Say You Want A Christian Nation?: Let's Try This One
Rob Boston printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Mon Mar 02, 2015 at 12:59:19 PM EST
Last week an article began circulating on social media claiming that 57 percent of Republicans in a recent poll said they believe Christianity should be the country's official religion.

I didn't want to believe this at first. I figured it must be an internet poll, or one that relied on a confusing question.

Nope. The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based firm that some describe as Democratic-leaning but that overall has a good reputation. Most of the poll deals with support for potential GOP presidential candidates in 2016; question 17 asked about support for establishing Christianity.

The question asked (of Republicans only) was straightforward: "Would you support or oppose establishing Christianity as the national religion?"

Amazingly, 57 percent said yes. Thirty percent said no, and 13 percent were not sure.

In light of these results, I'd like to make a modest proposal: I suggest that we repeal the First Amendment and make the United Church of Christ (UCC) the nation's official, established religion.

Surely conservatives will have no problem with this. After all, the UCC is a large Christian denomination. It is even has Christ's name in it. In addition, the denomination has long roots in America. It grew out of the Congregational tradition and can trace its history back to the Puritan days. What could be more American than that?

Doctrinally, the United Church of Christ believes in the trinity, the resurrection of Jesus and the sacrament of baptism. These are all mainstream Christian beliefs.

Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. As such, he would be well placed to explain the doctrines of our newly established church to all Americans. President Barack Obama, who is a member of the church, would undoubtedly be pleased to help out. Perhaps he could name Lynn as the head of the established church.

Lynn and Obama could, for example, explain the church's stand on LGBT rights. The UCC, in keeping with Christ's commandments to love all, welcomes "the full participation of LGBT people in the UCC's life and ministry."

They could also explain the church's stands favoring legal abortion, opposition to the death penalty, calls for access to health care for all and its push for aggressive action to combat climate change - stands the church's leadership believes are mandated by its Christian faith. And since these stands are buttressed by the Christian beliefs of our new established church, they should, of course, become the law for all the follow.

Now, I think most readers know that I'm joking. I don't really support repealing the First Amendment or making the UCC our official church. My point is that the "Christian" religion many of the Republicans want to see established probably mimics what is taught at their own churches.

These churches are likely very conservative and take stands that are radically different from the ones espoused by the United Church of Christ. Yet all of these denominations are Christian.

It does not help to argue, as some inevitably will, that the followers of the UCC are not "real" Christians. Indeed, to assert that is deeply offensive. The members of the UCC have a passion for their beliefs that shines through their words and deeds; they are able to support their positions with just as many Bible passages as the fundamentalists who oppose them on every issue.

To say which faction is correct - and there would be many factions because there are dozens, if not hundreds of Christian denominations - would  require a type of theological arbiter - a man or a woman, someone flawed and imperfect, charged with the task of sorting out religious "truth" from "error" or "heresy." All you have to do is pick up any history book to learn how dangerous that can be.

The saddest thing about this survey is that the Republicans polled would undoubtedly call themselves conservatives. Yet they don't seek to conserve, or even respect, the work of genius that is our First Amendment. They would instead blithely toss it aside for the false promises of a government that believes it can enforce morality by imposing an official version of the Christian faith.

They should be careful what they ask for. The "Christian nation" they're so eager  to usher in may end up looking quite different from what they imagine.




Display:
Look at the state-established churches in Europe -  irrelevant to the great majority of the population. Then look at the US "free market" of religion. I'd say that disestablishment saved US religion by making individual denominations and congregations maintain enough popular interest and private donations to stay open. Americans who want an established church should beware - they could be looking at full coffers and empty churches in a very short time, should their dreams of dominion come to pass.

by NancyP on Tue Mar 03, 2015 at 07:54:31 PM EST

Those seeking an established religion in the USA should go back to basics. UCC as the Puritans; American Baptists - and ONLY they - for Rhode Island plus Jews who had synagogues there. Anglicanism (Episcopalians) for Mid Atlantic and South, and Quakers for PA. We could admit Muslims if only because Jefferson championed their views. Nothing else existed then. So...all the liberal denominations grounded in the faiths of yore sure. The upstart Baptists, other Evangelicals, and Pentecostals? Nope. Not original. Not here. So excluded BY THEIR OWN DEMANDS. This is what happens when you actually know your nation's history.

by Churchlady on Sun Mar 08, 2015 at 02:15:09 PM EST

They are conservative about rights, who should have them and how much can they have.

You can guess they are all about freedom for some, the "right" people, and much less for the rest.

Some of them are very envious of the openly theocratic police states in the Muslim world. They want such here. Not just the USA but many, many more.

I just hope we can keep the Republic of Gilead, or whatever they will call it, from ever coming to fruition.

