steve wrote:No other sect, certainly not. The dominating majority -- nearly unanimity -- of all officials, lawmakers. power brokers and public figures are "christian," christian traditions and themes are codified in law and custom, the clergy are exempt form legal obligations, taxation, etc. There is a longstanding tradition of benediction, blessing, group prayer, the institution of chaplains, etc. that imply a special, important, insulated, exalted place for religion (in a forcedly-general way) that stems from the power and influence weilded by christianity and church over our people.
There is a history of Christian influence in this country. There is no doubt of that. The majority of immigrants to the US have been Christians. Why would it be otherwise? But this all has changed drastically in more recent times.
The point regarding tax exemption is a non-issue. Non-Christian religions receive the same privileges.
It's quite appropriate that you put "Christian" in quotes in reference to lawmakers. Most all "Christians" in power today are phonies. Further, a large percentage of Americans who identify themselves as "Christians" today are really Zionists, particularly the Evangelicals.
steve wrote:You are joking or deluded if you think there is a bigger influence on our culture, or ever has been.
AIPAC and the ADL are a much more powerful force in this country than Christians. I would add the even smaller, yet inordinately powerful Chabad Lubavitch sect to that list as well. What other religious group has the power to have a 30 foot tall symbol representative of their religion placed on the White House lawn each year?
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Chabad's representative in Washington plainly stated that the 30 foot Menorah in front of the White House is,
"... a brazen mark of influence, especially as the menorah lighting claims to speak for an American Jewish community that traditionally has been uncomfortable with displays of belief on public land."http://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=4543&TM=41585.36I have no doubt that there are many Christians in the US who would like to have a 30 foot tall Crucifix placed in front of the White House, but the ADL would have any such effort crushed in a heartbeat. This is not "delusion." This is reality.
steve wrote:Minority rights must be defended vigorously or we have a tyranny of the majority. I see such work as honorable, even though I disagree about the aims of the proteced groups in specifics.
Is a tyranny of the
minority preferable or more just, in your opinion?
steve wrote:And your 87 percent figure pretty much proves my earlier point, does it not?
It proves nothing aside from the fact that 87% of Americans identify themselves as Christian. The statistic proves nothing about power or influence. And as I said, of those Americans who call themselves "Christian," a very large percentage are really Zionists, Pantheists, New Agers, etc.
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