What's Wrong Today?
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Our first U.S. president’s first official action was to lead the entire Congress, along with his entire Cabinet, down Wall Street (New York was the capital of the U.S. at that time) to St. Paul’s Church, which still exists on what is now ground zero.
There, George Washington invoked God in prayer on behalf of a new nation, asking God to watch over it and protect it. It was because of this action that we can say we are, or at least were, “one nation under God.”
Is that the America of today? Sadly, no. What’s wrong with America? We no longer put first things first. What did Jesus tell us to seek first? Was it government, health care, lower taxes, food stamps or jobs? No. Jesus told us to “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things would be added unto you.”
What’s wrong with America? We have become our own gods, trying to do it all ourselves and only pay lip service to the one who gives us the power to get wealth. We seem to have forgotten it is all his, anyway, and we are just stewards of his blessings.
When we put his kingdom first, the blessing and protection of almighty God will cover this land again. If we put our trust in the almighty dollar for prosperity or the almighty government for righteousness, our children will not ask what is wrong with America, but why did America fail?
What’s wrong with America? We can no longer truthfully say, “In God We Trust.”
T.J. Gilroy
Foxfire Village
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Comments
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Perhaps if we quit praying for "god" to do something and start doing what will do some good, we'll be better off. I suggest stop the "worshiping" and start treating others as you would want them to treat you. It's simple, straightforward, does not require payment of dues or weekly meetings and can be done without assistance from others. Of course, their is no monetary motive involved, so it will be criticized my many.
JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago
If it were Ground Zero it wouldn't exist, would it?
One nation under God was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, somewhat after Washington's stroll and has never been this nation's motto.
As this was the day of his inauguration, he did not yet have a cabinet.
Seems to be a lot of wishful thinking here.
madstork 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Ground Zero “snarkyness” is repulsive to those of us who lost friends in the radical Islamic attack on our country. Nice touch Heimhole.
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
What's wrong with America? Simple, Republicans and Democrats and the people who keep putting them in office thinking that there is a hairs worth of difference between them. Oh, sorry you were talking about religion. That one is rather simple too, don't force your beliefs on others. Wait, that works for politics too!! Yup, everything is wrong with Amurka.
njc17 3 months, 3 weeks ago
And so it starts again. YES Washington DID lead the new leaders of the new nation to the Church, Washington Did invoke God's blessing and protection on this fledgling nation, and Yes under the Eisenhower in God we trust was added to the lexicon. BUT the minority is driving God out of everyday life and sadly the Christian community is allowing them by tacit attitudes. When the public views the lack of personal values by so many politicians, the lack of moral restraint throughout government , it IS because they no longer have God as their guide. The Christian majority MUST regain their sense of purpose, and Faith in the Holy Spirit standing with them against these blithering forces evil. Then again we can see the standing of moral values just reading some of the comments can't we.
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I haven't attended church in a long time but I have to admit, prior to the big push to drive out/tamp down the Christian faith mass shootings didn't seem to occur with nearly the frequency. Many try to blame guns but guns, even the type under scrutiny have been around for a very long time.
clarabelle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"prior to the big push to drive out/tamp down the Christian faith "
I wonder exactly when "this" took place. Seems like it's the other way around - religion being pushed down peoples throats!
When will these "christians" simply stop blaming a lack of belief for the ills of the world. So many people - it's almost to be expected sadly - a few violent nuts! The vast majority of people are NOT this way thankfully!
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"Seems like it's the other way around - religion being pushed down peoples throats!"
Please describe how-when-where the circumstances of the last episode of someone trying to push religion "down your throat". Don't leave out any of the details.
njc17 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Clara sounds bitter
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
fugitiveguy: ever been to a NASCAR race? Ever look at what is printed on your money? Ever heard anyone at a public gathering say: "Let us pray".
JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago
wdd - Those were simple statements of fact. The letter write was wrong about the events of the day.
