Online Reactions: We Are Not a Christian Nation

At a press conference in Turkey earlier this week, President Obama stated that "We are not a Christian nation, or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation."   While acknowledging the large number of people professing to be Christian in the United States, Obama reflected that the United States is a nation that is bound by shared ideals.

Some on the right claim that the ideals and values that the country shares are based on Judeo-Christian tradition.

Blogs and forums around the web are buzzing, with some having more extreme opinions than those given to Wolf Blitzer at CNN (see video below).   At Townhall.com, a forum poster with the handle OnceAlwaysMarine writes,

Maybe Our Muslim President Doesn't Think this is a Christian nation…but, of course…he doesn't EVER speak FOR AMERICA.   …does he?

Another writer adds,

…to say this….in a Muslim country, in the middle of Holy Week, is fighting words to millions of Americans….and surely he knows that. He is signaling that he has completed his bloodless coup.     His smugness and self-satisfaction and his continuous 'in your face' governing style are making people angrier and angrier…because he represents precious few of the everyday Americans who make up the backbone of this country."

Over at Power Line News, a forum poster smelled a conspiracy in the works.

As Pres Osama flew around the world trashing America, he claimed that America is not a Christian nation. OK If he believes that, so be it. He's an idiot. If you follow the dots, you find that they lead straight to the MSM. Newsweek's recent cover title just happens to be, "Is Christianity Fading in America". I smell a RAT, a democRAT. Coincidence? Please, nothing in politics is coincidental. This is just another example of coordinated efforts between the MSM and the DNC. Dead tyrants must be blushing in their graves."

At the Free Republic forum, posters were particularly angry.   One wrote:

This idiot really doesn't have a clue.He is nothing but a pop star.He definitely hasn't studied American history.Maybe be he should start with the pledge of allegiance.Maybe the constitution.He must be speaking of his African country.

Here is CNN's report on the speech, with both sides weighing in.

Sean Hannity was furious.   Here's his commentary:

Obama's remarks were welcomed by Bob Boston at the Americans For Separation of Church and State:

Obama's remarks in Turkey reflect the best of Jefferson's thinking and rebuke people like Gingrich, Bauer and O'Reilly.

Over at Huffington Post, there was a mix of   "pro-Christian nation" commenters and people who supported Obama's position.   A poster using the name Kishagreen wrote:

Saw this on the Bishop T.D. Jakes' blog and had to share:

Several months ago I had the privilege of appearing again on "Larry King Live." He asked me a very poignant question, "Is this a Christian nation?" I immediately replied, "No. This is a nation with a lot of Christians in it." Many times majority groups think that their views control the country, which for me as a Christian is a great idea. But what happens when and if the numbers switch and we aren't the majority? The founding fathers created a democratic system that separated church from state so that, as a country, we could avoid the slippery slope of getting into the business of telling people what to believe. That is a job they left to be determined by the individual, the synagogue, the mosque and the church!

A country that has one national religion as its only compass is much more of a theocracy than a democracy. That kind of tyranny leads to witch burning, spiritual genocide, forced and fraudulent expressions of faith, and God knows what else. As wonderful as faith is, faith out of control can be lethal.

http://www.tdjenterprises.com/blog/

Gingrich Claims That the Obama Administration is Anti-Religious

CNN's Political Tracker carried a story today about Newt Gingrich's remarks on the Obama administration.   Claiming that Obama and his administration are "intensely secular," Gingrich complained to Fox news about the appointment of Fred Knox to the 25-member Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

CNN reports that   "Since 2005, Knox has served as the director of the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization that advocates on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. He is also a former Methodist pastor."

It should be noted that Obama appointed Tony Dungy to the Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships council.   Dungy is well known for his alignment with the religious right on issues such as gay marriage and reproductive rights.

Take a Quiz on the Separation of Church and State.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation has a factually-based online quiz titled, "What Do You Know About the Separation of State and Church?"   After taking the test, FFRF gives answers with corresponding legal and historical references that you can look up and verify.

Sphere: Related Content

Related posts:

1. The "Christian Nation" and "Muslim Nation" Distortion
2. Christian Nation Update: Hitchens v. Blackwell
3. Bush v Obama On The Christian Nation
4. Spreading Lies in the Name of the Judeo-Christian Nation
5. The Christian Nation – If you don't like the facts, rewrite 'em.
6. Coming out atheist: young nonbelievers build community in college and online
7. PRESS RELEASE: Obama Inaction On Faith-Based Initiative Is Deeply Disappointing, Says Americans United
8. Religious News Verses: Barton's Bogus Quotes Used by the Tea Party and More 'Christian Nation' News
9. PRESS RELEASE: Upcoming Debate: 'Is America a Christian Nation?'
10. Americans United Joins Broad Coalition Of Groups Asking Obama To Reform ‘Faith-Based’ Initiative

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4 Responses to “Online Reactions: We Are Not a Christian Nation”

1. Deborah says:

   April 9, 2009 at 9:30 am

   The people who are mad about the "we are not a Christian nation" are all giving emotional types of responses and resorting to name calling. It seems like the political landscape is turning into a battle between the emotional vs. the logical people.

   Reply
2. Krakow says:

   April 10, 2009 at 5:17 am

   Obama said something that the majority of Americans would agree with. It is our laws and values that define the nation not the religion. Once again I think he did well. Given that Turkey has struggled to separate religion and politics and given this context you understand his comments.

   Reply
3. Urbain says:

   April 10, 2009 at 6:20 pm

   Right on! The people who are writing hateful material about what Obama said are the ones who seem to be more concerned with the percentage of the population that is Christian, not governing structure.

   Reply
4. Dakota O'Leary says:

   April 13, 2009 at 10:19 pm

   all these guys are pissed because a Democrat won. Period. Sore losers.

   Reply

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