religion

My Fellow Bloggers,

No tirades or opinions here.  Just some questions pertaining to the front page (Please don't ask me why it deserved front page, above the fold.  Hardly any of the other papers in Florida even carried it) story on how the religious beliefs have changed in recent generations.  So some questions might be in order.  How did you get your religious beliefs?  Did you inherit them from your parents?  Did you change?  Why?  How?  Does your spouse have the same beliefs as you do?

How do you regard the beliefs in others?  From what I considered a minor story seems to have caught the attention of the major news outlets, so there must be something out there.  What are your stories?  You don't of course, have to mention what your particular religious affiliation is.  It really doesn't matter.  Or does It?  Mega churches seem to be gaining, while Catholicism seems to be holding its own thanks to immigration.  Nothing new there.  Atheists & agnostics are holding their own while major Protestant denominations seem to be shrinking.  What are your thoughts?

 Fellow Bloggers,

Are you ready for some life style changes?

If one candidate gets elected & has their way, yours will be changed.  Whether you like it or not.  Whether you want it to or not.

My Fellow bloggers,

To those of you who know me & the subjects on which I concentrate, politics & religion, you also know that I have been accused of "picking," on Christians, especially evangelicals, & being against religion in general.  In one manner, that is true, in another, it's not.  I don't pick.  I do, however, point out salient facts that do, indeed, portray organized religion in a negative manner.  But since the respective entities tend to provide me with my information, I consider them fair game.

So let me preface this by saying it has absolutely nothing to do with Christian evangelicals or fundamentalists.  But it does have to do with one of the things most religions, as with political parties, have in common.  Propaganda & mind control.  As you may or may not know, I am a news junkie.  In that vein, I also monitor the religion scene & sign up for the free newsletters/updates that religious organizations, like any others, send out.  And this one, I just had to share with you, especially if you have children. 

This week marks to death of megachurch pastor Rev D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church after a steady decline in his health.  Over several decades he built a congregation of some 10,000 members, and spoke regularly to three million more by radio and TV.  In the last few years, he established an office in Washington D.C. with the purpose of " Reclaiming America for Christ" .

Most folks see no problem. Don't preachers have every right to try and persuade others?  Years ago, Kennedy stated his purpose without apology: "There are some who would accuse us of trying to Christianize America.  Am I trying to Christianize America?  You bet your boots I am!"

Why don’t you speak Muslim’s?? Where is the out cry from the Muslim population?  Why don’t you speak up against your radical, extremist brethren? How is it you claim to be a peaceful religion, but yet you stand by and watch the atrocities brought upon the innocent, in the name of your religion?          

Why does your Koran seem to be so intolerant of others, if we choose not to believe as you? What fear in you can be so strong to keep you silent? Is it the fear of being beheaded by your own? Or, maybe the fear from the teaching’s of your religion? Is it the fear of associating with infidels, that you may not be able to meet Allah?          

Muslims, Buddhists and atheists, along with many varieties of Christians, are among those who have been elected to the U.S. Congress.  Reactions have been varied. Is this a good thing, or something to be lamented?  A panel and discussion will take place Saturday, April 21.  To kick off the discussion, panel members are Jeff Allstadt, Jim Bailey and Bud White.

 This is a public meeting sponsored by The Clay County Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State: Saturday, April 21, at 10 am, at the Fleming Island Public Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd. Welcome.

The Cross

You don’t have to look very hard to see one, they seem to be everywhere. It’s funny but you don’t notice how many until you start looking for them. It’s like when you buy a new car and then that’s all you see! It’s as if everyone has “your car”! Soon after I gave my life to Christ I noticed the cross. It’s always been there but not until I truly knew it’s meaning did I notice it. You see, ever since highschool I have worn a cross necklace. As I sit here, I can’t remember why? I guess I thought it was cool? When you’re in highschool you pay attention to things that are going to make you either stand out or fit in. It seemed that the “cool kids” wore crosses. The cross for me represented “coolness”. Most of the rockers on MTV wore them, some even had them on their instruments and album covers. Not much has changed since then. If you look at today’s music, movie and television entertainment (and I use the term entertainment loosely) you will see it. You will see it around the necks of priests, punks and pop idols. So what’s the deal the cross? How can everybody be wearing them and be offended by it at the same time? Sound crazy? It’s happening today, the cross seems to be tolerated when it’s just “a cross”’ no meaning, just a cool symbol. If you are a drug dealer you can wear one, if you’re a child porn peddler it’s cool! But if you understand the cross’s true meaning and stand firm and speak it’s truth , look out! You have just joined “The world’s most hated”. You want to see sneers and eye rolls? Explain the cross to a worldly person. You want to be shunned and have your so-called friends turn their back on you? Live for the cross. Believe me it hurts!!

      It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them. "Peace be with you," he said. After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came.

Just what does it mean to describe America as a "Christian Nation"?  The fact is that our nation has two traditions regarding the place of religion.  The first tradition we have wisely rejected.  The second we have wisely embraced, and it has served us well.  

The first tradition began with the earliest settlements in North America in the 1600's.  Most of these settlers were earnest Christians.  Unfortunately, along with great courage and fortitude, they brought with them age-old patterns of established churches and the demand that every community must practice  religious uniformity.  So Colonial America became yet another land of religious tyranny, with self-styled "Godly" authorities enforcing their particular views on everyone, often in savage ways. Officers of church and state worked hand in hand, claiming the divine right to stamp out any "unorthodox" views.

He said it out loud this week:  "I am a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being." His name is U.S. Rep Pete Stark (D.Calif).  He has been in Congress since 1973. He is perhaps the highest ranking public official to say --- out loud ---- that he does not believe in God. 

I think we should salute him for his honesty. Obviously, there are other non-believers in elected office, but only Stark has chosen to speak his mind. The fact is, he "represents" millions of Americans who make up a significant minority of our citizens. A University of Minnesota study estimated atheists at 3% of the U.S population; a Pew survey found 11% declaring "no religion", or agnostic; and a Harris Interactive poll put nonbelievers at 9% with an additional 12% expressing uncertainty (L.A. Times Editorial 3-15-07). So Pete Stark has lots of company.