean 'one nation under my or your God.' Unfortunately, many 'believers' do not either know the teachings of the Creator God, nor Christ and all the prophets.
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Stacey Owens
Our faith should not be predicated by religion but by trusting in God.
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Lionheart
Does adhering to the Bible make someone more deserving of winning an election? I certainly hope not!
How many people really do fully adhere to the Bible, knowing their god condones slavery and stoning people to death? 🤷🏼.
🦁❤️
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Stacey Owens
Does adhering to carrying a gun, being transexual, a given color, rich, or of the law, make someone more deserving.
No matter what, it's a form of religion. All people of what ever they claim, there preaching a religion.
They claim to be entitled and they will march to prove their faith in what they believe in.
All of it is called judgment. Plain and simple.
And to some of you who don't believe in the I am. To hope in something, is really nothing, it's just babel.
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Stacey Owens
He should not have said," we should be one religion".
Our trust in God should not be based on a man's religion but by the how God empowers (calls) the believer to become a son of God.
We are not called by a religion.
We're born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Religion kills, but trusting God in the name of Jesus Christ gives life.
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Robin Cohen
Read the Declaration of Independence please
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Jeanie Agmon
Not everybody believes in Jesus. Thank god.
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Stacey Owens
Everyone on this post is speaking fulfillment.
As Flynn spoke nonsense, everyone on this post is fulfilling the nonsense.
Any religion spoken is nonsense. I don't understand why people can't seem to be moved by the spirit of life.
Why act in hostility (judgment)?
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William Waugh
What I have learned from observing human culture, especially since our 2016 election is; america is now run by a population of insane people. Here is how it works. In the everyday world, information is hoarded and massed and people believe their successes were because of thier competence in doing so. This generates large swathes of population that, come to believe that their lack of successes are the fault of someone else. This breeds weird ideas like, instead of honouring equality of opportunity and comprehension of the historical context of how we got here, each day is full of angst over the wealthier, the smarter, the prettier......anyone that does not look like them. ...
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
God is not a Christian word. Some other religions, such as Paganism and Wicca have used the word to refer to deity since long before christianity, and even Judaism, were even imagined by their undoubtedly mentally deranged founders. And what are we all really celebrating in December? We are celebrating the Pagan Sabbat of Yule: the return of the sun. Not the son (that S.O.B), but the sun, regardless of how we early christians confused the two. If they wanted to celebrate their own holiday, they wouldn't have picked a Pagan holiday to have it on, and celebrate in part, similar to Pagans a ND Wiccans. They apparently wanted Christmas to seem Pagan, since Paganism was obviously the better religion, and they didn't want to stray too far away from it. They forgot to mention that in their unholy dogma. And now their members don't have a clue, and think they are celebrating the birth of Christ (who wasn't even born in December) by decorating Yule trees,of all things, and engaging in other Pagan activities. Those silly Jewish and Christian politicians don't have a leg to stand on. It's just another deceitful ploy a t getting votes, from c hristians who they think are stupid enough to believe them. And I must agree, there are a lot of stupid christians in this country, but there a re far more open minded, truly patriotic American than they seem to think. If we haven't changed the Constitution in all years to please a bunch of loudmouth, prejudiced christians, don't count on it ever happening. Considering a lil the people Iv a spoken to throughout my life, America isn't nearly as s much of a Christian nation, as christians claim it is. And they're the only ones doing the claiming. Christianity is also losing members, a lot more than gaining them, especially among younger generations, who will someday be a lil there is.
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Diane Minna LaFave
What you said is very interesting. I am Christian but Don't believe in in the "churches". I do my ministry on the streets; go to visit in the hospital, show by example how to serve our Father. I don't judge how others choose to live [ unless they are hurting someone, especially children]. I am going to educate myself about your Faith. Peace be with you, Pastor Diane
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I hate those worthless poltergeist spell checkers. All they do is try to screw up our words, and if we forget to proof read before submitting a comment, they really screw things up, like they did in my above comment. But how can we cast protection spells gainst spell checkers? Don't forget to proof read, or just grin and bear it.
