Christianity is destroying America. George Bush sealed his presidential bid when, in an early debate, he told the United States that his favorite philosopher was Jesus Christ. From there it has been a brouhaha (with increasingly less ha-ha) of war, divisiveness, mysticism, prayer, paranoia, and a sense that the worse things get, the closer Christians are to their rapture.
Mike Huckabee is the heir apparent to the millions of evangelical votes that re-elected Bush in 2004. If the most "Christian" is elected, fundamentalists believe we are keeping God on America's side. To underestimate their voting power is an invitation to spend another election night nauseated in front of a red map of the USA.
The framers of our Constitution knew that religion within government is wrong. So dangerous, in fact, that they specifically earmarked its detachment from the process: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." Thomas Jefferson called it "a wall of separation between church and state." Layered with the Iraq War, our unconstitutional alignment with Christianity sends a powerful message that we will be intolerant of anyone hedonistic enough to not believe that Jesus Christ died on a cross to save us from our sins.
Evangelical influence is all over the election of 2008. The debates are laden with questions about candidates' favorite Bible verses or how often and heartily they pray. The thought that a grown person -- the leader of the free world -- would actually sit down and hear voices to guide him in major decisions is blood-curdling mad. Listen to John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, or any of the other candidates and you'll hear a group of seemingly intelligent people sounding silly in order to placate lunacy. I'd like to hear a debate where the candidates are asked how quickly they are going to eliminate Bush's trash legislation called "the faith-based initiative."
On December 11th the Congress passed "House Resolution 847: Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith." It passed 372 to 9. Only nine members of Congress -- all Democrats -- had the guts to stand up and say "nay" to this waste of their time and our money. The legislation resolved:
"That the House of Representatives --
(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;
(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;
(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;
(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and
(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world."
America needs to be a progressive country that reasons rather than prays, looks to science rather than God, and listens to the Constitution rather than crackpots. We need a country that doesn't just respect Christmas by law, but where believers unite with the majority and honor peace by demanding an end to America's wasteful occupation of Iraq. "Good will towards men" must extend to all, no matter what their race, religion, or sexual preference.
Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, cancer, and overpopulation must be dealt with scientifically, so that American citizens are not forced to look towards the heavens for an answer that will never come. Think of all the suffering that could have been relived had the pope called for condom use during the AIDS crisis, or if George Bush in his quest for a better tomorrow, had embraced science rather than the Holy Ghost.
H. Res. 847 is vile. It is petty, FOX-News based political posturing, wrapping hatred and prejudice under the cloak of religion. What are we who are represented by the nine dissenters to do?
Our Democratic Congress has dropped the ball not only on ending war, but on stopping America's isolating religious policies. To imagine the suffering in Darfur, in Iraq, or across America and put this piece of legislation forward is making a mockery of the lives being lost, and the needless suffering strangling the world.
In America we are free to honor Christmas, Yom Kippur, Ramadan, or any of the scores of holidays that grace the calendar. Like every sunrise, Christmas is just another day. 24 hours. Generally it's cold and there's nothing to do. Merriment is a celebration for every waking second of our lives every day of the year. Christmas is a joyous day simply because we are alive. America must embrace science along with peace and tolerance, or the entire human race -- not just Christmas legislation -- is pointless.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Can I get an 'amen!"??
I have no idea how to get through the heads of the fools who are trumpeting the "Christian ideals and faith" of our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson HATED the bible, calling it a collection of fantasy geared for the control of the uneducated, wielded by the cruel and corrupt for their own benefit. The men who gathered to form a new nation were DEISTS!!! They believed there was a force or assemblage of knowledge greater than their own because they knew they could NOT answer or explain many more questions than they could. They believed in a God, but were not bible-thumping "Christians". Christ would cringe if he were here to see the attrocities committed in his name. I have read the bible, am not a believer, but I do think the basic instruction provided would be excellent IF, and that's a MIGHTY big "IF", it were followed by those who pretend to such position that they "look to a higher father". Such pretense is pure hubris, like everything else spewed by the religious right. The United States was NOT formed under the auspices of Christianity. Our Constitution FORBIDS this. This is to say that every Jew, Muslim, Wiccan, and the American Indian are lesser beings. We all know what has been done to the Native Americans, now we just have to wait until bushit turns Blackwater against the small towns and villages and provides the century with a new Wounded Knee. I will not be surprized to be shot dead in the parking lot of my local supermarket for being outspoken about the corruption of this adminstration, and neither should anyone else who posts here and tells it like it is.
You are correct and on the mark.
Religion should play NO role in our government.
Our government was formed to PROTECT religious freedom - not to sponsor one "brand" of religion over another. It was founded to honor everyone's beliefs and to let them believe as they see fit, without promoting religion in general or particular.
We all embrace science. Its liberals that reject it.
