stand up...speak out

[silent_angel]

Samuel Thompson wrote:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.

I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. "But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. And we are in the Bible Belt. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a Ping-Pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome...

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer. Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well..........just sue me..

The silent majority has been silent too long.. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want.. it is time the majority rules!

It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray.. you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right.. but by golly you are no longer going to take our rights away .. we are fighting back.. and we WILL WIN! After all the God you have the right to denounce is on our side!

God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him...

God bless America, despite all her faults.. still the greatest nation of all.....

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God...

May 2003 and 2004 be the years the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

Keep looking up...... In God WE Trust

If you agree with this, please pass it on. If not, delete it!!


WE DO HAVE TERRORISTS IN THIS COUNTRY and THEY WORK FOR THE aclu!

think about it. we are stronger than those who turn us away because we believe their is a God. we are the ones who will turn the world around and show them that their is a God and he will save up.

 

[OnTheMountain]

awsome quotes. Makes you think and stand up for our faith no matter what ne one says

 

[God's Child]

yeah, great quotes

I have a copy of the "Students' Bill of Rights" taped to my locker. It states the rights of Christian students in schools. I'll post it here sometime. We have the right to pray. Several people have stopped at my locker to read the Bill of Rights.
In English I have been turning in a Christian poem every week. Once I get them typed, they will be hung outside the room in the hallway. I also wrote a letter to S.E. Hinton that I posted in the Creative writing forum. I have been using my writing to reach my peers. The letter is for a contest, but we are going to send them to the authors too. I would like to encourage everyone else here to spread the Gospel at school through your writing also.

 

[Nikki]

In English I have been turning in a Christian poem every week. Once I get them typed, they will be hung outside the room in the hallway. I also wrote a letter to S.E. Hinton that I posted in the Creative writing forum. I have been using my writing to reach my peers. The letter is for a contest, but we are going to send them to the authors too. I would like to encourage everyone else here to spread the Gospel at school through your writing also.

Great Job, God's Child!!! :angel:

 

[HelloKitty]

Please, christian or not you need to see both sides of an argument.

If I went to a Ping-Pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

Problem with that statement is that there are no gods or other high beings in Buddhism. A minority of Buddhists worship a God...there is nothing agaisnt Buddhists worshiping gods, but Siddhartha Gautama did declare himself divine, nor did he proclaim he was a messanger, prophet or had any other association with any higher beings. Buddha is not 'god', contrary to popular belief.

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.

Well, you gotta think, Christmas IS a Christian holiday. Many people of other faiths HAVE complained about Christmas carols in public schools. In my last year of elementry it seemed in fact that they would sing more songs about Hanukkah and Kwanza than Christmas.

I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Again, people have. A while back I believed they tried to get creationism taught in science class.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal?

Now, try and think about something for a second. If America is a true country of freedom, including freedom of religion then some would say there shouldn't be ANY thing associated with religion or any 'god' what so ever. If you would like to say one to yourself, go ahead...you have the right. But to announce it over a loud speaker in front of hundreds-thousands just might not be the same. What if instead they DID say a prayer to Allah instead of a Christian prayer...would you be cool with it still? Why should one religion get all the recognition if this is truely a free country?

The silent majority has been silent too long.. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want.. it is time the majority rules!

Oh please. What if the minority wanted to scream? What if the atheists are sick and tired of hearing "Under God" in the pledge or seeing "In God we trust" on money when this is kind of a clear violation of their constitional rights? You can easily say "well does it really hurt them so much...its two words", then again you can say if its just two words why not remove them? For those of you that did not know, the words "Under God" were not part of the original pledge of allegience.

you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance

Oh really? Don't know about you, but i would feel like an idiot and probably be called a disgrace and be accused of disrespecting my country if I did not stand and recite the pledge...they practically force us too.

Now I still am begging you to actually think beyond YOUR own religion and into the lives of others and what America really stood for. Saying "God Bless America", "Under God" and "In God We Trust" practically goes against what America stood for. You're saying that Americans have the right to say and think what they want, to practice any religion freely, to live how they want. Now, "God bless" them. This limits the freedom of the non-christians, they feel inferior, the melting pot of culture is givin a slogan that doesn't favor them all. This is like saying that skin colour doesn't matter and everyone is equal...and then adding "White people rock".

 

[silent_angel]

Now I still am begging you to actually think beyond YOUR own religion and into the lives of others and what America really stood for. Saying "God Bless America", "Under God" and "In God We Trust" practically goes against what America stood for. You're saying that Americans have the right to say and think what they want, to practice any religion freely, to live how they want. Now, "God bless" them. This limits the freedom of the non-christians, they feel inferior, the melting pot of culture is givin a slogan that doesn't favor them all. This is like saying that skin colour doesn't matter and everyone is equal...and then adding "White people rock".[/quote]

i hope you understand that this wasn't to upset anyone its just that we need to speak out as christians and tell ohters more about God. this wasn;t to go into deep detial abotu opther religions but to just talk about how we can't pray or speak about god where ever nad when ever.

