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 A CNN iReport essay on raising kids without God draws record-breaking number of comments.
January 18th, 2013
06:32 PM ET
Godless mom strikes a chord with parentsBy Daphne Sashin, CNN Deborah Mitchell remembers the time, when her boys were younger, and another mom asked her about her religious beliefs. Mitchell was raised Catholic but moved away from religion in her early 20s. She told the other mother that she didn’t go to church and didn’t even really believe in God. Then, she says, the recruiting started. “She used to call my house and tell me she was praying for me. She’d leave me messages and leave cards in my mailbox with scripture,” Mitchell says. “I do realize that she meant well, but at the same time, I know my views were seen as wrong. I needed to be ‘saved.’” Mitchell, a mother of two teenagers in Texas who feels “immersed in Christianity,” started a blog about raising her children without religion because she felt frustrated and marginalized. She didn’t want to feel so alone, she says. This week, she gained a whole new audience and the reassurance that she's not alone. Her essay on CNN iReport, “Why I Raise My Children Without God,” drew 650,000 page views, the second highest for an iReport, and the most comments of any submission on the citizen journalism platform. It starts:
Mitchell posted the essay detailing her seven reasons for raising her children without God on CNN iReport because she felt there wasn’t anyone else speaking for women or moms like her. As she sees it, children should learn to do the right things because they will feel better about themselves, not because God is watching. She asks questions like: If there was a good, all-knowing, all-powerful God, why would he allow murders, child abuse and torture? Lots of people disagreed with her. Tons. They flagged her iReport as inappropriate and criticized CNN for linking to her essay on the CNN.com homepage. But there were plenty of others who wrote thoughtful rebuttals, respectfully disagreeing with Mitchell while not foisting their own beliefs on her. Take, for instance, a Methodist dad, who said faith can be hard to nail down, but “not to avail ourselves of the power of something we don't completely understand is silly.” Others said Mitchell presented a simplistic view of religion. “Presentations such as these seem to ignore a substantial percentage of believers - well-educated, compassionate, liberal folk, Christian and non-Christian alike - who, I feel, are able to worship without being blind to the realities of the world, or without lying to their children about their understanding of these complexities,” wrote commenter RMooradian. “I'll be raising my children with God, but I understand those who cannot!” But Mitchell’s essay also struck a chord with hundreds of like-minded parents raising children in a world where lack of belief puts them in the minority, often even in their own family. “Thank you for writing this. I agree with everything you say, but I’m not brave enough to tell everyone I know this is how I feel,” a woman who called herself an “agnostic mommy of two in Alabama” posted in the comments. “Thank you for your bravery and letting me know I’m not alone.” It’s a growing group. One in five Americans is not affiliated with any religion, and that number has grown by 25% in the past five years, according to a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Of that group, 88% said they were not looking for religion, although 68% of the unaffiliated said they believe in God. Brittany Branyon, an American graduate student and substitute teacher living in Germany, was also compelled to express her thanks to Mitchell. Branyon was raised Southern Baptist in Georgia and Alabama. In high school, when she began to question the theory of creation and befriended gay and lesbian students, she says her mother tried to perform an exorcism. “She opened all the windows and doors in the house, brought me to the door, held my shoulders and shook me while screaming, ‘Satan, get out of this child!’, ‘Satan, leave this child alone!’.” After moving away from the South, she and her husband “became more comfortable in our secular ways,” but still take criticism from family members. They are now expecting their first child. “Though we are elated to welcome our child into the world, we can’t help but dread the religious uproar that is to come from our families,” she wrote in an e-mail. Such an uproar is familiar to Carol Phillips, a stay-at-home mother in northern Virginia. When she gave birth to her first child, she said her family was shocked that the baby wasn’t baptized. She said her mother-in-law cried and told her the little girl’s soul would not go to heaven. Then there are the comments from strangers. Last year, Phillips said she and her daughter were at a birthday party when a tornado warning sounded. “We were all in the basement keeping safe. A little girl was saying baby Jesus will keep us safe. My daughter asked who Jesus was. The rest of the time was spent hearing ‘I'll pray for you sweetie, we can take you to church with us if you want,’” Phillips told CNN. Commenting on Mitchell’s iReport, Phillips said, “To live out loud and to speak freely about my beliefs brings many clucking tongues. I would think it’s easier to come out as gay than atheist.” Mitchell said she spent years studying the history of religion and does believe it has “an important place in our community.” She has told her children that she’ll be fine if they decide to join a church when they are older. She ended her essay:
After her post ran on CNN, Mitchell said she was encouraged by the number of people who agreed with her, or who disagreed but wanted to have a respectful discussion. “I’m not saying that everybody should think how I do. I’m saying the people that do should have a place in our society and have acceptance and respect,” she said. “I just want to have children grow up and be able to not be afraid to say ‘I don’t believe that,’ or ‘I’m not part of that.’” soundoff (15,081 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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"All Christians need to be is private."
