Searching for values in a post-Christian nation

[MonteSano]

In 1892, the Supreme Court, in Holy Trinity Church vs. U.S., referred to the United States as "a Christian nation." At the time, most American leaders considered the Bible the final arbiter on religious matters. Entire towns closed down on Sundays, placing a higher priority on church than on commerce.

Today, America is a far more diverse place with many holy books and several Sabbaths. Many people view religion as divisive and want to remove it altogether from the public sphere. But Jonathan Miller, Kentucky's state treasurer, contends there are lowest common denominators that people of all faiths share that can provide a faith-based foundation to undergird American democracy.

In The Compassionate Community: Ten Values to Unite America, Miller seeks these universal values. The greatest, he says, is compassion. Love of neighbor is an idea that Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, plus Native American and African indigenous religions already embrace.

"These traditions teach us that showing compassion for others, particularly the needy, is a manifestation of God's love for us all," he writes. "This ethic of compassion for others is deeply ingrained into American history and culture."



http://spirituality.typepad.com/biblebelt/

[JDPriestly]

1. The Supreme Court was wrong (not a first)

Defining nation as a political entity, we are not and never were "a Christian nation." We are a nation in which the majority of religious people claim to be Christian. In fact, I was taught that a true Christian is one who lives according to the teachings of Christ. Assuming that definition to be true, we are a nation in which the majority of religious people are aspiring to be Christian. Note that I do not claim that the majority of Americans are aspiring to be Christian. That is because, I suspect that the majority of Americans will tell pollsters that they are are religious, but that only a minority of Americans consider religious principles in making ordinary decisions about their behavior. Some of the most prominent and active churchgoers forget all about religious and moral principles once they leave church or put aside their Bible after their morning devotions.

[bryant69]

3. I'm always wary of the phrase "we are a Christian nation"

because I don't know what it means. Or I don't know what the speaker intends it to mean. I suspect it often means "Screw Muslims and any other non-Christian group (and a few fringe Christiand groups too, actually)." That appears not to be the case in this case, but a bit of wariness probably wouldn't be out of place.

At any rate it's comforting to know that a message in which Christianity leads to brotherhood is far less appealling on the public square than, say, Robertsons version.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[cosmik debris]

2. Sounds like a hypocrite to me

"Atheists and agnostics aren't excluded from Miller's community either. Anyone is welcome who believes in family, faith, freedom, work, respect, responsibility, opportunity, justice, life and peace."

This guy did not get the memo, atheists do not have faith. And I don't know what agnostics have, but I don't think faith is a top priority!