All-purpose news and politics thread: Two Steps Beyond!

[Tendrin]

If you're comfortable with the same rhetorical tactic being used against environmentalists.

When was the last time enviromentlists killed anyone? The Unabomber doesn't count. :P Serious question!

If you're saying one group is like another, the general implication is that they have similar tendencies to similar degrees.

Parallels exist between the group. Both have similar goals, both want to stone gays and reinstitute biblical punishments, and have said so loudly. Very loudly.

That nuance might be lost given that the best-known thing about the Taliban is the atrocities.

Atrocities driven by what everyone knows is extremist religious fundamentalism. I don't think the nuance is as lost as you might think.

In the Post piece about his comments, Walker thought Obama's religion wasn't an important issue for Americans.

Yes, if he'd answered with that alone, instead of 'I don't know whether Obama loves his country' and 'I don't know whether or not Obama is a Christian', you might've had a point here. As it is, Walker's answers were very politically revealing.

[CSTowle]

I think Obama's a Christian the same way most Christians I know are Christian. You ask them if they believe in a god and/or heaven, they say yes. You ask them if they believe in angels, demons, and the devil you start to lose a few. You ask them about specific events in the bible (the ark, Jonah and the fish, angels sticking swords into infants, etc.) you lose some more. You bring up specific passages about things like slavery being justified, women being property, not eating shellfish, etc. you lose a lot more until you're down to a really hardcore, extremist few. I don't know any of them personally, but I see them on my TV and internet machine and I'm glad my President seems to be more in that first category.

The "go along to get along" category I call them, believing because if you don't examine the lie much it's a pretty nice one. Everlasting spiritual life, getting to see dead relatives, the good are rewarded and the bad punished, there's a reason for everything that happens (even horrible things) because it's "god's plan", etc., etc. I'm the same way with sports teams, I grew up in New England so I'm a Boston area sports fan. Never thought about it, just grew up with it and here I am rooting for the Patriots (that's fun), the Celtics (not as much at the moment), and the Red Sox (mixed bag).

[Mikekerr3]

Aren't there states in this country where atheist are legally barred from holding office?

There are states with laws like that, just as there are states with blasphemy laws, niether set of laws had bee enforceable for over a centrality and remain as fossils in state codes,

[Tendrin]

There are states with laws like that, just as there are states with blasphemy laws, niether set of laws had bee enforceable for over a centrality and remain as fossils in state codes,

Arkansas, Article 19, Section 1:
No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court.

Maryland, Article 37:
That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.

Mississippi, Article 14, Section 265:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state.

North Carolina, Article 6, Section 8
The following persons shall be disqualified for office: Any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

South Carolina, Article 17, Section 4:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.

Tennessee, Article 9, Section 2:
No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.

Texas, Article 1, Section 4:
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

That said, according to the article I got those from, there have been attempts to enforce these laws in the rare event of an actual atheist running.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article...C-bar-atheists

[Mikekerr3]

Arkansas, Article 19, Section 1:
No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court.

Maryland, Article 37:
That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.

Mississippi, Article 14, Section 265:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state.

North Carolina, Article 6, Section 8
The following persons shall be disqualified for office: Any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

South Carolina, Article 17, Section 4:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.

Tennessee, Article 9, Section 2:
No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.

Texas, Article 1, Section 4:
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

That said, according to the article I got those from, there have been attempts to enforce these laws in the rare event of an actual atheist running.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article...C-bar-atheists

Attempts that have never made it past the initial hearing for the lowest level judge, The laws still being on the books is meaningless. As meaningless a city ordinances banning corsets?

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/alabama

[ExcelsiorPrime]

Not to mention that Obama often drew heavily on Christian mythology in his speeches after national tragedies.

I think Obama's a Christian the same way most Christians I know are Christian. You ask them if they believe in a god and/or heaven, they say yes. You ask them if they believe in angels, demons, and the devil you start to lose a few. You ask them about specific events in the bible (the ark, Jonah and the fish, angels sticking swords into infants, etc.) you lose some more. You bring up specific passages about things like slavery being justified, women being property, not eating shellfish, etc. you lose a lot more until you're down to a really hardcore, extremist few. I don't know any of them personally, but I see them on my TV and internet machine and I'm glad my President seems to be more in that first category.

The "go along to get along" category I call them, believing because if you don't examine the lie much it's a pretty nice one. Everlasting spiritual life, getting to see dead relatives, the good are rewarded and the bad punished, there's a reason for everything that happens (even horrible things) because it's "god's plan", etc., etc. I'm the same way with sports teams, I grew up in New England so I'm a Boston area sports fan. Never thought about it, just grew up with it and here I am rooting for the Patriots (that's fun), the Celtics (not as much at the moment), and the Red Sox (mixed bag).

Sigh. Christian Bashing..


All I have to say is render onto Caesar what is his.

[Tendrin]

Attempts that have never made it past the initial hearing for the lowest level judge, The laws still being on the books is meaningless. As meaningless a city ordinances banning corsets?

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/alabama

I wouldn't say /meaningless/, as it's still a discriminatory law. Unenforced or not, it still gives cover to people who believe atheists don't deserve citizenship and more.

[Jeff Brady]

Sigh. Christian Bashing..

Nothing you quoted bashes Christians.

[Tendrin]

Nothing you quoted bashes Christians.

The "go along to get along" category I call them, believing because if you don't examine the lie much it's a pretty nice one.

That one line is the 'meanest' it gets, and it's pretty frigging mild as 'Christian bashing' goes.

[ExcelsiorPrime]

Nothing you quoted bashes Christians.

Calling a person's faith preference a Myth and a Lie isnt a bash?

Okay. Whatever you say.

[Shawn Hopkins]

Calling a person's faith preference a Myth and a Lie isnt a bash?

Okay. Whatever you say.

No, it's not. The way you're defining it, the only way it wouldn't be bashing is to agree that Christian doctrine is absolute truth.

[ExcelsiorPrime]

No, it's not. The way you're defining it, the only way it wouldn't be bashing is to agree that Christian doctrine is absolute truth.

To that Individual...sure.

To a Buddhist is his or her faith a lie?
A Muslim?
an Atheist?

[Jeff Brady]

Calling a person's faith preference a Myth and a Lie isnt a bash?

Okay. Whatever you say.

Correct. I'm glad we could reach an agreement so quickly. Do you refer to Greco-Roman, Norse, Aztec, Yoruba, etc., stories as myths or "faith preferences"? Do you believe that they are as equally factual as Christianity?

[ExcelsiorPrime]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/0...is-a-Christian


The underlying racism in Gov. Scott Walker questioning whether or not President Obama is a Christian





“Dear God, thank you for pursuing me. I’ll let your grace overtake me. I accept your rest in my life.”

[PwrdOn]

i'm sorry what? how does that stop someone from being christian or religious?

I'm a little biased because I despite Christianity, and wanted to imagine the President in a way that would make me respect him more.