If so, why, if not why?  No quickie answers, look up some stuff and try to back up what you think and why you think that way.  My belief:  Yes, just so you know how I feel.
129713
The notion that the United States is a Christian nation is false on numerous levels. Certainly we are heavily influenced Christianity, but to say we are a Christian nation flies in the face of reason.\n\nConsider the following:\n\n1. According to the 1990 US Census, 91.6% of Americans were Christians. By 2000, the percentage had decreased to 85%. \n\n2. Many of the Western Europeans who settled the original thirteen colonies fled their nations of origin to evade religious persecution and state-imposed religions.\n\n3. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, two of our most prominent Founding Fathers, were Deists. Washington and Jefferson were not particularly religious but tended more toward Deism than Christianity.\n\n4. Thomas Paine, whose writings were a powerful catalyst for the American Revolution, vehemently attacked Christianity in one of his works and refused to embrace Christianity, even on his death-bed.\n\n5. God is not mentioned in our Constitution. The Declaration of Independence simply mentions "Nature's God" and a "Creator", neither of which specifically imply a Christian god.\n\n6. Per the Treaty of Tripoli, endorsed by President John Adams and ratified unanimously by the US Senate in 1797: "As the Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..."\n\n7. McCarthy-inspired anti-Communist hysteria motivated Eisenhower to sign Public Law 140 in 1956. Going forward, all US coins and paper money bore the propagandistic slogan "In God We Trust" to reassure Americans that we were better than the godless Communists. The same year, the words "under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance. \n\n8 Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, was vehemently opposed to the concept of state-sponsored religion. The term "seperation of church and state" was first penned by him in a letter the the Danbury Baptists.\n\nA few more Thomas Jefferson quotes on this topic are:\n"No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced in schools inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or denomination." \n\n"The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man." \n\n"I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another." \n\n"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own." \n\n"We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church."\n\nThat being said, I do believe the US was founded on Christian "priciples", (love, tolerence, equality, etc.), but not on the Christian religion.\n\nedit:\nYou quote states "religion, as well as reason", not religion alone. The short answer is yes, our country was founded on Christian "principles", as I said before. It was not founded with Christianity and the official religion, as others have implied.\n\nfor Nelson_DeVon and bocoo_man:\nI challenge you to quote the part of the Declaration of Independence where it talks about Jesus (i.e. Christianity). "Nature's God" and "Creator" are mentioned, but no Jesus. You won't find Him in the Constitution or Bill of Rights either.
304333
Excellent point.  I guess we all want confirmation and support even if it's wrong because we always feel better in a crowd that believes the same as we do.  That's why as good answer-ers we need to be honest in most cases.  Our honesty may hurt at first, but we may really help someone in the long run.  MY OPINION good question!
620735
If you are asking the question, then you have already formed an opinion.\n\nYou have all the information, so what do you think about it.
242402
since you think it, you put yourself down about it and make yourself think its going to happen, then it starts to. otherwise if yu thgouht positive and get yourself going & be more confident, you'd feel and probably look alot better.
229985
I DONT KNOW BUT YOU SHOULD BE HONEST IN YOUR ANSWERS AND SAY WHAT YOU FEEL, BUT DON'T PURPOSELY BE A JERK JUST BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD.
522038
My views ar based on logic and the data that I can find. If I discover new data that contradicts a view I've had, then I change my view. If I find a mistake, then I change my view.\n\nMany do not, and continue to ardently support what they believe in even if all the data show that the belief is wrong. This is the main reason why I feel belief is a dangerous thing to have.\n\nWhen you use belief as a basis for judgement, it doesn't matter if your belief is true or not. It makes it "right". From there, anything goes. For an example, see terrorists and Iraq.\n\nThe key here should be that people should use critical thinking skills to formulate a logical conclusion based on available facts.\n\nBut it's just too easy to use belief and emotion.\n\n~X~
619843
look...\n\nYou're not going to believe this...\n\nBut your response is NORMAL.\n\nYou're segmenting yourself... "logically" so you can place blame, and create a GOOD and BAD side.\n\nSee a professional... they can help.
373218
Yes. Skeptics are often as skeptical of themselves as they are of others. I speak from personal experience. I question everything - literally, EVERYTHING. My own personal thoughts are not exempt from this constant analysis.
174609
Make your own decisions.  If you don't feel like your friend is being honest, take what she says with a grain of salt.  Are other people telling you similar things?  Does what she says make sense?  Does she normally lie to you or mislead you?
662431
are you kidding me? of course you need to let someone know how you feel ESPECIALLY if both know there is no future, AND obviously if there is no future and both know that, then i guess both know what kind of feelings it is, or what kind of feelings missing.
70183
I just wanted to say that I have read your questions and answers to several questions (including my own) and I find you to be very level-headed and well-spoken. I used to practice Christianity and then evolved into feeling differently - a lot of the reasons I did had to do with the way Christians around me looked at issues - it got under my skin. But your views that are influenced by your beliefs are not at all offensive, even to someone who may not believe in the same things as you. I am glad to read what you have to say, as I am more inclined to listen to someone who is rational, if nothing else.
25158
What do you want to do? Because they want you to****. is not a good enough reason. What do you think? Do you think it's a good idea? Make your own decision and stay with it. Don't let anyone else tell you what to do or make you do something you feel is questionable.
376595
You are thinking with your heart and other parts of your body besides your head. Your friends are just looking out. If you are confused there is a reason for it. Sit your friends down and have them tell you why they feel the way they do. They will probably open up your eyes and brain instead of him opening up something else.
396650
I'm like this... so a solution I say may not be relied upon. That said... \n\nLearning to accept life as is... is my aim. Negative, positive, nah... it just is.
53052
i am in a similar situation.  I want to understand what is out there.  how others believe and all of that.  I have been doing alot of reading.  Looking stuff up on the net. Asking people questions.  I am at a point where I want to go to places and see what they do what they go through.  I want to see what they see and try to feel why they do.  I want to know why they believe in what they believe in.  Dont be afraid to search and ask.  You might get slack for it.  Ppl tellin you its not necessary. (i have gotten that.  they say this is the faith theres no need for all this)  It isnt their journey, its yours.  If there is anything in particular you are curious about.  start there.  And as you go your search will guild itself. And most of all listen to your heart.  if your search leads you some where and your heart and soul are ok with it, stick with it.  if your soul or heart says stay clear then listen to it.  Thats what the journeys all about.
512632
Yeah i think i know how U feel because i feel the same way. my husband is a full Rep. but i don't know i do believe in the things you stated , this is what i do i vote on the issues and whatever i believe in that's how i vote.   I 'AM sure glad you asked this question because i was feelings same way.. THANKS
289231
Right now I'd say don't do it. It sounds like you're confused and uncertain. Don't do something you might regret later. Think on this for a time and ask yourself what you believe is right.