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John D. Partin
The Jews had the right to reclaim their ancestral land for the formation of the State of Israel after thousands of years of being exiled from it, the European countries had the right to reclaim their countries for themselves after their being controlled by the Roman Empire and later the Nazis, and India had the right to reclaim their country and have home rule after hundreds of years of English domination. And Christians had the right to reclaim December 25 for the celebration of Christ's birth after thousands of years of its being the celebration of the sun and solstice. December 25 belongs to everyone, not just Pagans. What things have always been or how they have always been done is no sign that they should always be that or be done that way, and you people don't think that how anything has always been done or what it has always been is how it should keep being done or what it should stay being about anything else, except December 25. So, why make that exception for that day out of everything else? There could be no progress if things couldn't be changed from how they have been done or what they have been. It doesn't matter that December 25 isn't Jesus' birthday and, maybe, that is why we don't know His birthday, so that the celebration of Christ's birth could better fulfill that day than does the celebration of the sun. Christ isn't a S.O.B and doesn't deserve to be disrespected by that word or other hateful accusations because of what some people have done "in His name", since He had nothing to do with any of that and it was against His teaching. Do Pagans have any morality or sense of fair play at all, since insulting and disrespecting Christ isn't doing unto others as you would have others do unto you and you wouldn't want other people to make such comments about yourself!!
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Reverend Kurt
Pardon my bewilderment. I was under the impression that the job of a politician was to find common ground between the demands of various party"donors"and formulate laws to appease their bosses. Remember the old adage, ye who pays the piper calls the tune. The two religions have millions of donors, deal in matters that are only concerned about a society over that lived 2000+ years in the past, that had a totally different moral and ethical standard of life.
As both religious books advocate and glorify murder, rape, incest, revenge, paedophilia and if you are not of their fold you are also not considered human therefore can be "cleansed"
For me I would prefer a modern politician, who will bend and twist our ethics and morals for their gain.At least they are relevant to our society. I f this politician has such a deep religious conviction, I would run far and fast. Who needs another Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin Pol Pot etc??
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Woodrow
A cult is a small group of people. When a person starts using the Race Card, they are part of the problem. We need to have a Freedom movement like our ancestors during the Revolution.
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Rev. Elizabeth
When people say they are voting via their bible, they mean that they will read scriptures regarding the voting process and have their Christian values and belief in check. They would have done their homework by investigating all candidates and then vote for the person they feel will work for all the people, regardless of their religious views. I see nothing wrong with that at all. I too will go to the bible, I also talk with God through Jesus and I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my hand to where I am supposed to vote. If you know the Christian bible, you will also know that the world is changing really fast. We are a nation divided by two, Christians and other religious convictions, the good and the bad. We are seeing families falling apart and that too is a reflection of the choices we are making for the people to run our government and to speak for us. Many have learned they voted for the wrong man to be our President. They were fooled and they realized it too late. Satan had a big hand in that, it is clearly evident. But, this is how it is supposed to happen. The bible is telling us this and we are actually living it. I try to vote for the person who will work for the people and have their voices heard and the future of our government will keep growing in a good seed and making sure all is done the way it needs to be done. That's all a good person can ask for. God Bless you all and I pray you all vote the way you should vote. Listen, read, pray, then vote and pray to the Holy Spirit to guide your hand to the right people. Tell Jesus to block Satan from mimicking the Holy Spirit and messing with our minds. We need to trust our Lord God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
God bless, Rev. Elizabeth
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Jeanie Agmon
Nobody has to pray to vote. Nobody has to believe in Jesus. Other religions do exist. And by the way nobody has to believe in anything to be a good person and do the right things in life.
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Reverend Kurt
I am astounded that you hear voices and talk to a god. I know of a medical condition that addresses exactly such issues and is treatable. More astounding is that this voice is telling you who is good and who is bad, I have found people are both, depending on the situation faced at the time and changes constantly Maybe it is just me, I do no live in a black and white world and people are allowed to think differently and disagree with me, I do not condemn them for that.. I believe in the adage"Judge not others lest you be judged yourself" Good advice Huh??
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Lionheart
When you read your book Elizabeth, please don’t forget to read about the misogynistic dictates of your god, and his decisions to kill little children. Perhaps you can ask him about some of his bad decisions of genocide before getting him to instill in you better morals when deciding what to vote. I understand he’s a jealous god (his admission) but see if he’s managed to overcome his jealousy before advising you.
🦁❤️
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Elizabeth, it sounds like you need a medication change. Have you spoken with your psychiatrist lately?
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Ehrman, at times you're just as bad as a spell checker.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
There's absolutely nothing that iether one of those politicians gworthless religions can do to prevent this supposedly outdated phone from ceasing to function by the end of this night, according to my phone company. They charged me for a new one, and claimed to have delivered it to me, but I never received it. I cant even think of a good spell to cast to keep it on. So I had to buy another one, but not with the same company. And no religion in this world is going to instill the knowledge in me of knowing how this phone works. I must study the manual, and that could take some time. So, y'all probably won't hear from me for a few days.
