@Sawnay~Rah That may include Rastas as well.

@HAWK Pardon me. I understand what you're saying, so I'll try to word that statement more appropriately. "The bond that holds America together, i.e. what she is founded upon and what is her foremost guiding principle..." Still, regardless of the population's contemporary worldview at the time or the poetic prose of Alexis Tacoville (ha! see what I did there?), the...more

@HAWK

Pardon me. I understand what you're saying, so I'll try to word that statement more appropriately.

"The bond that holds America together, i.e. what she is founded upon and what is her foremost guiding principle..."

Still, regardless of the population's contemporary worldview at the time or the poetic prose of Alexis Tacoville (ha! see what I did there?), the fact remains that America is not a "Christian" nation. However, the ideals of the equality of humans and the right of each person to seek joy in within the context of what is not harmful is a large part of Christian morality.less

Like the president or not, he's ours. Make some noise, get all hot under the collar, and then learn to deal. Most important thing we can do is to continue to live a good life, remain vigilant, and contribute what we can to keeping life sacred. I've seen strong cases against abortion using entirely secular moral philosophy - perhaps, with enough work, one day we'll see it become u...more

Like the president or not, he's ours. Make some noise, get all hot under the collar, and then learn to deal. Most important thing we can do is to continue to live a good life, remain vigilant, and contribute what we can to keeping life sacred.

I've seen strong cases against abortion using entirely secular moral philosophy - perhaps, with enough work, one day we'll see it become unacceptable.

The gay thing doesn't bother me as much. I don't agree with it, I think it's wrong, but I also think that drinking too much is wrong. I think that being fat is wrong, too. I think that being a fat, alchoholic preacher telling your congregation to not "defile" their bodies is really, really wrong... but strangely entertaining.less

@intek I doubt that Warren invoking God to guide Obama is a compromise of his moral values. If anything, Obama's support of what many consider a "sinful agenda" means that he needs divine assistance more than ever. A person can pray for and be civil to a sinner without losing his Christianity. @Hawk An excellent and eloquent argument that contained some words I had to think...more

@intek

I doubt that Warren invoking God to guide Obama is a compromise of his moral values. If anything, Obama's support of what many consider a "sinful agenda" means that he needs divine assistance more than ever. A person can pray for and be civil to a sinner without losing his Christianity.

@Hawk

An excellent and eloquent argument that contained some words I had to think about for a second. Still, you assume that the bond that holds this nation together is Christian morality, when it is, in fact, the Consititution.

@cjconner

Thank you for the link! Very well written, Reverend. (I assume that you are the good Rev. Conner?) Martin Luther suffered from gout, which is caused by a buildup of excess uric acid, and seeing that a few conditions that effect one's sanity are related to uric acid as well, it's a feasible theory. More feasible than the standing theory, anyways, that his later anti-semitism was actually a sort of temper-tantrum he threw when his earlier, more compassionate literature failed to convert the Jews. It was common place, during his time, for people in power to go completely nuts.

Nice site. :Dless

Gratus - You are my new favorite person of the week. Your words are insightful and your diction is polite. Forsaltnlight - Okay, enough of all this. America was not founded upon any religion. Though the founders were, themselves, religious people (most of them were bloody deists, anyway!), they stated, in so many words, that "the government of the United States of America is not, in ...more

Gratus -

You are my new favorite person of the week. Your words are insightful and your diction is polite.

Forsaltnlight -

Okay, enough of all this. America was not founded upon any religion. Though the founders were, themselves, religious people (most of them were bloody deists, anyway!), they stated, in so many words, that "the government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." Article 11 of the US Treaty with Tripoli, unanimously approved by the senate in 1797 - don't worry, I was a little shocked at first as well.less

This entire "Rick Warren" business is a farce. The above article was what finally motivated me to share my feelings on the subject at hand. I shall present three ideas for your consideration. 1.) Rick Warren is a floudering, appeasing hypocrite. He first compared homosexuality to pedophilia, later denied that he did so despite videotaped evidence to the contrary, and now he is praisin...more

This entire "Rick Warren" business is a farce. The above article was what finally motivated me to share my feelings on the subject at hand. I shall present three ideas for your consideration.

1.) Rick Warren is a floudering, appeasing hypocrite. He first compared homosexuality to pedophilia, later denied that he did so despite videotaped evidence to the contrary, and now he is praising Obama's invitation of an openly gay bishop. He changes his colors with the ease of a chameleon - he's either spineless, co-dependent, or both.

2.) The progressive liberals have been lambasting Obama for his choice of Rick the Chameleon, saying that they feel jilted by "their president's" choices. Now, I have always had a soft spot for liberals - I see them as misguided social pioneers with the right ideas but the wrong plans. Heck, Martin Luther was considered radical for his time, right? (He was also zealously anti-semitic, but we'll skip that for now.)

The progressive ideal has always been "Believe and live as you will, so long as you do not harm those around you." However, with Obama inviting Rick the Chameleon to give his invocation, we may finally see the hidden subtext of their ideals typed out in invisible font: "Believe and live as you will... so long as it's okay with us."

From where I stand (which is on a soap box :B), it seems like this new progressive way of thinking is just a more insidious kind of bigotry and fascism. Obama isn't "their" president... he's everyone's presidents. They need to deal with it.

3.) This is how the situation needs to be resolved.

Everyone involved needs to put down their selfishness, quell the burning of their moral egos every time someone picks at it, and realize that, whether they like it or not, the president and this country belong to EVERYONE equally. Those to the left need to learn that they cannot rightly preach tolerance for others if they do not tolerate those opposed to them. Those on the right (specifically Christians) need to realize that our religion does not give us any special right to this nation's path - The US Treaty with Tripoli, Article 11: "The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."

This whole thing is ludicrous and needs to be resolved.less

G.

And let us all remember, DJ, that some of the most horrible murderers and tyrants in history masqueraded under the guise of "religious leader." Were DMX to admit that the content of his music is not, in any way, "Christian," and promise to quit glorifying the insipid "gangster life," I might believe him and think that there's hope. As it stands though, I am ri...more

And let us all remember, DJ, that some of the most horrible murderers and tyrants in history masqueraded under the guise of "religious leader." Were DMX to admit that the content of his music is not, in any way, "Christian," and promise to quit glorifying the insipid "gangster life," I might believe him and think that there's hope.

As it stands though, I am rightly skeptical.less