Can a secular humanist country (CA, US)co-exist with countries that believe their God is  the only right one?
398974
The US is far from a secular humanist country.  If it were, Bush would not have gotten elected.
304012
Oh, it soo is!\n\nIf the whole 'My God's better than your god' thing wasn't a problem, all we'd have left to fight over; would be land. And at the moment, most of those fighting over land, tend to try and take it from nations of a different religion, maybe that wouldn't happen either.
1096383
I felt bad that no one was responding to you in a positive light, so I did a Yahoo search on it.  I am sending you the link to the Search Results on christian humanism.\n\nYes, when I was a Unitarian-Universalist years ago, I did hear of christian humanism.  Many Humanists may deny that christianity and humanism can be compatible, but to heck with what they think.  :-)  If you and others can juggle the two and combine these two, then more power to you!  :-)
1125617
Technically, your question's answer is zero -- the United States as an entity does not "recognize" nor endorse any religion or religions. That's covered in the first amendment of the Constitution -- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."\n\nAs such, the government is prevented from establishing any licensing requirements, certifications, etc. for religious groups or religion. Pretty much anybody who wants to say "My religion is this" can do so. \n\nThis question may be confused with a different issue -- what happens when a law of the US would conflict with the practice of a certain religion (peyote smoking by Indians, for example). For a decent answer to that question, call a lawyer.
359732
Is there a such thing? I thought we all had human rights without a religious name attached. What would be a christian right? I don't think you are GRANTED a right above other people for being a religious person.
548343
Dear Friend,\n\nThat's a very interesting question.  \n\nPart of the problem is that the peoples of different nations believe many different things.  The religions of one nation condemn the religions of their neighbors.  The way of life in Nation A can be repugnant to everyone in Nation B.  As long as ideas are at war, people will be at war.\n\nIn addition to the culture clash, there's the general sense of people everywhere that political control should be local.  The feeling is that decisions concerning our lives shouldn't be made by people "over there" who don't have the sense of how our day to day life progresses.  \n\nLastly, there's a philosophical shift that we'd have to make between being a citizen of our nation and a citizen of the world.  It's in the works -- witness the EU -- but slowly, and with much resistance.  And that's normal.  Big changes take time.\n\nYour Friend,\nFrancesois
718543
Religious or Secular approach?\n\nThe modern concept of government is either based on the principal of race or nationality or geographical identity.\n\nIn case of USA the only uniting force is man made constitution which is liable to be rejected by a section of masses.\n\nWhen religion is the base it has no fundamental dispute. In terms of psychology religion serves as Primitive Belief which is undisputed and common to all.\n\nI know that Islam permits fullest religious liberty for non-Muslims in the Islamic state. I believe that other religions must also be having this freedom.\n\nIn case of religion and government there is no distinction so no fundamental clash where as in other societies there must be clashes.\n\nGermany is one example of liberty from religion.\n\nSocialist USSR is another example of refusal to religion.\n\nIn some answers Iraq and Iran have been coded. As for Iraq of Saddam is concerned it was not a Islamic state rather a state of Muslim ruler under secular concepts of modern political philosophies.\n\nIsrael is one example of religious govt. but irony is that Jew-ism is based on race.\n\nIf there is no concept of religion in government than constitution will have to be made like religion as it happens in USA.\n\nA beneficial state may be only one which does not distinguish politics and religion, if it is not based on religion.
494820
What is the correct religion? Are they a correct one?
110303
yes it should evry one respect the others religions...bcs all the religions came from ONE GOD
125321
Our country was founded by men or different beliefs mostly Christian, who kept slaves and allowed no one to vote except for white male landowners.  Their ideas of freedom came mostly from Scottish and English philosophers some of whom were explicitly athiestic and none of whom based their philosophy on Biblical precepts.\n\nSo no.\n\nJust wondering why you had to ask this twice.
699282
Great point! In fact, if America is such a God-Loving country, which I believe it is, why not say "God bless the world" considering the world is the most un-Godly place of all, not America. I think you just changed the way Im going to speak for now on, thanks!
1135762
I am in the right country. This country was founded on the principle of "all men are created equal", not Christian domination. I do agree that "PC" has gone too far. There is no law against wishing someone "Merry Christmas", it's companies that force the issue for fear of offending non-Christians.\n\nI agree with you on the "English as the National Language" point, but the government needs to step up to the plate on this issue, or it'll never happen.\n\nOn to the God issue:\nI am a Christian. I carry Christ's teachings with me in my daily life. I don't need it printed on my money, which, I feel, is an object of lust, therefore sacreligious. America is a "melting pot". Equal right for all regardless of religion, race or sex.\n\nThomas 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\nThomas 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\nGod 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\nPer the Treaty of Tripoli, endorsed by President John Adams and ratified unanimously by the US Senate in 1797: "the Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..."\n\nThis is the America I love, one where everyone is free to worship as they please without State interference. That is what the First Amendment to the Constitution is all about.\n\nOne last issue: the pledge. The Pledge of Allegience, as it was written in 1892, was "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty, equality and justice for all." "Equality" was removed and "under God" added. Coincidence?
996109
Atheism has doubled in popularity in America in the last few decades. And statistics clearly show that more fundamentalist countries don't do as well. With any luck, this recent trend will continue and human beings will be free from their need for religion.
412806
I don't believe in Atheism but I do believe that people should be free to believe what ever they want.\n\nI think that organized religion at its most basic level does serve a good purpose.  It allows people to worship God and congregate with people of similar beliefs.  However, it does terrible damage when those same followers go out into the world and try to force their beliefs upon other people, especially children.\n\nMorality is not exclusive to religion but it can be exclusive to environment.  Different cultures experience and believe in different moral standards.  In some places of the world it is okay to beat children and spouses, cheat on your husband/wife, etc.  Obviously different cultures believe different things.\n\nI don't think that the world would be better if we got rid of all of the religions.  I think the world would be better if all of the religions respected each other and acted peacefully.  Peace and love is what this world needs no matter if it comes in the form of religion or directly from an Atheist's heart.
441360
everyone believes they are right, and also feel that others should believe the same. the problem isn't that there is no tolerance. Take Christianity for example, if you believe and I don't, you go to heaven and I go to hell. on the other hand, for fundamentalist denominations of Islam (some of them) feel that if you believe and I don't, then I will go to hell, but YOU will go to hell if you don't convert me. so that certain aspect doesn't help things....
1169477
Good question...In God we trust is on all of our coins, One nation under God is in our pledge of allegiance, it was obviously our founding fathers intentions to have this nation be God oriented.  We do allow for religious freedom here, which I am grateful for, it is what makes America what it is, and since our nation was founded on God, those who can not deal with His name being used should find somewhere they are more comfortable, or learn to be tolerant. We don't stop other religions from practicing their faiths, or those who choose to not practice or not believe, but why should we have to assimilate to those who don't share the values on which this country was founded.
204811
I think you are speaking of the Catholic Church.  There are many denominations (such as mine - Baptist) that believe that there are only 2 levels - God, and us.