To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a nation ruled by God. There have been Theocracies, but they have invariably been nations ruled by people, purporting to be acting in God’s behalf, and, more often than not, lining their own pockets in the process. Fortunately, our nation’s founders had the wisdom to foresee that we could not maintain our freedom if ruled by Theocons, and they guaranteed against the establishment of a state religion in the 1st Amendment. Republican supply-side pseudo-Christians reject that wisdom, and would impose their beliefs on everyone.
Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) is a gigantic ass. There, I just saved you a few paragraphs of reading. But if you care to know more, here it is:
On the Fourth of July, many lawmakers set aside partisan disagreements in favor of sweeping tributes to American freedom. But not Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), who couldn’t keep his abhorrence of Americans who disagree with his political views out of his invocation at a barbecue hosted by the Cobb County GOP. […]
U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens), who delivered the invocation, warned about the future of the U.S.
"We’re standing on the precipice, staring down in the deep chasm of socialism and total government control," Broun said. […]
There are those who wish to destroy the U.S., Broun said, citing radical Islam and "progressives."
"Father, there are many who want to destroy us from outside this nation," Broun said. "Folks like al-Qaeda and the radical Islamists. But there are folks that want to destroy us from inside, the progressives and the socialists, who want to make this nation a nation that’s no longer under you, under God, but a nation that’s ruled by man."
I think spending the 4th of July at a GOP-sponsored barbeque while offering a prayer to God against progressive Americans who are like al-Qaeda is quote possibly the most awesome God-fearing and flag-waving thing I can think of. The only thing it lacks is that Rep. Broun should have been wearing a giant red-white-and-blue painted crucifix, and he should have been riding in a pickup truck that was jumping a pit full of flamethrower-wielding lions, and the pickup truck should have a picture painted on the tailgate of Jesus and Ronald Reagan high-fiving each other… [emphasis original]
Inserted from <Daily Kos>
Don’t get me wrong here. I consider myself a man of faith, and hope you will honor that, as I honor your faith, whatever it may be. What I will not honor is any attempt to impose faith of any kind, any attempt to control others, racism and bigotry under the guise of faith, any attempt to seek personal gain under the guise of faith, and any attempt to legislate piety codes.
If we allow religion to interfere with government, it guarantees something even worse. Government will interfere in religion.
24 Responses to “A Nation Ruled by God?”
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They always say “God” when what they mean is we need a nation ruled by rich white men.
Too true, Blue.
I’m sorry Christians, but I don’t see HOW to justify Capitalistic Greed in your Nation ruled by God???? Jesus threw the money lenders out of the Temple…you may insist our separation of Church & State solves the problem…it doesn’t. In the time of Jesus, the Temple was also the Court House, so to speak, religious rule was the rule of the day…therefore, Jesus threw out the greedmongers that were harming the economy of the village. It is time for all you right-wing, GOP Christians to learn a little bit about the HISTORY of your Faith…Christianity certainly is NOT the Faith of the politicians…they ARE the false prophets about which the Bible warns…Jesus was a Socialist, he cared about society & people (socialist)…the Politicians make you BELIEVE socialism is a negative (BIG LIE) and the Politicians make you BELIEVE that the rich need MORE (BIGGER LIE). DISCOURAGE GREED & ENCOURAGE CARE FOR YOUR BRETHREN!
AMEN!!!!
Welcome Jmp! 🙂
Zada, Christians try to justify nothing like that at all. It is Republican supply-side pseudo-Christians who do. Such views are anti-Christian.
TomCat,
I’m with you, and Blue, all the way on this! Broun is an IDIOT!
And to update his Wack-A-Doodle credentials, Broun today proposed that we should actually LOWER the debt ceiling, thus making our nation’s default retroactive to last year some time.
(The man is in a never-ending quest to add new dimensions to the word IDIOT – and clearly succeeding!)
Shouldn’t we make it retroactive to two years ago so it’s Bush’s fault? 😉
Yes he is!
Blue, Zada, Tom; I agree with all of you, and I have to say that after a 55 year career as a church organist-choir director, I have absolutely no use for the church. I can no longer subscribe to their teachings, doctrines or intolerance and have turned to Buddhism for whatever “spiritual nourishment” I need.
Charles, as a Christian, I honor your Buddhism. I believe God honors all authentic faith, including faith in atheism.
I can only hope and pray that someday we may be a nation ruled by people again instead of corporate whores.
Well hoped, Patty.
I too sought after Buddhism, but still find myself unable to direct my attention to the esoterica of humanity!
Religion has the stench of vomit (sorry guys who worship their mythical gods and monsters – I Hate it!! Sorry – can’t abide it! Mythology is evil!!! I’m with Maher on that subject – all religions are equally detestable and abhorrent – (so ask me how I feel about religion! 😆 ) – I did read the bible 4 times through to know what I was so opposed to – and Zada has at least the part about the temple biz correct – jews and christians alike seem to be totally ignorant when it comes to acting according to their faith – but then – I’ve found the most “faithful” to be those of us who are devout atheists!
As for Broun – just another!
