Quote:
Originally posted by Sir Taliesin:
quote:
Originally posted by Rokenn:
In current society it is almost a requirement that you state your belief in God to be elected to any office.
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I don't buy that. If it were so, then all you mentioned would come to pass in this country, now wouldn't it. You make it sound like ALL christians want to throw everyone else to the lions. Not True my friend. Most Christians are quite tolerate people. [/QUOTE]Thing is, many people seem to have bought into the idea that ONE segment of a group (the more vocal and far right one in this case) must be representative of ALL the members of the the group. In this case it's so far off base it isn't funny, but then the 'moderate' and more reasonable Christians among us don't go around thumping people with Bibles or shooting doctors and burning crosses, now do we? [img]smile.gif[/img] So what's seen in the news is sensational, radical and over the top bunch like the Bakers, Falwells and Jones' of the world who CLAIM to be Christian, but in my book are far and away less so than anyone I know in my church or community.
TL, [img]smile.gif[/img]
If the statue was purchased with federal funds, then it's possible it might offend someone who felt it was too religious or not on par with their own religion (although, frankly, most of the 10 commandments are actually part of our law- murder, adultery, theft...all are in there). I think it's one hell of a stretch, though, to assume that's creating a state religion unless it were rampant...that is if every public building started sporting the same religiously oriented statue or painting etc....still, if the state doesn't tell you it's mandatory to worship said art or the idea depicted in it, then it's pushing it IMO to assume that it sets up a state religion.
You know the ancient Greeks worshipped the notion of a 'perfect body'....does that mean that all the 'art' statues in federally funded museums are in violation of the laws protecting minorities like the disabled? How far do we go...I know we've been exaggerating here, but I seriously wonder, how far do we let it go?
A friend mentioned a news item a few weeks ago. A woman who taught in a private school was told she had to remove her cross necklace because it offended non-Christian students in the school. She was let go when she refused to compromise her beliefs, which she had in NO way imposed on anyone in the school and hadn't even discussed with students. So this woman is not allowed to practice her own beliefs or show any indication she has them? She won that case in court, btw. Wish I remembered what state it was in! If she wore a stonehenge pin or a Mayan symbol, I highly doubt anyone would have accused her of forcing druidism or human sacrifice on the students. Again, it just seems to me that it's because she's Christian and it's trendy to dislike them.
No doubt, as Rokenn noted, they are a large section of the population and that may have something to do with it. Some non-Christians may have had dealings with fringe groups or those in the far ends of the spectrum, they may have reason to dislike THAT section of the Christian population and just carry the stereotype forward. I'm not a sociologist, but that's my best guess.
[ 07-03-2003, 09:46 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]