The first law of thermodynamics says matter/energy cannot come from nothing. Therefore, the universe itself could not have formed naturally.
It is striking that on many issues, Christians are extremely divided. The political history of Christianity, even since the Micean Council in Constantinople which was convened to establish a unified Church, has been riddled with persecution, bloodshed, and injustice.
Although the disagreements between Christians today are fought with less bloodshed, protestants still don't trust Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists still practice their sabbath on Saturday instead of Sunday, Quakers and Puritans still shun the lot of them as less holy. Some evangelicals still preach a hatred of Jews for the killing of Christ, while others, like Hagee, preach that loyalty to Jews and Israel is necessary at all costs, as a prerequisite of the second coming. Other groups, like Jehovahs Witnesses and Mormons, are recognized as "Christian" by the rest of the outside world, but not amongst the mainstream of protestant belief. Christian Scientists, Unitarians, the list goes on, I wonder, which "Christian" groups belief was recognized by this piece of legislature?
From what I can tell, the "Christmas Story of Jesus" is being focused on by Congress to distract us all from the fact that the North Pole, home to Santa and his eight reindeer, is being threatened by global warming. So now we have to give gifts to each other instead of waiting for his, because the elves are too busy to make presents since all their time is being spent feeding the starving polar bears. Go shopping America!
Once again our mainstream news media is destroying us with its impotence when dealing with this religious nonsense. I do not remember any journalist or major newspaper asking any of the candidates about "Rapture" or "Armegeddon."
Christianity was a direct descendant of Zoroastrianism, the first religion to promote the belief in a single god. The Christ story is a religious myth, the details of which were drawn from the cultural context of ancient times. In order to be taken seriously as a deity, the subject of worship had to be born of a virgin. It fit in with how the people of the time understood divinity. Alexander the Great, Augustus Caesar and Buddha were said to have been born of virgins.
The idea of Jesus coming to Earth in order to be sacrificed corresponded with the ancient belief of human (or animal) sacrifice being necessary to appease the gods. The resurrection, as well, was a necessary part of the story, again based on cultural beliefs of the time, in order to affirm that Jesus was a living god.
Jesus is a mythical figure in the tradition of pagan mythology and almost nothing in all of ancient literature would lead one to believe otherwise. There is not a conception associated with Christ that is not common to some or all of the Savior cults of antiquity.
I total agree with the fact that its not religion destroying America, its politics! The unchanging,greed, of our government leaders have lost sight of American Values, in god we trust is not part of the problem, serving other than who elects them has caused a giant rift between the people and, the lobbyists puppets. When ever i get on a web site of any candidate, they ask for money, my $100. is not going to make any difference, lobbyists Million Dollar donations, are the direction the candidates are going to go. Don't blame religion, And, i'm a Veteran and, never had Veterans Day off!!! GO FIGURE?
I can't believe this resolution even got a vote. What is wrong with these people? Don't they know why they are in Washington. I can't believe only nine people stood up against this idiocy. This is the most discouraging thing I have heard in a while. How is it that we can't get votes to end the occupation of Iraq, extend health benefits for poor children or impeach the treasonous Dick Cheney but they jump all over each other to support some meaningless "Christianity is great resolution". As if Jesus would care of their petty prideful tribute. Jesus would be the first to say they have totally missed the point. The teachings of Jesus are about humility, generosity and helping the downtrodden. This Congress is the Rome of our times and their resolution is like Rome's declaration that Ceasar is Lord of all.
Celebrating the winter solstices was around long before the church piggy backed on Christ"s birthday to it.
But what this country really needs are religious parties. The Jews, Hindus Muslims etc. could all run their perfect religious candidate. Then we could celebrate all of the specific religious holidays associated with the current President. All the agnostics and atheists could be deported to Mexico. That would make room for all the Mexican immigrants to stay here and work for peanuts. Aren"t all Mexicans Catholic? And aren"t Catholics Christians?
And my wife says I"m cynical.
The wall between church and state protects both sides. It is regarded as improper to mock religious beliefs, point out how nonsensical they are. But if they want to throw down the wall then let us accept that and really go after them. All criticisms of religion become acceptable. For an analysis of the nonsense and arguments to use and what we should do see the chapter "Does the word God exist?" in
Our Almost Impossible Universe:
Why the laws of nature make the existence of humans extraordinarily unlikely
and
randomabsurdities.wordpress.com
I do notice the use of a rather tired defense among Christians to criticism. I have often heard Christians jump into the fray and use the defense "we aren"t all like that" to answer criticisms about extremism in their faith. Yet the same Christians who "aren"t all like that" offer deafening quiet while Pat Robertson calls for the bombing of the State Department, or the Pope condemns non-Catholics while shifting child-diddling priests from parish to parish, or Tim LeHaye calls for the blood of non-Christians to run in the streets, or Mike Huckabee touts his morals while lying about his role in letting a rapist free on the streets for political vengeance. The silence speaks volumes. One can only assume that their silence means that they support these views, yet when an outsider criticizes their stand on an issue, suddenly "we aren"t all like that". It starts with the "we aren"t all like that" defense, then moves on to labasting the questioner for tarring all Christians with the same brush, and ends by dismissing the questioner as a non-believer with an axe to grind.
