I've seen this come up in several threads that involve religion. Usually, an atheist says something like, "I thought Christians were all about tolerating other beliefs." In the US, approximately 80% of the people say they are Christians. Why was there a law passed that forbids praying in public schools? Why can't atheists be a little more tolerant? Of course, it isn't ALL the atheist's fault...the Christians didn't do anything about it when voting time came...but the point is that atheists have no tolerance for theists. The US began as a country with only Christians, but no Catholics. The Christians there wouldn't allow any other religion into the country. Gradually, they became more tolerant and allowed other denominations of Christians in...including Catholics. After a while, the tolerance expanded to everyone that believed in any god. At this point, everyone was still tolerant of each other because they had something in common. When the tolerance included atheists, though, everything collapsed for the Christians. Atheists are offended by people praying in public for some reason. The First Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." The rest is about freedom of speech, press, and non-related stuff. What I am trying to say here is that when praying in public schools was prohibited, this Amendment was violated. Basically, in the US, it is "illegal" (I don't have any better words at the moment) to make laws against the public exercise of religious activities. Did you know that religious tolerance started in America? The Christians who started the country up "invented" tolerance. n other countries, there were "official" religions. The US people were sick of that, so they invented tolerance. When atheists barged into the country (no offense meant), they were offended and tried, and continue to try, to change the country according to their expectations. That would be like a Christian going to Saudi Arabia and expecting everyone to stop praying to Allah six times a day because it is annoying. Seriously, it is getting ridiculous. Back to the question...what happened to tolerance? Why are atheists blaming Christians for the lack of tolerance in this country? The question for the Christians is...why aren't you doing anything about it?
Back to the question...what happened to tolerance? Why are atheists blaming Christians for the lack of tolerance in this country? The question for the Christians is...why aren't you doing anything about it?
Christians blame others for not accepting them, where as once they are accepted as the general population they start trying to make other people believe in the same thing they do. It is really weird how that turned out to be.
NOTE: When I said "why aren't you doing anything about it" I didn't mean "why are you not kicking atheists out of the country." We can prevent laws that forbid religious activities. That is all we need.
Christians blame others for not accepting them, where as once they are accepted as the general population they start trying to make other people believe in the same thing they do.
Where did you get that? I have seen no example of that in history yet. Give two examples if you can.
The Christians who started the country up "invented" tolerance. in other countries, there were "official" religions. The US people were sick of that, so they invented tolerance.
Not true the people who came here werent tolerant. It used to be illegal to work on sunday. It used to be illegal to sin. AND people didnt have religious freedom it was just that this group of people could practice their religion other beliefs werent allowed.
BTW you could say that Muslims invented religious freedom because the Ottoman Empire, I think, let people practice there religious but were taxed, just the amount Muslims had to pay to the church or whatever. On the other hand Christians killed a tortured people who didnt believe what they did.
Where did you get that? I have seen no example of that in history yet. Give two examples if you can
I don't count Catholics as "Christians" because they don't pray to ONLY God.
Christians always say people need to be tolerant. Read this passage and maybe you'll understand why people are not so nice towards organized religion:
Perhaps you should read the passage yourself...and my post too...and maybe search through the forums for all of my other posts about how Christians need to fix their attitude towards other people. I know about this problem in many Christians. I admit I have that problem with myself. That doesn't means that what I'm telling you is wrong. I do my best to fix my problem, why can't you follow my lead?
I don't count Catholics as "Christians" because they don't pray to ONLY God.
Christians are those who believe in Christ, which is what Catholics are. We don't pray to saints believing they are God, but more or less asking for a blessing, same as a priest would give to you, only they aren't on earth anymore. And if it makes you feel better, I've only ever prayed to God or Jesus, just because those are the first people I think to pray to.
Crusades, the inquisition
Catholicism does take the blame for this, but let me just add something. Germany takes the blame for Hitler's actions, but we have not alienated ourselves from Germany, right (consider them an eternal enemy, I mean)? And this was less than a hundred years ago, while the Crusades and the Inqusition are not so recent. Men make mistakes, and discriminating against an entire group based on the actions of a few doesn't seem right to me (especially all Christianity in general).
I don't count Catholics as "Christians" because they don't pray to ONLY God.
Ahem. Then Christians aren't Christians. Catholicism is the first form of Christianity. If you knew what the word 'Christianity' meant, then you would not say something like that.
I've never said that to anyone. In fact, I always hear people telling me I need to be tolerant of other faiths by completely ignoring mine unless I am alone. That's not tolerating religion, that's tolerating intolerance. I do not tolerate that.
I don't know if you knew this, but the word "Christian" means "Christ like." Did Christ pray to his mother? NO! Did He pray to Peter? NO! He only prayed to God the Father. Catholics don't really try to do that...yes, I do some bad things like being judgmental, but at least I try not to. Catholics don't even try to pray only to God.
If you knew what the word 'Christianity' meant, then you would not say something like that.
I do know what "Christianity" means. Read the first paragraph. Apparently, you are the one who doesn't know...
Catholicism is the first form of Christianity
What were the apostles? They were not Catholics in the way Catholics were and now are. Yes, Peter probably started the Catholic church. At that time, it was a form of Christianity, but now, it is...corrupted. Back on topic,now, please.
I don't know if you knew this, but the word "Christian" means "Christ like." Did Christ pray to his mother? NO! Did He pray to Peter? NO! He only prayed to God the Father. Catholics don't really try to do that...yes, I do some bad things like being judgmental, but at least I try not to. Catholics don't even try to pray only to God.
God was the only one who was not in physical form on earth in Jesus' time. You don't pray to someone who is right in front of you. And in case you didn't read what I said before, we're not worshipping them like gods, but asking for a blessing from them. And you don't seem to be trying very hard right now.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." The rest is about freedom of speech, press, and non-related stuff. What I am trying to say here is that when praying in public schools was prohibited, this Amendment was violated.
No law prohibited prayer; it prohibited the mandatory prayer time in public, government-funded schools. By allotting time for religious service in a education institution that is federally funded, it also goes against the First Amendment.
God was the only one who was not in physical form on earth in Jesus' time. You don't pray to someone who is right in front of you. And in case you didn't read what I said before, we're not worshipping them like gods, but asking for a blessing from them.
I don't pray to George Washington...you wouldn't either. Nobody prays to Ronald Reagan or, if the person has to be a "saint," George Whitfield. Seriously, though, nobody in heaven except God can give you a blessing. His blessing can come in the form of a person or an angel, but it is still from Him.
And you don't seem to be trying very hard right now.
I don't pray to George Washington...you wouldn't either. Nobody prays to Ronald Reagan or, if the person has to be a "saint," George Whitfield. Seriously, though, nobody in heaven except God can give you a blessing. His blessing can come in the form of a person or an angel, but it is still from Him.
Then how do you receive blessings from a priest? Besides, many Catholics and I do not really pray to saints because the first thought that comes to mind is God or Jesus.
Trying very hard to do what?
Not to be judgemental. You're saying Catholics are not fit to be called Christians because of our differences. We all believe in Christ, and we all try to reflect his image. Whether you agree or disagree with a certain prayer service doesn't give you the right to judge an entire religion, just as I would never judge any other Christian religion.
From what I've seen, many schools that did that said, "If you don't want to pray, you don't have to." I may be wrong...that's just what I've heard.
And the same applies for those who do wish to pray; they may do it on their own time, rather cut into class time which could be spent better educating the youth of American. Prayer is most often a silent activity, anyways. I see no reason why a student can't do it when they've finished their class work, at lunchtime, or any of the numerous opportunities which they are probably not busy throughout the day.