 

[brettsamuel]

I would like to point out that Christmas was originally a pagan ritual

 

[HelloKitty]

I know many people of different religions and cultures and try to remain as open minded as possible.

i hope you understand that this wasn't to upset anyone its just that we need to speak out as christians and tell ohters more about God.

No, you don't need to speak out and tell others about God. Why? In America they hear it everywhere, this is the point I was trying to make. If a person is happy being or doing whatever they want don't try to force beliefs upon them. I know to you it may not appear to be "forcing" but it can get very annoying if a person goes on and on about their religion and how it is the right one. If you want to have a kind talk to a non-christian friend about your religion, go for it...if they don't seem interested, drop it. Or else how would you feel if they kept bugging you about THEIR religion?
I believe I saw on another post here that Christian churches out number others 200 to 1, I think there is enough influence on the people about christianity...there are also a wide range of shows dedicated to it on TV. I say this not to offend or start an argument, but many non-christians who would have otherwise been perfectly happy following their religion begin to feel down and inadequate when they see christianity everywhere.

but to just talk about how we can't pray or speak about god where ever nad when ever.

It seems to the contrary that you can speak about god where and whenever you want. So the Christians have to give up their influence in government, you can speak about god in your church with all the other christians you know. You can pray to god at home, silentely during the moment of silence at school, pray to yourself on the bus, while walking home...there is nothing reading your thoughts ready to shock you unconscious when your mind brings up god. If you want to speak of your god in public, allow others to speak about their religions in public as well. If you want speak about god to your childrens friends at school, let someone jewish or hindu or islamic come in and speak about their religion to your children also. If you can't accept that, don't bring up religion at all.

 

[Vic C.]

silent_angel,

I thought that was a wonderful posr, regardless what SOME think. It doesn't spark debates, is raises some very important questions... We (Christians) must endure and tolerate the beliefs of others...Why do others get so upset with our beliefs? Why are so many people threatened by the mere mention of Jesus name? What do these people see when they look in the mirror and do they even like what they see?

The answers have already been given to us by Jesus Himself and they start right here...

John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Just like James Dean, Rebels without a cause.

 

[HelloKitty]

I think you're missing the point.
Have you ever been upset with anyone elses beliefs? Would you like it if everywhere in the US you went all you heard was how great Allah was or how much we should be thankful for Vishnu? How about if a satanist went to talk to your children at school?
Christians arn't "losing their rights" or being limited, people of other religions or cultures are just sick of their rights being violated.
Why are people so annoyed with telemarketers?
Why don't people like spam emails?
Whats wrong with going door to door forcing your beliefs upon others?
When you take an entire country built on different beliefs, different ways of life, full of different people with different cultures, call them all equal and then place them all "Under God"...even though many people within that society do not believe in that God it is not equal, and it can hurt many peoples life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Just as segregation harmed the life, liberty and persuit of happiness of the african americans. Just as not allowing woman a chance to vote was harming their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. So why shouldn't there be religion in government? Because it associates the country with one religion, when in fact many people of different beliefs live in that country. It can make others of different religions feel down, inferior, inadequate when they would have otherwise had no problem with theirselfs. Walk into a room full of catholics, get over a loudspeaker and yell "I'm Jewish!", walk into a room full of african americans and yell "My uncle was in the KKK!" and see how many people accept these things.

 

[Vic C.]

That is SO much different than prayer. You can't even compare the two.

And yes, I do get angry about a LOT of things. God is working in that area of my life.

 

[HelloKitty]

What are you talking about?
No one is telling you not to pray, no one is forcing YOU to convert. Others are just asking that you don't pray publically, outloud, and ask others to pray with you. If you want to pray, by all means, pray, you can pray silently at school, in court, on the sports field...
Just as a Buddhist can meditate, silentely, at work, at school, even in a room full of loud people if they are that good at meditation.

 

[silent_angel]

when i worte this, i didn't want to start a debat or anything. i jsut wanted to popint out that we are all sufforing form the same thing aoudn hte wrold. o hvaen't been able to read all of your replies but i will and get back to get and everyone of you. i wish that this is kee going and let others share thier idea and opnions.

 

[SavedChild]

Hey

No, you don't need to speak out and tell others about God.

When we accept Christ into our lives and get baptized we are also agreeing to speak out and tell others about Christ. We may be he closest someone gets to a Bible. Silent Angel is only keeping her peomise and it seems like some of you are trying to take away her freedom of speech. Is that truely fair. We don't go around and tell others not to talk about the things they so. So if you would please just see it from our point of view. And if you wish not to that is okay. But realize that by telling her not to speak out about Christ you are telling her to disobey God. Her true Father.

 

[silent_angel]

thank you SavedCHild. your piont is right...and my freedoms can't be taken away by people who only know the one side of me. thank you