It is remarkable that the very people who worship the Constitution have no idea what's in it. The same might be said of there Bible.
That church may be all sorts of holy, but it's not Ground Zero. Both airliners were flown into the World Trade Center. That is Ground Zero.
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
wdd101st, But what if I don't want to give up my right to attend a NASCAR race, or spend my currency or attend public gatherings? Why should I have to sacrifice so you can enjoy your "rights"? If you want to offer up prayers to your gods, why do they have to be public? Can your gods only hear your prayers when recited out loud by groups of people? I can practice my beliefs in silence, why can't you? You seem concerned that schools are preparing our children to live in the real world. Would you rather they be taught that every family consists of a mother, a father, two children and a family pet who live in the suburbs in a house with a white picket fence? Would you have children believe that every daddy goes to his job every morning while every mommy cleans house, cooks meals and goes to PTA meetings? It is up to you as a parent to see that your children have the set of values you want for them. It is up to the school system to teach them how to survive in the real world by preparing them with the necessary skills to earn a living. One of those skills is learning how to live in actual reality.
JD 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I haven't attended church in a long time but I have to admit, prior to the big push to drive out/tamp down the Christian faith
Well let's look at the graph representing the size of different faith based communities in America.
by JD
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Great graph, JD.
JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Jesus made very few direct requests in his lifetime, but the one thing he was adamant about was that praying in public was an activity for hypocrites; that the truly devout pray in private, in their closets even.
His followers aren't about to change their ways just because He wants it. It's important to show everyone how Christian one is, certainly more holy than the rest of us.
It's ironic that here, in the most religious country in the world, there's not enough religiosity. I'm not sure there could ever be enough for our truly devout.
FightFireWithFire 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Good graph, indeed. I think the main problem that I have started seeing in this country is that people inherently want everyone around them to be like them; same religious beliefs, same political beliefs, same sexual orientation, etc. However, since cars, planes and trains take people all over the place now, people are moving into areas where the ideals are sometimes very different from what they were "taught" growing up. I left N.Y. and learned several things: Religion is what you make it, alternate sexuality is not a bad thing, being able to see both sides of a political discussion is not bad, and everyone who isn't white, Italian and Catholic is not always bad. Why can't we just be content with our own lives and stop trying to tell others how to live theirs??
Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago
What a good comment FightFireWithFire!!
jimt 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Agreed, wonderful comment. The Christian Fundamentalists (actually all religious fundamentalists) will hate it. In their "minds" (sic), "God commands (as we interpret HIS commands), we MUST obey, and see to it, acting in God's stead, that those who don't are punished."
I've never quite understood the psychology of people who believe God is all powerful but that HE needs their assistance in punishing "religious wrongdoers" on his behalf. If they belief, and they say they do, that everyone will be judged on "judgment day," why not just leave it to him HIM to do so?
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I still have not seen one example of religion being pushed down anyones throat. I don't equate occasional or passive exposure to something as it "being rammed down my throat". But then again I am not looking for a reason to be offended either. With all the real problems facing this country I just don't have much "tolerance" for manufactured grievances. The closest I have come is when the Jehovahs witnesses come calling. Sometimes I speak with them briefly then I come in and promptly toss their literature in the trash. They seem like very nice people but I am just not interested.
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"Why should I have to sacrifice so you can enjoy your "rights"?"
Oh, the humanity!
clarabelle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
" fugitiveguy - I still have not seen one example of religion being pushed down anyones throat. I don't equate occasional or passive exposure to something as it "being rammed down my throat"."
Now - I KNOW you watch faux news ......... and I have seen on many occasions - republicans blaming the lack of god in our schools for all of the world ills. Gets kind of silly after awhile!
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"Now - I KNOW you watch faux news ......... and I have seen on many occasions - republicans blaming the lack of god in our schools for all of the world ills. Gets kind of silly after awhile!"
