As a non-believer, I'd like to understand this trend. Is the Christian Right really massive or are they just barking the loudest.
128866
When people say this country was founded by Christians, they must be talking about the Puritans.  Puritans would consider modern day Christianity heresy.  The pilgrims consisted of three primary groups: people fleeing persecution by the Church of England (Christians by their own definition), criminals fleeing prosecution, and adventures.\n\nFormer Southern Democrats who are now neo-conservatives or Republicans are the same Christians who wanted to keep blacks as slaves and supported the “separate but equal” laws. \n\nWhen I see “In God We Trust” assuming this is referring to a Christian God, I often ask which Christian God they are referring to… Amish, Anabaptism, Assemblies of God, Baptists (both Grace and Fundamentalists), Calvinism, Christadelphians, Christian Identity, Church Universal and Triumphant, Church of Christ, Church of England, Congregationalism, Coptic Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Episcopal Church Ethiopian, IURD, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran Church, Maronites, Mennonites, Nazarene, Methodism, Old Catholic Movement, Pentecostal Church, People's Temple, Pilgrims, Presbyterian Church, Protestant, Puritanism, Quakers, Roman Catholicism, Shakers, Spiritual Baptists, Thomas Christians, Unification Church, Unitarianism, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist...\n\n...since most of these religions claim to be the only correct version of Christianity, which one is our country founded on?\n\nThe self proclaimed Christian right have tried to impose their beliefs on America since America was founded; that’s the reason for the first article of the Bill of Rights.  \n\nThey consist of a small group of radicals who bark loudly.
11228
don't let 'em get you down, boya.  first off, there's Tons more factions than that of the god of the christians OR of that deity's adversary.  there are people out there who do understand that just because it's not of "god" doesn't mean it's of "the devil".
451961
The average Christian is a paradox. I wonder if they have faith in the rapture why are they so frightened by what's going on in the world right now? Many contradictory attitudes combined in one faith.
101347
90% of Americans are Christians,so I would say 3% are probably atheist.However,33% of the world are Christians.That's not even half of the world.You Christians mean to tell me that 67% of the world are going to hell for being raised with the "wrong" religion or not believing in a belief system that has no proof whatsoever?It is insane to believe that.
568535
No offense.. but this reminds me of the reason that people thinks that we are pushy freaks...\n\nI mean... I am a Christian... My father is a pastor... but I know that you are opening a can of worms by putting this question on here... \n\nThere are WAAAYYYY too many Athiest with too much time on their hands that LIVE on yahoo answers... \n\nGuarantee they'll say something stupid about this... i.e.  Have an open mind... or freedom of religion... or... that's your opinion not mine... or if your God's so great than why........... blah blah blah... \n\nGood Luck... \n\nThey will see but not SEE... \nThey will hear but not HEAR...
4249
The Amishization* of America is happening rather fast.  The far right Christian coalition is afraid of science and most other fields of study so they do all that they can to interfer with education except those subjects that fit into their own very narrow biblical precepts. I am a Christian but I also believe in science.  This makes me suspect as far as far right Christians go.  Also being a Democrat is not acceptable since only Republicans can be Christians.  Some people call it the rise of the Anerican Christian-Taliban who are attempting to  take control of our democracy and establish a mind-police over us and put a Christian theocracy in place of our own government.  Men, not elected by the people, but, in their own minds, apponted by God to rule over us.  That is what the king system was supposedly. It is also how most middle east countries are set up. It is the dumbing down of America, by a fanatical few, to take us over and control us.\n(*Amish link below explains who and what the Amish are)
437414
I quite agree with your laissez-faire attitude. i think some athiests have a "bees in their bonnets" and no real respect for others' beliefs. And they form quite a vociferous lobby in the USA at the moment.\n\nBut I think the boot is generally on the other foot. Even fairly secular states like the UK or Denmark are officially Christian, and in the Moslem world, forget it! If you don't pay lip-service to their belief structure you will have quite a few problems.
