Christian Principles....

[Nerdsrock22]

Or in this case none of the above. Other posters didn't see the need to be as detailed. At least I was on base with my gross generalization. I didn't say "all eastern religions" in my post. And Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all abrahamic religion and all are connected in some way. I think I'm in the clear here.

To say that the three Abrahamic religions are "all the same thing" is incorrect: in practice, in history, and in eschatology.

It's obvious what you wanted to happen here. You throw out bait asking for a Christian to back up the widespread assertion that America was founded on Christian principles, some Christmas/Easter Christian shows up and rants how this is a Christian nation and that we've strayed too far, and then you bust out about how these "Christian principles" are really just innate moralities that were put into practice long before the Ten Commandments were obtained, the Bible was written, or the Constitution was drafted. Everyone is supposed to be in awe of this previously unknown historical tidbit, and happily converts to atheism. Checkpoint for evangelical atheists and Richard Dawkins.

But American isn't and never was a Christian nation. It's all a myth. American was founded by religious dissidents (Massachusetts) and economical opportunists (Virginia). Our government was crafted by 18th century liberal Enlightened thinkers. Along with westward expansion (see Turner's thesis), that's America. That's all it is. Everything you are so passionate against (public prayer, the war against gays, etc.) isn't even Christianity, but rather a corrupted American civil religion reinforced by lazy Americans and opportunistic right wing politicians and talking heads.

If you want to know what Christian principles are, read the "Sermon on the Mount". That passage pretty much sums it up. Anything you see that doesn't mesh with that IS NOT CHRISTIAN. It's really not that complicated.

[Bamboozler]

I don't believe .blank cd's intent is to convert people to aethism. I believe he is playing "devil's advocate." He is forcing you and many others to view the question from a different angle than most are familiar with. His statement on the Abrahamic religions being similar is based in some fact but to say it in absolution would be an extremely false statement. I agree with your view on the founding of America for the most part but the fights you mention about public prayer and gay rights are all being waged by Christian extremeist who believe that their way of thinking is absolute. This is were the people from the other side of the spectrum step in and answer with the same level of crazy. Then everyone is labeled either Party A or Party B and it creates tension because the fact is most people are in the middle on these subjects.

[Nerdsrock22]

I don't believe .blank cd's intent is to convert people to aethism. I believe he is playing "devil's advocate." He is forcing you and many others to view the question from a different angle than most are familiar with. His statement on the Abrahamic religions being similar is based in some fact but to say it in absolution would be an extremely false statement. I agree with your view on the founding of America for the most part but the fights you mention about public prayer and gay rights are all being waged by Christian extremeist who believe that their way of thinking is absolute. This is were the people from the other side of the spectrum step in and answer with the same level of crazy. Then everyone is labeled either Party A or Party B and it creates tension because the fact is most people are in the middle on these subjects.

His intent, if I may, is to point out the fallacy of the Christian nation ethos that has plagued our country for the better part of a century. And I understand that atheists enjoy stirring up trouble and embarrassing Christians that don't spend their entire lives studying the intricacies of the theology of their own faith. These conquests delight them to no end. My issue, is that in a thread titled "Christian Principles", we're being made to assume that all Abrahamic religions are the same, and thus, share the same principles. Either we going to have a dialogue about faith (or lack of) or we're just going to throw shit around until someone gets offended or confused.

[.blank cd]

Now we're getting somewhere!

[RL...]

I dont see the relevance of the determination of which religious foundation this nation was founded. Either way we are here today and things are the way they are.

Talking about this topic doesn't really serve a purpose or get us anywhere. Then again neither does debating about religion so carry on....