1.19.2010

Government In A Christianist State

Last Thursday, the Nashville Scene published an article (short enough to read quickly, so go ahead!) titled, If you love Jesus, this is your state legislature. The article exposes the practice of the "Minister of the Day" in the Tennessee legislature. And, of course, each minister of the day is a solid member of the conservative Christian right, opening each session with a hearty fire-and-brimstone Christianist "prayer".

HOW is this okay?!

OMG! For the last time - you ignorant, arrogant, dillholes - the United States of America is NOT a Christian nation. Nor were we founded on Christianity. In fact our founders tried very hard to make sure we kept a healthy separation between church and state. This separation is very important if we don't want to end up like Iran.

It drives me crazy that this practice is allowed. If you want to begin each session with a moment of silence for each individual to prepare internally for the work about to be done, fine. I'm okay with that. But to tolerate what is essentially hate-speech cloaked in a "prayer" is unacceptable.

Shouldn't Christians be opposed to politicizing their religion? Wasn't Jesus supposed to have said something like, 'my kingdom is not of this world'? What part of that do we not understand? Christianists (as opposed to Christians) wield Christianity as a political force and engage in the political pollution of a sincere and personal faith. I don't care if my legislator is a Christian. I start to care when they don't protest the Christianist "prayers" contaminating our government.

If you live in TN, find this practice disturbing, and want to email your representative to let them know, you can find your legislator HERE

4 comments:

mom said...

I doubt if Jesus would be at all pleased with such hypocrisy. Blathering idiots who arrogantly assume they know what others believe and arrogantly assume what Jesus stood for. "prayer Warriors" warriors is probably correct, as we count the millions of people who have been slain in the name of Christianity. It seems most hideous atrocities and wars are in the name of some religion or another. Doesn't get much worse than that.

Unknown said...

God told me to "eat, drink, and be merry"...Then Jesus chimed in "don't forget the sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll!"

Later that same day Gabriel called me up and ordered a tuna on rye with slaw from NYDELI ... They forgot the pickle.

Mars Girl said...

This here is exactly why I will never live in the south....

My Year Without said...

Hi Cathryn! I just received your comment and am excited to get back to you on that at MYW, but I had to check out your blog...and this post really struck a chord with me!

You put it so well. I feel like I have this argument all the time with people. It is so sad when anyone "uses" religion for power instead of "using" it for a personal faith journey. It sure makes "god" and otherwise benign "religion" look nasty!