For a change, I would really love to see and hear these "we aren"t all like that" Christians actually take a stand and speak up when their public leaders issue volatile and hateful statements or when they demonize everyone under the sun who is not a member of their congregations. I would like to see them do this publicly before an outsider has to make the initial response. Instead, the norm appears to be "we aren"t all like that" Christians who offer silence, and then after the fact in the safety of relative anonymity express respectfully worded dissent, but even then usually only after an outsider has had the audacity to criticize their faith. It ultimately sends an obvious message loud and clear: Most Christians in this country would prefer to be seen as united through silence with the hate-spewing extremists of their religion rather than publicly express what they "really think" and be affiliated with heathens.
Christianity is a bunch of weak and small minded people getting together to make each other feel better about being weak and small minded.
Why do they have such trouble with sex and booze and gambling? Does me buying a lotto ticket, having some wine, and doing the horizontal hula (with a same sex partner) have ANY effect on them what-so-ever?
And this rapture b.s.
It really freaked me out when I read that when this happens, they all float NAKED to heaven.
Hee-larious!
The people that freak out because Larry Flynt makes millions selling pictures of naughty bits to willing buyers, fantasize about floating around NEKKID with all their friends and family.
Can someone explain that?
Finally, Christmas has jack to do with christianity, anyway, unless they're praying to Sam Walton, R.H. Macy, and Herbert Marcus!
First, to the poster that argues that the term "separation of church and state" do not appear in the Constitution, they are correct. However, this term is applied to condense the overall principle. The term was coined based on a letter between founding father and then president Thomas Jefferson and the Danbury Baptists in which he clarified the founder"s intentions pertaining to religion in the First Amendment in that it had erected a "wall of separation between church and state."
The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...." In short, this requires our government to remain neutral and not take sides and show favoritism to any particular religion. Practice it all you like and enjoy your freedom to do so, but do not expect the government to enforce your religious views on others. Further, the Treaty of Tripoli ratified in 1797, states outright that the United States of America is most definitely not a nation founded on the Christian religion.
It tickles me that when the "separation of church and state" is largely seen as an obstacle to Christians forcing their views on other people, then it simply does not exist. However, if a speaker from a non-Christian faith is tapped to open the prayer, then Christians will be the first to stomp out of the room and demand to know where the separation of church and state is to save them from this infidel trying to force their heathen religion on them.
I don't have much interest in Jesus and don't especially like so-called Christianity (are there any real Christians?), and I don't even like Christmas.
But still, it's much better than atheism.
TRADITION has a lot to do with most of the holidays we have. So is putting IN GOD WE TRUST on coins and saying Merry Christmas.
I see no harm in continuing traditions that are blessed by the majority of citizens. IN our country its all about the majority rule and what we have elected to do about it.
Excellent post Mr. Gregory!
Thank science.
This is probably the best blog piece I've read in a long time. Mr. Gregory, how right you are.
The resolution is sickening, and I'm embarrassed to see how far the U.S. has regressed. I weep for the future.
1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;
This Christian recognizes The 110th Congress as one of the GREAT CORRUPT ENTITIES of the world.
This American recognizes that not only should Congress stay out of the religious arena, it shouldn't be wasting my tax dollars (and all that paper) with bullshit like this - especially while we are 'at war' on 2 fronts, 57 million Americans live in poverty, millions & millions are hungry and/or homeless, our veterans can't get the healthcare they deserve, nor can 46 million other Americans, and the Bu$h Administration violates more Federal, Constitutional, and International laws than the average citizen can concieve.
(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;
What about
(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;
Corporate profits & religious thithing are up, up, up!
(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;
What a crock of shit! Have you people never heard of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, The Letter To Tripoli, The First Amendment?
(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide;
What about rejecting bigotry against Muslims & Jews & Unitarians & Quakers & Amish & Wiccans & Zoroastrians & Sihks(?) & Hindus & Buddahists & Pagans & Those Hari Krishnas & Animists & Taoists & Moonies & Scientologists & those that worship ancient Roman, Greek & Viking Dieties & followers of The Church of Baseball? What about Athiests & Agnostics?
By the way, has there been an upsurge of persecution of Christians here in the States & 'The Liberal Media' hasn't been telling me?
and(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world."
This Christian would like to express my utmost contempt & utter disrespect for Congress.
