 |
|
LiberalAtheist
|
|
It should be obvious at this point, especially seeing as how the religiuous are reacting so fervently on the issue, that the "Under God" phrase in the pledge has obvious religious connotations. This was made clear by McCarthy when his commity put the very phrase in and Senate had a big prayer to show disaproval.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
David Floyd
|
|
The bottom of a large bottle of beer
Jan 1970
time: 05:34
|
|
I think that the intent of the phrase "under God" is enough to throw the phrase out - as I understand it, Eisenhower wanted students to acknowledge God, right? Of course, that really isn't part of his job, nor is he even allowed to encourage it in an official capacity as President of the United States, which of course he did by signing it into law.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
gamenaught
|
|
quote:
Well, you know what. Everytime this nation or any nation or any organization or any person, etc., spits in God's face like this they DO NOT experience God's blessings, but rather they experience His wrath. |
Can you back that claim with demographics or statistics?
Religionists use that reasoning to justify cramming their religion down the throats of everyone else.
But let’s see if that claim is true:
The most religious countries of the world (the Islamic countries) have a very low standard of living. The most religious states in the US (the Bible Belt) have lower standards of living, more crime, and far more divorces than the more secular parts of the country. In terms of individuals, the atheists and agnostics that I know are generally just as prosperous and probably more prosperous that the general God-believing population.
It looks to me that the people that piss in God’s face are doing far better than the believers. How do you explain that?
|
|
| |
|
|
|
gamenaught
|
|
quote:
I'm specifically speaking of Christianity. |
God only blesses Christians!?!
Don't most of the other religions also believe in God?
quote:
Take a good look at Uganda for a good example of how God's blessings can bring a nation back from the brink of utter destruction into peace and prosperity. |
Well, I did take a look at Uganda. Per CIA World Fact Book the current life expectancy of baby Ugandans is only 45. And more than 1 out of 3 will grow up below the poverty line.
Is that the best your god can do?
|
|
| |
|
|
|
gamenaught
|
|
quote:
I'm specifically speaking of Christianity. |
So why does the Bible Belt have a lower standard of living, higher crime, and far higher divorce rate than other (less religious) US states?
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Giancarlo
|
 |
Los Angeles
Apr 2000
time: 02:34
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Nice Guy
They are false religions. Their Gods are not the same God as the Christian God. Besides, the Gods of other religions never did anything wonderful or magnificent for their followers, nations; etc.
http://www.myuganda.co.ug/categorie...onomy/index.htm
Uganda has greatly improved as a nation and is continuing to do so. 
I'll be back. . . |
You can't prove your god. 'Nuf said. For all we know Zeus is up there with all the greek gods. Just saying god exists doesn't prove anything.
YEAH UGANDA IS SO IMPROVED... NOT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3515735.stm
quote:
Shortcomings in Uganda's army were to blame for the high number of deaths in the weekend massacre, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
He said the army should have been in closer contact with the self-defence militia guarding the refugee camp which was attacked, near the town of Lira.
He apologised on behalf of the army to survivors of the attack, in which 200 people were reportedly killed.
The killings have been blamed on rebels of the brutal Lord's Resistance Army.
But a rebel spokesman said civilians were caught in the crossfire as rebels defended themselves against a government attack.
Makeshift graves
"On behalf of the army, I apologise to the people," Mr Museveni said as he visited Lira hospital, packed with those who survived the attack.
He has however disputed the eyewitness reports that 200 civilians died in the massacre, putting the figure at 80.
He transferred the local army commander to headquarters for further training.
He says he will set up camp in northern Uganda, to personally supervise the fight against the rebels.
Some northern MPs have accused the army of ignoring their plight and not wanting to end the rebellion because it gives commanders the opportunity to make money.
The BBC's Will Ross in Lira says shocked survivors have been returning to the scene of this latest massacre to bury their relatives in makeshift graves.
Some 4,000 people had lived in the camp, after fleeing their homes because of fighting elsewhere in northern Uganda.
Mr Museveni said the camp had not been officially authorised.
As the insurgents surrounded the camp, 26km (16 miles) north of Lira, many people ran to their grass huts and were burned as the insurgents torched their houses, said local MP Charles Angiro.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has strongly condemned the weekend attack, which the International Criminal Court says it will investigate.
A UN relief team is due in Lira to decide whether it is safe for aid workers to travel there, and to assess the needs of several thousand people driven out of the camp.
Children kidnapped
Altogether the conflict is said to have displaced at least one million people.
The camp was being guarded by a local self-defence militia which was outnumbered and outgunned, an army spokesman said.
The LRA, led by self-proclaimed mystic Joseph Kony, are known for kidnapping young children to become fighters or sex slaves.
Our correspondent in Lira says that although the Ugandan army claims the war against the brutal LRA rebels is being won, the cycle of civilian massacres makes it hard for people to believe.
|
So having one million displaced people is an example of prosperity? Really ask yourself.. what kind of idiot are you? And by the way Museveni is a secular president.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
shawnmmcc
|
|
The US has practioners of the various Caribbean Christian/animist hybrid religions that do not believe in God but in gods, and there is a consist attempt to abrogate and limit their religious rights. The most recent case, for which the SCOTUS for once came down on the constitutional side, was when a Florida town attempted to change zoning laws to prevent practioners of Santeria from performing their rituals, which include animal sacrifice.
The record with Native Americans, who have many animists, is much worse. In fact SCOTUS in the early 90's specifically tramped on jurisprudence and let practioners of the Native American Church be terminated by the State of Oregon for drug use. The new ruling WOULD have permitted the banning of sacremental wine by Christians and Jews during prohibition, but "that's different." 
You have a growing Hindu community in the US, as was evidenced by the comment about "...under Vishnu" posted earlier. My point is that we have numerous populations, including the original inhabitants of this country, who do not believe in monotheism. It should be struck down under the constitution via equal establishment clause, but the so-called "conservative" judges will not do this. They are just as "activist" as the liberal judges when it suits their purpose, and the right wing types who rail against judicial activism will remain hippocritically silent. At least the left is honest about what they try to achieve via the courts.
I never thought I'd see Sava and Berzerker agreeing - with me on the their side. 
|
|
| |
|
|
|
gamenaught
|
|
quote:
Uganda has greatly improved as a nation and is continuing to do so |
Did you even read the link you supplied?
Here is a quote:
"Because of the prudent macro economic policies, Uganda has recorded an impressive economic performance over the last decade "
Your own "supporting" source gives the credit to economic policies - not God's blessings.
|
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:34.
Apolyton Time is 00:34. |
top of page
|
| archivepost |
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
25-03-2004 08:44
|