American = "Christian Nation"

Ted C · Post by **Ted C** » 2007-09-14 11:14am

Exodus 20:1-4 wrote:"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in all the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

The translation Surlethe quoted seems to give fundies an easy out. While Mt. Rushmore (or any other piece of official statuary) is undoubtedly a "graven image", it would be easy enough to argue that it is not an "idol", and -- as noted by others -- no one seems to be bowing down to worship it.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-09-14 11:16am

Besides, the hardcore fundies think KJV is the ultimate translation anyway.

Ted C · Post by **Ted C** » 2007-09-14 12:01pm

Darth Wong wrote:Besides, the hardcore fundies think KJV is the ultimate translation anyway.

There are certainly KJV-thumping fundies out there, but you don't have to be one to buy into the "America is a Christian nation" argument.

Post by **Surlethe** » 2007-09-14 12:03pm

On the other hand, even if the argument itself isn't perfectly valid, the slideshow is still good for some laughs and to get people thinking about just how much we worship the founding fathers in America.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2007-09-14 02:00pm

I only brought up other translations because of GR mentioning a lot of fundies are too stupid to even know what a "graven image" really is.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2007-09-14 02:03pm

Dalton wrote:On a more technical note, texture effects on text are ugly and unnecessary. And they make Rob sad

Seconded. I think the slideshow brings up an excellent point, but it doesn't have the same kind of effect as a good portion of the passages in the stickied "founding father quotes" thread. Plus, the term "graven images" varies too much. I would speculate that the majority of Christians wouldn't consider Rushmore a graven image because the presidents depicted were mortal men and not heavenly in any way, and because the images were intended as tribute to men considered great.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-09-14 02:05pm

Surlethe wrote:On the other hand, even if the argument itself isn't perfectly valid, the slideshow is still good for some laughs and to get people thinking about just how much we worship the founding fathers in America.

I don't see how anyone can deny that Americans worship their founding fathers. They make moral arguments by quoting these men, for fuck's sake. No other reasoning is typically required when you argue with an American; if the almight "Founding Fathers" believed it, then it must be true!

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2007-09-14 03:27pm

Darth Wong wrote:I don't see how anyone can deny that Americans worship their founding fathers.

Um, we don't pray to them?

Skgoa · Post by **Skgoa** » 2007-09-14 05:15pm

salm wrote:Yeah, but you can´t register with a political party here.

Is registering different from becoming a member of the party? Because I'm 100% sure that you can do that in germany.

TithonusSyndrome wrote:Wait, what? In Germany you're expected to register with a religion the way we register with political parties here?

You are not expected, you have the choice to do so. It's basicly 'who do you want your "Kirchensteuer" (church tax) be given to?' Its more or less a membership fee that is payed through taxes.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2007-09-14 05:50pm

Skgoa wrote: Is registering different from becoming a member of the party? Because I'm 100% sure that you can do that in germany.

Yes it is something different. Of course you can become a member of a party in Germany. But in the US you have to register for a party if you want to vote . I never really understood that.

Ritterin Sophia · Post by **Ritterin Sophia** » 2007-09-14 09:49pm

salm wrote:
Skgoa wrote: Is registering different from becoming a member of the party? Because I'm 100% sure that you can do that in germany.
Yes it is something different. Of course you can become a member of a party in Germany. But in the US you have to register for a party if you want to vote . I never really understood that.

Actually that's only if you want to vote in the Primaries, which is where each party votes on ther primary candidate, for example in the Democratic Primaries the two they'll probably be voting on in the Democratic Primaries are Hillary and Obama.