LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY swisscelt)

I saw something rather disturbing at Wal-Mart yesterday: A woman was wearing a t-shirt with the IXQYS fish, but it was emblazoned with the stars and stripes of the American flag. Underneath was written something along the lines of "Jesus is Lord".

Is it Jesus that this woman is worshipping, or the unofficial Christian religion of the American federal government whose goddess is Lady Liberty and whose emblem is the Stars and Stripes? I know that Lady Liberty has her own symbolism as a demigoddess of American Paganism, but think about it: American Christianity differs to great extent from historical Christianity. What many modern Christians propose in the United States is, IMO, nothing like what Jesus taught.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

Pat Robertson, ever eager to make himself look foolish, has publicly urged Christians to 'cry to the Lord' to influence three Supreme Court justices to step down.

Broadcaster Pat Robertson calls for retirement of justices

The accompanying picture is interesting- Robertson with his eyes screwed shut and looking like he's constipated. (Why do some people do this? Inquiring minds would really like to know...) I have to wonder what God thinks about this cheekiness?

From my own point of view, such calls for mass prayer to influence another in any way smack of traditional black magick (or toxic prayer, which is just as bad, if not worse)- which is manipulative and controlling. Of course, they'd never admit this, but the karmic blowback from such activities will not be averted just because the ones praying are 'Christian'.

"If we fast and pray and earnestly seek God’s face, then He will hear our prayer and give us relief."

God just might have a warped sense of humor and decide to relieve the world of Mr. Robertson. Talk about the ultimate karmic blowback... Now, that would be justice truly served. Be careful what you pray for, folks...you just might get it.

Sunfell

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

Religious Divide Cited for US, European Political Differences

While faith-based organizations play a significant role in American politics, the experts said, similar organizations in Europe are far less influential. The political influence of American faith-based groups also appears connected to the importance individual Americans place on religion.

According to recent findings by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, sponsored by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 59 percent of Americans identified religion as an important part of their lives. In contrast, 11 percent of the French, 14 percent of Russians and 33 percent of Britons said religion was important to them.

"Europe is decidedly a post-Christian society," said Dr. Richard Lessner, executive director of the Family Research Council's American Renewal Project. "Faith is far less important in the daily lives of Europeans. Their institutions are not rooted in a particular faith point-of-view. They are thoroughly secular societies, with a very different national history from the national history of America."

I know that when I was living in Germany and the UK- the discussion of religious beliefs was considered distasteful and even vulgar. A British friend of mine expressed her unhappiness at being accosted by a prosetlyser while visiting in the US. Such things just aren't done there- and when they do happen, they are not welcomed.

Sunfell