Something that always baffled me...
If this is Christian nation, how come it's the *only* nation in north america to have the death penalty? How come the entire bible belt has it still and carries out the most executions? Anyone else find that odd?
Other countries with frequent death penalty: Iran, Saudi Arabia, China. Awesome Christian company!
Something that always baffled me...
If this is Christian nation, how come it's the *only* nation in north america to have the death penalty? How come the entire bible belt has it still and carries out the most executions? Anyone else find that odd?
Other countries with frequent death penalty: Iran, Saudi Arabia, China. Awesome Christian company!
From Wiki:
Of the 35 independent states in the Americas that are UN members:
15 (43%) have abolished it.
4 (11%) retain it for crimes committed in exceptional circumstances (such as in time of war).
14 (40%) permit its use for ordinary crimes, but have not used it for at least 10 years and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, or it is under a moratorium.
2 (6%) maintain the death penalty in both law and practice.
The information above is accurate as of 2013 when Cuba became a de facto abolitionist state by not having carried out an execution for ten years. Use of capital punishment by country - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I do think that's an interesting point. I've noticed on this site that we have Christians who are pro death penalty. I've been told by some that this is somehow acceptable (I can't remember their reasoning), but IMO that is a rather hypocritical stance. I would think they would let God make those decisions.
Something that always baffled me...
If this is Christian nation, how come it's the *only* nation in north america to have the death penalty? How come the entire bible belt has it still and carries out the most executions? Anyone else find that odd?
Other countries with frequent death penalty: Iran, Saudi Arabia, China. Awesome Christian company!
I do think that's an interesting point. I've noticed on this site that we have Christians who are pro death penalty. I've been told by some that this is somehow acceptable (I can't remember their reasoning), but IMO that is a rather hypocritical stance. I would think they would let God make those decisions.
You might be an enlightened individual concerning this subject and others if only you took the time to read the Bible.
It's up to each individual government to decide if it wants to enact capital punishment.
"For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." - Romans chapter 13
You're busted.
Turn the other cheek? "Let whoever is without sin cast the first stone." Early Christians like St. John Chrysostom staunchly opposed executions and warfare cause of these parables.
Of course, the modern bible belt thumpers are more illiterate and uneducated than even 200 AD peasants, so it's not surprising they will pull single lines from Romans instead of realize there's not a single quote from Jesus supporting executions (or gay bashing). They would have to remember what they read 10 pages ago for that.
I've read the bible and highly recommend it. It's comedy gold precisely because of contradictions, and that anyone takes it seriously only makes it more hilarious, if not for using it to justify barbarity like government executions of defenseless prisoners.
More nonsense. You're trying to tell me conversely that the people we have in Washington are educated? LOL!
As for Jesus on homosexual sin:
Jesus is God (many scriptures). As God, Jesus is the one who gave Moses the Levitical law against gay sex to begin with; and he's the one who inspires all Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), including prohibitions against gay sex in Romans 1:26-27 and I Corinthians 6:9-10. etc.
You may have read it but it never sank in. Your lack of insight in the examples above prove it.
And when you can bust the resurrection THEN you'll begin to have an ounce of credibility on the Bible being a load of hooey.
America is not a "Christian nation", per se, but it was founded on Christian values (for the most part). We have since deviated greatly from said Christian values, though, so I don't think it's an apt comparison today.
You continue to connect the concept of a deity with some need for specifics of a deity. I can concept of a car without having any need to concept it as a Ford or a Chevy or a Honda, or a VW, etc. Agnostics don't have to concept the "make and model" of the deity(s) to concept the possibility of its/their existence.
The way I see it, now a days, Christian and Corporate values are one in the same so in a manner of speaking, we might be.
I am searching for a non-Christian based logic for expending resources on adults who are unable or unwilling to be self sufficient for extended periods of time.
I don't think the Bible says anything about nice people going to Heaven, though. Righteous people, yes. Maybe the criteria is harsher than we would like to think.
Except much of our laws and value systems concerning freedom and fairness are derived from ancient religious beliefs. Before laws, the religions of the world were pretty much where society garnered it's morals and codes of conduct. "Thou shalt not kill" was not just a standard pulled from thin air, you shouldn't kill because it's immoral and a divine commandment.
Well, I am of the belief that a lot of man-made religions were "created" to gain control over people. I think that people, back in ancient times, were quite brutal towards one another. I think that's where the saying "put the fear of God into them" comes from actually.
