New to the forum

[Raeven]

That's interesting, but sorry, none of that proves the intent of the Founding Fathers in their crafting of the Constitution. Of course, many of the pilgrims were Christians. So were some of the Founding Fathers. Some were also non-believers, and some were deists.

Nowhere does the Constitution say: "The United States is a Christian Nation", or anything even close to that. In fact, the words "Jesus Christ, Christianity, Bible, Creator, Divine, and God" are never mentioned in the Constitution. Nowhere in the Constitution is religion mentioned, except in exclusionary terms. When the Founders wrote the nation's Constitution, they specified that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." (Article 6, section 3) This provision gives equal citizenship to believers and non-believers alike. They wanted to ensure that no religion could make the claim of being the official, national religion, such as England had.

If they wanted the United States to be founded as a Christian nation, I am sure they could have found room in the Constitution to say, "The United States is founded as a Christian nation." It does not.

The above DOES prove my point.

This is an Introductions thread and so further discussion of this matter should be carried on elsewhere. Sorry for the thread jack, Heretic. Welcome again.

[Blake the Heretic]

Welcome, Blake. You'll find a lot of atheists here, many of them completely at ease with their non-belief (I am one). Some have fascinating de-conversion stories; others, like me, are life-long atheists. I guarantee you will find many with whom to discuss your experiences. I hope you enjoy your time here!



λάθε βιώσας, I need to dispel you of the notion that the USA was founded as a Christian nation. It was not. It was expressly founded as a nation intended to be free of religious persecution of any kind, in response to the yoke of English (Anglican) rule. The Constitution was not written with an intent of an official or "true Christian religion" in mind, as you assert -- not at all. In fact, just the opposite. Unfortunately, there is now quite a successful meme that is was, however, thanks to intentional and focused Christian revisionism.

Thank you for the greeting. I'm already enjoying myself here, so far. I haven't been in a good forum community in awhile so I'm gonna kick back and enjoy myself for the time being.

Yes, our country was founded on secular ideals. Too bad hardly anyone remembers that.

---

Welcome Blake. Heretics are always good. They annoy the shit out of the orthodox.

That they do

[λάθε βιώσας]

I am thinking of joining the Jedi Religion, what do you guys think?

It's a cool religion because it's very American, in America they set it up so no single entity will have control over the masses via governance and one specific version of the truth.

Instead in the United States all are welcome, even those who simply do not believe.

if we just repeat these words, we can become a Jedi too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ApT0S2-22E

[Blake the Heretic]

I am thinking of joining the Jedi Religion, what do you guys think?

I think it is a cool religion because it's very American, in America they set it up so no single entity will have control over the masses via governance via their specific version of the truth.

Instead in the United States all are welcome, even those who simply do not believe...

Just repeat these words and you can become a Jedi too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ApT0S2-22E

Do you get to choose the dark side of the force?

[Minimalist]

laid the foundations of a state wherein every man through countless ages should have liberty to worship God in his own way.

Er, excuse me but xtians in Europe had been merrily slaughtering each other for centuries in the name of "uniformity." That's what the constitution was written to avoid.

Besides, Massachusetts was only one colony. Most of the others were founded as commercial interests. One was originally envisioned as a penal colony although that never materialized.

[λάθε βιώσας]

Do you get to choose the dark side of the force?

that is an interesting question...

I have not seen any initiation or prayer for the Dark Side, but Jediism is a bonafide tax free religious institution.

maybe no one believes in the dark side? humph!

http://www.jedichurch.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jediism

Americans hate taxes! all of them... every single one of them it doesn't matter where they are from.

[Blake the Heretic]

I'd become the worlds first official Sith lord if no one else has thought of the 'dark side' before me.

[λάθε βιώσας]

Atheism is also a bonafide Religion, recognized by the United States government as a tax free institution and a belief system.

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/

Ordainment is available to people worldwide, though the legality discussed only pertains to American citizens. You will have to check your local laws, but most westernized countries have similar religious tolerance laws.

so Atheism is a religion in the United States and enjoys the same protection as all the others, individuals or government can not tread on them either.

I assume most here are religious? and practice their religion? even though I am still searching for my perfect one...

[Blake the Heretic]

Atheism is not a religion, and if someone passed it off as one they should be ashamed of themselves.

I'm non-religious. I don't consider Atheism a religion, it's the lack of a religion. Not having popcorn is the opposite of having popcorn. Not believing in a God is the opposite of believing in a God.

[LastPoet]

Blake, watch out for the troll that invaded your intro thread, sorry About that