America: A Degenerate Society?

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:21 am

its legal to beat your wife in southern california as long as you have her permission

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:23 am

CodeZTM · Post by **CodeZTM** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:49 am

I blame religious nuts.

America's society is based primarily on the Christian view of life, which results in low tolerance of acceptance and equality. (BTW - Before you start calling me things like a Satanist, you should know I'm a devout Christian, I'm just not blind)

Christian values frown heavily upon premarital sex, and therefore because holding hands and kissing can lead to said act, they are usually frowned upon. Personally, I have no problem with people acting in this way. I wish our country were less business-oriented and closeminded.

Let's look at several key issues proving my point.

Homosexuality/Gay Marrige: Basically, the government says you can be gay (but can't say it out loud in some states and in the military), but you can't get married (exception in some states). The government would never consider this for heterosexual couples, due to the biblical reference to homosexuality and their "sinful ways".

Abortion: While the government does allow this (hallah-freaking-lullah), it is so heavily frowned upon that it is ridiculous and results in many lives being ruined. This is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. People believe abortion is killing young babies, and since the Christian Values prohibit "murder", it is frowned upon.
(Note: I morally believe that abortion is wrong, but I don't think the government should have the power to control our bodies and their natural functions)

______

I digress.

Short Version: America=1st Amendment

MadScientist · Post by **MadScientist** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:29 am

CodeChrono wrote:I blame religious nuts.

America's society is based primarily on the Christian view of life, which results in low tolerance of acceptance and equality. (BTW - Before you start calling me things like a Satanist, you should know I'm a devout Christian, I'm just not blind)

Wow, you are a rare breed my friend. I am a devout Christian too, but share a similar approach. It is not the job of Christians to judge others or impose their religious convictions on others. Christianity should promote tolerance, love, and personal sacrifice to help others.

CodeChrono wrote: Let's look at several key issues proving my point.

Homosexuality/Gay Marrige: Basically, the government says you can be gay (but can't say it out loud in some states and in the military), but you can't get married (exception in some states). The government would never consider this for heterosexual couples, due to the biblical reference to homosexuality and their "sinful ways".

Abortion: While the government does allow this (hallah-freaking-lullah), it is so heavily frowned upon that it is ridiculous and results in many lives being ruined. This is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. People believe abortion is killing young babies, and since the Christian Values prohibit "murder", it is frowned upon.
(Note: I morally believe that abortion is wrong, but I don't think the government should have the power to control our bodies and their natural functions)

______

I digress.

Short Version: America=1st Amendment

I believe Jimmy Carter (who is a very devoted southern Baptist) hits the nail on the head in his book "Our Endangered Values." He makes excellent points regarding our government and the Religious Right's desire to have the government impose religious morality through law. He explains that this is the very thing that is endangering the concepts and rights set forth by our constitution.
The Neo Conservatives manipulate the vote of the Religious Right, by tricking them into voting for them based on mostly irrelevant issues to our future as a nation such as Gay Marriage, Abortion, etc. This allows them to continue to put forth their own agenda, with the backing of the largely mindless religious right voters.

I highly recommend Carter's book. He is highly intelligent and knows where to draw the line in religion and politics, without compromising his faith.

CodeZTM · Post by **CodeZTM** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:58 am

vinylvengeance wrote:
CodeChrono wrote:I blame religious nuts.

America's society is based primarily on the Christian view of life, which results in low tolerance of acceptance and equality. (BTW - Before you start calling me things like a Satanist, you should know I'm a devout Christian, I'm just not blind)

Wow. Glad to find somebody else who feels the same way!

*goes to book store to look for Carter's book*

guy07 · Post by **guy07** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:14 pm

So it's not really a matter of america being dumb ...just being to lazy to change laws that nobody cares about. Yes?

I use to be christian ... but going to church and listening to all that bullshit kinda convinced me it does no good to go to church, if there is a god i'm sure he'd understand. And as for tolerance ... didn't the Christians kill everybody that didn't agree with their relegion in the cursades... as well as kill every free thinking woman during the witch hunts ...then brought slaves from Africa ... *goes on for about a hour*.

Sorry, that was kind of off topic .... in OT?! I won't allow it! lol

YouTube · Post by **Kionon** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:21 pm

Carter is my hero.

I've met a lot of his family here in Atlanta. One of his grandsons gave me an original 1976 Elect Carter button.

MadScientist · Post by **MadScientist** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:32 pm

guy07 wrote:I use to be christian ... but going to church and listening to all that bullshit kinda convinced me it does no good to go to church, if there is a god i'm sure he'd understand. And as for tolerance ... didn't the Christians kill everybody that didn't agree with their relegion in the cursades... as well as kill every free thinking woman during the witch hunts ...then brought slaves from Africa ... *goes on for about a hour*.

Sorry, that was kind of off topic .... in OT?! I won't allow it! lol

People have twisted religion and other ideals throughout history to justify their own actions and achieve their own agendas. Just because certain aspects of Christianity, philosophical ideals, or political ideals have been twisted throughout history to achieve the goals of sick and twisted individuals (or groups of individuals) does not mean that the fundamental purpose and goal proposed in those ideas is wrong. Don't get it wrong, Christianity should promote unconditional love, personal sacrifice, and tolerance. Sadly many Christians do not follow the what the Bible actually teaches, many use it as a means to be "self righteous" and condemning, and many simply use church for the social benefits. In my opinion Christians who are self righteous and condemning are just as bad as the people they put down. If the goal of Christians is to be "Christ-like", than why are so many un-merciful, selfish, proud, and seemingly hypocritical? Jesus (the ultimate example for Christians) was the opposite of all those.

/end mini-sermon

Kionon,
I am a big admirer of the man. I would love to meet him someday.

godix · Post by **godix** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:06 pm

CodeChrono wrote:America's society is based primarily on the Christian view of life, which results in low tolerance of acceptance and equality.

I'm not a christian and am far from being an apologist for christians but I just don't think christianity (as practiced in America) is all that bad on tolerance. In much of the world being the wrong religion or ethnicity will get you killed, often right along with several thousand others like you. In America being the wrong religion or ethnicity means you are looked at funny on a plane or have a noose put on your doorknob. Hell, even ignoring the third world and just comparing to other civilized nations we're still fairly well off. In France a racist gets 20% of the vote for president, defacing jewish tombs seems like a national hobby, wearing symbols of your religion will get you expelled from school, anti-muslim practices are a matter of national policy, and you can and will be arrested for non-violent protest. So yeah, we got work to do in America but we actually aren't all that bad.

Homosexuality/Gay Marrige: Basically, the government says you can be gay (but can't say it out loud in some states and in the military), but you can't get married (exception in some states).

That's the people more than the government. Homosexual marriage was roundly defeated by popular vote almost every time it's been put to a vote. Personally I think it should be legal but one of my inlaws has been in a monogamous homosexual relationship for almost 20 years now without homosexual marriage so I'm not really seeing how it's all that important of an issue.

Abortion: While the government does allow this (hallah-freaking-lullah), it is so heavily frowned upon that it is ridiculous and results in many lives being ruined. This is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. People believe abortion is killing young babies, and since the Christian Values prohibit "murder", it is frowned upon.

Abortion is the only surgical procedure a minor can have without notifying her parents. How much less government interference in abortion do you expect? As a total side note, while I don't agree with the abortion is murder idea I have never heard of anyone who can actually prove it wrong.

inthesto · Post by **inthesto** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:48 pm

The fact that gay marriage is even close to being a hot-button issue shows what a three-ring circus our political sphere is.