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originally posted by: Isurrender73
a reply to: grandmakdw
If they are forced to follow a one world religion or Sharia they will no longer have freedom of religion.
originally posted by: CharlieSpeirs
Maybe SkepticOverlord and the gang can format an ATS poll asking if we feel that way...
I'd trust that poll more to be honest.
No one can take away your beliefs, not with a cage and not with death...
So it's nothing to fear.
originally posted by: mOjOm
a reply to: grandmakdw
So what exactly makes you think a Evangelical Christian Organization like the Barna Group is a credible source of info regarding Religion???
I would think the obvious possible bias would be a reason to question what they have to say. But I suppose not if what they say just happens to be what you want to hear already.
Funny how every other study shows the decline in Religion across the board and yet somehow these guys just happen to find an increase in people worried about Religious Freedom??? I think someone might be making up some numbers.
originally posted by: grandmakdw
If close to 50% of ALL Americans feel that religious freedom is in jeopardy in the US, what is making them feel that way?
originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: windword
Exactly.
Of course a pushy church-group is going to call their friends, tell them they should be "scared", and then ask them if they're "scared" based on what they've been told by Pushy Church-group!! Another ridiculous thread is just what we need, eh?
The GOP candidates are milking that cow for all its worth - insisting that "religion" is in danger. They are the ones who WANT a Christian Theocracy (as you know), and are afraid they won't be getting one. Boo Effing Hoo. They need to get over themselves! ! They aren't "put upon", no matter how hard they try to make it seem so. They aren't "losing" ANYTHING except their perceived "right" to abuse others.
Yet of the Dem candidates, not a ONE of them has even brought up religion - see, those of us on the left don't care if Pushy Church Group no longer gets to feel and act "superior". They are free to be as bigoted and ignorant as they choose, IN PRIVATE and in Pushy Church.
NOT in county clerk offices, or abortion clinics, or schools.
If they're so bloody "afraid", maybe they should rein in their loudmouth politicians, slap some sense into them, and get with the 21st CENTURY.
Gah.
There are no Christian denominations in
the US I know who even want a
Christian Theocracy in the US, this is
rhetoric designed to create hatred
and division and in absolutely no
way represents reality.
The demise of the Religious Right is being announced with great fanfare in the media. It is an announcement that has been made repeatedly over the decades and, without fail, has been wrong every time.
It is difficult to juxtapose this image of the demise of the Religious Rights with the current reality in America - the growing popularity of spiritual warfare networks, spiritual mapping, the belief in generational curses, demon deliverance centers, health centers based on faith healing, and faith-based initiatives which have poured public funds into the hands of these spiritual warriors. A prominent religious leader can be labeled as moderate or mainstream despite advocating beliefs that only a few years ago would have been considered marginal.
Open demonization of groups in our society is increasing in intensity and militant language is common.
Monitoring a Growing Dominionist Movement
How is Dominionism Getting into Politics? Meet the Apostles and Prophets of the NAR
The NAR is one of the current forces behind the radicalization of the Religious Right, and in turn, U.S. politics. NAR leaders teach a dualistic worldview in which all other religions and philosophies, including secular democracy, are considered controlled by demonic entities in a cosmic battle with Christianity.
The late Rousas Rushdoony, father of Christian Reconstructionism wrote the tome and laid the foundations for infusing Dominion Theology into American politics, but it is Charismatic Dominionists who have had the greater success in drawing millions of followers in the U.S. and worldwide.
They are leaders on social issues, like fighting abortion and gay rights, but they also emphasize a mandate to take “dominion” over all of the “Seven Mountains” or cultural power centers – arts, business, education, family, government, media, and religion.
originally posted by: grandmakdw
originally posted by: muse7
What is making them feel that way?
Fox News
Breitbart
World Net Daily
and the other numerous right wing infotainment websites and TV channels that make money and ratings by scaring people.
40% of ALL US Citizens do not watch Fox or read Breitbart or WND.
That is an old tired cliche line you threw out. Try and think beyond the old tired cliche's and come up with a reasoned and intelligent response that appears you actually gave the matter real thought.
Bat-guano Crazy.
