I just got this in an e-mail, might make for some good reading:

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new
session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting

the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have
done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and
reversed our values. We confess that we have ridiculed
the absolute truth of Your Word and call it Pluralism.
We have exploited the poor and called it the
lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and
called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and
called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our
forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today;
cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been
sent to direct us to the center of Your will and to
openly ask these things in the name of Your Son, the
living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen!"

The response was immediate. A number of legislators
walked out during the prayer in protest..
In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where
Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone
calls with only 47 of those calls responding
negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests
for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and
Korea.
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his
radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a
larger response to this program than any other he has
ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our
nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we
again can be called "one nation under God."
If possible, please pass this prayer on to your
friends. "If you don't stand for something, you will
fall for everything."

Yukon.....I think this post will test the hordes of secularists here and probably the censors too....

Good post though.

What if I happen to be Jewish, or Muslim, or Hindu, or Shinto or even Atheist?

Is there no room for me here in this great FREE country?

It's starting........

Pass the foil, please......(I loved it, tho!)...

Nice post. Should have known 4salt would be the one to talk first.

Heard this before,nice post.Shows where were at huh!

4salt,that type of post might not fit everybodies beliefs.Maybe then they should consult or think about what their higher power,spiritual adviser,or whatever they are called (or not)feels about the things mentioned.
Although the post is written in a christian context,a person should be able to see the meaning of whats said and accept it for what it is. A real eye opener.

I feel that a lot of people are pushing their beliefs real hard by,trying to suppress other peoples beliefs.I hope that makes sense.

I'm not pointing my finger at you 4salt cause I really don't know where you stand in that area.Or most others.So please don't take it personal.

I just see it in a lot of areas of our lives,and I just dont understand why if a person doesnt like or believe in something.Why they can't choose to just not participate.Instead of trying to take away what I feel are other peoples rights.

I may not like some things that other people do but.I dont feel I should try to put a stop to it just because I'm offended.Or dont agree.I just choose to ignore it. Obviously there are exceptions to everything,but I'm refering to the generic stuff,Political and religious beleifs,etc.

Prayer is a wonderful thing, and very personal. I usually say a quick "thank you" in prayer to my God after I've landed a fish.

But when prayer is used as a means of intimidation, or to convey some political agenda, or as a public address system, then I find that to be sacreligous.

Look at what's behind some of the major hotspots in the world today and you'll notice the common theme of people trying to force their religious beliefs on others.

This tale is actually partly an urban legend. Yes, the speech is more or less real. But read for yourself, there's a page on this issue at snopes.com .

BTW, I'm agnostic. Keep religion out of government, keep government out of religion. Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's, and render unto God's what is God's. Let's try not to have a state religion here in this country. Out of all causes, religion has probably killed more people throughout history than any other cause, natural or manmade.

Does the foil protect you from “Born again Christian fundamentalists?

Why's that?

Never fear Grandpa, there's no way I'd ever be able to follow in your footsteps when it comes to stirring up ill content here.

I had a free minute so I dipped my big toe in to test the waters. There's no way in hell I'd enter a full-blown discussion of religion and government. So pass the foil this way, would ya...

It wont protect you from burning in hell though...

Interesting topic...maybe Bob could move this to the new forum so the coming dissention and debate won't harm the "mood" of the Fishing Forum.

Comment: "Born again Christian fundamentalists"

Could someone please provide a decent/understandable definition of the above term?

Mike

What dribble...... You would make up your own prayer.. DOH?!
Then, when you got up in front of a group of people as a speaker you could recite your own..... Better get the new innoculation for that "Conservative Pig" disease that you are so afraid of catching....

MC

Hey MC,

What? Make some sense man... for a change!

4Salt....You and I both know that ill content is stirred up when either you or I say what we believe and it grates on the nerves of those who disagree....some disagree so much that they get mad...I will admit that it is entertaining to toss out the bait and see your side of the fence pick it up and run with it.

With that said, I heard from a good liberal source that you are quite a fisherman.

A definition of the BACF movement... tough to say, but this might be a start.

A group that believes the only route to eternal salvation is through their religious teachings.

Is that "right" Piper?

Congratulations... Thats a start allright... a start at describing 99% of all religions....

:p

One of the many fallacies of organized religion. Just wish they would keep it to themselves. Wait a minute there is someone at the door.....where did I put that foil?