What should America's State Religion Be?

There should be no state religion. No one should be forced to be a particular religion. People should have the right to what ever religion they want.
My main point is with the history of England. That king who had all of those wives started the church of England so he could get a devoraced. Then when he died, his daughter who became queen was a devout Catholic and made it that everyone had to be Catholic or loose their heaRAB. Then the next ruler was a devout protestant and delcaird that everyone had to be non Catholic.
2nd point is similar but in a different location. Spain had the Spanish Inquizition (I'm unsure of spelling). All the Jews and non Catholics were killed or tortured.
3rd point is that (with in the Christian faith) the denomination that you are a part of is not the deciding factor in wheater or not you go to Heaven or Hell. A person's religion should first of all only be between that person and the god of that faith and then the others of the congregation. There should not be a state law requireing that people be a particular religion or else...

I am a Disciples Of Christ Christian and I am for Seperation of Church and State becasue I don't want to see history repeat it self. I believe that a person should have the right to choose their religion (and respective denominaiton of that religion). Although I would like to see more people at church, I want that to be there discission and if they get that at another church, good for them.

Theological view: God just wants your worship and wants you to give of it willingly without being forced to.

Political view: As far as I'm concerned, politics and religion should not intermingle in the case that were talking about. Politicians can have whatever religion they fill comfortable with but should not force it on others.
Points taken? I should stop before this gets too long.
 
I think this question is very worthy of a response. I'm responding to the OP, post 1 of this thread. I agree with Nurglitch's point that the USA was founded on Christian principle by our founding fathers, and by default, through the combined judeo/christian morality of the Early Settlers and proceeding generations that built our Society.

It cannot be denied that in every new town and community that was started, the first building constructed was the town church. That single building did triple service as the school house in the mornings, the town hall in the afternoons, and the church for sunday worship services. All other town buildings and the surrounding community was designed around that single building which was the center of town. And by the way, the children carried the family bible to school and learned to read, spell, and write by it in the early years of this countries youth.

As for the title of this thread regarding what the State Religion should be? That is a most offensive question, and the idea than any State Religion should ever be imposed on the people of the US would represent the complete collapse of the principles upon which this Nation was founded. After all, the reason we broke away from England was so no governmental authority could determine which religion we followed as free men as was required by the English Monarchy.

So America must never have a State Religion if we are to remain AMERICA.
 
Well said, Ooaman. But you don't tell the half of the story. The "founding fathers" were well aware of the religious wars of Europe during the preceding centuries. They were also aware of the several state religions of the colonies. Would it have been a good idea to go with the Puritanism of New England? Or maybe the Anglicanism of the middle states? But why not the Baptists of the south? Which should be the official state religion of the new government?

Maybe Rhode Island had a better idea. Rhode Island was the only colony that never had a state religion. Religion was not discouraged or denied, since the founder of the colony was a cleric, but citizens were free to be free of religion.

So the "founding fathers," most of them deists, most of them educated in the works of the enlightenment, Descartes, Pascal, Rousseau, and more importantly Locke (friend of Newton) recognized and feared the dangers of religion as government. And the people of the new nation elected not Christians, but deists and Unitarians:

Washington - deist
Adams - Unitarian
Jefferson - deist
Madison - deist
Monroe - deist
Adams - Unitarian

Religious dogmatism and intolerance is dangerous. Given the chance, fundamentalist christians would take this country down the path followed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. At first prayer in school, followed by prayer as science, followed by only prayer in school.
 
You said: "Some things are worth fighting for and some wars are just...........Jesus Christ was no pacifist..........". That was not an answer. Bush didn't turn the other cheek, hence he disobeyed Jesus.


Nor does your worship of a flag.

I'll replace "apple" with "Swastika". Why shouldn't there be an amendment banning the burning of flags containing the swastika? It stanRAB for everything right (excuse the pun...) for some people, so why doesn't it deserve equal protection as the American flag?

-Wez
 
It's also not relevant. Europe owes the US as much as the US owes Europe. In fact, neither owe each other anything imo, but if people want to bring up historical arguments, at least make them a bit more even.

-Wez
 
"None" should have been an option. I believe in separation of church and state. So did the "founding fathers." Most had been persecuted in the United Kingdom or Europe for their faith, and freedom of religion was one of their first thoughts in considering independence.

Religious beliefs are desecrated when they come into the political arena. For example, Tom Delay comes off as an ultra religious Christian. How "Christian" are his actions? A bill was introduced to stop the sweatshops established in an American territory, the North Mariana IslanRAB. These sweatshops are lucrative because they pay no tariRAB to import gooRAB to the US and use the label "Made In America." Employees were and are working there 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, for half of the US minimum wage, while living in special camps surrounded by barb wire and armed guarRAB. In short, SLAVERY. Jack Abramoff on behalf of businesses profitting from these sweatshops gave Delay a bribe, and he shut almost all Republican support of a bill (sponsored by a conservative Republican). If Tom is Christian, it neeRAB to be spelled Chri$tian.
 
I believe that God's word is infallible, Jesus, the word made flesh is infallible. The question is whether the Bible can be considered the word of God. I believe it contains the word of God, but not the pure word of God. Being written by fallible humans, and compiled by them, it is itself fallible. I take, broadly, the Quaker view, that while the Bible can be of considerable use, the "still small voice" - the Holy Spirit, is the only way of determining what is of God, and what is not, in discussion with other believers.
 
Sure. Why not. If we are going to junk the Constitution and the Bill of Rights it really doesn't matter much. The effect of fundamentalism would probably be much the same no matter what the specific religion was.

However, Judaism might be the best choice since I think Jews are much more tollerant of others who do not choose to practice their particular religion. Not so with most of the others mentioned.
 
I only worship Jesus Christ........I respect the flag for what it represents....I can understand you bring from another country might not understand that though.........
 
No, the main reason was taxation without representation following the French and Indian War. England felt that the colonies had an obligation to pay for much of the debt that the empire faced after the war, and the colonials felt that the taxes were unfair given that they were not represented in parliament. Many colonials felt that their local assembly should have legal authority, including the authority to establish taxes. See Sedition Act, Intolerable Acts, Stamp Act, Townshend Act, Molasses Act, Proclamation of 1763, etc. Religion had very little to do with the causes of the Revolutionary War.
 
There is no way we can turn the other cheek after 9/11/01........Clinton tried that after the first WTC bombing and it did not work...........If we had turned the other cheek after 9/11/01 there would have been a bunch more terrorist attacks here by now........Better to fight terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq then in New York........

Sorry some things are worth fighting for...........

There was no bear false witness...............I still beleive in time we will find WOMD in Iraq and every prominent politician thought Saddam had them.........

People die in wars...........I am sure you have heard the old saying: "War is hell." wel its true..........
 
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