I received an e-mail that kinda got my ranting juices flowing. Mind you, it's not an angry rant. It is merely a rant to show the other side of the argument. So, I played Devil's Advocate (pardon the pun).
> > > > >
> > > > > Only Two Defining Forces Have Ever
> Offered
> > To Die For You.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > 1. Jesus Christ
> > > > > 2. U. S. Service Man
> > > > > One Died For Your Soul, The Other Died
> For
> > Your Freedom.
> > >
> > >
> > > > > This will make you re-think: A Trivia
> > question in Sunday
> > > > > School:
> > > > > How long is the beast allowed to have
> > authority in
> > > > > Revelations?
> > > > >
> > > > > Revelations Chapter 13 tells us it is
> 42
> > months, and you
> > > > > know what that is.
> > > > > Almost a four-year term of a
> Presidency.
> > > > >
> > > > > All I can say is 'Lord, Have mercy
> on
> > us!'
> > > > >
> > > > > According to The Book of Revelations
> the
> > anti-Christ is:
> > > > > The anti-Christ will
> > > > > be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM
> > descent, who will
> > > > > deceive the nations with
> > > > > persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE
> > Christ-like
> > > > > appeal....the prophecy says
> > > > > that people will flock to him and he
> will
> > promise false
> > > > > hope and world peace,
> > > > > and when he is in power, will destroy
> > everything..
> > > > >
> > > > > Do we recognize this description??
> > > > >
> > > > > I STRONGLY URGE ea ch one of you to
> post
> > this as many times
> > > > > as
> > > > > you can! Each opportunity that you
> have to
> > send it to a
> > > > > friend or media outlet..do it!
> > > > > I refuse to take a chance on this
> unknown
> > candidate who
> > > > > came out of nowhere..
> > > > >
> > > > > From: Dr. John Tisdale
> > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > > >
> > > > > As I was listening to a news program
> last
> > night, I
> > > > > watched in horror as Barack Obama made
> the
> > statement with
> > > > > pride. . .'we are no longer a
> Christian
> > nation; we are
> > > > > now a nation of Christians, Jews,
> Muslims,
> > Buddhists, . .
> > > > > ..' As with so many other
> statements
> > I've heard
> > > > > him (and his wife) make, I never
> thought
> > I'd see the day
> > > > > that I'd hear something like that
> from a
> > presidential
> > > > > candidate in this nation. To think our
> > forefathers fought
> > > > > and died for the right for our nation
> to be
> > a Christian
> > > > > nation--and to have this man say with
> pride
> > that we are no
> > > > > longer that. How far this nation has
> come
> > from what our
> > > > > founding fathers intended it to be.
> > > > >
> > > > > I hope that each of you will do what
> I'm
> > doing
> > > > > now--send your concerns, w ritten
> simply and
> > sincerely, to
> > > > > the Christians on your email list.
> With
> > God's help,
> > > > > and He is still in control of this
> nation
> > and all else, we
> > > > > can show this man and the world in
> November
> > that we are,
> > > > > indeed, still a Christian nation!
> > > > > Please pray for our nation!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
I have to take exception to this particular e-mail. This is not a Christian nation. It was founded by Christians who had been driven from other nations by persecution, Christians who designated that there would be NO state religion nor denial of the practice of ANY religion by the government. Where there is a state religion, there is persecution of other beliefs. This may be a country founded by Christians, but it is a nation where people are free to practice whatever religious faith, or lack thereof, they choose.
Now, it seems to me that so many are pushing their Christian beliefs all across the internet. Every candidate is talking about their Christian faith. So many GOOD Christians have attacked others throughout history because of different religious beliefs, because they were gay, because their Christian beliefs were not follwing a specific and exacting dogma. Yet, within the Bible it says to turn the other cheek. The Ten Commandments say, "Thou Shalt Not Kill". This does not even bring up the cults created by Christians such as Jim Jones and David Koresh. And let's not even begin to go into Rasputin..... It also does not bring into play the money-grubbing of TV Evangelists, or even of the priesthood back in the Middle Ages and the Rennaissance. Read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, specifically the Pardoner's Tale. He took gold from others for forgiveness of sins, basically selling absolution. Look at the great churches of Europe, or even the US, and the Vatican. While masses of people were starving and being worked to death, these edifices were outfitted in gold, silver and gems, the finest in tapestries, embroidered clothing and implements for services. The Church took land, and practically ruled the world through threats of damnation, excommunication, and by sending bishops to be advisors to kings.
Of course, it is not just Christianity. Muslim nations have become breeding grounds of fanatics and terrorists. People who wage bloody wars not only against Christians, but with other sects within their own religion. People who expect to be rewarded with "72 virgins in Heaven" for killing infidels and sacrificing their own lives.
And people wonder why I say I believe in God, but not religion. God is not found in a Church, or a Mosque, or a Synagogue. God's words are not in the Bible, the Quran or the Torah; those were written by Man. God is seen in the flowers, the ocean, the trees, the stars in the sky, a baby's smile, all living and non-living things. God's word is heard in the buzzing of bees, the wind whistling through trees, in laughter, in a baby's cry, a babbling brook.
Anyway, I read all that and I just had to add my two-cents worth. Ranting done. Carry on.
