Say You Want A Christian Nation?: Let’s Try This One
Say You Want A Christian Nation?: Lets Try This One
Mar 2, 2015 by Rob Boston in Wall of Separation
Last week an article began circulating on social media claiming that 57 percent of Republicans in a recent poll said they believe Christianity should be the countrys official religion.
I didnt want to believe this at first. I figured it must be an internet poll, or one that relied on a confusing question.
Nope. The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based firm that some describe as Democratic-leaning but that overall has a good reputation. Most of the poll deals with support for potential GOP presidential candidates in 2016; question 17 asked about support for establishing Christianity.
The question asked (of Republicans only) was straightforward: Would you support or oppose establishing Christianity as the national religion?
Amazingly, 57 percent said yes. Thirty percent said no, and 13 percent were not sure.
In light of these results, Id like to make a modest proposal: I suggest that we repeal the First Amendment and make the United Church of Christ (UCC) the nations official, established religion.
Surely conservatives will have no problem with this. After all, the UCC is a large Christian denomination. It is even has Christs name in it. In addition, the denomination has long roots in America. It grew out of the Congregational tradition and can trace its history back to the Puritan days. What could be more American than that?
Doctrinally, the United Church of Christ believes in the trinity, the resurrection of Jesus and the sacrament of baptism. These are all mainstream Christian beliefs.
Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. As such, he would be well placed to explain the doctrines of our newly established church to all Americans. President Barack Obama, who is a member of the church, would undoubtedly be pleased to help out. Perhaps he could name Lynn as the head of the established church.
Lynn and Obama could, for example, explain the churchs stand on LGBT rights. The UCC, in keeping with Christs commandments to love all, welcomes the full participation of LGBT people in the UCCs life and ministry.
They could also explain the churchs stands favoring legal abortion, opposition to the death penalty, calls for access to health care for all and its push for aggressive action to combat climate change stands the churchs leadership believes are mandated by its Christian faith. And since these stands are buttressed by the Christian beliefs of our new established church, they should, of course, become the law for all the follow.
Now, I think most readers know that Im joking. I dont really support repealing the First Amendment or making the UCC our official church. My point is that the Christian religion many of the Republicans want to see established probably mimics what is taught at their own churches.
These churches are likely very conservative and take stands that are radically different from the ones espoused by the United Church of Christ. Yet all of these denominations are Christian.
It does not help to argue, as some inevitably will, that the followers of the UCC are not real Christians. Indeed, to assert that is deeply offensive. The members of the UCC have a passion for their beliefs that shines through their words and deeds; they are able to support their positions with just as many Bible passages as the fundamentalists who oppose them on every issue.
To say which faction is correct and there would be many factions because there are dozens, if not hundreds of Christian denominations would require a type of theological arbiter a man or a woman, someone flawed and imperfect, charged with the task of sorting out religious truth from error or heresy. All you have to do is pick up any history book to learn how dangerous that can be.
The saddest thing about this survey is that the Republicans polled would undoubtedly call themselves conservatives. Yet they dont seek to conserve, or even respect, the work of genius that is our First Amendment. They would instead blithely toss it aside for the false promises of a government that believes it can enforce morality by imposing an official version of the Christian faith.
They should be careful what they ask for. The Christian nation theyre so eager to usher in may end up looking quite different from what they imagine.
More links
https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/say-you-want-a-christian-nation-let-s-try-this-one
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)safeinOhio
(32,714 posts)We have a majority Christian population, but lets not stop there. The majority of Christians are
Catholic, so naturally it should be a Catholic nation with government reporting to the Pope.
Then we can rename it New North Ireland.
Thats the ticket.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)denominations. Having a theocracy in this country is about the stupidest idea we could come up with.
signed
Not a Catholic.
jmowreader
(50,562 posts)It's the largest Protestant denomination, and their stances are hardline enough that the Pentecostals would feel comfortable with it being the One True Church.
Try 34,000 denominations in the USA alone
jwirr
(39,215 posts)wars in Europe was why many of our ancestor immigrated to America in the first place?
HoosierCowboy
(561 posts)hanging Baptist preachers for heresy in Delaware before the Revolution and even afterwards before the Constitution was enacted. They weren't exactly as fun loving and open as they are today.
That's what happens without Amendment 1....