I just posted this comment over at CNN.com
It always amazes me that anyone would question the historic Christian Heritage of the United States of America.
Have all the behaviors of this nation been Christian? No.
Have all of its citizens been professing Christians? No.
Has the Christian Religion been the greatest single contributor to the ideas that led to American Freedom and Government? Absolutely. Plain as day.
ThirstyJon
freedomthirst.com
My, my, my!!! Reading the many remarks on the CNN blog from Oct. 1st, it is no wonder we have the nation(s) we have now. How can we expect God to supply for all our needs when we reject His Grace day after day. I was not surprised to read that groups such as the American Islamic Relations criticized him because as they say “…christianity is not the only faith with beliefs that support the concept of human rights” . I mean, what human rights? in countries such as Iran and Iraq. After the visit of the president of Iran last week, I doubt that his citizens enjoy the same kind of freedom we do here in America. God have mercy on us if one day we chose to totally ignore the Christian principles on which the US were FOUNDED (NOT SPECIFICALLY A CHRISTIAN NATION as Ira Forman of the Jewish Dem.Council understood it…) Without rejecting the idea of a non Christian president, it would be a shame to let anyone else turn upside down our culture, our freedom of speech and all that the MAJORITY of americans stand for. I hope the people will seriously think about it in 2008 when they elect another commander in chief.
Might be good for the people to remember the Land of the free (read the 4 verses of the US national anthem).
Lyne G. Laval, Qc CANADA
Oh yeah! and Mr. McCain’s site is interestiting… http://www.johnmccain.com
To those who say that christians think of themselves as on higher ground, below is a poem sent to me by a friend – no need for self sacrifice to reach eternity. We’ve already been paid for, isn’t that great!
Christians
by Maya Angelo
“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.”
When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not shouting “I’m clean living'”
I’m whispering “I was lost, Now I’m found and forgiven.”
When I say… “I am a Christian” I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say… “I am a Christian” I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner Who received God’s good grace, somehow!
Pretty is as Pretty does… but beautiful is just plain beautiful!
While my daughter was searching for colony life in the 17th century, we came upon the following site – one more reason to believe that this land was one built on godly principles…
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01.html
Hey Lyne! Thanks for sharing all of your thoughts and encouragement!
God Bless the U.S.A. and God Bless Canada!
🙂
ThirstyJon
There’s nothing christian about US foreign policy and all it’s resulting murders of innocents for oil, land or revenge. Nothing Christian about USA abolishing slavery and sending it offshore to Saipan to male levis gap and country road. There’s nothing even vaguely christian about the USA, it’s the most greedy polluting murderous nation on earth and if there was a god he would’nt visit there!
Response to Lindsay Wison:
Wow. It sounds like you hate America. I am really sorry about that. My response to the state of my nation at this time in history is grief not hatred. I make no claim that the U.S.A. is Christian in it’s character right now. I only claim that the influence of Christianity and of God Himself on the founding and establishing of this nation is unmistakable.
Whatever evils are here, I don’t know that it is the “most” greedy, etc. It is another nation of men and women with a fallen and sinful nature who are capable of great evil if left to their own ways.
The response that will help is to pick up our bandages and heal the wounds of America.
And there is much that is more than “vaguely” Christian here. There is a strong presence of generous people who do more to help the world than any other group of people in history. That includes all kinds of Acts of Mercy and otherwise.
There is a God, and He doesn’t visit anywhere, because He already is everywhere!
🙂
ThirstyJon
Lindsay,
You are talking about America being greedy and pocketing billions of dollars over the oil industry and so on. Perhaps you don't know that a few years back, the son of Kofi Annan pocketed billions of dollars from the food-for-oil exchange while providing services to a company by the name of Cotecna (a firm hired by the U.N. on December 31, 1998). If I am not mistaking also, Saddam Hussain was involved in some ways, as he sold his own oil in exchange for so called “humanitarian supplies” for his country. Hum!! Says a lot about those who claim to be concerned about the affairs of the world…
As for the revenge aspect of it, let's say that they are taking a stand against nations who are trying to impose their culture and views on others, whether taking it by force or by trying to destroy a whole system. Also, don't accuse the US of killing "poor innocent people" when Iraq and the likes did a pretty good job at it themselves against their own citizens.
America might not be a Christian nation so to speak but our forefathers made sure it was at least BASED on Christian principles to be upheld through the years. God have mercy on us for doing otherwise.
It’s supposed to be but slowly but surely all signs of Christianity are being erased. The founding fathers based it on Christianity but it seems that it’s dogpile on the Christians. It’s acceptable to criticize Christianity but one critique of another religion and names start flying.
Ummmm, the founders were Deists, not christians. The words Jesus, christ, christian, etc. etc. do not appear in any of our founding documents.
There’s a lot of mention of the “Creator”, (which isn’t surprising from a bunch of Freemasons, I’m just surprised they didn’t mention the Great Architect), but no mention of “Christ”. So how do you figure the US was founded on “Christian Principles”? Do you really think that freedom and justice are exclusively “Christian”?
Welcome back Casper! Welcome Lyne, Lindsay, and Mickie!
I have often heard the thing about the founding fathers being “Deists” but I haven’t seen much good reason to believe it. I have heard zillions of excellent quotes that show distinct Christian influence. I am in the midst of slow research on the topic.
Whether or not each individual “founding father” was a “Christian” there is no doubt in my mind that the religion of Christianity played a very significant role in the world view of those who built this nation.
Are freedom and justice exclusively Christian?
Well, they come from God and are required of us. The teaching of Jesus and the forward movement of the Hebrew Scriptures have made very significant contributions to human freedom.
ThirstyJon
Guess the debate is open 24/7!!!
If this nation is not based on Christian principles, then why are the liberals so afraid to leave the word God in many of their documents and landmarks. I was just reading today that the Architect of the Capitol decided that the word God should not appear in a document sent to a war vet because it might offend someone. The article reads as follows:
– Nation’s top Democrat defends banning God
The nation’s number one Democrat, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, is defending the banning of religious references on certificates issued by the Architect of the Capitol.
An Eagle Scout asked that a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol be sent to his grandfather, along with a certificate bearing the message: “In honor of my grandfather Marcel Larochelle, and his dedication and love of God, country, and family.
Stephen Ayers, the Architect of the Capitol, banned the use of the word God in the certificate issued for the Eagle Scout. Ayers, serving in a low-level, non-elected position, claims he has the authority to ban the word God from the certificate. This is the first time ever for the Architect of the Capitol to ban religious references. Ayers said he banned the word God because someone might be offended. (imagine that – God forbid we would offend anyone with words…)
Another blow to Christianity (well – sort of…) There is a new book on the market entitled “God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins. As Chuck Colson puts it: What is also unfair is to criticize Christianity for its teachings on the afterlife without discussing the atheistic alternative presumably preferred by Dawkins and the other “new Atheists”: that is, when we die, we become worm food, and the universe soon forgets that we ever existed. Now, that’s the stuff of real childhood nightmares! The idea that there is nothing beyond the grave is the stuff of countless anxieties. And, as Dostoevsky wrote, without belief in a God who judges us, human evil goes unchecked—that is, there is no justice…In other words, Dawkins is completely wrong about the impact of faith on our kids—so wrong that, if he were consistent, he really might call atheism a form of “child abuse.”
The whole article can be found on Breakpoint October 10, 2007 “What about the children”
So, in God I trust and it’s one house (mine) under God!