Not gays. Not minorities. Not atheists. Just Christians.
Can you please let me know when you will start releasing the lions so I can get a head start?
Seems to me that gays, minorities and athiests are as vocal as they are because certain christians wont shut up and stay private.
As soon as the xians quit consigning atheists and other non-xians to h*ll. atheists will stop protesting your foolishness. I have never heard of an atheist threatening anyone with eternal retribution for their beliefs.
The groups you named are vocal out of a reaction to being subjugated by this culture. They are not religions. In American culture Jews are private, Hindus are private, Buddhists are private, Sikhs are private. Religion should be a private matter. Instead, we have Christian fundamentalists trying to insert Christian beliefs into common law. I know this is hard for Christians to understand, but DO YOU GET IT NOW?
Wow there are some scared bible thumpers around here, just read these posts.
I know the sky is blue if someone posted an article about it being yellow i wouldn't care because i know im right. Now
if i wasn't too sure about my belief that the sky was blue i might be insecure enough to post a anti yellow sky rant.
The religious claim the sky is yellow because they are standing on the roof trying to pee in your eyes...
Except.... the sky isn't blue. you may think and argue that the sky is blue, but it is not. Why is it not blue you ask? have you still not been able to see things for how they really are? Are you so weak in your flesh that you cannot see the true colour of the sky? yes, you are. you cannot see the true colour of the sky because of the restraints put on you from birth. yet there are species on this Earth that do see the sky in its true colour. Do some research and see that the sky is not blue, but of colours you cannot even detect. would you have known this without greater scholarly knowledge and understanding? So too is my life as a Christian.
* don't trust anyone who can't spell color correctly. Sneaky Canadians...
This (unintentionally) leads to the epistemological problems that science itself has. Look up Nelson Goodman...
...which doesn't favor either side of this argument, but raises the bar on how rigorous one should be with an argument before feeling comfortable with it. Arguments about God tend to be had on a level equivalent to high school, if that.
Reading excerpts from Goodman, I think I will largely agree with him. Thanks for the Suggestion!
It makes me really sad that people treat the terms "evil" and "Atheist" as though they are synonymous. Why can't we believe something different if we want to?
Hey its a free country also according to religious people as long as you believe what they tell you to.
What a bunch of WHINERS. Religion being shoved down your throat is someone with a gun saying, "Believe or die." Or being forced to live in certain areas away from everyone else. You people have NO concept of persecution. Somebody putting their beliefs on Facebook (where you're FREE to hit "Unfriend") is not "shoving religion down your throat". Gimme a break!
"Religion being shoved down my throat' is creationism getting any time in our school's curriculum. It is children having to attend prayer at a public school. It is politicians having no chance of getting elected if they admit to not believing in a deity. It is irrational religious worldview shaping public policy. It is faith-based organizations receiving public funds for missionary work that is only disguised as social work.
I don't think that's what they mean, but thanks for playing.
To those religious people who firmly believe this godless mom and her children, along with other atheists, will be sent into hell, that's the biggest problem with your religion to me. Such a god, who will punish people based on their beliefs not their action, doesn't deserve any respect. If God is loving and forgiving as you claim, how can he drop good people into hell just because they don't believe in him. What's the difference between this god and a tyrant?
the christian God becomes very petulant if you don't tell him how wonderful he is on a regular basis. it's like dealing with a teenager! what a foundation for a belief system.
he also gets very angry if you don't sing to him and give him money every sunday
What a great wealth of knowledge you two are on God. Please expand so we can soak up your stunning wit!
I'm on the edge between Athiest and Agnostic. i was raised in a christian home, but in my teens began questioning the thigns I was being taught. I personally beleive the ideas of loving thy neighbor, forgiveness, and having good morals are all great, but the church establishment has perverted these ideas that Christ gave to us for their own gain and control of people. I feel the movie Dogma captures my idea best.
