Freethought & Rationalism Archive

britinusa · 07-01-2002, 03:27 PM

We've all heard it a thousand times since last weeks SF ruling. The U.S. is a "Christian nation" with "god given rights." We expect morons like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly to spout this nonsense, but we also hear it from supposedly sensible people.
So what are these god-given rights? Perhaps Dave Matthews could tell us. Look at the Bill of Rights and show us where in the bible we can find any of them.
When one mentions America, what springs to mind?

Capitalism
Democracy
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
5th Ammendment
Right to bear arms
Freedom of Religion
The Arts

What does Jesus have to say about any of this? What does any of it have to do with the bible or xianity in general?
I can't put it better than the incomparable Robert G. Ingersoll:

Quote:

He (Christ) never said a word in favor of education. He never even hinted at the existence of any science. He never uttered a word in favor of industry, economy or of any effort to better our condition in this world. He was the enemy of the successful, of the wealthy. Dives was sent to hell, not because he was bad, but because he was rich. Lazarus went to heaven, not because he was good, but because he was poor.

Christ cared nothing for painting, for sculpture, for music -- nothing for any art. He said nothing about the duties of nation to nation, of king to subject; nothing about the rights of man; nothing about intellectual liberty or the freedom of speech. He said nothing about the sacredness of home; not one word for the fireside; not a word in favor of marriage, in honor of maternity.

He never married. He wandered homeless from place to place with a few disciples. None of them seem to have been engaged in any useful business, and they seem to have lived on alms.

All human ties were held in contempt; this world was sacrificed for the next; all human effort was discouraged. God would support and protect.

Thor Q. Mada · 07-01-2002, 04:37 PM

But you forgot:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace , but a sword".
At least if we can believe Matthew 10:34.
That you seem to be following quite well lately.

Berenger Sauniere · 07-01-2002, 06:29 PM

God given rights? This is what the police read to lawbreakers in a Theocracy.

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07-01-2002, 04:37 PM	#2
Thor Q. Mada Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Asia Posts: 3,558	But you forgot: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace , but a sword". At least if we can believe Matthew 10:34. That you seem to be following quite well lately.

07-01-2002, 06:29 PM	#3
Berenger Sauniere Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: et in Arcadia ego... Posts: 406	God given rights? This is what the police read to lawbreakers in a Theocracy.

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