by Nightgaunt on Sun Mar 08, 2015 at 09:28:52 PM EST



WWW Talk To Action


Cognitive Dissonance & Dominionism Denial
There is new research on why people are averse to hearing or learning about the views of ideological opponents. Based on evaluation of five......
By Frederick Clarkson (374 comments)
Will the Air Force Do Anything To Rein In Its Dynamic Duo of Gay-Bashing, Misogynistic Bloggers?
"I always get nervous when I see female pastors/chaplains. Here is why everyone should as well: "First, women are not called to be pastors,......
By Chris Rodda (195 comments)
The Legacy of Big Oil
The media is ablaze with the upcoming publication of David Grann's book, Killers of the Flower Moon. The shocking non fiction account of the......
By wilkyjr (110 comments)
Gimme That Old Time Dominionism Denial
Over the years, I have written a great deal here and in other venues about the explicitly theocratic movement called dominionism -- which has......
By Frederick Clarkson (101 comments)
History Advisor to Members of Congress Completely Twists Jefferson's Words to Support Muslim Ban
Pseudo-historian David Barton, best known for his misquoting of our country's founders to promote the notion that America was founded as a Christian nation,......
By Chris Rodda (113 comments)
"Christian Fighter Pilot" Calls First Lesbian Air Force Academy Commandant a Liar
In a new post on his "Christian Fighter Pilot" blog titled "BGen Kristin Goodwin and the USAFA Honor Code," Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan......
By Chris Rodda (144 comments)
Catholic Right Leader Unapologetic about Call for 'Death to Liberal Professors' -- UPDATED
Today, Donald Trump appointed C-FAM Executive Vice President Lisa Correnti to the US Delegation To UN Commission On Status Of Women. (C-FAM is a......
By Frederick Clarkson (126 comments)
Controlling Information
     Yesterday I listened to Russ Limbaugh.  Rush advised listeners it would be best that they not listen to CNN,MSNBC, ABC, CBS and......
By wilkyjr (118 comments)
Is Bannon Fifth-Columning the Pope?
In December 2016 I wrote about how White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who likes to flash his Catholic credentials when it comes to......
By Frank Cocozzelli (250 comments)
Ross Douthat's Hackery on the Seemingly Incongruous Alliance of Bannon & Burke
Conservative Catholic writer Ross Douthat has dissembled again. This time, in a February 15, 2017 New York Times op-ed titled The Trump Era's Catholic......
By Frank Cocozzelli (64 comments)
`So-Called Patriots' Attack The Rule Of Law
Every so often, right-wing commentator Pat Buchanan lurches out of the far-right fever swamp where he has resided for the past 50 years to......
By Rob Boston (161 comments)
Bad Faith from Focus on the Family
Here is one from the archives, Feb 12, 2011, that serves as a reminder of how deeply disingenuous people can be. Appeals to seek......
By Frederick Clarkson (176 comments)
The Legacy of George Wallace
"One need not accept any of those views to agree that they had appealed to real concerns of real people, not to mindless, unreasoning......
By wilkyjr (70 comments)
Betsy DeVos's Mudsill View of Public Education
My Talk to Action colleague Rachel Tabachnick has been doing yeoman's work in explaining Betsy DeVos's long-term strategy for decimating universal public education. If......
By Frank Cocozzelli (80 comments)
Prince and DeVos Families at Intersection of Radical Free Market Privatizers and Religious Right
This post from 2011 surfaces important information about President-Elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. -- FC Erik Prince, Brother of Betsy......
By Rachel Tabachnick (218 comments)

Respect for Others? or Political Correctness?
The term "political correctness" as used by Conservatives and Republicans has often puzzled me: what exactly do they mean by it? After reading Chip Berlin's piece here-- http://www.talk2action.org/story/2016/7/21/04356/9417 I thought about what he explained......
MTOLincoln (253 comments)
Fear
What I'm feeling now is fear.  I swear that it seems my nightmares are coming true with this new "president".  I'm also frustrated because so many people are not connecting all the dots! I've......
ArchaeoBob (107 comments)
"America - love it or LEAVE!"
I've been hearing that and similar sentiments fairly frequently in the last few days - far FAR more often than ever before.  Hearing about "consequences for burning the flag (actions) from Trump is chilling!......
ArchaeoBob (211 comments)
"Faked!" Meme
Keep your eyes and ears open for a possible move to try to discredit the people openly opposing Trump and the bigots, especially people who have experienced terrorism from the "Right"  (Christian Terrorism is......
ArchaeoBob (165 comments)
More aggressive proselytizing
My wife told me today of an experience she had this last week, where she was proselytized by a McDonald's employee while in the store. ......
ArchaeoBob (163 comments)
See if you recognize names on this list
This comes from the local newspaper, which was conservative before and took a hard right turn after it was sold. Hint: Sarah Palin's name is on it!  (It's also connected to Trump.) ......
ArchaeoBob (169 comments)
Unions: A Labor Day Discussion
This is a revision of an article which I posted on my personal board and also on Dailykos. I had an interesting discussion on a discussion board concerning Unions. I tried to piece it......
Xulon (156 comments)
Extremely obnoxious protesters at WitchsFest NYC: connected to NAR?
In July of this year, some extremely loud, obnoxious Christian-identified protesters showed up at WitchsFest, an annual Pagan street fair here in NYC.  Here's an account of the protest by Pagan writer Heather Greene......
Diane Vera (130 comments)
Capitalism and the Attack on the Imago Dei
I joined this site today, having been linked here by Crooksandliars' Blog Roundup. I thought I'd put up something I put up previously on my Wordpress blog and also at the DailyKos. As will......
Xulon (329 comments)
History of attitudes towards poverty and the churches.
Jesus is said to have stated that "The Poor will always be with you" and some Christians have used that to refuse to try to help the poor, because "they will always be with......
ArchaeoBob (148 comments)
Alternate economy medical treatment
Dogemperor wrote several times about the alternate economy structure that dominionists have built.  Well, it's actually made the news.  Pretty good article, although it doesn't get into how bad people could be (have been)......
ArchaeoBob (90 comments)
Evidence violence is more common than believed
Think I've been making things up about experiencing Christian Terrorism or exaggerating, or that it was an isolated incident?  I suggest you read this article (linked below in body), which is about our great......
ArchaeoBob (214 comments)

More Diaries...




All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Comments, posts, stories, and all other content are owned by the authors. Everything else © 2005 Talk to Action, LLC.