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God and Country - 1.27.04
DISCUSS: GOD IN AMERICA


God in America
Religion and the Law
The Politics of God



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"Religion plays a large role in my daily life. I make most of my decisions based on my faith and the teachings of my church."
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Opinions
Total # of Responses: 532 - 2/7/04
50% 9% 3% 9% 30%

We have received feedback on this issue from people all across America. Review the graph to the left for a quick snapshot of the responses received to date, or read the responses below.

Lyle, NC Disagree

... I hate the belief that morality comes from God and ...


January 27,2004

The most moral people I know are ones that do not believe in a personal God. Just like some religous people, Jimmy Carter for one, they are concerned with the lives of others, the enviorment, injustices of society and many, many more real moral issues. I hate the belief that morality comes from God and we that have our doubts are somehow immoral and will burn in hell while another persons can do all sort of "evil" deeds and the last minute can say "I Believe" and will live in eternal bliss. How naive!

Bill, TX Strongly Disagree

... I base my decisions on REASON. ...


January 27,2004

Religion plays no role in my life. I base my decisions on REASON.

Roger, LA Strongly Agree

... Everyone has something they base every move on. ...


January 27,2004

Everyone has something they base every move on. call it what you may. You base it all on something. Self, others, church, school, some teacher, Ect... Shall I be singled out for one or the other????

Reva, NJ Strongly Agree

... God is my ROCK and without him I can do nothing ...


January 27,2004

God is my ROCK and without him I can do nothing. God is the one I consult for answers and He leads and guides my steps in life.
I beleive the founding fathers wanted America to seek God's wisdom in every aspect of its' being.

Diane, OK Strongly Disagree

... all religions should be regarded as equal under th ...


January 27,2004

For those who find help thru their church, fine. For those who don't follow the beliefs of your church and to whom help is denied but through a church, it is the church that would mingle themselves with politics to deny a secular source of help that commits a mortal-sized sin.

You who believe have no business forcing your beliefs upon those who believe differently, and all religions should be regarded as equal under the law; pulpits should not be used for political stump speeches without falling under the same regulations as campaigns outside the church.

It wasn't the anti-business liberal that Jesus threw out of the synagogue and he had plenty of condemnation to level on both the politically-involved Pharisees and Sadducees, so Christians who sully themselves with politics, note ye well.

It was they that Jesus called hypocrites, called them people who have less of a chance of getting to heaven than a camel has a chance of going thru the eye of a needle.

Mildred, IL Strongly Agree

... What happens if someday some atheist walks down th ...


January 27,2004

My faith in God and Jesus Christ as my Savior is the basis of my life. I read the Bible nearly every day and try my best to live by it. I believe that love is the thing God wants us to live by, and that includes people that I disagree with, including homosexuals. We are to love sinners. This country was obviously based on the Christian religion. Look at what has happened to our country since God has been disregarded. What happens if someday some atheist walks down the street, sees a church with a cross on it and says "that offends me." Don't think it can't happen. The writers of the constitution had come from a country that had state religions and that is obviously what they wanted to avoid.

Scott, NC Disagree

... Ever try talking rationally to an evangelical chri ...


January 27,2004

Well here is the thing! What is it we do not like about Islamic Fundamentalists? It is basically their way or the highway, right?
Ever try talking rationally to an evangelical christian? No matter what you say if you do not agree with their point of view about God you are going to hell, right?
The thing that really bugs me about Pastor Bush spouting his religious views is he has taken it to the next level. You guys reading this go to PBS and research Now with Bill Moyers from October 2003. Mr, excuse me, Pastor Bush and his Faith Based friends have taken in 65 BILLION dollars from ALL Americans of all and no faiths and given it back only to groups with any religious affiliation, Christian. In other words The United Way and Salvation Army get money and Christian Groups but no other groups with any religious affiliation other than Christian have recieved any money!
How does Pastor Bush rationalize taking money from Jewish Americans and Muslim Americans and Christian Americans and giving it back to only the group of his particular faith?(Christians)
That is why Christians basically make my skin crawl. The ones I have asked about this see no problem with it. As long as they are the ones getting the dough where is the problem, God is on their side right!
Silly Christians God in my humble opinion is on our side! Who is our, all of us humans all equal in his eyes!
One last thng that bugs me about Christians, when God is mentioned, you can always sense the assumption that God is Christian. Do they not realize how offensive that is to anyone with a different point of view? They always say they are following God's word when the Bible comes up. Hey idiots, it is God's word ACCORDING to Christianity. If it was truly truly God's word then all would be reading and following it. Kind of like we all breathe oxygen! See when something is true there is no debate needed! So why is more than half the worlds population not of that opinion? Is it that we are all that stupid? I do not think so!
Hopefully we can send Pastor Bush back to Texas. We do not need Christian Radicals running our country anymore than Iraq needs Islamaic Fundamentalists running theirs! And that's a fact Jack!

Todd, WI Strongly Agree

... I follow the guidelines for living he gives me in ...


