Group Aims to Bring God Into Politics
Saying that the United States is a Christian nation suffering from a “tyrannical government,” a new Texas-based organization will hold a rally Saturday at a Tyler church to “draw a line in the sand and aggressively and publicly defend those certain unalienable rights endowed by our creator.”
God and Country was formed in response to the protest of a Nativity scene display on an Athens, Texas, courthouse lawn in December. Leaders say that because the nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values, it is completely within their constitutional right to mix religion and government. Also, they argue that Christian pulpits have ...
Comments (13)
Inv. A. Bryant
Must be Perry supporters. He claims to be Christian but his actions speak louder than words.
Carlyn Short
OK...Now my head is going to explode :(
Albert Marten
Tyrannical government? The one you send your elected representatives to so they can govern a nation of 350 million DIVERSE people many of whom are not medieval thinkers. We know what happens when religion and politics are inseparable ( Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, etc). Don't these people have enough to do saving souls for Jesus and caring for the flock? What is it? They don't think God can stick up for Himself? I mean, if Adonai wants the good ol' USA to be a theocracy wouldn't He just influence elections or..or rewrite the Constitution, clearly make the country a Christian theocracy and back date it? Some preacher from Athens, TX thinks so little of God's power that intervention in secular politics is warranted? Either these nominal Christians believe God is able to care of things or they don't really believe in Him at all and just want the notoriety.
BurningFeet
That tyrannical government that is trying to shove the Keystone Pipeline up our kazoos? You know, House and Senate Republicans that suddenly have no use for state's rights? Those tyrants? Yup.
tthomas48
I'm starting to hope they get their wish. If the state/church barrier is broken down it would become possible to outlaw all religion in this country. And I don't doubt that after a couple years of yahoos like this running things that's what the majority of Americans would vote for.
If you don't understand that the church/state wall is to protect the church then maybe you don't deserve its protection.
stlevine
I'm kind of confused about all this "JUDEO-Christian" nonsense. Who are they are trying to fool? Or did I miss out on all of my rabbi's sermons about the nativity? I'd bet that most of these "God and Country" folks would probably try to feel my head for horns.
Don't try to blame your selfish narrow-mindedness on me!
Leon Drozd
A “tyrannical government?”
Are these folks simply jealous of the religious extremists in the Muslim world? How many other government leaders march to the tune of their religious poo-bahs?
Sounds like these religious folks want to be liberated from their current status as Uncle Sam’s protected and golden child and are ready to get some skin in the game. Old timey religion calls for old timey government. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. If religion wants to meddle in government, then it is high time for government get involved in religion as well.
Is there a state interest in regulating religion and those who practice it? Religious organizations and personnel receive government services. They routinely seek to actively and openly influence legislation affecting all of the citizens. They impact American government operations and stability through their evangelical operations the globe. They utilize law enforcement, safety, military, and other governmental services. Are they getting an unfair free ride? Is the American government unlawfully subsidizing the religious sector to the detriment of other taxpaying citizens?
Perhaps the state should establish minimum educational, licensing, and continuing education requirements for persons entering the practice of religion and the business of religion, i.e., churches. Those personnel might be required to pass periodic competency examinations and undergo screenings for physical and psychological health, criminal histories, credit reports, and undergo scrutiny of their moral turpitude. The state auditor should periodically verify the accounts of churches to ensure there is transparency and accountability of funds. Same with the IRS. Preachers should be required to demonstrate proficiency in financial management and all of the topics upon which they advise. The should at least be able to pass a high school civics test!
Of course, like all laws, there will, no doubt, be some robust lobbying for exemptions. Which groups will have the most funds and the most powerful lobbyists? National Council of Catholic Bishops? The Baptists? Mormons? Maybe the churches can start funding the cost of health care for the indigent in America. How about caring for our soldiers and their families and taking over the operation and funding of the VA? Education?
When American soldiers defend America, they defend the Constitution and all of its amendments. Clearly this doesn’t align with the goals of this group.
Ginni Robinson
There is no cure for a persecution complex. If you mix this with a black president and birth control, you have a living, breathing plague.
Tiffany Sparks
Religion in government...how about we start with Sharia law. God is God afterall. Or how about we just incorporate the early Puritan laws. We can start putting disobedient wives in stocks downtown.
WUSRPH
The most important question is:
"Where do they stand on those rights GUARANTEED to all of us in the Constitution and especially to those of us who may not agree with some of their positions?
Will they try to force us to do it there way or recognize that some of us see it differently?"
Unfortunately, I think time will show that they do not believe in leaving the rest of us alone NOR will they honor the separation of church and state.
WUSRPH
I think John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 1st Vice President of the United States, 2nd President of the United States and father of another President and grandfather of a US Secretary of State put it best when he said:
"The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature. . . . [In] the formation of the American governments . . . it will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of heaven. . . . These governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses."
Ruth Walker
The group doesn't really believe in the Constitution, as they say minus the Amendments. Apparently they missed this part:
Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
The Declaration of Independence said nothing about the god of the bible (which was believed to anoint the monarchs). It said rights of all men came from "Nature and Nature's God."
Most people don't know what the bible says anyway: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/says_about/index.htm
Claire Fletcher
WHAT?
"Ginni Robinson: There is no cure for a persecution complex. If you mix this with a black president and birth control, you have a living, breathing plague"