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I cannot remember where I got them from as it was while back somewhere over the internet that I had saved to my disk. Some of them might be useful to you.
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Those of us that have faith tempered with a knowledge of our own humanity and obligation to others in the spirit of the message of 'I am my brother's keeper' will vote our consciences and if we are true to our beliefs, those votes will never go to the selfish, greedy, corrupt, mean-spirited, arrogant, hypocrites that run and seem to gravitate toward the republican party.
~~~~~
Evangelicals need to be "Saved"
Many of them are quite frankly, following an anti-Christ religion of greed and hate. If they continue to ignore the actual teachings of Jesus and embrace the Doomsday Cult that their leaders have created, the GOP can have them. The rest of America is sick of them and proved that last Tuesday.
Amen?
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If being a Christian isn't about helping people, helping the poor, taking care of our children & elderly, then I think the repubs must go to a different type of church than I grew up with. Not to mention the fact that I firmly also believe in a separation of church and state, which they seem to have forgotten. Why is it so hard to look to a church for religious guidance rather than a bunch of politicians?! I believe our government should help people rather than hurt people, but to me, that is a basic humanitarian issue that should go without saying, not a religious issue.....
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There is a growing portion of the evangelical community for whom abortion and gay marriage are not the defining elements of Christianity. A few of these actually take the Sermon on the Mount literally ("blessed are the peacemakers") and are coming around to a progressive point of view. They've been mislead by their spiritual and political leaders, and to the extent that they've seen the light, they should be welcome in our tent.
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True, people of faith have always tried to bring their interpretation of the Bible to bear on American laws and morals ... it's the American way, encouraged and protected by the First Amendment. But what is unique today is that the radical religious right has succeeded in taking over one of America's great political parties. The country is not yet a theocracy but the Republican Party is, and they are driving American politics, using God as a battering ram on almost every issue: crime and punishment, foreign policy, health care, taxation, energy, regulation, social services and so on.
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It's always dangerous talking about politics or religion. Talking about both is DOOMED from the start! Clearly, when you do, it's like mixing fire and gasoline. There are always lot of emotions involved. I truly do respect anyone's personal religious beliefs and am extremely thankful for their freedom to believe as they chose... up to the point where they want to impose their beliefs on me.
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The reason for this is not only to protect politics from the influence of religion. This reason for this is also to protect religion from the influence of politics! What is the record of nations in Europe that have the Lutherans or Catholics as their national churches. Is religion as vital there as it is here where we have a wall for the benefit of both? Once religions start taking government money (e.g. Bush's 'faith-based' initiatives) there is the inevitable corruption of faith that will follow.
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The NeoCon right has tried to portray liberals as godless enemies of religion and people of faith. It is this perception, this false propaganda that must be taken on and brought down. It is those who would fail to respect the separation of church and state our founding fathers so wisely instituted that are the threat to religious freedom and vitality. They would allow our spiritual paths to be infested with political bickering and dilute the sincerity of belief by feeding from the federal trough of taxpayer monies.
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'How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Hhappy the gentle; they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn; they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right; they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful; they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart; they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'
~~~
What Does Liberty Mean?
Liberty n.
The condition of being free from restriction or control.
The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.
The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor. Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
Liberate tr.v.
To set free, as from oppression, confinement, or foreign control.
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