Whether politicians are educated is irrelevant, since they have to appease the uneducated bible belt voters. In many cases though, they are very much so. Obama went to harvard and was a chicago law prof for example.
Jesus' divinity was debated for centuries (look up Arianism or gnosticism) and in fact is still widely disagreed on by the various sects. Nicaea as with everything tried to make it seem incontrovertible and unanimous, but the gospels are ambiguous. Ex: "Whoever makes a speech against the son of man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the holy spirit will not be forgiven." Sure seems like a distinction.
That wasn't what i was saying anyway. "Paul" or whoever wrote Romans, was not Jesus or God or whatever. It's rather curious that for something you consider such a huge deal, the gospels never mentioned either subject. If anything, the gospel Jesus seems like he would not at all support state executions.
"Busting" the resurrection is like trying to prove ET doesn't exist.
I understand the Hamiltonian evolution idea that it is beneficial to help others in of your group. Evolution favors groups who help others in their time of need. But that charity doesn't universally apply to "others" or people different from them.I would contend that most of what you consider "Christian" morals are just human morals. Nearly every culture has had a very similar set of morals, and they have tended to evolve with the times, same as everyone else's.
Have you really ever met anyone who gave half their money to charity? All three monotheist religions emphasize charity as a noble undertaking. They simply express that value in different ways. Jews are commanded to give often, and especially during the days been Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur. Religious institutions, given their long history of being outside the normal processes of commerce (both in western religion and elsewhere), often took the reins on administering charitable work. They would be supported by the community and didn't need to turn a profit. It's actually pretty socialist if you think about it. Either way, charity is a value that every culture has espoused..
And you did not answer my question. What stories in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism. philosophy, etc., equal Christianity in it's anti-wealth emphasis. In my travels, I find that charity in other non-Christian countries, are much more limited. The Buddhist monks in training walk the streets in Luang Prabang, Laos are content with a handful of rice or so given to them in charity. That is their food for the day. I am looking for some non-Christian view that thinks it is OK to allow those who don't work to maintain a lifestyle equivalent to what people who work maintain. Universal charity is closer to simply providing food for the hungry or a blanket for the cold.
The nation isn't Christian than. It contains a huge selection of the world's religions. Based on your statement the nation can only be called a majority Christian nation.
Here's some info on that. Take note of Romans chapter 13 in the link below.
http://www.debatepolitics.com/polls/197222-america-not-christian-nation-31.html#post1063435600
That's simply using the threat of unassailable force to make people obey. That mentality was hardly limited to rules that we consider ethical, but likewise to a lot of that brutality. And there's still plenty of brutality in the world today, often in the most religious places.
A Special thread for Bodhisattva.
The United States is not a Christian Nation. That is my stance.
A nation is defined by it's government and it's people - not only by it's majority. To refer to it as A Christian Nation is to falsely represent many Americans.
Our Country grants freedom for all religions and lack thereof. Grand Cathedrals, churches, Temples, Mosques, and Conventions for Non Believers can be found all over this country. All of which are given equal respect and right to exist.
Religion in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Our Government and thus our laws are entirely secular. There are a vast array of laws that directly contradict the teachings in the bible and thus God's will (i.e. laws regarding homosexuals, divorce, and other things considered blasphemous). Making the term "Christian Nation" ever more strange and obviously misplaced.
There is no legitimate reason to refer to this Nation as Christian.
Why are there so many, many contradictory statements in the Bible?
Most of them don't hold up under close scrutiny. For instance, pick your (1) best alleged "contradiction" from the Gospels and let's see if it flys.
I agree, but I still think that was major rationale behind organized religion. I could be wrong, but it makes sense given the times. They wouldn't have had the ability to police large areas.
Thou shalt not kill is one of the ten commandments. Also, judge not, lest ye be judged. :lol: (LOL, sorry, I'm not real good at "bible" talk).
But you certainly need those specifics if this deity is supposed to inform how we should live our lives. The generic idea of a deity or deities is fine, but when someone starts saying that these deities want us to do some things and not do others and submit to specific leaders, then you really need specifics, and evidence of that specific deity's existence.
Thou shalt not kill is one of the ten commandments. Also, judge not, lest ye be judged. :lol: (LOL, sorry, I'm not real good at "bible" talk).