Should we handle victory the way the Christian god decrees?

Everybody has a right to be free of religion, accordian players, discordant music, clashing colors, bad art, annoying people, stupid posts on message boards, or displeasing odors in their private space. Nobody has that right in a public place where cultural standards preferred by the majority will apply. Or should.

So foxfyre we are back to your majority rules again. I assume that gives you shelter from the storm. For my part it's more a matter of tyranny of the masses which I read from the founding fathers (what a trite phrase) was something to be avoided, hence we have the senate and the courts to counteract the house. (well, at least according to theory)

So if miraculously the majority became Cult Worshippers of Satan, tossing babies to Moloch, that should be acceptable public policy.

Well, that depends Edgar, would that be from the OT or the NT, as if it really makes a difference.

Edgar,

No, I don't believe that would ever become acceptable to society! But our nation is a democracy. It is and always has been majority rules. How would you or dys propose to change that to make it more acceptable to you?

dys,

It DOES make a difference. However, if you do not understand it or refuse to accept it, then of course you will have problems with it, just as anyone would have problems with something you believe or don't believe if they did not understand or refused to accept it.

I would seek to uphold the rationality of a nation of law (you know MA, what our nation was founded as) rather than a nation of whimsy of the majority. A democracy we ain't.

dys,

I am sorry, but I don't quite understand your first sentence here. Can you elaborate for me, please?

Our nation is expected to protect the majority from the minority, but also to protect the minority from the majority. That is one of the balancing acts of a free nation, and that is why the majority only rules part of the time.

So, Momma, you say it ain't going to happen and neatly evade the question.

Edgar,

What am I evading? I asked dys for elaboration because I didn't understand. What did I miss?

So if miraculously the majority became Cult Worshippers of Satan, tossing babies to Moloch, that should be acceptable public policy.

Absolutely not! However, I think this sounds kind of like a trap. Is it?

And be glad that we do have a majority of people in this country who do at least consider the Christian faith and live by more or less Christian values. Those values include a reverence for all life and, for most, a conviction that life must never be taken out of revenge or convenience or without the most fervent consideration. There are other cultures that take life with no remorse and no conscience.

I think America is a democracy if you're a corporation/capitalist. So many people have given up hope that America does not function as a democracy any longer. One third of the nation does not vote. It is not 'rule by majority' but 'rule by the minority' who vote. Democratic and Republican Party are just left and right arms of the capitalist interests.

America was founded as a REPUBLIC with democratic principles (long gone) and at the time only people who owned property could vote. Blacks could not vote, women could not vote....(not very democratic, actually).

Definition of democratic: Rule by the people.

America is moving more towards a police state and less of even the parody of a 'democracy' every day. As the Executive Branch gets more powerful and lives above the law without being called on it by a (Republican) Congress, the more power Congress gives to the Executive, until finally there is not a Republic,which is what's happening now. You get what you have now: a president who tells everyone what to do, no checks and balances, a president who thinks he is above world opinion. Americans who protest are kept far away from the White House, they are cordoned off up to a mile away, Homeland Security is spying on its own citizens (they can check into your library book check out history, just one example). Sound democratic? Or like Orwell's book "1984"?

I would like to know how many of you have actually read the Patriot Act? It's available online. Or was. It's the Act that was pushed through right after 9/11 when the government had people hyped up about terrorism. Terrorism did not begin on 9/11. It has existed in the world long before that. The reaction of most of the world was 'we're sorry that happened to America, but, join the club. It's what America has been doing to other countries for years", e.g. President Allende in Chile when the US sponsored and conducted a coup that killed the elected President (check it out on google) and allowed the murder of thousands of civilians. Another example of US terrorism: Iraq. The US supported Iraq in the war against Iran in the 1980's when Saddam gassed the Kurds, while the US said nothing because at the time Saddam was a puppet for the US.
I am saddened that the US is going the way of a dictatorship. The real power rests in the Executive, like ancient Rome. And for those of you who know history, then you know what happened to Rome.

I think this post would be better suited in the Politics Forum, Englishmajor. I am sorry if we got you steered in the wrong direction on this particular issue. I guess we all kind of got off topic a bit, didn't we?

Yes, it probably does. But since you were discussing democracy.........apologize if I erred. However, what I said is worth reading, is it not?

I'm sorry, but I fail to see where Christianity can exist in a country that declares preemptive war on a defenceless country that had no WMD's and did not bomb the twin towers in NY.

The title of this thread is "should we handle victory the way the Christian god decrees?" It's rather a confusing title, don't you think, because Jesus Christ is part of the New Testament, not the Old Testament, and Christ did not believe in war. If you can tell me where to find in the New Testament that Christ condoned war in any sense can you tell me where to find that passage? Otherwise, you are confused when you speak of the "Christian" God - Jesus was Jesus, not God. God of the Old Testament believed in war, for sure, no doubt about it. Can any of you help me here?

:-) Where were you back when Frank started this thread. All of that has been discussed and is dismissed by by Frank and his cronies. Seems that Frank has now been banned from another board for his brand of Christian justice.

Thanks Intrepid, but that still does not answer my valid question. Can you not answer it?

Englishmajor,

I am sorry. I didn't state very well what I meant. You did not err! I felt it was our fault for getting a bit off topic, not yours. Actually, what you posted was worth reading. That is why I thought you should post it in the Political Forum.

Though it is true that Jesus is not actually in the Old Testament, His Coming was foretold in the Old Testament. And no, I can't tell you of a place in the New Testament where He actually speaks of war. When it comes to this kind of thing, can only vote my conscience and do what I feel is right. I don't like war. I hate war. I wish there were no wars. But, there are wars. And yes, we are in a war. Whether we should be there or not is something that just seems we can't change at this minute.

I do apologize if I seemed to be admonishing you about your post. I just stated it in the wrong manner.

BTW, I really like your avatar. I have to ask if that is you? Very beautiful woman.

There has been extensive discussion through the thread re the perception of the Old Testament God versus the God that Jesus revealed to us, Englishmajor. God hasn't changed and I believe He has been here all along. But humankind is fallible and gets it wrong quite a bit. So, that's why Jesus came: He showed us God as He is, and He was not as the Old Testament people perceived Him to be.