Giving Up on God

That's not the only reason I won't vote for them, but it certainly is one of my reasons!

   Add the Neocons and you have a real witches brew then stir it and drop in Big Business and stingy rich people and you don't even want to go near the pot.

But if you are in my neck of the woods where everybody is of the Christian faith

I don't know where you live, but you are wrong about your neighbors.  In fact, you sound like my neighbor.

I can respect the fact that if you are in a cultural/religiously diverse area that you need to be sensitive to the all the citizens involved.

The way that you phrase your argument implies that our government is already based in Christian beliefs, and you are willing to be sensitive to the rest of us.  This is clearly not the case regarding our government.

Lastly, groups like Southern Baptists have never wanted to involve themselves in a conversation about tolerance and diversity.  They are not being excluded;they don't want to converse. They're too busy trying to convince us that we are going to hell for not being exactly like them.

I know where I am.  Our area is predominantly of the Christian faith.  And those that aren't are polite enough not to rock the boat.

Like it or not, this is a Christian nation with tolerance for all beliefs.  The Muslims didn't settle America. 

I'm not some bible thumping zealot.  But there are some good qualities to small town religious America. 

One of the most touching scenes I've seen is when our local football teams gather at midfield for a prayer after the game is over.  They've spent four quarters beating the @!$%# out of each other then they gather at midfield.  I asked my son what they said during these meetings.  He said they gave thanks for having the ability to play the game and nobody got hurt that night.  What more could you ask for?

I'm not saying either side is right about everything.  But a little tolerance could go a long ways and we might learn something from each other.

I love the liberal attitude about tolerance, but in my corner of the Bible Belt, the intolerance comes overwhelmingly from the majority.  I get harassed on the street corner when exiting a restaurant or bar.  My tax dollars subsidize road constructionfor mega-church that cost 35 million dollars.  I have to leave my county to purchase a bottle of wine.  Wine, really, like in the Bible.  I have to drive 20 minutes to get a bottle of it.  Also, The weddings are excruciatingly boring. 

No one is trying to take away your son's ability to pray with his teammates.  I have found that it is increasingly common to portray Christians as victims.  This is a prime example.   

Sounds like you are in the deep south (dry county)...I'm a little farther north in the bible belt.  My apologies.  But you're right that there are those no drinking, no dancing, no smoking, no fun zealots out there.  Been to some of those weddings.....BORING!

Usually at a wedding party, all the "good" christians are gathered around by my vehicle in the parking lot because I have a fully iced cooler.

You can do what I do if you want.  I go to church every Sunday and am active in the community, but if some serious bible thumper wants to accost me on the street after I've walked out of the liquor store, I politely tell them to f*%# off.

My definition of a Baptist is "somebody that won't drink in their hometown".

I'm Catholic, and other than the whole abortion thing, your basic Catholic admits he's a drunken sinner that hopes God is in a good mood the day he dies.  We're actually a pretty tolerant lot in general (other than the abortion thing).

Lukepccpa- so you know that drive thru liquor stores were invented for the Baptist.  I am/was/might still be a Lutheran.  I went every Sunday, too.  Joined choir, committees, groups.  But lived my life as I saw my relationship and responsibility to my God.  And I disagreed objectively with judgements brought up in Sunday School:  Should  a Christian go to a bar?  "No one knows why I'm going in.  Maybe I'm giving my drunken neighbor a ride home." 

We are all intollerent (afraid) of that which we do not know.  I love the open prayers.  I don't like one person bringing suit against a school or city for a 10 Commandments sign.  And I really don't want to see a Santeria service before a HS game.  It will all level out at some point .  Then the world will end.

Like it or not, this is a Christian nation with tolerance for all beliefs.  The Muslims didn't settle America.

Like what?  Many examples of this (i.e. In God We Trust being on the back of money) were added when people were terrified of Communism.  Thanks McCarthyism!  The original U.S. motto was "Mind Your Business" - it appeared on money, too.  I wish we still had that on our currency.

Most of the men who signed the constitution were Deists who believed in a higher, natural God - not a Chrisitian God who intervenes in daily life.

The Constitution says nothing about the United States being a Christian nation where people are free to practice whatever religion they want.  In fact, it prohibits Congress from enacting any laws that respect for disrespect any religious establishment - separation of church and state, right?

In any event, most of our laws are strictly secular, without any basis on Christianity.  Many of the same laws exist in tolerant Muslim nations.