Originally posted by King Kandy
Communism?
Nice. And that's actually a pretty good point and here's why...
Actually, Mormons believe in a form of pure communism called "the law of consecration." They even lived it for a while, in the early years. But humans were too selfish for it to work long term...even those goody goods called Mormons.
Pure communism is actually a form of "utopia" in that it is a pure/righteous way to live. I've preached about that in the GDF. Pure Communism is not evil, at all, and it's what Jesus preached. 馃槓
Take THAT right-wingers! 馃槅 馃槅 馃槅
The plan is written in gods hand and only bush can read it,
and it calls for battle in gods name and it calls for bush to lead it.
And the blueprint calls to drill for oil,
and exterminate the land; and if you can't hear gods calling
then you're probably from France.
Because the USA is holy, the USA is pious,
and hallelujah god is on their side,
hosanna in the highest.
Originally posted by King Castle
chris rock said it best in his movie: head of state: "God bless every one"on the pastor thing. i dont think he should have bn arrested nor charged but it just shows how ppl can abuse the law to harass some one and the fault lies on the ppl for continuously broadening what constitutes harassment.
Man, that's some horrible, straight-to-dvd worthy acting. Chris Rock can be quite funny at times, but man he makes bad, bad movies.
I did like the God bless everyone bit, and he's not wrong about the crack, but the movie is just not funny.
Re: Re: Re: God Bless America?
Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
I respectfully beg to differ with you. The moment the word "God" is mentioned the song ceases to be strictly patriotic. The song did not need to mention God nor ask Him to bless America. In fact, if the author had not mentioned God then I would agree with you that the song is patriotic.The author was Jewish by the way.
Around the world, many patriotic songs from most countries contain a line that mentions god. So what? El "Himno Nacional Mexicano" contains the word "Dios" (God); so does that automatically make the Mexican national anthem a prayer song? No. Its a song about a battle during the US-Mexican War, with a verse that contains "God". Nothing more, nothing less.
Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
So, again, why does this song continue to have a place in America? Shouldn't it be banned just like other things of a religious nature in this country?[/COLOR]
The song isn't government policy. Why would it need to be banned? That's kind of ridiculous.
Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
I see nothing wrong with overwrought nationalism especially if a person is an atheist/evolutionist. It is a prerogative. So you believe that God should bless other countries? That is another discussion entirely, not that I disagree. I believe that a person can be both God-fearing and patriotic without being a bigot.
It's certainly possible. I'm saying that many people fail at it.
And yes, if God's going to bless America, shouldn't he bless other countries? I find it odd that the question even needs asked.
Originally posted by dadudemon
That's a very negative interpretation. 馃檨 So depressing. 馃檨 馃檨You presume that by God blessing America, that takes away the blessings he would have given to another nation. I don't believe that. In fact, in my faith, the blessings are right there, waiting to be given, if we ask...we just have to have faith and be good.(For an atheist, it means doing "good" things and you bless yourself but religious folks like to say that God blessed them with it instead of their own actions blessing them.) Part of asking for God to Bless America would be asking for prosperity for other nations because we are "global" world, now. Asking America to prosper is asking for other nations to prosper by proxy AND asking for those nations to prosper because we also benefit from other nations propsering.
Missing the forest for the trees. I'm not saying the song says that, or that that's how it should be interpreted.. I'm saying that people think such things, and they use the societally-lauded ideas of God and Country to reinforce their views. I'm talking about sociological affect, not the language and meaning of the song itself.
Originally posted by dadudemon
Nice. And that's actually a pretty good point and here's why...Actually, Mormons believe in a form of pure communism called "the law of consecration." They even lived it for a while, in the early years. But humans were too selfish for it to work long term...even those goody goods called Mormons.
Pure communism is actually a form of "utopia" in that it is a pure/righteous way to live. I've preached about that in the GDF. Pure Communism is not evil, at all, and it's what Jesus preached. 馃槓
Take THAT right-wingers! 馃槅 馃槅 馃槅
Originally posted by King Kandy
I suppose I should say "Marxism" because Communism is more of a single concept than anything that could be called a "religion".
I would argue that very last word you used except that you used quotation marks around it meaning that it is not to be taken at face value and has more meaning that the face value.
Here's why I would argue against it if you hadn't put quotes on it: religion can simply be a group of people that agree and praise on one particular video game with specific playing methods. That could be the same for politcal beliefs: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects such as a pure communistic group.
I guess that discussion is fundamental to the religion forum and an understanding of that is probably already had by most people that post here.
