tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645714.post1445084667535473615..comments2023-10-29T04:50:42.136-05:00Comments on Nick's Musings: The Myth of a Christian Nation, Part 8Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949332361786422769noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645714.post-86969803853530952842008-01-31T11:11:00.000-06:002008-01-31T11:11:00.000-06:00Thanks for the thoughts, Chip. To foster conversa...Thanks for the thoughts, Chip. To foster conversation, here are some thoughts in response.<BR/><BR/><I>And as soon as we start talking about what is just or right, we are firmly on religious ground. Is it so surprising, then, that war in America is almost always justified using Christian language? </I><BR/><BR/>Yes, but I think we would agree that using religious lingo to justify going to war to protect oil interests(or any other clearly selfish motive) is in bad taste. Even if it is what we "should expect" doesn't mean that it is right or good.<BR/><BR/><I>I think most Westerners understand this and do not equate America's war propaganda with the gospel.</I><BR/><BR/>Maybe not, but I think they do associate militarism with the religious right (or vise versa), and the religious right with Christianity, and Christianity with the gospel. It may not be direct, but surely it has some influence, right?<BR/><BR/>I'm still in thought about your 2nd and 3rd paragraphs. I'm not sure what to say right now. Maybe I will a little later.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for faithfully reading and commenting, Chip.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08949332361786422769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645714.post-1867626680669658992008-01-31T06:47:00.000-06:002008-01-31T06:47:00.000-06:00It sounds like Boyd may be overstating his case. T...It sounds like Boyd may be overstating his case. Take war, for example. It's impossible to imagine going to war except for what we believe is right. What country goes to war believing it is in the wrong? Even aggressors believe they have a right to invade a neighbor. And as soon as we start talking about what is just or right, we are firmly on religious ground. Is it so surprising, then, that war in America is almost always justified using Christian language? I think most Westerners understand this and do not equate America's war propaganda with the gospel.<BR/><BR/>The problem arises with Muslims. Most Islamic states do not have anything like the notion of separation of church and state that has had such a long tradition in the West. In Islamic countries the political and religious spheres overlap much more than in the West, and many Muslims do perceive America as both Christian and Satanic. <BR/><BR/>I'm not sure, though, that this perception increases resistance to the gospel. If the gospel is true, it spreads by personal testimony, deeds of love, and miraculous signs. These three present an unstoppable force that has nothing to do with America's military might.Chip Burkitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00817016103778281416noreply@blogger.com