Rufus: He(God) still digs humanity, but it bothers Him to see the $h!1 that gets carried out in His name – wars, bigotry, televangelism. But especially the factioning of all the religions. He said humanity took a good idea and, like always, built a belief structure on it.
Bethany: Having beliefs isn't good?
Rufus: I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier...
Matthew,
One can be both:
Atheism = no belief in a god(s)
Agnosticism = no knowledge of a god(s)
In the strictest terms I'm agnostic because I don't think it is impossible for a thing with some god like attributes to have ever existed. However if I tell a christian that I'm an agnostic they will assume I think their god might exist, which it totally wrong. There is too much evidence against any of the popular gods that I don't believe any of them exist. It's just simpler to say I'm an atheist.
Dear atheists,
The Flying Spaghetti Monster has revealed His existence to all. Do you eat pasta? Know that when ever you do, you are consuming the Holy Visage of the Flying Spaghetti Monster! In doing so, you glorify His Name, even without knowing, because you have an internal spirit that drives you toward the Truth of His existence!
I pray that you allow His Noodly Appendage to come into your life - or onto your face, if that's how you like it.
In the Name of the Pasta, the Parmesan, and the Holy Fettucine,
R'Amen.
Way ahead of you. I'm an ordained Pastafarian minister. Finally received my certificate a number of months ago. You should look into it.
The reason why Athiest deny Religion is cause they deny their emotion the attempt o supress Religion as much as they attemtp to supress their own emotions, logic tell them that emotion make them weak the one thing they fear the most...they hate Religions people cause they believe being religious and exposing their feelings or emotion make religious people weakminded....athiest fear the feeling and emotions that make us human....
How many strokes did you suffer while writing this nonsense?
@Virginia
I'm afraid you've confused Atheists with Vulcans.
Live long and prosper.
Jessica – i'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you are an idiot.
Im atheist and i can tell it is for none-of them reasons, even as a kid i thought the idea of men wearing robes and praying to a god was silly, as an adult im ashamed to be a human where adults dress up in costumes and sing and prey to an old man in the sky and hang statues of a dead man on a cross in their houses as a talisman to ward off evil. IT IS RIDICULOUS thats why people are atheist's silly bible thumper
virginia
why do you keep posting lies about your fellow man? I doubt you even know any atheists. I know christians though, they are ubiquitous. Not one of them can give me a logical or reasonable explaination for what they believe, and many are just going along with it to appease another. Atheists know we don't have to appease others with what we believe, and you will find more and more of us out there, that will gain the courage to stand up for their true beliefs.
Christians on the other hand think it is a mandate that they push their religion on everyone else, and will never listen to reason. Very arrogant, and very pompous, very rarely humble.
That was funny Doc
Virginia, your very outlook is the cause of many issues. Most Atheist don't hate their fellow man. I've seen more hate from people who proclaim they are Christian then ever from Atheist. Please go out and look... if you are in a large city.. go somewhere else... you may just learn something by not looking at just your community.
I agree that religion should be left at home or in the church. I'm so tired of people shoving their beliefs down my throat. It's everywhere, especially on Facebook.
Yes at home or in the church – it gets rammed down my throat at work! But have finally got the owner to stop 'lecturing' – at least to me...
GoBlueGirl ... you shouldn't work at Chick-Fil-A then. 🙂
My only hope, as is Mitchell's, is that Atheists may someday be granted the same respect and tolerance as everyone else. I do not desire to debate the existence of God or stop others from worshiping. All I want is to be able to "come out" as an Atheist without being shunned by society, deemed selfish and evil, or discriminated against. Thank you Deborah Mitchell for speaking for those of us who fear expressing our beliefs out of fear of being bullied and ostracized.
atheist were among those that taught religions how to behave,,
Another "class" and I suppose you should get preferences to get into Harvard as well? Why not? Get all you can with your "class."
The problem is that every religion believes they hold the patent on truth, justice and righteousness and have been fighting over trademark infringement for centuries. Now along comes a group that disregards any and all claims of ownership and decided they do not owe any religion anything so finally the religions have something to agree on, that atheists are the wrost kind of people because they refuse to pay and are just pirating already claimed morality and truth.
religion,, "atheist were among those that taught religions how to behave"
You mean atheists were fighting crusades, having religious wars and burning people at the stake before Christians did it?