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Kevin Joseph Kervick
A nation is a group of people living in the same area who share a common culture. Religion is one important aspect of culture.
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Chuck Kaye
I see much commentary on the subject of Christmas here. So many people in our society can't see the larger picture. Each group tries to gain ground for their own ideology. If we would only see what is actually before us, we might not be so quick to criticize and feel that our belief systems are threatened.
There are two Christmas holidays that we celebrate simultaneously, the religious one and the secular one. The religious one has Christ as the central theme; the secular one has Santa as its central figure. Neither one should invalidate the other. One group should not pressure the other group to adopt its value of the holiday.
Growing up in New York, I had many Jewish friends that celebrated Christmas. They, of course, were celebrating the secular holiday. Many Christians couldn't understand a Christmas celebration in a Jewish home because they assumed that Christmas was only a religious holiday. However, no one tried to coerce the other.
Today, we have a third group, one which wants neither holiday celebrated, which is also their right, however, they also shouldn't attempt to coerce other groups. It's selfish and insensitive.
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Diane Minna LaFave
The government can not , according to our Constitution influence the Church [ which means all Faiths] . I respect all Faiths and am all for our citizens to educate themselves about all of them. All believe in God . They just use a different name . "A rose is a rose ". We need to embrace all People of the world. We have a lot more in common than we have different. I have experienced many different cultures with different Faiths than mine. When I travel I love being among "The People". This gave me the opportunity to make life long friends I wouldn't otherwise have . I always present a good example of MY Faith. I welcome questions about my Faith. I ask questions about theirs or lack of too. I love in " in GOD we Trust " on currency. I want the Pledge of Allegiance in remain the same. I believe in prayer in school [ if there are students of a non Christian Faith then those prayers should be said too. When in Elementary School I was one of them that read from the Bible and lead in prayer over the P.A system. Let's make this world a better by loving one another worldwide. It's what our Father has told us to do. The Government needs to butt out of Church's business. We're not a sports team needing a "national religion". With Agape". Pastor Diane
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Karen Louise Levy
One nation under God 1) Jews follow the same G-d as Christians 2) I personally know some pretty awful “Christians” 3) the media is full of some horrible “Christians” 4) ultra right evangelicals are often an embarrassment to the rest of us 5) any G-d just wants us all to be kind to each other. She/He expects us to be the best we can be for ourselves and to each other. G-d isn’t Christian or Jewish or Muslim or any other . G-d is good, and G-d is also the best in each of us, and expects us to do Her/His work, be that through acts of social justice, political, community action or supporting the local economy. Wondering: do these same folks think The Second Gentlemen shouldn’t be because he’s Jewish?!)
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Michael Barton
There are 2 things going on here.
First, yes, if the Candidate isn't Christian, you can point that out - without being called Semitic. That's just freedom of speech.
Second, "one religion" is stupid. There are many religions. Flynn is a nut, and not a leader in the Republican party.
Conclusion, call someone out when they're being a snake, and let others have their own religion.
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Robin Ann Macquarrie
Religion and politics most often cause opposition/conflict. If we need one principle or idea to guide this nation or this world, let it be kindness or empathy.
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AnnaMarie Ingrassia
America was to be a nation for FREEDOM OF RELIGION...these "christians" are the anti-christs...they have no values themselves... christian or otherwise.
Jesus was born, lived & died a Jewish man.
Christianity was/is a religion which may recognize Jesus as "the savior" but it is also designed to oppress women, use the scripture for financial gain (true of all organized religions), and, as of late, christianity has been hijacked by a politically fascist group, by a political group which itself has been hijacked by a fascist, white supremest group ANY "organized" religion is and has been a BUSINESS for centuries. They collect money from their "flock" with the promise of being placed in good standing with their god...every...organized...religion. No religion should EVER be inclusive of any government.
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Zachary Wagester
Religion has nothing to do with government and shouldn't, that is basic value that our nation was established on, and the speration of church and state was clearly laid out by our founding fathers.
