| Feb 22, 2008 @ 9:14 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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kjac
Posts: 8,163
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The first time I saw it, someone made mention of banning Islam in America. At the time, it sounded absurd. In fact, now that I repeat it, it sounds not only absurd, but un-American. But the fact is, there is a small portion of people who want all religion outlawed. And a larger portion who want all religions but theirs outlawed. And an even larger portion of people who want government policies based on a person's religion. (Immigration, etc.)
My question is, have we truly regressed this far as a nation that something like this can even be considered by someone? That people can now justify their hatred and bigotry by even suggesting someone should be banned from this country on the basis of the god/gods they do or don't believe in?
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 9:28 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,042
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Kjac, I have no problem believing there are people who think like this. Sometimes I thnk we have become a nations of haters....some in the name of religion and some in the name of political correctness.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 9:32 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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Jankia
Posts: 11,895
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My question is, have we truly regressed this far as a nation that something like this can even be considered by someone? I would say that weve always been that way to a point from holding African-Americans as slaves to the suffrage of Native Americans.
That people can now justify their hatred and bigotry by even suggesting someone should be banned from this country on the basis of the god/gods they do or don't believe in? We have finally gone from what I mentioned above to possibly electing our first African-American president,maybe its justified by some people because that hatred and bigotry has shifted from race discrimination to religious discrimination. 
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 9:33 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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Reminds me of what Elton John said once:
"Religion should be outlawed because it promotes hatred towards homosexuals, that religious hatred is leading us towards World War III, and the only way to prevent another world war is for musicians to solve all the world's problems.
It is comforting to know that if the world would all hold hands and sing Tiny Dancer we would all be safer. But frankly, I'd rather hear Randy Travis sing Three Wooden Crosses."
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 9:59 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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In France there is a ban on "conspicuous religious symbols" in primary and secondary schools and that includes the head scarves worn by Muslim women. I think this is a good idea because these extreme religious expressions can only prevent assimilation and seeing someone's face completely covered is pretty scary. It makes you feel like you're being stalked by a ninja. Just the other day I was sitting in a restaurant and someone dressed completely in black and covered walked right in. I thought I was going to get blown up so resumed eating and enjoyed my meal. I figured I couldn't run fast enough.
Well, I don't see anyone outlawing religion but I do see religion being taken less seriously over time. I think religion has gotten a free pass for too long and thats is why we're in this mess today. Its been given far too much respect for areas of our lives thats really none of its business. Its intrusion has over stayed its welcome and its become an unwanted guest. I think its time to say the party's over.
But religion does provide some good. Its not all that bad. It does give people something to do on Sunday mornings and it is a social outlet for many people. Perhaps its their only social outlet and the only opportunity to gossip about their neighbors or organize a protest of the new Victoria's Secret that just opened up in town. So it does serve a purpose like any other hobby. It just becomes a problem when someone gets the idea to control the world or serve Koolaid.
[Edited on 2/22/2008 10:13 PM]
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 10:28 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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Thor1960303
Posts: 3,345
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You would have to eliminate or seriously ammend the first ammendment to ban religion,which would be a VERY slippery slope and NOT one I want to go down.But like Hammer said,the party's over,the joke's done,it's time to take it's teeth out.Why should religion get a free ride with respect to tax?Especially when you look at many of the churches in the country.TV studios with equipment that rivals the station I work for,pastors driving 6 figure cars and wearing suits that cost what most of their parishoners make in a month.And yes,Hammer,let's get the Halloween costumes off the street.There's respect for culture and then there's public safety.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 10:46 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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Thor, you and Hammer have some great points. The Bill of Rights 2nd Amendment was justifiable at that century and a few there after on not taxing churches. The reason for it becoming a law in the first place was that God was the head of the church and was the church, therefore God could not be taxed.
As centuries passed, modern technology (advertising avenues), was the wave into advantage point for self gain. We are alive to see some advantaged take-overs of the monies they steal from the public world and the church tiths for self gain in the world. I blame society that contributes to them because they are gullable and don't research or even ask where their monies are going.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 10:52 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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kjac
Posts: 8,163
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I blame society that contributes to them because they are gullable and don't research or even ask where their monies are going.
I'd compare it to a train. People jump on board, not asking where the train is going. Anyone who asks questions or makes statements the engineer doesn't like gets thrown overboard from the moving train. And the sheep aboard the train not only agree, but assist and enable.
What we are seeing now is more and more people willing to shut down the whole railway system to stop one runaway train. Yes it would stop the train, but at what cost?
