Not really.
For most of this nation's history, MOST people on the North American continent practiced a variety of non-Christian religions. When the states
collected into a nation, the religions were hardly standardized, and much of what they practiced would be shocking today.
People were beaten and fined for working on Sundays in some areas. In some areas, people were put in stocks (so that others could throw dung and
vegetables on them) for swearing. Some areas allowed polygamy. Some areas allowed slavery and taught it as a Biblical right. In some areas it was
physically dangerous to be a Catholic. In some areas it was physically dangerous to be a Mormon. Jews and other non-Christians were minimalized and
marginalized and often killed -- but this was a point of contention because some Christian sects thought this was okay and others (Quakers, notably)
held it as abhorrent.
There was a legal unity, yes. But there was hardly a religous unity. You can google for quotes by Mark Twain on religion to see just how badly (and
nastily) divided the sects were.
quote: As to morals necessarily flowing from religion..or not flowing from religion. I must disagree with you ..you are correct in this position..my
disagreement.
Morals to me ...always flow from religion..
My definition of religion is that which guides one..not just in good times but also in bad times..difficulty..how far one will go .
Morals are an agreed-upon set of social rules, and they are changeable. Even Christian ones.
It's considered immoral for a man to have a mistress -- and yet in Biblical times Biblical patriarchs had concubines as well as wives and they were
considered to be moral. We consider anyone who has sexual relations with a person under the age of 17 to be a pedophile and immoral but there is no
age limit in the Bible and rabbinical law and other documents report Hebrew men of that time taking girls as young as 3 to be their wives and
concubines. In a few instances, by Yahweh's command, the men kill all the females who "have known man" (anyone over the age of common marriage,
which would be girls aged 12 and up) and takes the rest (girls under the age of 12) as concubines.
I don't think you would find THAT morality practiced by the Hebrews (and to them it was moral and was Yahweh's commandment) to be one that is
promoted or accepted today.
Morality springs from the rules of people trying to live together. We find (anthropologically speaking) morals in all people who live in groups --
rules that tell you how you treat other people in your group and outside your group. And there are some very basic ones (not killing members of your
own group, rules about who you can marry) that exist in every single culture, regardless if there's a religion or a recognition of a Great Spirit or
whether there isn't.
signature
The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.
-- Mark Twain
The Newbie's Handy Reference Guide: www.abovetopsecret.com...
intresting points also..Byrd,
What I stated was that by and large coast to coast..was that people in this country had a basic belief system of how people should conduct
themselves. I did not say that it was a smooth operation at anytime in history . The point was that especially politicians knew this point both
publically and privately. Even the criminal element knew this too. This is not so today. A huge change and not accidental. This basic belief system
came from Christian backgrounds and Christian beliefs. Not that it has been a smooth ride at anytime.
You can tell this today ..by the results of the last presidential election in California. They were in California ..astonished with the results and
I could not believe that the media had the nerve to release such a statement coming from political movements in California. As I recall the statements
were to the effect that the election was not fair to Californians as they had more educated people ..larger population, more GNP etc etc etc than the
rest of the nation. This came across to me as a feudal implication that more consideration is due to California by default. As if it was some kind of
birthright for being a Californian.
The morality as practiced by the Hebrews of which you speak is today sectarian in nature...this has not changed. Not to mix leven with unleven.
Exactly what this world would have Believers to do...constantly. Usually by omission of one line of thinking in favor of another. Not both views.
If this were not true...you would not have the flack you are getting today ...from non sectarian arenas. Christians who are believers do not want to
mix in this manner ..socially and politically it is causing friction as it has in all centurys. Not a new phenomonon.
Thanks for your post ..
Orangetom


I guess what the bible says depends on which parts you want to pay attention to or ignore:
