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No Longer a Protestant Nation

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Nevada, Sep 8, 2012.

  1. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    I found this online editorial today, talking of the end of the USA as a Protestant nation.

    I'm OK with diversity, but I feel some of the fears of earlier generations were not unfounded. Since Indiana went to a voucher system, enrollment in Catholic schools is up 70%, with taxpayers footing the bill. In the House of Representatives, the Chaplain was a Catholic priest for 11 years, and when he retired in 2010, Nancy Pelosi and Boehner replaced him with a Catholic priest. (Despite James Madison's having written that tax money shouldn't be used on a chaplain.) Pelosi and Boehner are . . Catholic.

    I know of John Courtney Murray and other Catholics in tune with American values, so I don't want to bash Catholicism. I'm against any faith currying for political favor. It's just that I worry a bit that the nation is changing so much.

    In Texas, many charter schools are owned by a Turkish based company. Religion has been found being taught in some. The religion? Islam. OK, Jefferson said let's welcome Islam. But, he didn't want taxpayers paying for its teaching. I'm sure Texans aren't thrilled with the idea, either, though footing the bill they were.

    Wow. The world is a changing.

    http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/08/opinion/obeidallah-white-protestants/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
     
  2. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    Congressman Keith Ellison is a Muslim. There may be others.

    NASA has been changed to be an outreach to Islam.

    The ACLU has brought many lawsuits against Christianity and won.

    Most of our Great Universities started out founded by Christians of different Protestant Denominations but today are just cariacatures of their founding principles.

    Kind of like our Nation.

    This Country has already changed into something I hardly recognize.
     
  3. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Islam is to be feared. Much like the Roman Catholic Church of the Dark Ages Islam is a political movement as well as a religious movement. Submission and world domination is their goal. Submission or death is their means!
     
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    But aren't the parents of the kids in Catholic (and Christian) schools also taxpayers?

    I think most would a agree kids attending parochial schools get a better education.
     
  5. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    For us to ever have been a Protestant nation, one must count Baptists in with them. Since we did not come out of the RCC, that is a very debatable issue.
     
  6. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    The Catholics run some of the best schools in the country. I don't remember ever arresting a kid from a Catholic high school.
     
  7. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    Eh, There is but an element of truth to your words. I think we have to be careful about allowing immigrants into the USA, just as we did with Germans and Japanese during WWII. Democracy is not a suicide pact.

    However, too many Muslims the world over have proven Islam is not bad to the bone. Boxer Muhammad Ali. My friend from NYC. He was born up there, and is a citizen. He speaks like a New Yoorker. He is a Muslim, and a teacher in a college, here. He's not a radical at all. Then, there is the nation of Turkey, which is secular.

    Looking at the history of Christianity, one can find parallels to Islamic intolerance. Salem. The 30 years War. Burning humans alive. German antisemitism.

    True, there are differences. An Arab in America was waiting on a bus with me the other day. He explained how Israel may never be able to rest because of the Islamic concept of martyrs going to heaven. I know that their holy book condones marrying cousins, which is a recipe for genetic disaster.

    Still, I remember Thomas Jefferson's autobiography, in which he wrote of how he and the VA legislature unanimously replaced "Jesus Christ" with "creator" in the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, so as to welcome infidels, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims.

    I have hope.
     
  8. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    Ah, probably true, Billwald, but what of Thomas Jefferson's words that no man should be forced to support a religion he disagrees with?
     
  9. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    I don't use the interstate highway system, but my taxes support it. I'm OK with that.

    Likewise, support for public education is not optional. Not if we are to remain a democracy. Once we go down the path of every cult opening a school and taking in tax dollars in the form of vouchers, we can kiss religious freedom goodbye. Even patriotism will wane, as brainwashed children will swear allegiance to whatever leader the faith has. Pope. Guru. Etc.
     
  10. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    Just this year:

    Re: Thomas Jefferson - he also wrote:

    Read more: Family Security Matters http://www.familysecuritymatters.or...has-always-been-part-of-america#ixzz26UHUpfZl
     
  11. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Just because kids get enrolled in Catholic school does not mean they are Catholic.
     
  12. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    In what way are taxpayers footing the bill?

    The parents pay real estate taxes which go to help finance the public school education. To give them a voucher system is the fair way it should be so that their real estate taxes go to provide a quality education instead of double dipping. In Tennessee, my 2 grandchildren go to private school, but we have no voucher system. So the parents pay real estate taxes for the poor quality public schools and then pay again for tuition for the private school, double dipping.

    Of course, there are many students attending public schools who don't pay real estate taxes at all but receive the benefit of a "free education" in which taxpayers are footing the bill.

    Plus, I don't believe elderly people (over age 65) should have to pay any real estate tax - they no longer have children in the school system, but that is a topic for another day.
     
  13. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    I think religious freedom will die if we go to a European style socialization of religion. Socialized religion, no different from France's government buying a bank. Preachers will be required to spend more and more time politicking. To insure they get a portion of the pie. Look at how The US House of Representatives has had nothing but Roman Catholic chaplains for going on 12 years.

    James Madison had it right when he wrote to a friend:

    http://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_number-the_industry-and_the_morality_of_the/173987.html
     
  14. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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  15. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    Everyone, to steer this thread back a wee bit on course, let me remark:

    What will Post Protestant America look like? The Census Bureau forecasts 100 million new Americans by 2050. Many of them will not like our religion, and many of us will not like their religion. It could be a mess. Or, it could strengthen religious freedom.


    Any optimists here? Pessimists?
     
    #15 Nevada, Sep 15, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 15, 2012
  16. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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  17. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    I do think we should have a rational immigration policy. Until the Islamic world enters the modern world, we should no more allow in millions of them than we would have let Germans or Japanese in during WW Two. Which is why I support a group called FAIR.

    Look at how Australia has had its Muslims protesting over that dumb video.

    If one doesn't understand that blasphemy laws and free speech are incompatible, one isn't ready to be in the USA.
     
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