240218
There IS a cultural war going on between conservative Christians and secularists.  They (the Christian party, mostly Republican) want to put God into everything public!  They do not realize that the Church was given the task of evangelizing the world, NOT the government (State). And they are furious when they do not get their way!
153631
people eagerly gobble up unsound doctrine, as the bible says. just a sign of the times.  count yourself blessed that you know the truth ( i do). because in the end....the only thing left standing will be the truth....and those who live according to it. peace.
610688
It may surprise you to know both that I couldn't agree with you more.\n\nThe link you show is really scarey. There is nothing more dangerous that people who are convinced they are absolutely right and leave no room for other beliefs, especially around faith (which by definition refers to things that cannot be proved). That applies equally to Christains, Muslims Jews ..... and atheists, as history shows. There is nothing that can not be perverted to meet someones hidden agenda.
289807
Jesus was an OK guy.  He believed that we should love one another.  It's the Christians that are really annoying.  Too often they think they have all the answers and it usually goes, "Jesus is the answer!" But what is the question?  Furthermore, when there is no doubt, there is no need for further inquiry, brain atrophies and emotions elicit violent anger when "true beliefs" are confronted by empirical evidence.  Intolerant certainty leads to arrogance, haughtiness, condescension, and self-righteousness.  I do not want to spend eternity with brain dead Christ fans.
314203
I believe it is a religious war. Evangelical Christians, most anyway, are intolerant of other religions.
648612
I'm not a Christian but I think people tend to defend what they passionately believe in. They may be misguided but I don't think it's hysteria. If you'd have mentioned religious gatherings and religious music then I'd have agreed with your collective hysteria theory.
615364
I wouldn't point it to GOP voters as much as the Religious Right who are overwhelmingly GOP. They're trying to win over the people they lost by the simplest tactical means. Problem is, many GOP are smart enough to realize they're being dooped.
74096
I'm not sure that theocracy is quite the right word for where I'm worried we're headed (even though I did use it in my previous post), but there is definitely a significant population of Christian extremists who are trying to errode the separation of church and state.  Look at abortion, gay marriage, censorship of the media, abstinence-only education, etc.  People quote the BIBLE as justification for banning abortion, for banning gay marriage, for restricting content of television and radio programs, for banning books from schools, for teaching kids only abstinence by way of sexual education.  Sure they have the right to practice Christianity, but what about MY right NOT to be Christian?  If citizens want to push for laws that reflect their religious beliefs they have every right to, but when judges and legislators start making decisions that favor the minority of Christian fudimentalists over the general population we're in trouble.  The current adminstration has made numerous attempts to circumvent the constitution and give money to Christian organizations, and that's more than a little troubling.  I don't like how much political power the Christian Church is gaining.  In order to protect our constitutional right to freedom of religion, no religious institution should have a significant influence in politics.\n\nAnd before anyone jumps in about "separation of church and state" not being in the constitution, I realize that these are not the words that appear in the first ammendment.  However, the first ammendment states "congress shall make now law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  That means know giving money to religious establishments (as this is done via the budget which is a law, albeit a short-lived one) and no favoring the beliefs of one religion over another.  If you stop and think about it for two seconds, all congress can actually do is pass laws, and since those laws cannot be about religion, "separation of church and state" is just a more convienent name - the principle is definitely in the constitution.
353295
Dear Rose, I am sure you mean well, but here, no amount of preaching or "screaming" will change anything. This site has fallen into the realm of IM, but more clumsy. The religious bunch preach here all day to whom??? The gay bunch (myself included) puts up with one silly basher who passes itself off as many, and we all put up with the sermons from the religious bunch who tell us daily that we are going to hell. Where they get that idea, I don't have a clue. \ngood luck.
555888
i totally agree with you on this. if Christians are saying anything to atheists, they are just trying to spread their beliefs in hopes of showing others God's love. there's nothing wrong with that. But atheists are taking something that Christian's love...and trying to ruin it!