@stan: I didn't realize that religionists were so bad at reading comprehension.
Lots of people use religion as a shortcut, but lots of religious people are also not comfortable with that. It's a symptom of a bad or lazy thought process, which is something that nonbelievers can be just as subject to. A parent has a responsibility to prepare a child to interact with the surrounding world. That world contains religion. An atheist parent is thus remiss if the teaching of the child doesn't include preparing the child to deal with religion on the terms in which religion is likely to be encountered.
Not knowing who Jesus was/is supposed to be is an example of insufficient parenting. Whether Jesus actually existed or not, most of the world thinks he did, and you can't prove otherwise academically, let alone to a child. The kid should therefore be given a precis of what it is that everyone else believes.
Most of the world? You may want to verify that. Most of America, sure.
Christians and Muslims alone add up.
When I was a child in school.. they taught us that ALL dinosaurs were cold blooded. We know that wasn't true. Why should we teach children that Jesus who may not have existed at all... is the truth?
I find it sad that earlier I posted (what I hoped would be) something that I thought we could all agree on: that people need to stop with all the hate bashing and just "live and let live" in peace. I did single out atheists in my post because, as a Christian, I constantly find my faith under attack by this particular group. Oddly enough, rather than people agreeing that we should all live in peace with one another, I was personally attacked. They seemed concerned more with nitpicking semantics from my post rather than understanding the big message. So this is what we have become? I weep for the future when I realize that we can't even seem to agree to live in peace; that we would rather attack each other in the name of peace rather than live it. Now, I understand that there are trolls out there who like to stir things up because they have nothing better to do, but I many of these posts are too well written for your typical troll. This leads me to believe that I am witnessing a glimpse into the mindset of the general populace. Please don't bother attacking me. I won't bother to read it. People claim that if "x" would just be removed from the world (be it hate, guns, religion, Justin Beiber...it's a joke people, etc) that we would all live in peace. Sadly, these comments here (and on countless other threads across the internet) prove otherwise. Call it Satan, human nature, genetics, whatever, the simple fact seems to remain that we as a species are seriously screwed. I wish all of you the best, and I pray that I am wrong, but my outlook is bleak. To one person in particular, Jessica, I meant no disrespect. I respect you and your beliefs, and I wish you nothing but happiness in life. I did not mean to imply that you are either Christian or Atheist. I simply was attempting to directly confront the main group (Atheists) who seem to be the most concerned with how a Christian chooses to live his/her life (at least from what I've witnessed from these comments).
@so Sad,
"I did single out atheists in my post because, as a Christian, I constantly find my faith under attack by this particular group."
How so?
Your faith can only be "under attack" from one place – your own doubts.
@so Sad,
"I was personally attacked."
The bias in your own statements was pointed out to you. Nowhere were you "personally attacked".
Live and let live is great as long as religion is kept as a personal matter. The problem is it being forced into government, science class rooms and foreign policy. (People in Africa dying of aids because god is against condoms for some strange reason)
The problem is, you think all opinions are the same. An opinion that is informed by belief in ancient mythology will never be valid. NEVER. So start evaluating your beliefs and coming up with proper arguments, or be silent.
The problem with "live and let live" is that most christians really mean "live by my rules and I and my god will agree to let you be alive"
One day soon we will all be kneeling before God, what will you say then ?
kneeling?? how silly.
Scare tactics... The final refuge of the weak-minded.
one day soon the human race will look on your God and Jesus the same way as we look on Zeus and Thor and Ra (and santa claus and the tooth fairy) today. What a giggle!
I can guarantee you one thing – I will never be kneeling before your version of a god.
Well I guess it would be hard to say anything at all when your mouth is full...
By the way, when Adam was created did he have a penis? Just curious since if Eve wasn't created until later I would just wonder what the penis would have been for. It would be like inventing a nut before the bolt...
Why do you subscribe to an ignorant, inhuman, immoral and brutish belief system? This is stone age thinking.
Which one, and how can you be sure? You might have some 'splainin to do...
What kind of petty narcissist wants people to kneel before him?
Look at you kneeling and laugh?
"Can I have a pillow to kneel on?"
I will say:
WHERE WERE YOU?
