tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467202639598238063.post1582906987981424005..comments2024-03-24T08:15:29.679-05:00Comments on misscalcul8: In the Beginning...miss.calcul8http://www.blogger.com/profile/02014623484245570719noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467202639598238063.post-1144306681614084092009-06-04T09:49:41.405-05:002009-06-04T09:49:41.405-05:00This country was not "founded on God." I...This country was not "founded on God." If what you meant to say was that is was founded on a set of Judeo-Christian ethics, I can understand that. Don't forget however, that the first settlers of the United State came here to escape religious persecution, and the founding fathers understood that when they put Freedom of Religion in the first amendment. Our soldiers fight for all American; Christians, Jews, Muslims, agnostics and athests, to retain that freedom.Jamie Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01676155145515446095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467202639598238063.post-12604947007727465682009-05-25T12:21:20.852-05:002009-05-25T12:21:20.852-05:00"I just think that you don't have to be a Christia..."I just think that you don't have to be a Christian to be a moral person, and you don't have to believe in God at all to still lead an ethical existence."<br /><br />Very true. Morals and religion are not exclusive to each other. <br /><br />Also true that citizens of every religion, or indeed no religion at all have died. Let's expand more to include of many races, ages, and even more characteristics.<br /><br />The point of this post is that Memorial Day is a day I want to remember that our country publicly aknowledged and was founded on God and that I hope it continues to stay that way.miss.calcul8https://www.blogger.com/profile/02014623484245570719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467202639598238063.post-82854345053965626822009-05-24T20:36:01.573-05:002009-05-24T20:36:01.573-05:00A few things -
Christians, Jews, and Muslims pray...A few things -<br /><br />Christians, Jews, and Muslims pray to the same God. <br /><br />The US was not remotely "founded on Jesus". The founders were Enlightenment Deists.<br /><br />None of those preambles, invoking "God Almighty", reference a specifically Christian God.<br /><br />I'm a combat veteran of the US Navy, and I appreciate that you're grateful to our war dead, but I really, really don't get the point of this post.Kate Nowakhttp://function-of-time.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467202639598238063.post-13758793429595076442009-05-24T18:13:24.807-05:002009-05-24T18:13:24.807-05:00You're right that citizens from every state have s...You're right that citizens from every state have sacrificed. I'd expand on that to add that so have citizens of every religion, or indeed no religion at all. I'm sure that we are all equally grateful for their sacrifice. <br /><br />Our country was founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic, absolutely, but I don't think Obama saying that we're "a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values" does anything to detract from that. All it does is acknowledge that not everyone is Christian, and that there's nothing wrong with that. Because there isn't anything wrong with that. It also acknowledges that no matter what our religious beliefs, we as humans share a common set of ethics; some specifics may change, and extremists from all religions (or lack of religion) do differ, but I believe that most reasonable people do share a common general morality. <br /><br />I worry that some people believe that differences in religious beliefs are the be all and end all of our existence. I just think that you don't have to be a Christian to be a moral person, and you don't have to believe in God at all to still lead an ethical existence.<br /><br />I'm glad you have a connection that works for you here and I appreciate your understanding that it doesn't work for me.teachin'https://www.blogger.com/profile/01780582962091700533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467202639598238063.post-84785116908850724792009-05-24T14:54:35.702-05:002009-05-24T14:54:35.702-05:00The connection is a personal one. You're right tha...The connection is a personal one. You're right that simply listing the text isn't all that convincing and you're also right that it's more a reflection of who was involved in writing the preambles. I am thankful that our nation was founded on Jesus and that these government declarations were formed by godly men. I am thankful for the men and women who have went to war and who fight for our country- a country based on Christian principles. Citizens from every state have sacrificed their lives. <br /><br />So it's a two-fold connection: I'm thankful for how our country started and the people who died along the way to keep it going.<br /><br />That doesn't mean that only Christians can be thankful or grateful, I hope that all Americans are. <br /><br />For me, to thank all the soldiers who have died, I want to thank the One who died first so that others could live.<br /><br />Sacrifices, bloodshed, death.<br /><br />We remember them all.miss.calcul8https://www.blogger.com/profile/02014623484245570719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467202639598238063.post-40757492389794508482009-05-24T13:34:42.383-05:002009-05-24T13:34:42.383-05:00I don't see the connection between Memorial Day an...I don't see the connection between Memorial Day and being religious/believing in God. I'm personally not religious (I believe that organized religion has done a lot of good but plenty of atrocities have been committed in its name or on the alleged behalf of God), but that doesn't mean that I don't respect or am not grateful for the sacrifice that countless scores of my fellow citizens made for my rights and my country. I do; I am. <br /><br />Also, simply listing the text of the preambles isn't all that convincing to me that a belief in God is a requirement for citizenship in our nation. I'd argue that it's more a reflection of who was involved in WRITING the preambles and their belief systems, which would generally have been white men of means. So, sure, they believed in God. Many people believe in God (I do myself). Doesn't mean everyone does or that said condition should be foisted on those who disagree, nor should they be made to feel less American or less human because their beliefs disagree from those of the status quo. The ACLU and the courts protect everyone, not just the majority. I believe that's an important thing to do, even when I disagree with a cause they have taken up. <br /><br />I hope this doesn't come across as rude, because I don't intend it that way; I simply wanted to respond to your post with my own perspective.teachin'https://www.blogger.com/profile/01780582962091700533noreply@blogger.com