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Robert Stephen Hotz
Josh Mandel upholds Judaic-Christian values about as well as Michael Flynn upholds the last election. This entire discussion is, at best, a semantic exercise, given there is nothing spiritual in this flimsy debate. The fact that these two clowns are satisfied to have an argument in the public forum that lacks any actual virtue 'content', and is purely rhetorical 'form' only, I'm informed that neither of these guys are remotely of a caliber warranting any degree of spiritual stewardship. If there was any interest in pursuing authentic, useful critique, it'd have been better to compare Mandel's record as a swarmy syncopate to the value he claims to champion. After all, he claims to be the "best" at it, and nothing screams virtue like self promoting hero worship. Now, obviously that would be a far less effective way to corner Mandel, but what has been accomplished, anyway? I guess what frustrates me is that there is so very few moments in debate where actual values are discussed, and consequently, spiritual stewardship is not something often modeled, and is left languishing, hoping to be discovered at best.
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Christopher Lee Rankin
As someone who was raised Catholic and is a practicing Christian, I find it rather absurd that a Jewish person would claim to fight for me “with the Bible in one hand and the Constitution in the other”.
Mandel falls short of being offensive here, but come on… there’s nothing wrong with being consistent with your chosen faith and saying that you’ll fight “with the Torah in one hand and the Constitution in the other”. The ONLY reason he doesn’t say that is because he believes that creating the misconception that he’s Christian will connect with more voters.
Mr. Pukita didn’t point out Josh’s religion to be antisemitic. He pointed it out as a demonstration of how Josh - like most of the candidates in the Ohio Senate race - are putting up a facade. And most people seem to get that. I’m not sure why it appears to be missed here, since we’re all smart folks.
The real issue to consider here is why we allow people to frame themselves as people they are not when running for public office. Voters should elect people based upon a truthful impression of who they are and not some trumped up fake accusation of antisemitism. If we give credibility to this nonsense whine, what’s next? Are people not allowed to ask questions or point out when politicians lie? What if this was a candidate who was running on the women’s vote and understanding women’s issues while secretly being a male? Do we just say “oh drat, you got me” and leave it at that?
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RevWood
Oh Hello you do realise don't you that your whole old testimate is Jewish scripture right? Also the Koran is a large percentage word for word out of those same scriptures. Judiasm, Christianinty and Islam the three arbrahamic religions worshiping the same God and fighting amonst themselves and internally causing massive strife all over the planet. What are we to think about the God of Abraham and the worldwide suffering his followers have created for more than a millienium?
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RevWood
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Colleen McAllister
One's faith or lack thereof should have no bearing on whether they are elected to a public office or not. What should matter is how they live their life. Not having a government selected religion is why this nation was founded. Besides, what kind of faith would it be if it were forced?
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Rev. Rory
When I vote, I consider:
Does the candidate have genuine empathy for average Americans and the challenges they face? Is the candidate interested in programs to help children, working adults, the disabled and the elderly? Does the candidate show respect for people of all colors, ages, faiths, educational levels, and abilities? Does the candidate spend more time saying what is wrong with their opposition or do they spell out their own vision? Does it appear that the candidate understands Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
I don't care what their religion is or if they follow a religion. I do care about their moral compass and ability to at least ATTEMPT to tell the truth.
I could not support anyone that calls for a national religion. I could not support anyone that disparages different religious beliefs. FYI: The Pledge of Allegiance did not have the words "under God" until the 20th century.
Peace to All. Visit Us - www.bcalmbzen.com All are welcome. ~ Pastor Rory, Life Of Virtuous Evolution.
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Keith Warren Kunz
America was Founded on Religious Freedom [Pilgrams] it should stay that way. The Founding Father were Pagans that pretended to bbe Christians.
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Peggy Ann Warner
I believe anyone, politicians especially, who rhapsodize their Christianity hasn’t a clue what it really means. By your actions shall you be known and not just your words. Christianity is a way of living your life, of being charitable and not exclusive. Besides, 🤔 Umm, wasn’t our Lord Jesus a Jew?
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Dr. Jerry Moyes
Regardless of what one, or more, people may think this nation isn't a Christian nation. Citizens of The United States of Americia are specifically granted freedom of religion, and The Constitution, in its Bill of Rights expressly forbids making a law establishing a state religion.
We aren't a Christian Nantion, by design and choice, and all our armed services, retired military, elected officials, and law enforcement are sworn to protect and defend The Constitution, which forbids the establishment of a state religion.
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Stacey Owens
What your saying is trust in your patriotism, and trust in the constitution.
We should put our trust in the law of the land and we will be prosperous. And America will be great again?
Sounds like religion to me.
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Stephen James Oder
The founders clearly stated their intention that the USA should not condone a specific religion.
