Oh religion, you so crazy

[Kuya]

Well, if by founding you mean the english settlers, then you might make the point that the US was founded as a christian nation. The settlers did come to America for religious freedom (the ones who weren't criminals, that is), but i am guessing that religious freedom only applied to christian protestants.

[Cyn]

Asheville sucks if you don't have money. There's no industry, the housing speculation killed a lot of real estate, and the only stable businesses rely on seasonal tourism (leaf season and ski season). Plus it has that whole creepy neo-bohemian vibe to it, which if that's what you want, more power to you, but I can only stand visiting my brother in Asheville in small doses.

The fact that it can thrive with only seasonal tourism bringing in money is a good indication that it's fairly self sustained. One of the best things about Asheville is the food... fucking amazing, almost every restaurant there serves food made with only locally grown organic ingredients. Even places that are mediocre for Asheville are a damn sight better than the best food you can get in Raleigh.

The last time I went to Asheville was to hook up with a chick I know, but I'd almost just go to hang out downtown and eat the food for a few days.

[dejet]

On that note, I wish I could read an article about how religious nuts feel about the sexual abuse in churches. Do they justify it or something?

Just want to note, that the average person does not justify it at all. My hole family (outside myself go maybe once every month or two) goes to church each week. When I brought it up to any of them they said that it was a shame that anyone would do that.

For the most part, they think of it as anything else. The person might be preaching *gods word* but they are still human and as such should be dealt with like anyone else.

My stepmother who is I would say most deeply vested in it says the same thing, that it was just as bad of them to cover it up as it was for the people who did it.

Now that makes very bland news, so they find the 5 people who think its nothing. Your average person finds it horrendous. There are people who think nothing of it tho, and to me that really is scary ~_~

Just like to point it out ~_~ sry for the derail (sorta)

[Mikelee0351]

Well damn how many other people up in here live in NC? I live in Wilson bout a half hour east of Raleigh if you don't know, it's about 50k ppl or so.

On topic: I was stationed at Camp Lejeune and stayed here after I got out since my wife is from here and MI, where I'm from, is busted. I haven't been a practicing member in years, I'm more agnostic now, I was fucking blown away to find that they consider Catholicism an exotic religion..... Not counting the Mexicans anyway.

But yeah, ppl down here tend to get butthurt way easy if you even mention something different than what they believe.

[Acturus]

The fact that it can thrive with only seasonal tourism bringing in money is a good indication that it's fairly self sustained. One of the best things about Asheville is the food... fucking amazing, almost every restaurant there serves food made with only locally grown organic ingredients. Even places that are mediocre for Asheville are a damn sight better than the best food you can get in Raleigh.

The last time I went to Asheville was to hook up with a chick I know, but I'd almost just go to hang out downtown and eat the food for a few days.

You're absolutely right. My brother has been a fine dining server for a very long time there because it has traditionally paid much better than anywhere else he'd find work. And good food plus the availability of Cheerwine makes Asheville a wonderful place to visit.

[Devolver]

Still no Sundrop love in this motherfucker. Cheerwine is tits though.

[Yuri-G]

I love this. too often, both the secular and religious sides in this debate seem to be at each other's throats. rather than attack Christians, the secular side in this case decided to use one of the far right's own best weapons against it: patriotism. it's hard to find anything wrong with One Nation, Indivisible - and those who do (including the vandals) have proven that they care more about their religion than their country. what a brilliant gambit; to force them to choose between a proud, united country and a country where their God is in charge.

that said, it's disheartening to know there are people out there who are so self-centered they'd rather see America divided if they can't have the Christian theocracy they so desire. and the fact that their beliefs are so strongly rooted in falsehoods is even worse. how do you debate someone who believes "facts" that are completely contrary to reality, such as the pledge always having "under god" in it? you can't. and the influence these people have is painful to think about.

[Effluo]

You know, I was sort of waiting on that the second I saw the title lol. Disappointed that it took this long tbh.