Where was God when religious ignorance was used to torture "non-believers" and when (in several societies) genocide was carried out under the pitiful excuse of doctrinal superiority?
When in England and Ireland two groups of "Christians" fought violently as a result of Henry II's refusal to accept the Pope as spiritual leader, where was God? he could have settled the matter in a day.
or in Spain, when Christians tortured and murdered Moslems and Jews in the name of Jesus, where was God then?
Or in Persia, when the Arab conquerors slaughtered millions of Persians for refusing to accept the Arab's god, Where was this Allah, or any God for that matter? Millions murdered and 'converted' at the point of a sword, and God ignored this massive injustice?
Where was God when Christian Klu Klux Klan followers would burn the homes and churches of blacks and immagrants (yes, they killed the Irish Catholics too, but no one remembers that!). Where was God?
If there is a God, he either wants us to suffer, or he does not care.
So, if there is a judgement day, I will ask 'God" why he made cruel people so rich, and poor people so powerless. Why did he create disease, bad genes, and all the other maladies that have plagued humanity from the beginning?
If there is a god he is a really bad at his job.
Rebecca,
Allah, Zeus, Quetzalcoatl, Ra, Vishnu
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Well, as an Atheist I accept that I simply cease to exist after my death, except perhaps in the memory of those who know me. But should the improbable occur, and I meet a deity after my death, I would certainly ask why he/she made it impossible for reasonable and rational thinking people to believe.
Theists forget that Atheists do not merely rebel against authority. Atheists gather the available evidence and conclude that there is not enough to justify a belief in a deity.
Hey man ! What's with the long hair and robe?
there are billions of planets, like ours, in just our galaxy.. Imagine now the universe. Though no other life has been found, it sure proves luck and chance, better said as 'chaos'. Proof alone that a god wasn't involved, at least not a perfect one.
so, out of nothingness, came something? Some atoms aligned properly, and BANG... universe... Out of nothingness came life.... Sounds like Genisis... and that has nothing to do with Christianity!!!
@ GMan
How did you you marshal BOTH of your brain cells to produce that comment?
Pourquoi?
The French does a better than the English "why" of pointing out that some real arguments are needed. Chaos and luck don't point in a direction.
On an odds basis, the apparent scarcity of life that has evolved to use EMR should actually be a point in favor of a universe that has some deterministic element in which we are significant. If it's just random we should expect a pretty good chance of someone else out there making noise.
"Chaos and luck don't point in a direction."
You're right. And until the religious loonies stop thinking of themselves as some sort of ultimate purpose of the universe, they will never understand that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYSXBsGOVuc
As others have said, explain Fatima, then if you can explain it without God, feel free to destroy yourself and your kids if you must, CNN has an obvious pro atheist agenda. They put this uneducated woman's opinion piecein the US News section, got TONS of negative comments and a few positive ones, then claimed her piece was well received. What a horrible "news" outlet.
" then if you can explain it without God, feel free to destroy yourself and your kids if you must"
WOW.
already have ,,First, there has never, ever, been a miracle. Fatima.. the sun coming closer and dancing.. Look at the sun yourself and guess what?? The same thing will happen. Then bow down your head and pray (looking away from the sun so your eyes can re-adjust) and the sun returns
If you feel obliged to support a religion that condones slavery, killing of ones own children, genital mutilation of children, and many other immoral practices then that is your right.
Bob buys all his books from the christian book store and watches christian television. Oh what a frightening thing the outside world must be for you Bob.
Fatimah (Arabic: فاطمة , Fāṭimah) is an Arabic female given name, commonly used among Muslims and is especially revered among Shias. The colloquial Arabic pronunciation of the name often omit the unstressed second syllable and render it as Fatma when romanized.
There....Fatimah exlained ;-}
Why would I attempt to explain something I don't believe? If you believe it, then you do the explaining. And, by the way, your explanation must provide proof and sound reasoning. I'll hold my breath. I'll be the blue guy in the corner waiting for your response.
God provided a way. admitting we need His way gets in the way of pride and insatiable pleasure. and self worship.
The why do Christians constantly engage in all three of those things??
God's way – pass.
because there is one human race, and one savior for the sick. christians are redeemed through merch, by faith. not righteousness. we are fallen .