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Rev Ned
The Constitution states that the government shall not establish a religion. The Christian Taliban needs to learn how to read.
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Tami Lynn Holbury-Ferraro
This is the most ridiculous thing ive ever heard. I am a christian based spiritualist and our religion should not be a prerequisite for any political agenda❤
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John D. Partin
How about freedom FROM atheism, too, to make this freedom from thing not so one-sided, as the Freedom From Atheism Foundation advocates?
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Lionheart
You need to understand John that everyone, including you, were born not knowing what religion was. You in fact did not know anything about theism and were born an atheist. If you had been born in Iran you would more than likely have been raised as an Islamist. If you had been born in Utah you would more than likely have been raised a Mormon. Atheism is just a term given to people who, through lack of demonstrable evidence of any of the worlds gods, prefer to not believe any god is real until someone can prove otherwise.
Freedom from atheism is in fact very possible if someone from any of the worlds religions can prove their god is real. As no one has yet done that, there will always be atheism until someone can. Yes there will always be questions like; "where did the universe come from" in a vain attempt to say a god did it, but the reality is, no one knows, but religionists will cling onto those type of comments because they fear being wrong. Atheists, on the other hand, unlike religionists, are happy to be proved wrong, but not even any of the worlds gods have managed to prove they are real by showing up. If I was a god that's the first thing I would do to show all these other people following different gods that they are wrong. Now, in the wake of the worlds troubles, would be a good time to show up, don't you think? Until then, logic and reason will prevail, and atheism/secularism, will continue to grow as more people wake up to reality, as many are now doing. Secularism in this world is rapidly growing as more people use their intelligence and become educated from their old dogma. I doubt you will, and that's okay if that's what you need. Many others of other religions are doing the same.
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John D. Partin
Proving anything to anyone is dependent on their being open to receiving and accepting proof of it once it is given. Where that openness is absent, no proving of anything is possible to them. You couldn't even be convinced of the existence of the sun if you kept your eyes tightly shut against it and refused to open your eyes and see and walked through life that way and had to be led around everywhere or get a cane and a guide dog because, though you could see if you opened your eyes, you obstinately refused to do so because it would prove your disbelief in the sun wrong and you didn't want to be proven wrong!! Nobody is so blind as he who will not see and even considers his blindness to be "full sight"!! The same goes for anything else that you close your mind against and so make yourself incapable of seeing the truth about. If you went to a notoriously haunted house and even saw spirits of deceased people with your own eyes and heard them with your own ears and felt them touch you, but denied the evidence of your own senses, nobody could prove the existence of spirits to you, either, since you have cut yourself off from getting any proof of their existence. It is just as ridiculous for you or any other atheist to talk about "getting proof of God's existence" when you cut yourself off from getting any proof of it and wouldn't even accept the evidence of your own eyes, if He appeared to you, or the evidence of logic and reason that a mindless universe can't possibly come up with its own laws and interconnection of them for its operation, but have to have a Mind behind it to do for it what it can't do for itself. The bottom line for any evidence of anything is open-mindedness to receive and accept it. No jury could ever come to any decision in a court case if they closed their minds to the evidence and they refused to even consider it and it's the same with you and proving God's existence to you when you have closed your mind tightly against any possibility of His existence or evidence for it, since that makes proving it impossible to you. That's not the fault of the evidence, but the fault of the closed-mindedness of the person (you!!) to whom the evidence is being presented and would be about anything else, too, and make it impossible to prove---to you!! I have told you this already, many times before, and so it is just continuing to go around in circles and cover the same old ground repeatedly!! Open your heart and mind to the truth and the existence of God and then it can be proven to you, and not until then!!!
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John D. Partin
You are also incorrect about everyone's being born an atheist because knowledge of and acceptance of God isn't dependent on theology, which is just the elaboration of principles about God, but not the same thing as basic knowledge of God, since even the animals have a basic knowledge of God and know no theology. Theological differences are what come between people in different religions and denominations, but all know the basic truth of God. So, everyone is actually born believing in and knowing about God, and only have that basic belief and knowledge corrupted by the world and become atheists through that. Original innocence came before original sin, just as mold has to grow on bread or something else and not mold grow from mold. That original innocence in babies and in the human race, before any sins of their own, is belief in God.