Rachel Tabachnick, who researches the political impact of the religious right, join[ed] Terry Gross for a discussion about the growing movement and its influence and connections in the political world.
Tabachnick says the movement currently works with a variety of politicians and has a presence in all 50 states. It also has very strong opinions about the direction it wants the country to take.
For the past several years, she says, the NAR has run a campaign to reclaim what it calls the "seven mountains of culture" from demonic influence. The "mountains" are arts and entertainment; business; family; government; media; religion; and education.
"They teach quite literally that these 'mountains' have fallen under the control of demonic influences in society," says Tabachnick. "And therefore, they must reclaim them for God in order to bring about the kingdom of God on Earth. ...
The apostles teach what's called 'strategic level spiritual warfare' [because they believe that the] reason why there is sin and corruption and poverty on the Earth is because the Earth is controlled by a hierarchy of demons under the authority of Satan. So they teach not just evangelizing souls one by one, as we're accustomed to hearing about. They teach that they will go into a geographic region or a people group and conduct spiritual-warfare activities in order to remove the demons from the entire population. This is what they're doing that's quite fundamentally different than other evangelical groups."
Mr. Cruz’s path to the nomination, still considered by many to be a long shot, hinges in part on his ability to win a base of support among evangelical conservatives. He signaled his determination to win that constituency by kicking off his campaign at Liberty University, a Christian school founded by Jerry Falwell.
Mr. Cruz is competing for evangelical support against former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee , former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and others.
When asked to identify the greatest problem regarding religion in public life:
30 percent cite the removal of religion from public places
25 percent cite government interference with free religious practice
24 percent cite religious groups attempting to pass laws that force their beliefs on others
9 percent cite the lack of protection for smaller religious groups.
Taken together, what do these findings mean?
First, there is not a clear consensus that threats to religious liberty are a serious problem in the United States. Nearly as many worry about religion being forced on them as are concerned about government interfering with religious practice. If 70 percent of us are not worried about the removal of religion from public places, clearly this issue does not trouble the majority of Americans.
First, there is not a clear consensus that threats to religious liberty are a serious problem in the United States. Nearly as many worry about religion being forced on them as are concerned about government interfering with religious practice.
...
If you believe that homosexual activity is forbidden by Scripture and is therefore wrong, you are clearly on the wrong side of public opinion and can expect growing restrictions on your freedom of speech and religious convictions. If you want to express your faith publicly, you can expect opposition and discrimination in some parts of our country.
If, however, you want to be salt and light in our dark and lost world, no court in the land can defeat your witness. Early Christians had far fewer religious freedoms than we enjoy today.
“Nothing is more important in the next 18 months than that the body of Christ rise up and that Christians stand up, that pastors stand up and lead,” Cruz said.
“In this last election, 54 million evangelical Christians stayed home. If we can simply bring Christians to the polls – is it any wonder we have the government we have – we have the leaders we have if believers stay home and leave electing our leaders to unbelievers.
We get exactly what we deserve and nothing is more important that having people of faith stand up and just vote our values, vote biblical values and that’s how we turn the country around.”
In other words, he wants millions of evangelical Christians to go and vote for politicians who would basically turn this country into a theocracy.
There are no Christian denominations in
the US I know who even want a
Christian Theocracy in the US, this is
rhetoric designed to create hatred
and division and in absolutely no
way represents reality.
Pastor Rafael Cruz: 48 Million Evangelical Christians did not vote in the last election
"I’ll tell you. I know the constitution very well. I know the Declaration very well. Separation of Church and State is not in either one of them"
The statistics said that in the United States there were approximately 65 million evangelical Christians. And of those only 50% were registered voters. And of the 50% that were registered to vote, only 50% voted in the last election.
That means 3 out of 4 evangelical Christians stayed at home. That’s 48 million evangelical Christians.
originally posted by: CharlieSpeirs
a reply to: Benevolent Heretic
The statistics said that in the United States there were approximately 65 million evangelical Christians. And of those only 50% were registered voters. And of the 50% that were registered to vote, only 50% voted in the last election.
That means 3 out of 4 evangelical Christians stayed at home. That’s 48 million evangelical Christians.
It's actually 16.25 million... Seeing as only half are registered.
Off the mark by 32 million...
Oh Lord is right.