Religion specifics. Questions about a religion?

[formerly known as hf]

Yeah, yeah, you're right. That's called haste on my part.

That's what I had thought, it didn't sound like something I'd have thought you would come up with.

[Joshuamonkey]

What I was trying to point out, to Joshuamonkey, is that you can not really argue that religion is not a good basis for a government, or for politics, when you live in a country where the politics are dominated by a religion, albeit via the machinations of democracy, rather than thoecracy.

HF, I am very glad that we have free religion but no one religion rules, and the government is Asthetic, whether the leaders are religious or not.

[Guy Johnson]

I would probably disagree with basing politics on religion mainly because the validity of any religion is purely subjective, and some would argue that it is impossible for anyone to determine a religion's validity with certainty. Therefore, if there is no separation of church and state, people who may not subscribe to a certain religion would be potentially forced to live by it.

[Solfius]

Do I have a religion?

I have a small following amongst a tribe of pygmies in the congo, does that count?

[Pie]

Oh god. Another usless debait.

Well, I'le ceep out of this one...

But just to say... America is based on the ten comandments. Britan is widly influanced by cristianity. Heck, all of europe, rusia, and the americas are influenced by religion in there politics, laws, and other stuff. THE ENTYER WORLD is influenced one way or another by religion. But lets look at what happened. Europe is a democrasy(or is it a republik?) with religious freedome, China, (I think) is a police state with alot of persicution. So is nepal(exept it isn't a police state... It's just prejiduse about cristianity) wile The Americas and all cristianity influenced places have a high amount of religious freedome.... The places with islam and other religions is very prejudice.

So, It would just depend on the religion, and the time period of that religion.

Alright, back on the topic, I for one, am a devote cristian(if you don't know that by know) who is very studied about it.

[Joshuamonkey]

THE ENTYER WORLD is influenced one way or another by religion.

That's not even the only misspelling I found in that one post.

[Guy Johnson]

Well, I don't think misspelling alone is necessarily indicative of stupidity.

So, Pie, you believe that the cause of religious freedom in many western countries is the fact that the majority of the people in those countries are Christian? And do you believe in any degree of separation of church and state?

[fishfin]

I beileve in seperation of church and state, people should not be forsed to believe something. But, sadly in American schools children are being tought random off the wall guesses that have never been sientifically proven (and also say that it is possible to create mattar and energy without using eachother out-side the earth's atmosphere, which is imposible).

[Nixit]

Eh? Is my American school out of the loop? What random off the wall guesses am I being taught?

[Torkess_theCommie]

China, (I think) is a police state with alot of persicution. So is nepal(exept it isn't a police state... It's just prejiduse about cristianity)

China...doesn't have alot of persecutions, well if that's what you're trying to spell out.

Anyways...
I'm buddhist.
I really don't know the rules... so don't ask.

[Lychee]

China, (I think) is a police state with alot of persicution. So is nepal(exept it isn't a police state... It's just prejiduse about cristianity)

China...doesn't have alot of persecutions, well if that's what you're trying to spell out.

Anyways...
I'm buddhist.
I really don't know the rules... so don't ask.

There are a variety of religions and they aren't banned, except FalunGong (which most people consider a Cult). People are Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist, and there are even Catholics(est 10 million in China) and Christians too.

[west]

But just to say... America is based on the ten comandments.

1. I AM the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.
America was founded on the idea of religious freedom. Or at least, it's codified into our Constitution.

2. You shall not make any graven image.
Statues and memorials abound all over the country.

3. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
Would justify breaking civil, international and moral laws by claiming God told him to, as our President does, count as taking the Lord's name in vain?

4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
The so-called "Blue Laws" have been mostly repealed, and most businesses (other than federal) are open Sunday.

5. Honor your father and mother.
Not really relevant to the topic, but most pop culture is aimed at ignoring or at best putting up with your parents and their old-fashioned ways.

6. Do not kill (or 'murder', depending on translation)
Capital Punishment. Secret assassinations. Pre-emptive warfare. Unjustified wars. The Indian Wars. How exactly are we following this one?

7. Do not commit adultery.
"Adultery is as American as mom and apple pie." - Larry Flynt

8. Do not steal.
A history of imperialist land grabbing and annexation, as well as the fact that the entire country was built on territory stolen from the native inhabitants.

9. Do not bear false witness.
The vast majority of our politicians lie daily, and our president and his administration have lied about virtually everything they've ever done.

10. Do not covet.
Indian territories. French territories. Spanish territories. Overseas territories. Free-market capitalism.

Food for thought.

[fishfin]

China, (I think) is a police state with a lot of persicution.

Wrong, I have lived in China for 8 years (I'm in China now). China is rapitly changing, the government is moving toward a capitalist economy as fast as possible. Christians are allowed freedom of religion as long as they go to government controled churches (many choose to illeagally go to house meatings). It is leagal for Chinese to own chinese bibles.

But, in some ways there is persicution. In some areas you could (not sure if you still can) get a bullet through the head for steeling a bicicle. It is illeagal to teach children any religion.

[fishfin]

Pie wrote:

But just to say... America is based on the ten comandments.

1. I AM the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.
America was founded on the idea of religious freedom. Or at least, it's codified into our Constitution.

2. You shall not make any graven image.
Statues and memorials abound all over the country.

3. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
Would justify breaking civil, international and moral laws by claiming God told him to, as our President does, count as taking the Lord's name in vain?

4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
The so-called "Blue Laws" have been mostly repealed, and most businesses (other than federal) are open Sunday.

5. Honor your father and mother.
Not really relevant to the topic, but most pop culture is aimed at ignoring or at best putting up with your parents and their old-fashioned ways.

6. Do not kill (or 'murder', depending on translation)
Capital Punishment. Secret assassinations. Pre-emptive warfare. Unjustified wars. The Indian Wars. How exactly are we following this one?

7. Do not commit adultery.
"Adultery is as American as mom and apple pie." - Larry Flynt

8. Do not steal.
A history of imperialist land grabbing and annexation, as well as the fact that the entire country was built on territory stolen from the native inhabitants.

9. Do not bear false witness.
The vast majority of our politicians lie daily, and our president and his administration have lied about virtually everything they've ever done.

10. Do not covet.
Indian territories. French territories. Spanish territories. Overseas territories. Free-market capitalism.

Food for thought.

Most of the early settlers and the writers of the constitution practiced Christianity.
in that way America is based on the ten commandments.

the second commandment in NLT is:
Do not make idols of any kind , wether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! ...[/quote]

[Talapus]

The vast majority of our politicians lie daily, and our president and his administration have lied about virtually everything they've ever done.

I watched the first part of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" today. An excellent classic if you haven't has the chance to see it before. And still as true today as it was back then.