If you guys didn't understand the analogy, don't worry, I barely understood it myself.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 10:55 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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Jankia
Posts: 11,895
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This will be hard to take but religion isnt a party and to think the majority of religious folk in this country have pastors driving 6 figure cars and wearing expensive suits is inane.Churches are non-profit organizations whose money taken in from parishoners contributes billions to help world hunger,disease and to aid the homeless.
As much as some may want to abolish religion in America,its not a good idea to stop the needed giving thats done by the majority of its members.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:11 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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If religion is going to be reduced to charity work then we can look at secular organizations that do a much better job at it. For the most part those organizations are run predominately by atheists. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet come to mind but there are many others who are less known. The problem with church charities is their agenda of promoting dogma. Mother Theresa is seen by many to be the epitome of compassion and charity but in reality she was an ogre. Nuns have quit because of her. She promoted suffering by denying the dying comfortable beds, private toilets and family visits. Most of the money she got was spent on promoting the church. Very little was seen by the dying. Her dogma stated that Jesus is glorified in the suffering of others. Thats very insane. And in the end she confessed her lack of faith. She was not what people thought she was and people suffered because of it.
[Edited on 2/22/2008 11:13 PM]
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:12 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,042
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Great analogy, Kjac!
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:23 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,895
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So we are to outlaw religion because billionare atheists Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and other less known atheists do a better job of contributing to society?
Thats as prepostorous as saying we should outlaw atheists because the church does a better job of keeping morality in our society.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:23 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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Let's see...if religions were to be outlawed, that would have to include all in the name of religion to be outlawed as well.
All churches, temples, synagues eliminated
All hospitals in a name of any religion includes those for children, the aged and disabled
All soup kitchens
All organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.
All Bumper stickers in any name of religion
All Billboard signs in any name of religion
All religious holidays eliminated
All coporations that give one day off for rest per week
No pets, people, plants or matter to be named in a religious relation
No Religious science experiments
No Religious schools
No Religious music or dance in any name thereof
No Manufacturing or sales of any religious symbol, Crosses, Emblems,jewelry etc.
No using any diety in vain by word of mouth, written or in deed from anyone
No products to have a name of any religious promotion (there's goes my Angel food cake)
No books to be written that mention anything religious
Destroy all past religious writings
Would need more law enforcement
Would need prisons built for those that break any of the laws above
Would need more lawyers and judges
Would need more jails
Would need more jury duty electives
Did I forget anything?
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:26 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,895
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Did I forget anything?
All homeless shelters would have to be closed that are sponsored by the religious.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:27 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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Thanks Jankia! I knew I forgot something and probably many more too.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:28 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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Thor1960303
Posts: 3,345
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Hammer,excellent points on religious "charities" promoting dogma.Wonder how many religious charities allow their financial records to be publicly scrutinized?
Janika,I've never done a statistical study on which churches have what,but all one has to do in my town is turn on TV on a Sunday morning or randomly visit a few local churches to see what I'm talking about.
I wish I could have what the First Baptist Church in my town spends on production and air time for just one televised Sunday service.It would make a nice budget for an independent film.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:34 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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kjac
Posts: 8,163
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Yeah Angel, you missed a few.
We'd need more charities to funnel the money people needlessly to throw away to jackasses like Tom Cruise and Pat Robertson.
All the people who changed their names with their religion would have to change them back.
The Amish would have to buy light bulbs.
JW's would have to send their kids to the doctor if they needed a blood transfusion.
Mike Huckabee would have to find another reason to hate Mitt Romney.
Certain posters here would have to accuse everyone who disagrees with them of being bigoted for a different reason.
People would have to find another reason to complain about Harry Potter. How about delving into the whole boring as crap angle?
Professional Athletes would have to find someone who they've seen, heard, touched, or watched to thank for their victories. Sorry, but even if there was a god, I doubt he'd be a Giants fan.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:36 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,895
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I'm sure Thor that how things are done in the big city are very different then what I'm accustomed to here so neither of us is right to generalize.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:41 PM |
Outlawing religions in America?
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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So we are to outlaw religion because billionare atheists Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and other less known atheists do a better job of contributing to society? No. I gave my reasons why religion is useful.
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| Feb 22, 2008 @ 11:49 PM |
Outlawing religions in America? |
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kjac
Posts: 8,163
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You missed one hammer.
I'm sure we've all heard some people say that without god, you have no base of morals. I find this true for some people. Some are so inept at judging right from wrong that they are unable to do it without a religion to do it for them.
Unfortunately, this is also how the radical sects gain their foothold. The religious rule books are bent to serve someone's purpose, and a fanatical sect is born. They justify killing innocents by editing their own religious dogma, and the people who want all religions other than their own eliminated use this as their "proof" of what they think needs to be done, not realizing they are what they are condemning.
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