I didn't want to be the one to do it this time... Can't be too predictable chaknow

[Acturus]

I love this. too often, both the secular and religious sides in this debate seem to be at each other's throats. rather than attack Christians, the secular side in this case decided to use one of the far right's own best weapons against it: patriotism. it's hard to find anything wrong with One Nation, Indivisible - and those who do (including the vandals) have proven that they care more about their religion than their country. what a brilliant gambit; to force them to choose between a proud, united country and a country where their God is in charge.

that said, it's disheartening to know there are people out there who are so self-centered they'd rather see America divided if they can't have the Christian theocracy they so desire. and the fact that their beliefs are so strongly rooted in falsehoods is even worse. how do you debate someone who believes "facts" that are completely contrary to reality, such as the pledge always having "under god" in it? you can't. and the influence these people have is painful to think about.

I thought the Texas School Board already informed the rest of the world that "under God" was part of the Pledge of Allegience ever since it was written 4000 years ago.

[Mizango]

Well damn how many other people up in here live in NC? I live in Wilson bout a half hour east of Raleigh if you don't know, it's about 50k ppl or so.

Oh man, NC is repped hard on the board lol. There are 14 of us that I know of off the top of my head.

[Chun Liroy]

I am disappointed miz didn't quote my post and go lol.

[Yuri-G]

I thought the Texas School Board already informed the rest of the world that "under God" was part of the Pledge of Allegience ever since it was written 4000 years ago.

http://instantrimshot.com/

[Mizango]

I am disappointed miz didn't quote my post and go lol.

You posted?

[Yuri-G]

You posted?

lol

[Chun Liroy]

Yo, I built up my defenses
When I'm left to my devices, time gets suspended
more than DMX's driver's license♫

ya mon'

[Dainslaif]

I can understand the comfort argument of religion now: it must be very comforting to be so sure that anyone who disagrees with you will be murdered and tortured for all eternity.

That kind of offer makes me seriously consider going back to Christianity.

[Jak]

I'll give an example of how it is here.

I live in Rhodhiss, NC. Towards the western mountain-area of the state (Right in between Hickory and Lenoir)



Small...



Not alot of people.

In this town I am in, there are 6 churches. That is an actual number, and not an exaggeration. I am literally shunned upon when I discus my religious beliefs, or lack thereof.

That's pretty bad, makes me wonder if my little town in the middle of the Ozarks (we're considered the "Crossroads of the Ozarks) is worse.

Huntsville, AR. Population: 1,905

Number of Churches: counted 19 from the local newspaper church directory for in-town churches. That isn't including the ones outside city limits.

Scary. Even scarier is the fact that KKK headquarters (hard-line christans as well, dontcha know!) lies within a 30 minute drive from me.

And people wonder why I'm a closet gay. -_-; I'd be fuckin' hung in a town that had a sign outside all major highways that read "No N*gg*rs allowed* until the 1970s.

[Feedmenow]

This is on the side of the NCSA website:
Sorry for formatting nastiness.

Then you have several quotes by founding fathers and court cases that muck that all up...
http://realmofthesphinx.wordpress.co...merica-secular
full argument here:

Spoiler: show

Is America a secular state? If you are going to answer with “Yes”, reconsider it. If you question the extent to which America is secular you would find out that it is very insecure to call the United States a “secular state”.
The question popped in my head when I heard one of the audience at last week’s Oprah saying “We are a religious nation”… He demanded all religious books, specially the Bible, be taught in public schools so the students would know more about the religions of the world. Then, some of the audience, one is a public school headmaster, rejected the whole idea as it is going to cost the schools more money, and goes against the “secular” principles of America.
To what extent is America a secular country??
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, ‘Secularization’ is noun from the verb ‘Secularize’ which means:

To draw away from religious orientation; make worldly.

And if you look up the meaning of the word ‘Secularism’ in an encyclopedia you would find out that:

Secularism is generally the assertion that certain practices or institutions should exist separately from religion or religious belief. Alternatively, it is a principle of promoting secular ideas or values in either public or private settings. It may also be a synonym for “secularist movement”. In the extreme, it is an ideology that holds that religion has no place in public life. (Free Online Dictionary by Farlex)

And with little research into the definition of “Separation of Church and State”, the following is found:

In the United States, the “Separation of Church and State” is generally discussed as political and legal principle derived from the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . .” The concept of separation is commonly credited to the combination of the two clauses: the establishment clause, generally interpreted as preventing the government from establishing a national religion, providing tax money in support of religion, or otherwise favoring any single religion or religion generally, and the free exercise clause, ensuring that private religious practices not be restricted by the government. The effect of prohibiting direct connections between religious and governmental institutions while protecting private religious freedom and autonomy has been termed the “separation of church and state.”