In closing I'd like to say to Congress - Jesus loves you, everyone else thinks you're a bunch of worthless corrupt assholes.
Happy Holidays!
Bah. Christianity isn't destroying America. American politics is destroying America, and Christianity is the leading demographic source of the endless supply of wedge issues necessary to fuel our politics of divide-and-conquer.
I personally find organized religion in general to be an absurd manifestation of faith. However, it's clear to me that the relationship between Christianity and American politics is primarily about politics manipulating Christianity rather than Christianity manipulating politics.
My basis for this argument is that the resurgence of Christian fundamentalism in America has coincided with a profound influence in electoral politics and little to no political movement on social issues. If anything, there's been a slight leftward shift at the state level.
If the Christian Right has gotten anything for their fervent support of neoconservative politics, it's a rightward shift in the Supreme Court whose political impact has yet to be fully realized. I don't think that Roe is as vulnerable as it seems. Overturning Roe would cripple the Republicans like the Civil Rights Act crippled the Democrats.
I think that this is underlying source of alarm within the fiscal conservative elite of the Republican Party at the prospect of Huckabee receiving the nomination. If Huckabee pushes those buttons, it will mobilize the progressive base and leave the conservative aristocracy with no good options. They could try the politics of assassination, but society has changed. I think it would backfire.
Tom, absolutely brilliant, as usual. I've been walking around for almost three months cringing at the inevitable sounds of christmas music in the grocery store, television, or even while I'm buying gas! (now, THAT might be an apt metaphor for our time!) realizing how unseemly and exclusive this over-hyped commodity driven "holiday" season is.
We, as "secular" Americans must come up with a voice as loud as that of the lunatics of the right, or we are doomed......
We need another revolution. Between the corporations and the christians we have moved into facism. This is not the America I loved for 60 years
The real problem is...they already have a incredibly effective "get out the vote" system. If you're a Christian, and you care about it, you go to church because when you don't, you feel guilty. Or you go to church because its your routine. Or you go because you want to keep up appearances in your community. Whatever. But while you're there, you have a minister who, during his sermon, will stand there and lecture you about the evils of voting for a person who might have similar ideals to a certain political party that opposes the party that panders the most to the Christian Church. In short, they practically plant the seed into all of their congregation to vote Republican, and they scare their congregation into doing so.
Now, if you look at a state map, you can see that there are a whole lot of districts with very sparse population density. In those districts, you go to church, and if you don't, you're an outsider. That's how it is. You go to church, your minister tells you how to vote, and elections are affected. It's that simple. And there's nothing that anyone can do about it, unless you were to go into those towns, as outsiders, and try to inform those people yourselves. Prepared to be laughed right out of town.
The lesson to be learned is, focus on the regions where your vote will count, and when you win, take care of those people that are being indoctrinated on how to vote by their church leaders. If you do so, some might even change their minds and vote along with you next time, even if they don't fully agree with your views.
These so-called Christians -- the dangerous ones, who seem utterly ignorant of the beatitudes that supposedly underpin their professed faith -- operate on the bizarre assumption that the United States is some sort of latter day Israel, with a special place in their god's heart. When combined with a literal reading of the Old Testament, they believe:
1) That their god busies himself in the day-to-day operation of government, and that he favors their views.
2) That one of the greatest mistakes the nation of Israel made was abandoning the rule of priests for the secular leadership of a king. They blame "activist" judges for what they consider a similar secularization of our public life.
3) That if you disobey their god's commandments for too long, you'll wind up in Egypt, Babylon or inexplicably lost in the desert for decades at a stretch. They fully expect their god to punish the United States if it opposes their interpretation of his will.
Idiotic resolutions like this are the most natural outcome of their quest for a democratically elected theocracy. And, oddly, all this hand-wringing actually highlights the lack of faith they seem to have in their own god.
-- Christian Gulliksen
Thank you for this wonderful article! It gives me hope that at least I'm not alone in my disgust at the religious crapola in this country. The scariest part of it is that we keep giving crazy, fairy tale-believing lunatics access to a nuclear arsenal.
The McCain campaign implied on Wednesday that Barack Obama's commitment...
Before the largest crowd of his campaign, Democratic presidential contender Barack...
When Katie Couric told Haaretz that "The glory days of TV news...
There is one more John McCain gaffe that...
As we have observed throughout the last several years,...
In a flagrant political act, the State Department has...
**UPDATE 7/25** ThinkProgress now reports that the bar...
** Update below: Nas delivers Fox petition to Stephen...
BARCELONA, Spain — Christian Bale swept into Barcelona on Wednesday night to attend a...
If you're wondering about the recent articles claiming that a study found...
HOUSTON — A "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico off...
WASHINGTON — Rescue legislation sailed through the House on Wednesday aimed at...
Loading comments…
Posted December 20, 2007 | 10:21 AM (EST)