Granted, the Us government was influence by the culture around it and its shortcomings. So, is modern Orthodoxy with the Roman Empire influence of the Byzantines. In fact, I think most americans less critical of politicans and presidents compared to the Byzantines of their own emperors-Procopius thought that Justinian and Theodora were demons in human form. Not that I would ever go that far even for Obama who I even feel sorry now because the left based of his party is giving him hell over comprising with the Repubicians.
]]>Well, Father, I don’t doubt the truth of what David Barton says, but the fruit of the government funded ‘evagnelization’ of the native Americans from Jefferson on is not to be celebrated IMO. Just ask our brothers and sisters in Christ in Alaska.
The U.S. ‘evangelization’ destroyed families, culuture and lives with a speed and effectiveness that armies could not begin to approach.
The culutral deposit of the Great Awakenings in this country I see as a disastor that paved the way for much of what we complain about today, the atomization of community, the rise of progressivism, and the replacement of the Gospel of Truth with the gospel of the individual.
Protestant history turned into Protestant myth combined with the maximum santitizing of modern hagiography.
I have no doubt that Jefferson would have risen to power in almost any society in which he lived the was brilliant intellectually and a Machievellian politically. He looked up on religion as a means to social dominance and control. He would have used the dominant religion of whatever society to achieve the same ends. His actions as President show no evidence of actual faith or belief–just politics baby.
Barton, in attempting to address the lies and distortions of his political opponents is merely adding another layer of false mythos that does Chrisitianity little good.
]]>Bravo!!! Fr. Johannes.
When I clicked on the video I saw the man speaking, and I knew exactly who and what he is and I knew what he was going to say. He’s a great fighter of American Justice in the educational world.
BRAVO.
God Bless you.
]]>Thanosloukas, you might like this:
Not to mention that this is a Messianic proclamation used for Christ only.
]]>I believe you have been grossly misinformed, regarding Church and State separation.
I tend to agree w/ Mr. Andrew Behm and Mr. Nick Katich veru much.
You obviously have been lead astray by the liberal media. First in our constitution which was written by our Forefathers who just happened to be VERY Christian orientated, especially if you bothered to read some of the speeches these men have left us in their own writting.
Thomas Jeferson
George Washington
John Adams
Francis Scott Key
Just to name a few! Church was never apart from the foundations of this couyntry.
As a Greek Orthodox Theologian I can assure you! You are mis-informed about how Church and Politics work and have worked together in history.
]]>The US Republic in its earliest stages donated land for and even funded Churches.
]]>Andrew, along those lines: The then GOA national ‘clergy front PR men’ during a visit of one of the folks from Turkey put a banner over the top of the street under which his car would pass: ‘Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord’.
The sort of ordained person able to think enough of himself that he’s willing to pass under that amid some cheering people and smile and wave. To complete it perhaps there ought to be kids in the car throwing out candy and icons of Christ ‘Extreme Humility’ and have ‘our hero’ refer to himself in writing as ‘Our Modesty’. (Wait for it..)
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Which I actually read with my own eyes once.
Holy Buckets.
]]>Isa, my own opinion of Jimmy Carter is even more jaundiced than yours. He’s not only crotchety, but a resentful, bitter old man. Ever since Ronald the Great handed him his ass in 1980, he’s had a hate affair with this country and has fashioned a bigoted view of it which more comports to his own delusions. You have to wonder if he’s really a Christian, the love of Christ is nowhwere found within him based on his writings and speeches. (Come to think of it, he sounds very much like Frankie.)
]]>On the other hand, the church in America has a similar responsibility; namely, to avoid getting involved in political affairs. More specifically, clergy should not urge their parishioners to vote for certain candidates who are running for state and federal offices.
No, the Church in America has no such responsibility. Several states the ratified the first amendment had state churches, and continued to do so. The Orthodox Church in America was incorporated by terms of the AK Cession treaty. Each and every present state constitution mentions God, and eight bar atheists from holding office: only since 1961 have the clauses been held unenforceable (the interpretation wasn’t possible until after the 14th Amendment-there never had been a challenge until then, and even then not for a while, alomst a century after the 1st Amendment’s existence-and even then it wasn’t so applied until 1947.)
The First Amendment wasn’t submitted for approval to the Church. It is therefore not a party to that social contract.
I also do not see the exception clause in the 1st Amendment which prohibits bishops who are citizens of the US from exercising free speech.
Is Jimmy Carter upset about Rev. Wright’s speeches?
Much to the chagrin to SCOTUS Kagan, the Church doesn’t get its right to speak from the First Amendment, the First Amendment just prohibits the State from telling the Church what to say.
]]>Harry, speaking of “Rooking Mahvellous”, I remember a certain GOA bishop of blessed memory who used to drive around in an expensive car with the personalized plate “AGAPE 1”
]]>Nick, that is because rationality can only exist in any meaningful way when it is founded upon man as the image and likeness of his creator. Anything else is the tyranny of the temporarly powerful and the permanantly irrational.
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