Is America's Identity as a Largely Protestant Nation Ending?

I understand that if you drink copious amounts of tea that it could cloud the perception.

 

When did the Baptist Board become American? I'm an adminstrator and I didn't know that.

Back to topic. Still don't know why being a 'protestant' nation is something to hold on to.

 

Could you expound on your "protestant" nation statement Mr. Administrator (Living in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania U.S.A). Thank You.

 

You are wrong - google my place name 'Eire' - NOT 'Erie' - There is a difference of several thousand miles

 

That was the title of the thread. BTW - I for one would like to see some type of documentation that this is an American board.

The OP was bemoaning the fact that America might be losing its 'Largely Protestant Nation' status. My question was in an early post, 'Why is that a bad thing?' I still ask the same question.

 

In other words, the Republic of Ireland - completely the other side of the Atlantic.

 

I like Eire. I have fond memories of Killarney. Most friendly people I've met. Plus I had been given free pints of Guinness every night of my stay there. And I had fun hiking the trails above the lake behind Mukross house.

 

Many american's don't want to have the secular socialistic leanings of Europe. For american's faith and economics walk hand in hand.

 

Why does 'secular' equate to 'socialist' in your mind? And please define the latter term.

 

I contend there is no better place to serve God than in a secular land.

If you ever come back look me up.

 

Certainly, in the American Protestant mind set. From the US constitution we hold that God has endowed humanity with freedom. The closest economic situation to meet out this principle is Capitalism as purported by Adam Smith's An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. For an american protestant Socialism is a government system not only limiting liberty but is an effort by man to replace God with Government. Thus secular does relate to socialist in the american protestant mind set.

 

Well, its certainly the place to have a harvest. I would be glad to look you up though I do plan on going to Galway next I vist.

 

I stand corrected

 

Now free Guinness is not a bad deal at all! :smilewinkgrin:

But the results of our economy (where we play American Football) is interlaced to that now infamous Protestant Ethic that we imported from Europe, tank you very much. As in industrial power, America did well defending & protecting Capitalism before the Godless Political Communists & the Greedy Banksters conspired to destroy capitalism & eliminate America's middle class. Wall Street (a little place in Manhattan New York City, NY, U.S.A) has given away Billions of USA Dollars in paying out Performance Bonuses to under performing companies Yes, these Corporate Communists not only voted for billion dollar bailouts for companies that were about to fail due to their own terrible decisions, but then subsequently have done nothing to prevent the ongoing and future theft. By destroying this very tenant of capitalism -- that the losers actually lose so that new ideas, people, companies can become winners -- they have now crippled our economy and kept millions out of work.

So I am a mere independent businessman & most of you are Pastors & Ministers. You tell me has God gone out of the system? Personally I think we in America have operated as a secular & godless system for quite a while.

 

But you still haven't defined socialism. You see, I'm not sure I would class any current European government as 'socialist' because, as I understand the term, in its pure form it means common or state ownership of the means of production, and I don't know of any European government who still does this to any significant extent. Also, I would challenge your assertions that 'Protestant'='capitalist' (I know many evangelicals in the UK who are left-of-centre politically and economically) and that 'capitalist'='free' (in what way can a poor man be said to possess the same freedoms, particularly financial/economic freedoms, as a rich man?).

 

I believe that its defined as advocating "Public ownership" and "cooperative Management" as a means of production and allocation of resources. Public here with the connotation of government controls; cooperative management with the connotation of governement involvement in management decision making, and government allocation of resources rather than business being self administered and true ownership of property. Also I did mention the American Protestant who is not a European Protestant. For the American protestant nationalism and the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are an extention of our faith. Thus God grants humanity liberty. Which includes responsibility. Thus a government which holds companies publically held, participates in the decision making process of entities that should be inherently free to make their own choices, and allocates resources thus reducing private ownership of property and resources inclusive of that property is problematic for americans.

 

Freedom = Liberty, Opportunity, Will, Ability to work, Ability to Risk & Fail or Succeed
Socialism = Government run like health care, welfare reform, Government run Labor .....but thats the will of those who vote it in.
Communism (Marxism etc = Total & Meek Enslavement....in the name of peace. I believe that the people who live under these regimes do so because they asked their politicians for absolute security. And as we know in history, the price for absolute security is absolute slavery.

 

Ding! Ding! Ding! Give that man a cigar!!

Oh wait, this is a Baptist forum - give him a good firm handshake

BTW, there is no such thing as a 'mere businessman' in God's work. Your place of business is your unique mission field that no one else could carry out.

 

I ask again: in what way is a poor man as free as a rich man? Also, the categories stated by TS may not be mutually exclusive. For example, a government-run, taxpayer-funded healthcare system may well result in the poor man being more economically free: if he has a condition requiring medical treatment which prevents him from working and cannot afford to have the condition treated privately, free healthcare will mean that he is able to work.

 

I was hoping for a Guinness!:tongue3: Note Charlie Spurgion is a hero