...looks like it is a society trying to get people to actually read The Bible.

I agree and I have read the King James Version from cover to cover several times and the way it is quoted and referenced on this site is not correct.

Originally Posted by njbchbum

taltarzac - in your course of studies re your minor - did any of the classes you took present the bible as something other than a piece of literature? i know folks who have taken the bible as literature course and have come away with comments such as - it has a good plot, i wasn't sure where the ending was, too many characters, good plot twists...and then there are my friends who attend bible studies twice a week who share quite the polar opposite view! they leave me believing that you can't fully understand and/or appreciate the bible if you have not studied the bible from both points of view!

I was raised a Lutheran and went to churches of various denominations for a while in Reno, Nevada and before that near Menomonee Falls, WI.

I go to church services occasionally at the Church on the Square, too. These mostly seem like people socializing and enjoying some music and life lessons drawn from The Bible from various pastors/priests/ministers, etc.

Often, however, whatever denomation has a preacher/minister/pastor, etc. there is that denomation's spin on the sections of The Bible used.

Personally, I believe with judicious use of various quotes in The Bible you can support just about any position ever taken on religious issues.

This is all we need to know about whether or not our nation was founded on Christian beliefs and values:

The Prayer in the First Congress, A.D. 1774

O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings,
and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold
all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme
and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments;
look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States,
who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and
thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection,
desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee.

To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause;
to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support,
which Thou alone canst give.
Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care;
give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field;
defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries;
convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist
in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts,
constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the
day of battle!

Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly;
enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation.
That the scene of blood may be speedily closed;
that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored,
and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people.
Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds;
shower down on them and the millions they here represent,
such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world
and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come.
All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.

Amen.

Reverend Jacob Duché
Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 7, 1774, 9 o’clock a.m.

And how these roots continue today: The Office of the Chaplain, United States House of Representatives

First Prayer of the Continental Congress, Office of the Chaplain

...used to love quoting. "In those days we poured God over everything like ketchup." This is from the 1964 movie The Best Man. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_Man_(1964_film)

Originally Posted by ilovetv

This is all we need to know about whether or not our nation was founded on Christian beliefs and values:

The Prayer in the First Congress, A.D. 1774

O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings,
and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold
all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme
and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments;
look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States,
who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and
thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection,
desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee.

To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause;
to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support,
which Thou alone canst give.
Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care;
give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field;
defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries;
convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist
in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts,
constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the
day of battle!

Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly;
enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation.
That the scene of blood may be speedily closed;
that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored,
and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people.
Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds;
shower down on them and the millions they here represent,
such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world
and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come.
All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.

Amen.

Reverend Jacob Duché
Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 7, 1774, 9 o’clock a.m.

And how these roots continue today: The Office of the Chaplain, United States House of Representatives

First Prayer of the Continental Congress, Office of the Chaplain

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

...used to love quoting. "In those days we poured God over everything like ketchup." This is from the 1964 movie The Best Man. The Best Man (1964 film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yes, the founders used flowery, God-infused language, as was Lincoln's use of "Four score and seven years ago" to express that number.

My point was that there is no doubt as to whether this nation was founded on Christian beliefs and values, and continues to be so.

Originally Posted by ilovetv

Yes, the founders used flowery, God-infused language, as was Lincoln's use of "Four score and seven years ago" to express that number.

My point was that there is no doubt as to whether this nation was founded on Christian beliefs and values, and continues to be so.

i really do wonder about whether this country is continuing to be guided by the history of its christian beliefs. the melting pot of society seems to have created a certain level of demand for a tolerance of other religious values - and tolerance is not a bad thing. however, if/when making room for other religious beliefs/values tends to overshadow the country's founding chirstian beliefs...then i have a problem.

Originally Posted by njbchbum

i really do wonder about whether this country is continuing to be guided by the history of its christian beliefs. the melting pot of society seems to have created a certain level of demand for a tolerance of other religious values - and tolerance is not a bad thing. however, if/when making room for other religious beliefs/values tends to overshadow the country's founding chirstian beliefs...then i have a problem.

This seems to show how complicated the Founding Fathers' beliefs were-- http://www.history.org/foundation/jo...ng09/deism.cfm

@Taltarzac725, a deism word search page. That made me shake my head and really lol.

[

QUOTE=ilovetv;535033]Yes, the founders used flowery, God-infused language, as was Lincoln's use of "Four score and seven years ago" to express that number.

My point was that there is no doubt as to whether this nation was founded on Christian beliefs and values, and continues to be so.[/QUOTE]

ilovetv: This country from its beginning has been steeped in the Judeo-Christian teachings which afforded all of us whether we were believers or not of the belief and benefits found in pursuing the moral imperative. Secularism draws us away from that moral imperative and creates self- serving leaders.
and hedonistic behavior. It is why America should judciously protect the basic foundation of our nation and that is the "traditional family created by traditional marriage. to suggest otherwise is at minimum cavalier.

Originally Posted by rubicon

[

QUOTE=ilovetv;535033]Yes, the founders used flowery, God-infused language, as was Lincoln's use of "Four score and seven years ago" to express that number.

My point was that there is no doubt as to whether this nation was founded on Christian beliefs and values, and continues to be so.

ilovetv: This country from its beginning has been steeped in the Judeo-Christian teachings which afforded all of us whether we were believers or not of the belief and benefits found in pursuing the moral imperative. Secularism draws us away from that moral imperative and creates self- serving leaders.
and hedonistic behavior. It is why America should judciously protect the basic foundation of our nation and that is the "traditional family created by traditional marriage. to suggest otherwise is at minimum cavalier.[/QUOTE]
_____________________________

You do not get it. The civil marriage is legal in the United States. It does not have to be a religious ceremony unless the couple wants a religious ceremony. You must evolve to the 21st century and understand that times change and you must change with them.

The Founding Fathers of our country believed in slavery and that only land holders could vote. Those are out dated ideas. Americans have evolved with the times and it has been for the better.

You may not like it but your traditional man and woman marriage is not the only legal marriage in several states. Soon it will be legal for gays and lesbians to marry in any state. Evolve with the times like others have done in the past.

Originally Posted by tucson

The One and Only True God The Father of Jesus Christ who came to earth to save all of mankind from their sins. (you're talking about the false god's) Read the what the Bible says re; homosexuality. Lev.18:22-24 , Lev.20:13, Lev.22:18,24

You just outlawed cheeseburgers, lobster meals, cotton/polyester shirts and a whole host of other things.

god? what god? the bible was written by men seeking control over others. I do not believe in a contrivance that has only been used to murder people en mass for not agreeing with it. A true god if it existed would strike it's followers down for the heresy THEY preach.

Originally Posted by looneycat

god? what god? the bible was written by men seeking control over others. I do not believe in a contrivance that has only been used to murder people en mass for not agreeing with it. A true god if it existed would strike it's followers down for the heresy THEY preach.

Some of it could be written by God. Very hard to tell with all the revisions and such involved in the evolution of The Bible .

As a Christian, I believe some of the Gospels were the words of Jesus Christ and some of the Commandments may have been given to Moses. All based on faith however as it is incredibly difficult to prove any of this. Allah could have visited Mohammad too. See God as trying to help groups of people become better by visiting some of their future leaders.