What does it mean to be a "christian nation" - Page 6

UtahBill · 04-10-08, 09:20 AM

To be a christian nation is the same as being a christian individual. You follow the teachings of Christ. Our nation does not do that. Most of our politicians pretend to do it, during elections, but for the most part, they are all hypocrites, as are most of our religious leaders. Jefferson had it right. The teachings of christ have been corrupted, starting with Paul, then the Catholic church, then the protestants, and so on until there are few churches on the planet that people should trust.
The main issues are power and money. People want those things, and they will find ways to get it. I propose that the guy who sneaks into your house and steals your stuff to sell at the swap meet is more honest than the preacher who "sells you salvation".
No amount of money changing hands has ever saved anyone from their sins.
No amount of professing Christ as your saviour will give you salvation if you don't practice the teachings of Christ as well. If you remove from the bible
all but the 4 gospels, and then further condense those books to include only the teachings of Christ, you will have a small pamphlet of rules that tell us how to be Christians. Then we just follow those rules. But no, that would put out of work all the liars and thieves who call themselves to do the lord's work, as long as they get paid for it......
Anyone here who thinks that their church is the true church is suffering from delusions implanted into their heads by money grubbing preachers, priests, etc.

FluffyNinja · 04-10-08, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UtahBill

To be a christian nation is the same as being a christian individual. You follow the teachings of Christ. Our nation does not do that. Most of our politicians pretend to do it, during elections, but for the most part, they are all hypocrites, as are most of our religious leaders. Jefferson had it right. The teachings of christ have been corrupted, starting with Paul, then the Catholic church, then the protestants, and so on until there are few churches on the planet that people should trust.
The main issues are power and money. People want those things, and they will find ways to get it. I propose that the guy who sneaks into your house and steals your stuff to sell at the swap meet is more honest than the preacher who "sells you salvation".
No amount of money changing hands has ever saved anyone from their sins.
No amount of professing Christ as your saviour will give you salvation if you don't practice the teachings of Christ as well. If you remove from the bible
all but the 4 gospels, and then further condense those books to include only the teachings of Christ, you will have a small pamphlet of rules that tell us how to be Christians. Then we just follow those rules. But no, that would put out of work all the liars and thieves who call themselves to do the lord's work, as long as they get paid for it......
Anyone here who thinks that their church is the true church is suffering from delusions implanted into their heads by money grubbing preachers, priests, etc.

I don't know why, but most of what you just said makes sense. Utah, your posts are almost too logical for this forum. It's one thing I've always respected about most of your responses that I've read, they're usually right on spot, and to the point - no beating around the Bush! (no pun intended)

Jerry · 04-10-08, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluffyNinja

I don't know why, but most of what you just said makes sense. Utah, your posts are almost too logical for this forum. It's one thing I've always respected about most of your responses that I've read, they're usually right on spot, and to the point - no beating around the Bush! (no pun intended)

...wow, no teeth or nothin...

FluffyNinja · 04-10-08, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry

...wow, no teeth or nothin...

Yeah, I guess this is just my "fluffy" side emerging. it doesn't happen often.

UtahBill · 04-10-08, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluffyNinja

I don't know why, but most of what you just said makes sense. Utah, your posts are almost too logical for this forum. It's one thing I've always respected about most of your responses that I've read, they're usually right on spot, and to the point - no beating around the Bush! (no pun intended)

thanks, and there is at least one Bush who could stand a beating.....but we shouldn't be mixing politics and religion in the same thread, right?

niftydrifty · 04-10-08, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluffyNinja

I don't know why, but most of what you just said makes sense. Utah, your posts are almost too logical for this forum. It's one thing I've always respected about most of your responses that I've read, they're usually right on spot, and to the point - no beating around the Bush! (no pun intended)

but it doesn't make sense that nations CAN'T be Christian? that nations tend to be nationalistic and that it is incompatible with Christ's message? or have you come around to see the logic in that? it's pretty much what Bill is saying.

UtahBill · 04-10-08, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niftydrifty

but it doesn't make sense that nations CAN'T be Christian? that nations tend to be nationalistic and that it is incompatible with Christ's message? or have you come around to see the logic in that? it's pretty much what Bill is saying.

Seems to me that nationalism certainly does exclude us from being a christian nation, but also that in order to be a christian nation, we should be under the authority of religious leaders, and nobody with half a brain or better wants that. At least, not until Christ returns. Him I can trust.....
Certain principles founded this nation, some of them were christian, but that does not mean that those principles did not exist before christianity started up....it is just that the smart christians recognized good principles when they saw them, and adopted them.....
Or can anyone here come up with a moral code, or any part of a moral code, that has never existed outside of christianity....

niftydrifty · 04-10-08, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UtahBill

Seems to me that nationalism certainly does exclude us from being a christian nation, but also that in order to be a christian nation, we should be under the authority of religious leaders, and nobody with half a brain or better wants that. At least, not until Christ returns. Him I can trust.....
Certain principles founded this nation, some of them were christian, but that does not mean that those principles did not exist before christianity started up....it is just that the smart christians recognized good principles when they saw them, and adopted them.....
Or can anyone here come up with a moral code, or any part of a moral code, that has never existed outside of christianity....

I don't think it would ever be possible for anyone to ever be a Christian nation. even if "Christians" took over the government and tried to make it into a "Christian" nation, it couldn't be one because it would be acting against Christian tenets to even do so.

disneydude · 04-10-08, 07:22 PM

The term "Christian nation" has been used (as of late) as really nothing more than a spinning point by the far-right to refer to a system of government that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the teachings of Christ, but rather perverts the name of Christ to promote their right-wing agenda.

The true meaning of a "Christian nation" is a nation that embodies the teachings of Jesus Christ (whether one is Christian or not). In other words, it is not a religious ideal. Main religions embody the same values and ideals which the body of Christ's teachings represent: Charity, peace, love and promoting the general welfare of our fellow brothers and sisters.

Thales · 04-10-08, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneydude

The true meaning of a "Christian nation" is a nation that embodies the teachings of Jesus Christ (whether one is Christian or not). In other words, it is not a religious ideal. Main religions embody the same values and ideals which the body of Christ's teachings represent: Charity, peace, love and promoting the general welfare of our fellow brothers and sisters.

While I agree with the often universal nature of Christ's message, I think that by calling something a "Christian Nation" it implies a connection to the religion of Christianity. And by extension, I'd characterize it as a religions ideal. I suppose calling something a "Jesus Nation" would get farther from the religion and closer to the man himself, but I think the connotation would still be inescapable.