Let me see if I understand you. You voluntarily watch a channel that you are convinced runs bogus news stories and when they mention God that to you is "forcing religion down your throat". Did I get that right? Please tell me that isn't all you've got.
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
fugitiveguy, any chance you would welcome any non-christian religions having equal time whenever a christian message gets public exposure? And your crack, "Oh, the humanity" concerning my response to wdd101st suggestion that I should have to be the one forgo my rights so Christians can have a public expression of their beliefs shows me that there is nothing you understand about this subject.
Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Jim, This is somewhere else we might agree on some level. I am for our society being secular. I do not want to see anything relating to Christianity, but l do not want to see anything concerning Islam either. I don't want to see Himduism, Budhism, Satanism, none of them. If we deny them, then by all means, we should deny the Christianity bent also. Do we come close?
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
What are beliefs? And why do your beliefs pertain to me? I was born free and free to live my life as I choose. Any other thought other than my own is a force against my free will. So what do you believe? Do you think that dollar holds any tangible value? That house you own or the car you drive is in any from pertinent to your well being as a human. What if I told you you don't need a job, if everything you understand is a lie? What is it that your life means to you? Who are you supporting, and who benefits from your participation? Wake up! You're not free. You are only supporting the deams of the ruling class. You can build your own house in 40 hours, you can grow and process your own food, you are capable of your own voluntarily agreements with your neighbor. Nothing about our society is natural to voluntary means. It's time to be free, free from taxation, free from coercion, free from tyranny, free from authority, free from ideology, free from warfare, and most importantly free from collectivism. We as Americans are born free sovereign individuals free to live as we choose. We understand our rights are as sacred as the rights of our neighbors. We hold the key to our own liberty, and we will fight to remain free!! I and many others will not bow down to any authority, we will resist. Our lives are not ment to protect our government, but to protect our freedom as individuals and our nation. We stand to uphold individuality and liberty. Try and force me aginst my will, America will stand behind me!!
JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago
yukonjohn, I think we agree. The concept of religious freedom is universal to me. You can believe in any kind of deity you like (or none at all) and it's of no matter to be, so long as your religion doesn't wind up in the law books. I am no more fond of Biblical Law than of Sharia Law and neither has a place in our laws.
Thomas Jefferson said it well: “But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
If only America had some way to protect freedom of religion.
clarabelle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"Let me see if I understand you. You voluntarily watch a channel that you are convinced runs bogus news stories and when they mention God that to you is "forcing religion down your throat". Did I get that right? Please tell me that isn't all you've got. "
Actually fuggy - I do watch faux news at times....... I like their news coverage with shepard smith - - a bit more organized than most others.
Now.......... that may seem crazy to you that someone would actually open his mind to other sources and viewpoints - but it is who I am......... and apparently ............ who you are NOT!
Now - go back and finish watching jack............ like a good little tool!
JeremyG 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Sorry but it is mythology. Religion is a creation by humanity for comfort and control. The universe is at least 90 billion light years across. That seems like a lot of space, yet some how this God puts all of his focus on Earth (a grain of sand on a beach). Sorry but I tend to go with science and reason.
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Yukonjohn, on this subject, we agree completly.
teufelhunden 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Continue to mock God..........BAD IDEA!!!
clarabelle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"teufelhunden - Continue to mock God..........BAD IDEA!!!"
I can hear the "thunder" as I type...........
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Here's the deal. I'm an Atheist/Anarchist. I am in total disagreement with any form of control over ones body/mind. Great, you get the point. But here is my other point to fellow Atheist....... stop f'm mocking other peoples religious believes. It is totally counter productive to your own belief in non-belief. So that is what is wrong today, most can't stop f'n with the lives of others. Either through government or religion. Learn to live your own life and keep your beliefs from controlling your neighbors life. Live and let live.
Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I agree Pack, if people would mind their own business and leave others to do the same.....along would come a religious right wing Republican to jump into your business!! LMAO