Barry Goldwater on Religion and Politics
On religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both.
I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C" and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?
And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism."
Speech in the US Senate (16 September 1981)
I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C" and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?
And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism."
Speech in the US Senate (16 September 1981)
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This community is becoming more toxic by the day.
I just shake my head at the ignorant things I've heard you say today. Wake up and learn your history. If you have never heard of William Wilberforce, then I forgive you for your statement.
If you have, then I blame your absolutely hypocritical claim to be "objective". You aren't interested in facts, or learning, you're interested in furthering your own preconceived agenda.
What are you, a climate scientist? A liberal maybe?
Not every person on this board, but a solid chunk of it is a bunch of complete hypocrites, and I'm sick of it. I'm tired of dealing with you, your stupid straw man arguments that LIBERALS use all the time, claiming somehow we're even REMOTELY related to the most disgusting religion on this planet, Islam. YOU are a liar, that is what you are. I'm sick of it.
ALL I have done on this board is explain what the historical Christian faith has adhered to for thousands of years, and what Judaism has taught for thousands of years before that. A system of beliefs and teachings that have repeatedly proven themselves time and time again for thousands of years, in the exact situations we've talked about. Yet, you refuse to acknowledge that fact because it disagrees with your world view.
Know what, I'm done. I'm done dealing with people like you. If you truly are stupid enough to believe that Christianity is in ANY way even remotely like that disgusting religion of Islam, AND that four other people on this board are ignorant enough to "thumbs up" your crap, and consequently thumbs down mine, then fine. You can rot in your own filth. You lying hypocrite. I'm out of here. Don't say I didn't warn you.
He put the Constitution before the Bible
ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.
so objectivist of you, to ignore facts that contradict your PREconceptions... not that you would have those, since you only look at things objectively, right?
There is no question that commitment plays a big role, but commitment to what in particular? And how does one see that commitment playing out and over what time frame? Do both partners have the same goals and do they both agree on the basics of how to get there? Are you willing to allow for your partner's idiosyncrasies? Can you agree on financial wants and needs and stay within your means? Do you have the same goals regarding children and their upbringing? Do you both support the other in things that are important to them? Most importantly, do you have a framework for working out all of the above?
The rest are communist revolutions, which happen to also be anti-religion. This is a wholly inadequate and inappropriate argument to assert 1) that this is the only was a non-religious country can succeed, and 2) that the US therefore succeeded based on christianity. Do you write for the Watchtower?
How about Iran? This country was refounded on a religious revolution. Muslims are real believers. Some will kill themselves for their beliefs. Oh yes, that is the wrong religion...mine is the right one...
I don't understand why you think Ayn Rand advocates would support any of this.
How would you expect a site filled with Objectivists and thinking people to respond to such nonsense.
You guys should team up with the muslims and split an area. They'll govern their half with sharia law, and you guys can govern with christian law. It will be great. The wealthy muslims can "vacation" in your country and drink, and you can collaborate on how to torture people who don't obey.
The rest of us can objectively analyze, discuss and socially evolve, and be well rid of unnecessary dogma.
The nonsense about "stumbling in the dark" is based on the assumption that it is actually dark and that YOU know where the light is. It is dim, not dark, and the light from science gets brighter all the time. The church would be pleased to keep thinking the sun revolves around the earth. It wasn't god that explained that it doesn't.
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