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John D. Partin
Evidently, it is your view that God should prove His existence to people by personally appearing to everyone in the world and shake his or her hand and say "Here, I am!!", and just keep on doing that every few months or years or every generation to remind people about His existence or introduce Himself to them for the first time, and solve everyone's problems instantaneously, so that they won't stop believing in His existence, and jump through any other hoops that they hold up in front of Him to jump through and amuse them all!!!! No more patience or hope or endurance or rising above any circumstances would ever be necessary because all problems would be instantly solved and the best from people that patience, hope, endurance, and rising above our circumstances bring forth would also no longer come out of people because there would be no more need for it!! There would be no more doubt because there would be instantaneous and constant proof of God's existence in front of everyone and so faith, trust, hope, and not being discouraged by circumstances would also stop being necessary!! It is very easy to see how ridiculous that situation would become, even if it doesn't seem like it would be ridiculous to you and "just what God should be doing if He wants us all to believe in His existence", and most certainly why God hasn't followed your insane plan for proving Himself to people!!! Even if He did appear to everyone, you and other closed-minded bigoted atheists would still be saying that all of these appearances were "hallucinations", "lies", "misperceptions", or "outright fraud" and wouldn't even believe the evidence of your own eyes, ears, touch, and other senses. So, it wouldn't accomplish anything at all or prove anything at all to you!! That is your attitude already toward paranormal phenomena, even when spirits appear to you or speak to you or touch you, and God would just be a far bigger spirit for you to be cynical and disbelieving about!! No more than your doubts about paranormal phenomena disprove their existence do your doubts about God disprove God's existence, and He could never possibly appear to you enough to prove His existence to you, which is certainly why He doesn't waste His time with trying to do that!!! It wouldn't actually be good for people for God to instantly solve everyone's problems because that would eliminate the need for the best to come out of them in rising above these problems, which is loving them to bring them to, as well. You know from your own English history that the Nazis' bombing of London during the war brought the best out of the English people and proved their endurance and refusal to be conquered by their circumstances, and rising above problems does that for everyone else, too. The innocence of children is faith in God before it is corrupted by the world into atheism. "Except you have the faith of a little child, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven" and "A little child shall lead them". Faith is our original state and only becomes atheism through corruption in the world!!
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Lionheart
I am sooooo glad you have been indoctrinated into the Christian religion John. I can see now that if you had been born into the Islamic faith, with your extremely deep and weird fundamental belief structure, you could have been very dangerous. Phew! Mankind dodged a huge bullet right there.
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John D. Partin
Another evasive, disrespectful, and now Islamophobic comment from you!! Why would someone's being born only into Islam make them more dangerous than people born into Christianity or any other religion, when 99.99% of Muslims aren't and haven't been terrorists? Or have you never heard of the Inquisitors, Crusaders, Conquistadors, and Protestant and Catholic combatants in Northern Ireland, who were and are Christianity's lunatic fringe and terrorists (not actual Christians and followers of Christ)? And as for dangerous people, atheists in Communism, and Nazism, and the abortion industry, and the white slave trade, and the illegal drug cartels, and child and adult pornography, and prostitution, and the rest of the ungodliness in the world are certainly far more dangerous and have caused far more deaths, destruction, and misery than have any religious people in the world!!! Mankind didn't dodge any bullets with you and all of your dangerous ilk!!! We aren't glad at all about your indoctrination in your dangerous, hateful, and corrupting ideas!!! You only put your foot deeper into your mouth and embarrass yourself more and prove yourself more wrong by these evasive tactics of yours, due to your not being able to give straight answers and refutations to any of my points and questions, since there aren't any to be given to them, than you would by, at least, unsuccessfully trying to do so!!! But keep on embarrassing yourself, since it's all that you know how to do, poor thing!!! Hoping for your reclamation and reform this year!!!
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John D. Partin
Why do you say that I would have been "very dangerous" if I "had been born into the Islamic faith", more than in any other religion, even more than in the atheist faith, here when you said in Enormous Bible Verse in NC Sheriff's Office Prompts Controversy: "the atrocities performed by Christians during the crusades, and the Inquisition can never be forgotten, and possibly surpass anything fundamental Islamists have ever done". You are always contradicting yourself, as these two statements prove!!!
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Reverend Gary
The Bible tells us that,
“a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”
No one has the right 2 judge anybody on their religion I am a pagan ordained minister paganism has been around longer than Christianity there is nobody in this world going to tell me that I do not have the right to practice what I believe in or tell me that I have to believe in one religion that is not how this works and that goes against all constitutional rights
I'm a pagan minister as well and I approve this message.