Originally posted by Digi
Missing the forest for the trees. I'm not saying the song says that, or that that's how it should be interpreted.. I'm saying that people think such things, and they use the societally-lauded ideas of God and Country to reinforce their views. I'm talking about sociological affect, not the language and meaning of the song itself.
No problem, it happens. But, I would agree that there are some right-wingers that would fit your description.
Unless you were referring to me missing the forest for the trees?If that's the case, I read through your post multiple times to make sure I wasn't doing just that: missing the forest for the trees. It was a commentary only on the thoughts you expressed in the portion I quoted. I'm sure you could ask the majority of those crazy right-wingers and they'd agree with my sentiments: if the world prospers, the US can prosper, if the US prospers some of the world prospers. It would be hard to find one that only wants the US to prosper when you ask them about "god bless america".
Also, on that last part, you may be talking over my head about the sociological affects. I have no idea if you meant effects or affects as one of my classes talked about psychology and affect something or another and then there was another section similar to it but it was "effect." I didn't undestand it and I could barely make heads or tails of it. Expand on what you meant there, for me, so I am not losing you.
Edit - Wait, I feel you on that last part. Yes, mine was a commentary on that very same meaning. Where you believe it to be borderline nationalism and exclusivism, I see it as relatively harmless patriotism with a dash of indirect "global" understanding (that last one means that the person indirectly understands that we are very much a "global economy" and you would be hard pressed to find someone that wasn't aware of that especially because of the financial crisis we experienced, globally).
Both of us are assessing ours are more correct and the only way to see which is correct is to conduct a scientific poll on the bible belt. lol
Originally posted by dadudemon
No problem, it happens. But, I would agree that there are some right-wingers that would fit your description.Unless you were referring to me missing the forest for the trees?If that's the case, I read through your post multiple times to make sure I wasn't doing just that: missing the forest for the trees. It was a commentary only on the thoughts you expressed in the portion I quoted. I'm sure you could ask the majority of those crazy right-wingers and they'd agree with my sentiments: if the world prospers, the US can prosper, if the US prospers some of the world prospers. It would be hard to find one that only wants the US to prosper when you ask them about "god bless america".
Also, on that last part, you may be talking over my head about the sociological affects. I have no idea if you meant effects or affects as one of my classes talked about psychology and affect something or another and then there was another section similar to it but it was "effect." I didn't undestand it and I could barely make heads or tails of it. Expand on what you meant there, for me, so I am not losing you.
Edit - Wait, I feel you on that last part. Yes, mine was a commentary on that very same meaning. Where you believe it to be borderline nationalism and exclusivism, I see it as relatively harmless patriotism with a dash of indirect "global" understanding (that last one means that the person indirectly understands that we are very much a "global economy" and you would be hard pressed to find someone that wasn't aware of that especially because of the financial crisis we experienced, globally).
Both of us are assessing ours are more correct and the only way to see which is correct is to conduct a scientific poll on the bible belt. lol
lol. Anyway, seems like we understand one another. Though I do think you're being a bit unrealistically optimistic about what it means to people. If that's what it means to you, awesome. I doubt it does to many others. Most people who are going to take the song seriously (and not just be indifferent to it as most are) are doing so because it reinforces their occasionally-disturbing levels of xenophobia.
Originally posted by King Kandy
I think "Religulous" had a good section on the connotations of "god bless america" and the favoritism it evokes.
Didn't see the movie, but I should.
Originally posted by Bardock42that scene was not the best but this one was.
Man, that's some horrible, straight-to-dvd worthy acting. Chris Rock can be quite funny at times, but man he makes bad, bad movies.I did like the God bless everyone bit, and he's not wrong about the crack, but the movie is just not funny.
Originally posted by Bardock42
Man, that's some horrible, straight-to-dvd worthy acting. Chris Rock can be quite funny at times, but man he makes bad, bad movies.I did like the God bless everyone bit, and he's not wrong about the crack, but the movie is just not funny.
It is so very odd how our opinions differ so extremely on humor. I thought that scene was funny as hell and very witty/intelligent. Sure, the acting sucked, but it was awesome.
The only type of humor we agree on is very dark/sadistic type humor.
Originally posted by dadudemon
It is so very odd how our opinions differ so extremely on humor. I thought that scene was funny as hell and very witty/intelligent. Sure, the acting sucked, but it was awesome.The only type of humor we agree on is very dark/sadistic type humor.
I don't disagree necessarily. I like the concept of the scene, the execution was just weak.