Faith
‘Real News From The Blaze’ Panel Debates Civil Religion in America Today
- Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:55am by
Scott Baker
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caligulaboy
Posted on February 1, 2012 at 1:25pmIt’s been studied in child psychology. Children have a general sense of right and wrong, fairness, and morality WITHOUT the introduction of religion. The idea that religion preaches equality and respect for other viewpoints is assinine. Uh…if you don’t believe in the “right god” you’re gonna burn in hell and are a lesser person than I am. Ridiculous argument. Religion is not necessary to create a person that respects other people (what is our common thread…we’re all human beings living the same shared experience), believes in doing the right thing, and respects and enjoys life. Any twisting of the facts another way is ludicrous.
Report Post »Excal
Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:56amThe question raised by this “civil religion” attack is not one of religious morality, which relates to how man governs himself, arising out of faith in a supreme being, but rather it is one of worship, which relates to recognizing accountability to a PARTICULAR superior being.
Ironically enough, the elephant in the room, being ignored by most participants in the American destiny dialog, especially that engendered by Glenn Beck, is the message of the Book of Mormon, and this must be because it constitutes a moral imperative that we cannot brook in the context of our perceived American civil religion.
The Bible doesn’t explicitly refer to America, but not so the Book of Mormon: It is all about America, its inhabitants and their destiny, and the moral imperative of its message is this: “The only salvation remaining for the Gentiles (read “non-Israelites”) is to be identified in the same covenant and to worship at the same altar as Israel.”
The trouble is, and evidently the reason why it is studiously avoided by Glenn Beck, it envisions the end of America as we know it; that is, it envisions a fundamental transformation of the American civil religion, from a religion of a moral, but pluralistic society, gone bad, formerly governed by a religiously neutral body of laws, guaranteeing religious freedom to all, into a kingdom, governed by a religiously committed body of divinely endowed men, guaranteeing peace and safety to all those who are its willing, moral
Report Post »Excal
Posted on February 1, 2012 at 8:00amThe last word was cut off – It should read: “…into a kingdom, governed by a religiously committed body of divinely endowed men, guaranteeing peace and safety to all those who are its willing, moral, subjects.”
Report Post »MarsBarsTru7
Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:04am1) There is no morality when everything is relative.
Report Post »2) There are no absolutes when you do not accept the concept of God.
3) Science is the exploration of “How?” the universe works. “How?” existence is.
4) Religion is the study of “Why?” the universe works. “Why?” existence is.
5) God is the answer that those of Jewish and Christian religions accept to the question “Why?”.
6) The moral values typically practiced by atheists and agnostics in the United States today derive from the values of the far more numerous Christians and Jews living in the United States.
7) There is no reason for atheists or “agnostics” to adopt morality, and they do so simply because of tradition.
8) Morality must be absolute. If morality is relative, then it is simply tradition. What was murder was wrong, what is murder is wrong, and what will be murder will be wrong. Morality never changes. It is absolute.
9) The only way morality can be absolute is by mandate of the deity or deities upon which existence relies.
10) Judeo-Christian beliefs follow an absolute morality based on the idea that God has mandated those morals, and that whatever else may come, God’s absolute moral mandates do not change.
11) The United States was founded on the idea that the Judeo-Christian God is real and that His moral mandates are absolute. His moral mandate advocates free-will.
12) Without the Judeo-Christian moral mandate for free-will from God, there is no reason to believe that liberty is mora
Chet Hempstead
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 4:13am2) There are no absolutes when you do not accept the concept of God.
That’s not true. I don’t believe in God but I absolutely believe that killing people is wrong unless you really don’t like them or you get paid a lot of money to do it.
Report Post »MarsBarsTru7
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:48pmForced secularization is state-mandated atheism. Judeo-Christian values are the only absolute values that establish a foundation on which a peaceful and free society can stand.
Report Post »Fiddlesticks
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:48pmWhile this is cute, these 5 are amateurs. Atheists discuss these kinds of topics at length and in detail with evidence and science to back it up. Unfortunately they probably didn’t have enough time to scratch the surface on these topics.
Do not look to the Bible for morality. Murdering entire towns down to every man, woman and child, incest, slavery, child/animal sacrifice (the list goes on…) all take place within the Bible and if in the name of God are considered OK. Changes to these beliefs did not occur from within the Church but from outside of it.
