"Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man." Thomas Paine

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There is no war against Christians or Christianity. 

Morning "news" show hosts and the so-called Christian leaders in this country need to give it a rest. Or at least, they should STOP presuming to speak for any other person who calls themselves a Christian.

In addition, if they really want to be perceived by the world as Christians, they need to stick with the New Testament--preferably the Gospels and maybe the Acts of the Apostles. You know, the parts that actually involved what Christ said and did? 

OK, my gentle snowflakes, I will climb down off my soap box now.

Remember when we all studied our history? We learned that this nation's first European settlers came here to escape religious persecution. I say it again, escape persecution.

Because of that, the Founders of this nation made sure that our Constitution prohibited the formation of a NATIONAL religion. In the First Amendment. The FIRST AMENDMENT. First.

So, by our founding document, this cannot be declared a "Christian" nation. " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." In the First Amendment. The FIRST AMENDMENT. First.

You can practice all the Christianity you want, in any way you want--from going to church only on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day, up to and including handling snakes every week and speaking in tongues.

But your Buddhist neighbor has exactly the same right to practice Buddhism. According to the founding document of this nation, you may not force upon her, your Christianity. The same goes for the sikh or the atheist next door.

However, for some people, "religious freedom" is really indistinguishable from the "freedom to impose MY religion on others." Nope. Wrong. Remember that whole "make no law respecting an establishment of religion" thing-y?

And, think about it, Jesus loved sinners. It was hypocrites he couldn't stand. Remember, the only time he descended into violence was at the hypocrisy being practiced at the temple.

I mean it. Really.

The Dr Tiller Murder

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For many, many years, it has seemed to me that those who are part of the "pro-life" (I prefer to call it anti-abortion) movement must have a tiny, little screw loose someplace.

They say they are Christians. You remember Christians? The followers of Jesus Christ? The Prince of Peace? The man who hated no one? The man whose only act of violence was against the money-changers? The man who said to love one another? Yeah, that Jesus Christ.

Yet these so-called Christians (the Taliban West) are the only people on either side of this who use violence to impose their will & view on everyone else. Bomb. Harass. Vandalize. Terrorize. Shoot. Murder. These actions are their stock in trade.

We who espouse choice are the only ones at the table who must fear for our lives.

Doubt not, anti-abortion is all about the subjugation of women.
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Christians? Torture?

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• WASHINGTON (CNN) — The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists, according to a new analysis.
• More than half of people who attend services at least once a week — 54 percent — said the use of torture against suspected terrorists is “often” or “sometimes” justified. Only 42 percent of people who “seldom or never” go to services agreed, according the analysis released Wednesday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
• White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified — more than 6 in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only 4 in 10 of them did.
• The analysis is based on a Pew Research Center survey of 742 American adults conducted April 14-21.

Did these "Christians" absorb nothing of Jesus? On what do they base their lives?

• Jesus said, ... for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
  

Surely, torture lies somewhere within this passage?

What, oh, tell me what, does this say about the "Christians" within this country?
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