Is the US a Christian nation?

(Cross-posted at Daily Kos)

Well, are we a Christian nation?

Sure, more than 75% of us call ourselves Christian.

Sure, most of the Founding Fathers professed some belief in Christianity.

But are we a Christian nation?

Oftentimes we hear certain people claim that America is a Christian nation - then use that claim to justify intolerance toward non-Christians, or GLBT, or everything else.

Then we also hear people accusing America of kicking God out of our schools, insulting God, ignoring our "Christian heritage" and even persecuting Christianity. (What an insult to those Christians, especially Catholics, who have faced real discrimination. But I digress.)

And heaven help anybody who dares speak out in favor of the Constitutional separation of church and state! ("Religion and government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together," said James Madison, Father of the Constitution.)

I am a Christian. I am one of the 75% of Americans who call ourselves Christians. And you know what? Sometimes I really wonder of America is the Christian nation some people claim it is.

EXHIBIT A

Isaiah 61:1

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.

Versus:

"I have never seen a budget so badly skewed that has gotten so far past either house of Congress," said Greenstein, who lived through the Reagan tax cuts and budget wars of the '80s. "The bottom line is the House budget is a huge Robin Hood in reverse and its own form of class warfare. In terms of a budget that has actually passed any chamber, I think this is probably - by a substantial margin - the harshest to people at the bottom."

EXHIBIT B

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Versus:



EXHIBIT C

Matthew 19:23-24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Versus:



EXHIBIT D

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Versus:

In the public schools today, homosexual immorality is as accepted as any rebellious life, launching young people into a pattern of unfaithfulness, depression, and instability that will follow them throughout their lives, if not for repentance through Christ and change.

-

We must reject the forces of Islam, the government of Islam. If we do not do this, these three forces threaten our very existence and the greatness of America.

I'm not saying America is or isn't a Christian nation.

But we do need to beware those who say that we are a Christian nation while at the same time acting in very un-Christian ways.

And we need to challenge their assertion.

Would Jesus be pleased by what is being done in this country?

Non-Catholic forcefully defends the Catholic faith

Sam Miller, himself Jewish, says it better than anyone else I've seen or heard.

Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States.

Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Bits of Tid: February 15, 2010

• Just so you know, this week is National Pancake Week and, um, National Condom Week. I don't make this stuff up, folks; it's online.
• The good news: Meghan McCain went after the 'Tea Party' movement for its racism. The bad news: A few of her remarks took the form of ageism.
• I was able to watch part of the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics, including the part when the slam poet talked about what Canada is to him. Here's my question: If Canada is so great, then why did Jennifer Granholm flee for the USA as soon as she could?
  
  Just kidding!
• This diary on Daily Kos is one of those must-reads. It discusses taxes.
• Just a heads-up to certain Christian politicians who might be reading this blog:

  For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God. - Deuteronomy 25:16

  Oh, and by the way:

  "There is a future for the man of peace." - Psalm 37:37

Finally, for your viewing pleasure:

Letter from Jesus regarding Christmas

From an email:

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year. It was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival, although I do appreciate being remembered anytime. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children and grandchildren of your own. I don't care what you call the day.

If you want to celebrate My birth, just get along and love one another. Now, having said that...let Me go on... If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen, and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Don't worry about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees; you can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish...I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one about the vine, look up John 15:1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list; choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know because they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home, not just during Christmas time, but all through the year. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing "George" complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year...then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past... ...and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of "nit-picking" about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" ,that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day at church and at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary -- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts giving them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me. They will even make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions and words that you are one of mine. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love...and remember... ...I LOVE YOU!

JESUS

Merry Christmas!

Support the Democrats at Liberty University

You may know that administrators at Liberty University are no longer recognizing the school's Democratic group. They are banishing them from the campus, prohibiting them from even meeting on campus or else face a reprimand! According to administrators, this is because "[t]he Democratic Party platform is contrary to... Christian doctrine."

This could hardly be more false! Our stances as a Party are very consistent not only with Christianity, but also with the many other faiths we as Faith Caucus members - and we as Americans - hold. My Christian faith is no small reason why I'm a die-hard Democrat!

Here are two things you can do to demonstrate your support for the Democrats at Liberty University. First, sign this petition from the Young Democrats of America in support of the Liberty University Dems. Second, if you have a few dollars, consider donating to the CDA Alumni Association's We Will Not Back Down page on ActBlue, which was established in honor of the Liberty University Democrats.

As the ActBlue page states, "The administrators at Liberty University need to know that attacking our freedom of expression will only strengthen College Democrats nationwide."

Bits of Tid: April 8, 2009

• Tomorrow is Holy/Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper. Today, meanwhile, is Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday.

  In Western Christianity, the Wednesday before Easter is sometimes known as 'Spy Wednesday', indicating that it is the day that Judas Iscariot first conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins.

• Did you hear who visited Baghdad?
• What does one newspaper giant blame for the economic crisis? Tax cuts. Which paper is it? The Wall Street Journal.
• By now you may have heard that gay marriage is legal in Iowa and Vermont. As it turns out, DC may be next.
• By a couple of estimates, upwards of 200 people peacefully protested Gary Glenn here at CMU. I'll have more on this at MichLib later, but in the meantime, check out David Shuster's tweets on gay marriage.
• They're still the Party of No.
• How do you know you're on a strong team? Gallup Management Journal has five signs. Notice that "playing for the Detroit Tigers" is not one of them.

A Good Friday reflection

I know that some of you are Christian and others aren't. If you are Christian, I encourage you to take a few minutes out of your Good Friday to watch this very powerful video. I was moved to tears.

Neglecting the poor on "philosophical grounds"

I guess this can't be seen as much of a surprise:

President Bush yesterday rejected entreaties by his Republican allies that he compromise with Democrats on legislation to renew a popular program that provides health coverage to poor children, saying that expanding the program would enlarge the role of the federal government at the expense of private insurance.

The president said he objects on philosophical grounds to a bipartisan Senate proposal to boost the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion over five years. Bush has proposed $5 billion in increased funding and has threatened to veto the Senate compromise and a more costly expansion being contemplated in the House.

How ironic that Bush - who called Jesus his favorite philosopher - opposes S-CHIP on "philosophical grounds."

Just what is it about S-CHIP that Bush philosophically opposes? Could it be this?

The 10-year-old program, which is set to expire on Sept. 30, costs the federal government $5 billion a year and helps provide health coverage to 6.6 million low-income children whose families do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance on their own. (emphasis mine)

Or maybe he takes issue with this:

About 3.3 million additional children would be covered under the proposal developed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Republican Sens. Charles E. Grassley (Iowa) and Orrin G. Hatch (Utah), among others. It would provide the program $60 billion over five years, compared with $30 billion under Bush's proposal. And it would rely on a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes, to $1 a pack, which Bush opposes. (Emphasis mine)

What's philosophically wrong with spending an extra $30 billion over five years to insure 3.3 million more kids? Nearly 15 times that amount has been spent on a needless war in Iraq. (With the money that's been spent on Iraq, some 60 million children could've been insured during the time since the war began.

Of course, it's not like Bush's 'favorite philosopher' would want us to take care of the poor... or would he?

'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' (Matthew 25:45)

Hmm, now there's something to think about.

He Is Risen!

For you non-Christians, I hope this doesn't bother you.





This video is awesome.

Good Friday

For those of you who are Christian, here are a couple YouTube videos to get you in the Good Friday mood.

This video features scenes (I imagine from The Passion of the Christ) of Jesus carrying the cross, being crucified, and dying. To the tune of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."


This one features Johnny Cash and his family singing their rendition of "Were You There?"