Christian Rights

[GulfBreezer]

Samuel Thompson wrote:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for
singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.
I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles.

And we are in the Bible Belt. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim
prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome...

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer. Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One o r two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our
courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well........ ..just sue me. The silent majority has been silent too long.. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want.. it is time the majority rules!

It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray.. you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right.. but by golly you are no longer going to take our rights away ..

We are fighting back.. and we WILL WIN! After all the God you have the right to denounce is on our side! God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him...
God bless America, despite all her faults.. still the greatest nation of
all.....
God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray
and worship God... May 2003 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions. Keep looking up......
In God WE Trust

[southerngale]

Thanks Gulfbreezer...I totally agree!!

[streetsoldier]

Can we all say "AMEN!"? Amen...and amen.

[justjake]

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!

Although I do have to make one point about the original post.

The original quote was NOT life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness, but it was...

Life, Liberty, and Property.

The Government has tried to take that away from us! Let us not just stand around while our kids are told that they came from a rock. We didn't come from a rock, but we are standing firm on the Solid Rock!

[stormraiser]

Amen

[Amanzi]

I will add my AMEN to that!!!

[chadtm80]

Amen!! Great post.. Thanks for sharing

[mf_dolphin]

And the people said...AMEN!!!

[WidreMann]

I won't.

The only truly free society is the secular society. Sometimes people go over the line in restricting religion in the public sphere, but it really should stay out of there.

[Rainband]

Amen!!! .to the original article not WDMAN

[WidreMann]

Amen!!! .to the original article not WDMAN

Yeah, I know. Everybody wants a religious nation-state, just like NAZI Germany, or Iraq, or Iran, or any of those other countries we abhor.

[rainstorm]

I won't.

The only truly free society is the secular society. Sometimes people go over the line in restricting religion in the public sphere, but it really should stay out of there.

as long as an official state religion is not established, whats the big deal?

[JetMaxx]

Since rededicating my life to Christ, I've began asking a blessing (softly but aloud) when I eat in public....so far, so good; but I figure sooner or later someone will say something offensive.

One of my elderly friends is a longtime church pastor, and he said recently some young tough became livid in a local Golden Corral...just because Rev Cheatham asked grace before a meal (he was with his wife and daughter). The guy approached their table and told them they were "bigoted fascists kooks...cramming their beliefs down his family's throat" (a 30 second prayer at their OWN table??).

I'm sorry, but can't tell a fib...if that ever happens to me, I'll probably lose my religion just long enough to ask the guy outside and teach him a few manners. Yes, I'm a Christian...but am also a "good ole Southern boy". We don't "take kindly" to having our dinner ruined by a smartmouthed punk with no manners and less brains

[justjake]

Just one question for you...

Where does the Constitution of the united States of America give us the freedom FROM religion?

Us Christians will always have the ability to pray to God anywhere or anytime we like. And if it offends you...well, just be offended because it is better to please God than man.

I like you a lot, but please know that neither of us are likely to change our beliefs. That is unless you can do one thing for me...

Tell me ONE reason why I shouldn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead? Just one will do that makes me look at this as more logical than believing that Jesus did come back alive after being dead for 3 days.

[GulfBreezer]

When I originally posted this it was because when I read it, it made me what to stand up and scream "AMEN" too.

WDMAN, the beauty of it all is that you are entitled to your opinion as I am mine. I will not tell you that you can't voice your opinion and I will also not allow anyone to tell me that I can't say grace before I eat a meal that God has provided for me. That is my right.

Perry, AMEN! I would cross that "spiritual line" as well if confronted in that way. I also know that the God I worship will forgive me and allow me to learn. I do try to live a life that pleases God.

JustJake, Amen to your comments to! I will always strive to please God over man in any situation. No, it is not always easy but it is something that I continually try to do.

I know where I am going.......................do you?

[WidreMann]

We don't "take kindly" to having our dinner ruined by a smartmouthed punk with no manners and less brains

You mean a bubble-burster? It's people like me throughout history who have made it possible for you to live in this great country and be able to practice whatever religion you want and be able to have all the freedoms and rights that you take for granted, so that you can turn around and say that you "don't take kindly" to folk like me.

[southerngale]

I wouldn't take kindly either to a smartmouthed punk with no manners who came up to MY table after I said the blessing and said that I was a "bigoted fascist kook...cramming my beliefs down his family's throat" (again, the blessing at MY table)

Somebody like that is in the wrong country! I'll say the blessing at any dinner table I want whenever I want. If it offends anyone, they can leave. Then I'd say a prayer for that lost soul. I don't shout my blessing. I or someone else quietly thanks God for the food we're about to eat and for safe travel, etc. It truly astonishes me to think that could even offend anyone. I can't help but wonder what doesn't offend those same people. I'd be willing to bet plenty.

And I agree...we should please God over man. After all, pleasing man only makes life on earth a little more comfortable. Pleasing God makes eternity a little more comfortable. We're only here a very short time. Think about it.

[WidreMann]

Guys, this is a message board, not a dinner table. Half of my family is the traditional southern type out in the country, and you know what? I haven't had a problem yet.

[fixitmhn]

I too will say AMEN! (even though I am not a Christian). Everyone worships God in their own way. I am not offended by prayers for sports teams, those serving in the military services, or any other reason. When those prayers are taking place, I just say the words that reflect my beliefs. It's no big deal. We should not take "Under God" out of the Pledge of Alegience either! As for the athiests, they can go to the concession stand!

[mf_dolphin]

Amen!!! .to the original article not WDMAN

Yeah, I know. Everybody wants a religious nation-state, just like NAZI Germany, or Iraq, or Iran, or any of those other countries we abhor.

I'm coming late to this discussion but I have to disagree with you here Widreman. To begin with Nazi Germany was far from a religious nation-state as was the old Iraq. Both were more along the lines of the secular state that you refer to as the "The only truly free society is the secular society" The last example that you use, Iran, is marked by it's intolerance and even persecution of other religions. Bad parallels on all three IMO.

In this country ALL people should be free to practice their religion both in public and private. The courts have forgotten what our founding fathers meant when the constitution was written.