Lee, may I respectfully suggest that for an atheist to be intolerant of authentic faith is no different than pseudo-Christian intolerance.
Lee, I accept that you have read the Bible through some 4 times so you could find what it was that you were supposed to. I have talked and discussed Biblical subjects with epode who have read it 6 times. Honestly, if you read it the same as they did, you haven’t the slightest idea of what it is really about. Most folks just read it (including many of those who call themselves ‘christians’) but they never really study it. There is a vast difference. Most have some preconceived ideas before they start to even read it. They never compare the different sections to find what it is saying.
When I have pointed out some verses that state emphatically that ‘this means this’, they look at me blankly and virtually say ‘baloney’, how would you know when you have not yet read it through fully once yet? The difference is that I compare scripture with Scripture. I want to know for sure what I am studying about and I want ALL the evidence BEFORE I start making any decision on what I am reading as to whether it is for real or just the figment of someones hypothetical imagination.
In my study of a subject, it is tremendously important to get the full story, not just what “I” want to hear. I oft times have to eat ‘humble pie’ on finding that my cherished ‘theory’ was way off the mark.
To give you a thought. I understood that Jesus was full of compassion, but it was only ‘my’ concept of compassion. I read about how he walked one Sabbath through the area where there were many sick people at the pool of Bethesda.He saw a man who had been a cripple for many years. Out of compassion Jsus healed this man but all He did was ask him if he wanted to be healed and then told him to stand up and walk. Great compassion for sure, but what about all the other sick people there? Why did he not heal them? This man could not help himself and he believed when told what to do. That took a lot of faith to do. The rest of the sick who were there were not interested in helping this fellow to get into the water. They were actually very selfish and Jesus passed them by. The other reason was that the “church” leaders were a nit picky mob (about the same as many are today) and they were ready to hang draw and quarter Jesus for “breaking” the Sabbath by not only healing this man but horror of horrors, he even told the man to take up his bed and WALK. Working on the Sabbath? How terrible? How horrendously terrible were the “church” leaders in the way they treated people? Nothing is much different today compared with then. Jesus did NOT break the Sabbath, he was showing people HOW it should be kept.
Buddhism is a great way to learn how to treat others. It has no information on the plan of Salvation. It has no remedy for the sin problem. It has no HOPE basis but is a great way to live in how to treat your fellow man. The Bible tells of the cause of our situation, the remedy and what is going to happen in the future. It gives a very graphic outline of the removal of sin from the earth. Total removal. The world that so many want to have that comment on these bloggs, will be instituted when all have decided which way they will ‘vote’ with their lives. If you did not find it there when you read the Bible, You certainly did not look very hard.
On the other hand, I agree very much with those who do not want this Supposed “Theocracy” that the religionists wish to bring on America. It certainly is NOT what God wants simply because it will be no better than the Religiosity of 2,000 odd years ago. Any who would question the decisions would be treated the same way they treated Jesus. CRUCIFY HIM (them). The Bible does warn us quite emphatically that religion is going to do just that but God will intervene and they WILL be punished with the very punishment that they threaten everyone else with. It is all there, but my guess is that you read right over it (all 4 times) and missed it.
I do wholeheartedly agree with the point that most “christians” miss the point of what the Bible is really all about. They have little concept of God. Most of their foundational statements are only “I believe” instead of a strong, “THUS Saith the Lord”. But then, it is people like yourself and others who force people to reassess what they accept of foundational beliefs. Thanks for that.
Welcome Rob. 🙂
I don’t agree with everything you’ve said, but honor your belief in it. One of the problems I find is that foo many modern believers have substituted belief in a book with flaws for belief in God, so it van be difficult to determine which parts are divinely inspired, which are humanly inspired and which are uninspired. Textual criticism can help.
Personally, assuming your faith and Lee’s are authentic, which I have no reason to doubt, I believe that God honors both equally.
When God shows up for a vote in Congress, then we can elect him to rule the country. But until then, he can’t get elected. $10 says he doesn’t show. 😆
When God shows up in Congress, it will not be to vote. It will be to drive out the money changers.
For Centuries Europe and Britain were ruled by God, the Pope and Kings who ruled by Devine Right which came from God. And we all know what a mess that caused. Here in the US it has been proven that people in the United States not only don’t know World History they also don’t know US History. Ignorant right wing elected US officials who don’t know any History and can’t pass an elementary school history exam want to restore rule by God and the centuries of misery that went along with it. I think the US needs to change the way people win office from being elected to passing rigourous examinations. How different would be who sits in the houses of US Government.
Welcome John. 🙂
I agree, except God had no more to do with atrocities then that she does with Republicans now.
I read these submissions, some as idiotic as Broun’s, which makes me even happier that sixty years ago I decided to live in Australia. Our present political head is a female, unmarried, cohabiting, atheist. A vast improvement on the previous two Christians although still a politician for whom I did NOT vote.
As usual Politicians, Priests, and Gods. All the acclaim but never the blame.When will adult Americans understand Santa Claus is just a fairy story for children? The name is interchangeable.
Welcome Tom 🙂
I envy you your PM. G’day!