Congress does it's Christian duty

Boo

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It's always nice to know that with so many pressing issues facing the American Congress that they can find time to support the majority and denounce the hatred and bigotry they face here and around the globe.



Here's the text of H.Res. 847, just so you know how important Christianity and Xmas are:

"Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;

(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;

(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;

(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world."





Boo
 
It's kind of ironic that Christmas celebrations were frowned upon during much of our country's history. It wasn't until the late 19th century that they started to become popular, thanks largely to the influx of immigrants who brought their traditions with them.

Steve S.
 
What a bunch of ignorant cretins. I'm getting sicker and sicker of this delusional persecution complex from the most self-satisfied and entitled Christians the world has probably ever seen. Bigots, too.
 
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Can someone please translate this for me:

"Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;"

Where, exactly, would one find the tradition of constitutional republics in the "roots" of Christianity? Or even the branches for that matter?

Last I checked my history, it was only when the political backbone of the Church was broken that constitutional republics came into being. Ergo, constitutional republics exist IN SPITE OF the West's Christian fascination, not because of it.

Am I loony, or is this attempted connection just a complete fabrication?
 
skeptical said:
Can someone please translate this for me:

"Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;"
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"Whereas we depend on Christian voters on election day, we'll pretend that western civlization has 'its roots in Christianity', one of the more popular Lies for Jesus"... how's that for a translation?
 
skeptical said:
Can someone please translate this for me:

"Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;"

Where, exactly, would one find the tradition of constitutional republics in the "roots" of Christianity? Or even the branches for that matter?

Last I checked my history, it was only when the political backbone of the Church was broken that constitutional republics came into being. Ergo, constitutional republics exist IN SPITE OF the West's Christian fascination, not because of it.

Am I loony, or is this attempted connection just a complete fabrication?
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The United States has it's roots in Christianity in that the majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Christians. It's the same way that we have our roots in brown hair, given that the majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence had brown hair.

If you recall, there's a lengthy speech in the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus explains that the best form of government should be separated into three branches and only the branch called "Congress" (not sure what it would have been in the original Aramaic) should hold the purse strings. There are also several parables between having "not come to bring peace but the sword" and all the talk of eternal damnatino in which he walks around Galilee elaborating on the natural, inalienable rights of all people.
 
Hm. I can empathize with feelings of annoyance at repeated declarations of this kind. However, I cannot find anything outrageous in that text. For a body largely composed of Christians the wording is pretty benign.
 
At least Congress didn't make the War on Christmas official. They have the power to do that you know.
 
What I find funny is the sheer ignorance of their own religion; they claim two billion people are Christians but then define Christianity as being only the protestant versions of Christianity and therefore ignore the billion and more people who are Roman Catholic Christians.
 
steve s said:
It's kind of ironic that Christmas celebrations were frowned upon during much of our country's history. It wasn't until the late 19th century that they started to become popular, thanks largely to the influx of immigrants who brought their traditions with them.

Steve S.
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"For preventing disorders, arising in several places within this jurisdiction by reason of some still observing such festivals as were superstitiously kept in other communities, to the great dishonor of God and offense of others: it is therefore ordered by this court and the authority thereof that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, upon any such account as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offence five shilling as a fine to the county."

From the records of the General Court,
Massachusetts Bay Colony
May 11, 1659

:)


ETA: Found a site with the above quote and this one:

"The generality of Christmas-keepers observe that festival after such a manner as is highly dishonourable to the name of Christ. How few are there comparatively that spend those holidays (as they are called) after an holy manner. But they are consumed in Compotations, in Interludes, in playing at Cards, in Revellings, in excess of Wine, in mad Mirth ..."

- Reverend Increase Mather, 1687
 
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I don't see how their declaration changes anything in the United States as far as Christians are concerned.
 
It doesn't - it's just politicians grandstanding, you see this for whole variety of issues, wouldn't be surprised if there haven't been similar declarations about the orange juice industry:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes the orange juice industry as one of the great industries of the world;

(2) expresses continued support for orange juice producers in the United States and worldwide;

(3) acknowledges the international trade and historical importance of orange juice and orange juice producers;

(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by orange juice drinkers and orange juice producers in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against orange juice drinkers, both in the United States and worldwide; and

(6) expresses its deepest respect to American orange juice producers and orange juice producers throughout the world."
 
Much better politicians spend their time with this nonsense rather than letting them mess up something important!
 
Darat said:
What I find funny is the sheer ignorance of their own religion; they claim two billion people are Christians but then define Christianity as being only the protestant versions of Christianity and therefore ignore the billion and more people who are Roman Catholic Christians.
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I'm not an expert in the doctrinal differences; what exactly does this refer to?
 
Puppycow said:
I'm not an expert in the doctrinal differences; what exactly does this refer to?
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The ignorance of the resolution is shown by the made-up definition they use to identify who is a Christan and who isn't: "Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;". That is not a definition that would be acceptable to the Roman Catholic Church since Roman Catholicism does not accept the Protestant (or other "Christian") Churches as being "real Churches", in the word of the Pope, they are deficient.
 
skeptical said:
Can someone please translate this for me:

"Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;"

Where, exactly, would one find the tradition of constitutional republics in the "roots" of Christianity? Or even the branches for that matter?
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One could reasonably interpret Jesus's injunction to "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar, and unto God what is God's" as saying that government may tax you, but it can not own your mind. Separation of church and state?

Galatians: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." I think Paul is speaking of the bondage of sin here, so maybe that's a stretch.

Whatever. I read that resolution as follows:

"Words..words..blah...words..words..words..words..blah...blah...words..words..words..words..blah...words..
blah..."

A waste of two minutes of the House's precious time, and probably passed during "special orders," i.e., at the end of the day's session, when all the real business has been done and half a dozen congressmen are standing around making speeches for insertion into the Congressional Record.

Am I loony, or is this attempted connection just a complete fabrication?
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What, it can't be both? :scarper:
 
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