I do not remember EVER hearing the word "God" on TV

[SoCalDem]

unless we were watching The Bishop Sheen Show or some other overtly religious show. It's really starting to scare me. I know that a Pope's passing is a momentous occasion, but the Schiavogasm of recent days, and all the congressional shenanigans are starting to get to me.

I have NO problem at ALL with people of faith practicing their faith, but there is a PLACE for that.. It's called church/synagogue/temple/mosque, etc. The way religious words are casually tossed around on TV should be worrisome to everyone.

It also bothers me that the taxpayers PAY a pretty hefty "salary" to the chaplain of the congress/senate. I would think that the "honor" of saying the opening prayer :eyes: would be such a kudo, that the DC ministers would be lining up in the hallways to participate. This should be a revolving "post" with all who want to , being able to participate.

It never bothered me to say "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, because when I was a kid, we also had to say the Lord's Prayer in home room too..and we had to recite "Trees", by Joyce Kilmer (my teacher was a distant relative of his).. We did this all by rote, and as a Catholic, I never said the ending of the prayer, because it was not the Catholic version. I guess if I tried that today, I might be arrested:evilgrin:..

Sometimes I think that the ones who have taken power are determined to take us all down this road with them, whether we want to go, or not. No one in congress seems to notice how dangerous this is, and are stumbling over each other to get to the head of the "God Line".

Their religious protestations ring very hollow to me and the fact that they seem to be convincing others, makes me even more frightened. Their veneer-thin religiosity should be convincing to no one , and yet all try to out-God each other.

Even if one does not believe in a complete separation of church and state, it cannot be healthy to impose a singular religious philosophy on a nation with many faiths. That's how we end up with Shi'ite vs Sunni vs Kurd and other permutations.

Aren't we divided enough, yet??

[chelsea0011]

1. Religion is powerful. It divides us and unites us.

It causes us to kill each other and come together at the worst times. Go figure.

[Marnieworld]

2. i agree

It is so annoying when it's presented as if everyone agrees that there is a god. I've read many times that 15% of the population does not believe in a deity at all. Clearly a minority but considering that there are approximately 300 million people in the US that's at least 30 million people. That's the number of people who watches American Idol and the finale of Survivor- both events depicted in the popular culture as "most people" or wildly popular. Then again I believe that statistically African-Americans are 10% of the population. Imagine a world where all pop culture and politics pretended that they didn't exist?

I'm too lazy to provide links today so sorry if you don't believe me.;-)

Edited to add:SoCalDem I never laughed so hard at a signature as I did when I saw your crucified bunny. Thank you!

[wishlist]

7. I wonder how many Americans are closeted atheists/agnostics?

I believe that in many families and communities there is so much stigma attached to being a nonbeliever and so much pressure to conform plus so many social benefits to being 'religious' that only very few unconventional brave souls will stick out their necks and openly admit to being nonbelievers or skeptics. I am close to several 'faithful' active churchgoers who in their true heart of hearts consider their church's teachings to be glorified fairy tales but maintain the pretense because of the social benefits and fear of being ostracized or jeopardizing their careers.

Lately during several evening news broadcasts I have been stunned by the extensive religious references to the point that it seems like the RW and media are cramming it down our throats.

Tim Russert moderated a show recently featuring Joe Leiberman, a Muslim commentator and a Christian. Joe and the Muslim commentator praised Christianity and extolled the virtues and opportunities allowed by our 'Christian-based' democracy. Seemed like an obvious attempt to curry favor and prevent a backlash against non-Christians.

[Ripley]

8. Lots. In fact I really doubt the number they toss around.

You know we're always being told BILLIONS OF PEOPLE believe in God and are worshipers. Just because someone says they are a Christian doesn't mean they are. Look at Smirkass.

I know lots of people who go to church out of guilt, habit, social activity, family pressures, and like you said fear of the stigma.

How can the Christians keep telling us they are being persecuted when they are EVERYWHERE in the media these days - total saturation. Yet, let one agnostic try to run openly for any office in this country.

I'm getting very alarmed by these people. Out of curiosity the other day at the gym I flipped to the 700 club. They were doing a story about the devoutly religious moving to rural/suburban areas from the cities in droves. They interviewed this woman who sounded completely unhinged to me, but they presented her and discussed her case as if she were a typical American housewife. She said the War was coming in her lifetime. The attacks on Christianity were getting violent and she looked at her two sons (under 10) and said they will be the soldiers of God to fight this War. She looked just like any suburban soccer Mom standing outside her McMansion.

:scared:

[SoCalDem]

9. I suspect a lot are hypocrites, but "know the script"

When I was a kid, there were always the most vile "Monday thru Saturday" people at mass...first in line for communion..

Some of the girls were joked about.."on their backs on Friday night..and on their knees on Sunday".:evilgrin:

The "forgiveness factor" can be dangerous. If one feels that "anything goes" as long as you ask forgiveness after the fact, then truly ANYTHING can be done..and with the bunch here IS being done.

I am all for poor people getting aid, but when PUBLIC tax dollars are given to "tax-exempt" entities, it benefits them to the detriment of the public sector. If a church normally used $5K of their donations for feeding and helping the poor...amd all of a sudden the government GIVES them $5K, they are not going to ADD it to their own 5K..they will now use THEIR 5K for preaching, and no extra poor are helped.

The act of diverting funds from public to private/religious also pputs poor people into an even more precarious position. Now they must "beg" from an entity, that by its very nature, is judgemental.

[pscot]

3. The Republicans are playing a dangerous game

by injecting religiousity so deeply into politics. Sectarianism is by its nature divisive; us against them, absolutism pitted against absolutism. Doctrinal differences are by definition unresolvable. If we can't change the terms of the discussion I'm afraid we're headed for a train wreck.

[tx_dem41]

4. I disagree with at least one of your assertions....

"I have NO problem at ALL with people of faith practicing their faith, but there is a PLACE for that.. It's called church/synagogue/temple/mosque, etc. The way religious words are casually tossed around on TV should be worrisome to everyone."

The Constitution does not limit religious speech to a church/synagogue/temple/mosque. It especially does not limit it from TV. In fact, I wouldn't want to live in a society that had these limits.

[fat free goodness]

5. I agree with you.

There is a big difference between talking about what you believe and making others live as you think they should.

[Imperialism Inc.]

6. I too find it worrisome.

The public face of religion is almost always about power and authority. Individuals practicing religion is fine but when people with power and seeking more power start using it, it is almost certainly not for good reasons. Ditto for those who are responsible for shaping the public's thinking (i.e. the media).
Its an appeal to get in line and not pay attention to how you are getting screwed. A tapping in to the culture of complete irrationality (fundies) to get some people power behind what is to come (attempts to privatize social security; judges that oppose Roe v Wade but ,more importantly for the power seekers, will also , curiously, be huge proponents of big business and opponents of civil rights).
If an invisible male humanoid in the sky does really exist I don't see what he has to do with anything. So these people really think they know what he wants? And, why is it that what he wants always seems to coincide with what the believer wanted in the first place?
Very scary times.