Looking at the definition, and the later facts, it would leave no doubt that the United States constitution is simply based on the soul and true meaning of secularism… right?
No, in fact IT IS NOT.
I am not the one saying so, this is not an Egyptian young man’s claim… It is what the US House Judiciary Committee Report concluded in 1853 as the basis of its decision to deny a request to separate Christianity from the ongoings of the government. Here I quote it to you:

At the time of the adoption of the Constitution and the amendments the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged, not any one sect…. There can be no substitute for Christianity … that was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants. The great, vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Then in 1892, the United States Supreme Court stated that:

Our law and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind . . . it is impossible that it should be otherwise and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian.

That is to say, in real life, the United States Supreme Court and US House Judiciary Committee have ruled out the establishment clause in the United States constitution and applied what they thought was right. But, what if the greatest presidents of the United States, who applied constitution themselves, are stating the same opinion as the US Supreme Court and the US House Judiciary Committee?? Read what James Madison (who took part in drafting the US Constitution) says:

We have staked the future of government not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions on the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the ten commandments of God.

Then comes George Washington:

It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible…. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency … We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

Then John Adams comes to state that the US Constitution is for religious people!!! Read:

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. So great is my veneration of the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectful members of society.

And John Jay’s advice for the US citizens:

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty of as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for its rulers.

Things will be even more interesting if you continue to read Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin or Andrew Jackson say about Christianity being the “rock on which our Republic rests”. Check The Forerunner.
Can you see the contradiction at hand here?? The authors of the United States Constitution and, later, the presidents who apply this constitution are just stating the complete opposite of what they have authored. Then we move from words to reality.
Since 1957, each and every US banknote or coin bears the following statement: “In God we Trust”… Isn’t this one a religious symbol that printed on the country’s currency which is one of the US symbols? How secular is that?

http://bp1.blogger.com/_rVOT2SlupHc/...WeTrust_s3.jpg

Adding the statement: “Under one God” to the Pledge of Allegiance… How worldly and unreligious is that?
Using a Bible, or Quran in one case, for new congressmen to be sworn in; how secular and irreligiously oriented is that?
Blocking laws for homosexuality and abortion on religious basis since the Neo-cons are religious people and they are in power. To what extent is that secular of the United States?
Allowing schools and institutions to be built on religious basis (catholic schools… etc.), isn’t this an unconstitutional act in light of the establishment act in the US Constitution?
To make myself clear here, I am not attacking the United States for being unsecular. On the contrary, I am against secularism at some great points. What I am saying here is that if America itself cannot separate politics and state from religion, why are you calling other countries to apply what you failed to apply.
I never stop reading remarks about the Muslim Brotherhood in US newspapers that they want to apply Sharia law. No one stops attacking Iran over mingling religion with politics…. The list is too long to mention….
The bottom line is, why are you attacking people for building their constitution on the basis of their national religion when you do the same yourselves? Why attack the Egyptian Constitutions second item that says: “Sharia Law is the conrner stone of legislation” when it is practically applied to the core, at the same time you put Christianity as the corner stone of your state?
How legitimate it is of America to make such demands when the American house has so much cleaning and tidying up to be done?

tl;dr?

U.S. Government was born bipolar.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

In before Neo.

I was just thinking of this when I read the opening post of this thread. :D

[Dantrag]

Oh man, NC is repped hard on the board lol. There are 14 of us that I know of off the top of my head.

Cary, NC here <_>; didn't realize there were so many people from NC in the area heh... moved here from charlotte 2 months ago, 8 months ago moved from FL.

To whom ever said FL isn't the south: they are correct. Anything below the panhandle is not the south, the rest is just southern Georgia.