The recent Priest Molestation scandals that took place within the last 10 years are a perfect example. When the problem was left to the Church, they shuffled the priests around to other locations and kept things secret. It took Law outside of the Church to bring the victims justice and offenders to jail. Not the church.
Morality is an ever changing status of societal norms. It is influenced by many different factors and variables and is not the sole product of any religion. It is greatly influenced by Science which every day reveals more truths about our world and the universe than religion ever has.
Report Post »MarsBarsTru7
Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:25amMorality is absolute or it would not be morality, it would be tradition. An absolute morality does not exist for atheists and that is why atheists are compelled to make the case that morality is relative. Again, relative morality is tradition, not morality. Traditions can change. Morality does not.
For an atheist there is no right and wrong because there is no foundation for it. Atheism rejects “why?“ and focuses only on the ”how” of materialist science. The only reason for cultural norms among atheists is tradition, since there is no purpose to survival outside of hedonism and propagation, and even then there is no true reason to exist for absolute atheists.
A world of atheist humans would not survive because there is no reason for anything for an atheist. The reason humans exist with common culture, common moralities, and with broadly accepted laws is because the majority of humankind acknowledges the question “why?“ and believes that there are answers to ”why?”. Culture, morality, law… They exist because large numbers of people acknowledge that there are absolutes, and that there is a reason for those absolutes. Judeo-Christians believe that answer to be God. Atheists have no answer to “why?“ because atheism is a rejection of the acknowledgement of ”why?”.
And the “discussions” atheists have today are no different than the philosophical discussions of the past. That they (you) think any of this is new is proof of ignorance, not intelligence.
Report Post »North_Star
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 4:55pmI don’t like watching the 5 much. Are any of these kids actually over 21?
I watched this twice and got so dizzy each time from the circling cameras that I can’t watch it….. sorry.
Report Post »ImMormon
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:49pmRight now Mitt Romney will likely be the Republican Nominee. We’ve never had a Mormon president and unfortunately there are a lot of people uncomfortable with that for some reason. The basic moral beliefs of Mormon’s are every bit as conservative, if not more so, than what is now so-called mainstream christianity.
The religious beliefs have not played as big a role on the republican stage, but I have no doubt they will on the national stage against one of the most vicious and vile presidents in our time. This will get ugly. I hope and pray the American people can start to have an educated discussion as this panel did about religion and the moral character of a candidate. I’m so worried that Obama and his minions will twist and turn a grain of truth in nasty outrageous lies. I hope and pray Romney is ready for these attacks, for they will be fierce!
This issue of our time is not in the petty doctrinal differences, but should be rooted in the similar values and morals our country was built up. That is what we should hold dear and never comprimise on.
Report Post »Just in time
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:27pmShow me something better and then we can have a civil discussion about it
Report Post »Lastdaysgirl
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:05pmI don’t know if I would call it a “Civil Religion” as these panelists did. The interview they gave was very well spoken – I applaud them all. The Truth of the matter is that America was started up first by a Pastor, a Bible and Cross! Then followed by people who wanted freedom of Religion! This was Very Important to Them – Unlike she said! Obviously she doesn’t know Early American History! But it is the Truth! God, and their Faith was Essential to What they believed and why they came to America!
As far as right now in our “Biblical time-line” Frankly if God does not punish America, he Must say he is sorry to Sodom and Gomorrah! And GOD doesn’t make mistakes! So as far as Blessing America Right Now? I don’t see it! I see the Judgement of GOD! And if American‘s Don’t Turn their Hearts back to GOD! I believe Obama will be re-elected! And Alan West recent Statement to Obama, Pelosi and Ried and the others – I Agree with him! I am a Christian Conservative Blogger and Writer – about to be published without ever receiving a rejection letter! Thank You GOD!
I am Praying for Rick Santorum to Win! I see him as Honest and Consistent! Exactly what America NEEDS! I was a Herman Cain Supporter and even on his leadership team with Facebook! I was notified Yesterday – Not only on Facebook but, I will be working to be Paid for Rick Santorum here in Arkansas! Glory To GOD! Peace and God Bless! Jane.
Report Post »Free2speakRN
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:25pmThou shalt not lie. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not murder.
Judeo-Christian laws that transcend “”"”“ALL””"”"” Cultures.
There is something to the worldwide truth of this.
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