January 27,2004

Many people worry about death. I don't because the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus has won salvation for all that will believe in him. He took up the punishment of all my sins. Because of what he has done, I follow the guidelines for living he gives me in his word. I don't do it to try to gain eternal life. My church doesn't command me to follow these laws. I do it because God has given me life after death.

Sylvia, TX Strongly Agree

... God is not a religion... He is GOD, the Creator! ...


January 27,2004

God is not a religion as most people refer to him as. He is GOD, the Creator! When I was a child, I knew there was someone out there that was an all powerful being. I was about three or four. I hadn't been taught about God, but I some how felt his presence. I just didn't realize it was God. When I learned about God later in life, it all made sense to me. Just as the sun and the stars and the earth that He made are real, God is even more bigger, powerful, and real. I don't understand how some of us can't see this. It's as simple as black and white.

Stephen, LA Strongly Agree

... As a Christian I don't see how anyone could be a ...


January 27,2004

As a Christian I don't see how anyone could be a Democrate.

David, IN Strongly Agree

... Compare the poverty of atheistic Albania with Calv ...


January 27,2004

Knowing God, having his guidance and support is essential to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". All else is emptiness. Compare the poverty of atheistic Albania with Calvin's Switzerland.

Jim, IL Strongly Disagree

... God is Santa Claus for adults ...


January 27,2004

Since I am a card carrying American Atheist formal religion has no place in my life, except that I must constantly defend my rights to not believe and have been doing this all my adult life in this predominantly Christian country. My philosophy in a nut shell is that God is Santa Claus for adults, but if it makes religious folks feel all warm and fuzzy to pray, sing, talk in tongues or whatever; then I have no problem with that. Their religion often makes folks do good things like feed or shelter needy people. However, when religious people become zealots (the first sign of this is when you feel YOUR religion is the best, or the only one,and that you must convince all others of this view); then I lose patience with these people. I also firmly stand against ANY use of state monies, institutions, or symbols to further any religion or religious dogma.
I feel that there are no gods that can help me (or anyone else) nor are here any devils that can harm us. We must deal with the realities we find on our world, with our own wits, resources, and our sense of what is moral, honorable, and fair to the society as a whole.

Iraj, IN Strongly Agree

... one is fool to disregard God's ways ...


January 27,2004

I agree. It is clear that God has something to say concerning life - one is fool to disregard God's ways;

Romans 1:18-2:12; "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, [19] since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. [20] For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
[21] For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
[24] Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. [25] They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
[26] Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. [27] In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
[28] Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. [29] They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; [31] they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. [32] Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
[2:1] You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. [2] Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. [3] So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? [4] Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
[5] But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. [6] God "will give to each person according to what he has done." [7] To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. [8] But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. [9] There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; [10] but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. [11] For God does not show favoritism.
[12] All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law."

William, MI Strongly Agree

... This is the Christian way of life and thought. ...


January 27,2004

This is the Christian way of life and thought.

Marcia, IN Strongly Agree

... Keeping my faith in Biblical admonitions is an act ...


January 27,2004

Keeping my faith in Biblical admonitions is an act of my will and not always what I feel like doing. It is a response to my love of my Lord who said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments" and not to public opinion or pressure.

Cheryl, IA Strongly Agree

... When decisions are made without God, I am not surp ...


January 27,2004

I follow God and His Word, the Bible. When decisions are made without God, I am not surprised how pitifully they turn out. I don't now nor never will believe that I know better than God our creator. If I did, I would be a fool.

Keith, IN Strongly Agree

... a lifetime personal relationship with the Creator ...


January 27,2004

Yes, my faith plays a large role in my daily life. I believe in the Bible and believe that God wrote the Bible by choosing and inspiring specific men to write His word. Religion is not a thing to do or practice in a church building once a week, rather a lifetime personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe through his only son Jesus Christ.

Daniel, PA Strongly Agree

... He is God and Creator and should be obeyed in all ...


January 27,2004

The Christian faith is pivotal to an individual's life. Since Christ died for all so that the world's sins could be forgiven, He has that
right to be a major part of each individual's life. He is God and Creator and should be obeyed in all aspects of life,
including business and politics.

Lucy, FL Strongly Agree

... It's not religion but a personal RELATIONSHIP ...


January 27,2004

"It's not religion but a personal RELATIONSHIP and I my decisions are based on my faith and the teachings on God's Holy Word, the Bible.

Paul, VT Strongly Agree

... My religious beliefs teach me that I am prone to b ...


January 27,2004

Even the decisions that I make that would not be considered in keeping with my religious beliefs are, I believe, ultimately in keeping with those beliefs. Why? My religious beliefs teach me that I am prone to break the laws of God because I, like all men and women, was born with a fallen (sinful) nature. So, the fact alone that I do not, nay cannot, act consistently in accordance to the laws of God, does not by itself imply that God does not rule and reign supremely over each of us, rather, it shows that what God says is true is indeed -- true.

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