Does judging others from a point of ignorance make you feel superior, Austin? Does lying about strangers make your god love you more? Are ignorance and mendacity the values of a true christian? I'm sorry, Austin. I was raised to value truth and knowledge. I don't have it in me to be a christian.
because sin is in the blood. and the human race is in this together in one truth, one redemption
there is no reason to believe that gods provided anything, simply the fables and myths of primitive men.
austin, inherited sin is an absurd concept. the fact that anyone is willing to believe such nonsense if astounding.
God provided a way
----
What way is that?
tallulah, it is not within you, it is not within me. Paul, who wrote the majority of new testament, killed christians before he was given faith from God. i understand you. I love you too and the best thing for you is to struggle with the truth, but allow God to do what only God can do. ask for faith
I read the entire article. If that article is the best that atheism can throw against Christianity (with red herrings, strawmen, and a lack of logic from beginning to end), that's almost sad. I would pay $$$ to have William Lane Craig, James R. White, and/or Douglas Wilson write a response to this ridiculously simplistic and logic-deprived blog.
Right on!
I kinda doubt this article is the best that atheism has to offer. But whatever makes you feel better.
“Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.” (1 Peter 2:18)
You have to cite popular religious loony sophists, because you lack the skills to offer a rebuttal on your own.
"If that article is the best that atheism can throw against Christianity"
Now THAT'S a straw man.
Why don't you read some Sam Harris. Maybe you could watch some of his "youtube" videos
Obviously, it struck a chord with you or you wouldn't have responded with such misplaced anger... The world is slowly outgrowing religion... Isn't it about time for you to grow up, too??
This woman is speaking for herself, Jared, and explaining her own reasons. You may not be aware of this, but many people actually form their own opinions. You should give it a try.
Your response sounds just CHALKED full of Christ's love! lol.
The author is a mom living in Texas – she doesn't claim to have written critically reviewed books on atheism.
The purpose of the piece was about her sincerity, not that were arguments were well-constructed.
Let’s take a passage beloved by all Christians, John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
If I knew nothing about Christianity, I might read this passage thinking that God’s child saved his supporters from some impending doom. I might even fill in the blanks with a heroic story like that of Zeus sending Hercules to resuce loyal Greeks from the intensions of Hades. Overall, a positive depiction of the biblical God that merits eyeliner advertising on quarterbacks nationwide. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
In context, this passage refers to Jehovah, a god who’s son, Jesus, was born to be sadistically murdered in order to overturn a rule that Jehovah himself created that condemned every man, woman and child to hell because an ancient decenant of humanity was tricked by a snake that (again) Jehovah himself created.
In context, God’s “love” is too little, too late. A more honest passage might read something like this:
For God so needed validation that he sacrifed his one and only son, that whoever worships him shall not be condemned to death.
Wow, if you can't tell the difference between a personal essay and an academic publication you might want to consider...college?
Our Congress opens with prayer... every session! Our innaugeration was filled with prayer, devotion, and recognition of God as supreme.... Wake the F up!
I know, it is a travesty, isn't it?
Seriously! Wake up and smell the science, religion has no place in the 21st century.
Agreed, we need to wake up and get religion out of government.
wow, Gman.. you proved how sad this country can be,, uncivilized at times.. Bet hitler had his masses supporting him too
It is interesting that our government is so corrupt, isn't it, Gman?
Maybe thats why congress is so inept
Such a travesty considering the last 236 years of history in the US. Where did all this Christian stuff come from?
Why do humanists expect Christians to be super-human? It's an unfair and unrealistic expectation. Christians are human, too, after all.
They claim total moral superiority. On only wishes they'd exhibit it.
All Christians need to be is private.
christ can blow me
Additionally, the idea of seperation of Church and State is completely misunderstood. This country was founded on the promise that the government would never tell it's citizens what religion to follow. The term "seperation of church and state" was from a letter written by Jefferson, I believe, that promised that the government would never prohibit a seperation of church and state.
* and your spelling of "separation" is completely misunderstood...
Actually, you find quite a number of passages in the Bible advocating separation of church and state. Even quotes from Jesus.
Basically, if you believe in the Bible, you will find these passages that even though God created this world, Satan is the current ruler of Earth. All governments, even if you try to create a theocracy, are inherently rules by Satan. It's only in the book of Revelations that Jesus changes that all. Until then, trying to make government "more godly" will fail, and should not be attempted.