Posted By: http:// (21/01/2009 9:12:05 AM)
Comment: I have told you over and over that Christians are supposed to put God first in their lives. That includes politics and country. You obviously don't like it but real Christians do just that.

Response: No i know what your saying and you are right i don't like that. Its unfortunate that politics and religion have become so intertwined in this country. Anyways enough of this blog we will never come to an agreement.

Posted By: http:// (21/01/2009 8:19:59 AM)
Comment: The public school system has done a thourough job of brain washing you. We are becoming a nation where the minority rules. The last poll I saw said 86 of Americans have no problem with religion and politics. We are supposed to change for the other 14? What happens when every minority gets things the way they want? I am afraid you are too far gone to salvage. May God have mercy on your soul!

Response: You know I grew up my whole life in a conservative evangelical christian community although i was not raised as one. I have seen their view points and to say that I am brainwashed by the American Public School system is just wrong. I could say that you have been brainwashed by the church or by private schools (although i don't believe that necessarily). Why should religion be put ahead of America? My initial blog was asking why Americans don't put their country first. Kris stated that religion should be put ahead of country. Americans should try coming together as one nation instead of driving a dividing force into our political system. You say that what happens if every minority gets things the way they want? Well what happens when the majority gets everything they want? History has shown that the majority can be cruel and inhumane, slavery, persecution, and genocide just to name a few. Everyone should be treated equally in our society and our government and judicial system should reflect that just like it states in our constitution. John McCain had it right even though i don't believe in his politics when he said "Country First." I don't see that coming from all Americans at a time when our country is in trouble and should be coming together and helping to change our political system instead of excluding people like Proposition 8 did in California. And please don't ask anyone for my salvation. I think i'll be just fine thank you.

Posted By: http:// (20/01/2009 8:42:39 PM)
Comment: But you did give Obama a pass until you were called on it. You wrote your diatribe about the two Ministers but made absolutely no mention of Obama's quoting of the scripture. I bet you have no problem with Gene Robinson speaking at the coronation, do you?

Response: No i do have a problem with it also. I also have a problem with HBO not showing him because he is openly gay. Either way this shouldn't even be an issue because he shouldn't have spoken either. Religion and politics should not be mixed and i believe the founding fathers wanted it this way as well.

Posted By: http:// (20/01/2009 8:20:11 PM)
Comment: Like so many others you believe the founding fathers wanted freedom "from" religion, when what they said was freedom "of" religion. That means no State sponsored or mandated religion. If you had it your way, only atheists could be politicians. If you don't like religious people in politics, don't vote for them.

Response: First of all you didn't understand what i wrote either in my responses or my original post in which i said we should put America and Americans first before religion. I want freedom of religion with separation between church and state. To me that means that you can do and believe in whatever you want as long as you don't get the state involved. Unfortunately our country has intertwined the two too closely. President Bush said he was "ordained by God" to be president of this country. Do you agree with that? Many people, political scientists etc have said that the war in Iraq is a Jihad or holy war. is that right? Religion should be put aside when it comes to politics.

Posted By: http:// (20/01/2009 6:55:55 PM)
Comment: You are willing to give Obama a pass because he gives you hope?

Response: No I am not giving Obama a pass because he gives me hope. I don't agree with every thing Obama believes in just like you don't agree with everything your preacher, mother, brother, etc says. He gives me hope but I am looking at him critically hoping that he will make the decisions i feel are right for this nation.

Posted By: http:// (20/01/2009 6:54:19 PM)
Comment: You obviously don't understand what I wrote. Christians are supposed to put God first in their lives, that means before politics. How a Christian votes should reflect Biblical views. How a Christian politician votes should be based on Biblical teachings. You want Christians excluded from the political process because they don't agree with your belief/non belief.

Response: All politicians whether they are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Black, White, etc should not vote on their religion or because of their race, they should vote according to the constitution. I never said i wanted Christians excluded from the political process. I want all religion to be excluded from the political process.

Posted By: http:// (20/01/2009 6:03:50 PM)
Comment: Christians are supposed to put God first in their lives. That means it should always supersede politics. I respect your right to not believe, but you don't respect my right to believe.

Response: You obviously didn't understand what i wrote. I do respect your right to believe, but in the political spectrum keep it to yourself. In the United States we believe in the separation of church and state so we shouldn't include religion in politics. Religion and spirituality are great but i don't think they should be used to decide political agenda.

Posted By: Kris (20/01/2009 4:41:21 PM)
Comment: People like you are the reason we are divided....

Response: How is it people like me are the reason why this country is divided when I am asking for people to put Americans and America first before their religious beliefs? Explain yourself. Religion should be a personal experience instead of a political one.