Louisiana to require the 10 Commandments in classroom

[Dill]

(06-22-2024, 01:15 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: I don't want to upset or offend anyone of the Catholic faith. But as a Christian, there are some things about the faith I disagree with, so I'll just leave that at that.

My comments about the Catholic faith were ironic. I don't think any order of the Commandments is better than another. 

But a Protestant order is certainly endorsing Protestantism as the "right" version.

(06-22-2024, 01:15 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Dr. Carson is a breath of fresh air. I can't begin to explain the admiration I have for this dude. Don't dislike him for his Christian values. If you look beyond your distaste of religion in politics, or religion period, he has strong values as a human being and has dedicated his life to helping people. 

Dr. Carson thinks the Pyramids of Egypt were built by Joseph to store grain. I've been in one. Impossible. 
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/presidential-candidate-ben-carson-stands-belief-pyramids-built-store-grain

(06-22-2024, 01:15 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: I don't disagree in a sense because of the message. I do agree with most that religion in schools & government is not a good fit. I think America is desperately in need of finding our way back to the moral ground. I'm sure you'll find an argument in that statement, and rightfully so. What I think is good doesn't apply to all.

But we both know he's not. His supporters (those that I know) couldn't give two sheets about religion. They want to prosper, raise their children, and enjoy life. They believe in working hard and rewarding themselves and family with their labor. They don't work to pay for other people's degrees. They don't work to pay for illegal immigrants to live a better life than them in some 5-star hotel in Manhattan with free meals and room service, etc, etc. 

I see no reason to believe Trump is a practicing Christian or knows anything about the Bible. 

But he does see how religion can win him votes. And he has delivered for the Christian right. He is a big part of the reason they are now in position to impose more of their views on the nation. (Check out the Project 2025 thread.)  That will be true in foreign policy as well. As theologian Lance Wallnau put it--Trump is the Chaos candidate," "God's wrecking ball."  https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/lance-wallnau-why-trump-gods-chaos-candidate-and-wrecking-ball. 

Some of Trump's supporters don't give "two sheets" about religion. E.g., the Billionaires whose taxes he has promised to cut. Other supporters are more stoked by grievance, and false stories of immigrants in $395 a night hotel rooms. (That's why I asked why the Commandments and not the Beatitudes? Why OT and not NT morality in the classroom?)  Stoking grievance and poison-in-the-nation's-blood style xenophobia are hardly the way to a higher moral ground. That is the pathway to power of all authoritarian populists, and I can think of no instance where that ever turned out well. 

I believe you when you say most Trump supporters you know aren't especially religious, but I also believe polls that show he has locked down the Evangelical vote. I also believe that myriad pastors who tell their congregations that Trump is accomplishing God's will believe what they are saying. Trump has been the primary conduit through which (to continue the blood metaphor) Christian nationalism has entered the national bloodstream, not only through court appointments but also through national politicians who embrace it, e.g. in the House from MTG to the Speaker. 

The Louisiana law is not about some general return to morality, but another battle in the war to impose Christian "dominion" on the nation. They are also hiring chaplains for schools and forbidding discussion of sexual orientation. The governor who signed the bill says he wants children to "see God's law" on the wall. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/louisiana-ten-commandments-law-is-christian-nationalism.html