re: Dave24
Thank you for posting some reason to this silly, but all-consuming subject. Thank you.

Colbert should know that prayer at a convention is not valid unless you have a god-o-meter.  And the Republicans have a god-o-meter at their convention.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godometer/

We are a what/// A “religious Nation”?? Unless they changed the constitution, I can assure you that we are NOT a “religious nation”. Theocraxcies destroy the nations AND teh religions they purport. It is not MY opinion--read the constitution. There is a WALL of separation between church and state. Some interpret it differently, but every constitutional schoalr I have read and one i KNOW, agrees that tax breaks and preaching politics from a religious podium is unconstitutional.I am certainly not saying thaty you should “give up God”. Worship him in church, Feed the hungry. Do things FOR your god. Maybe you’ll convince som epeople. But any religion is , by necessity, exclusive--it cannot include anyone who does not belive. Chris Hedges is a seminary studen/soldier/journalist, and ,in his book ‘Am. Fascists” he quotes Blaise Pascal, “Men never do evil so completley and cheerfully as when they dio it from religious conviction”. Also, from Joe Conason’s “It Can Happen Here”, he quotes Sinclair Lewis (It Cant Happen Here, 1935)"When fascism comes to Am. , it will be wrapped in the flag, carryin gthe cross"> I suggest you check out the history of what happens when religion becomes involved in the governing of people. Why not just make the 10 C0mmandments the law of the land.

I want a *rational* president; I don’t want someone talking to themselves in private in order to “receive” guidance.  While the president is talking to himself, otherwise known as “praying,” he’s not working.

All governmental faith-based programs should be suspended immediately.  My money is not to be used by or given to Christian organizations.  And I’m sure Christian citizens don’t want their money siphoned into mosques.  In a secular society, faith is private.

Our elected officials need to calm down with all this God talk.  First you have to prove it exists; and then you have to prove that the fairy tales are actually true.

Billions of stars in our galaxy; billions of galaxies in the universe; possibly billions of universes.  And Jesus is the son of God?  Oh please.

“God” is an idea.  That’s all it is.

The fool says there is no God; therefore, I will not give up on God, and relegate God to the trash bin or only to REPUBLICANS, who propagandize and plagiarize God.  There IS a mighty God and as a country our nation must trust in God who is generic for all, which allows the nation’s people to be individual in what they believe.  No one should be preaching their religion from government podiums and neither should the people be made to toe the mark of the religion of whoever is in power.  Preaching must be allowed on the streets and in the churches.  A religious nation must allow the people to worship God as they see fit without fear.  As a people we must not give in to atheism, because there is a Father God, who originated all and made us all.

You guys dont seem to understand that it is unconstitutional to use money or practice politics , while preaching a reliigion. The two are NOT supposed to mix! You’ll always end up insulting people who are not of that religion. And it is wrong--we are supposed to have separation of church and state. Rev. Wright was wrong, the neo-copns preachers are wrong, and the DNC and gOP are both wrong to pander to religious groups with $$ collected from groups or peole--you are just not allowed go do it, people. If religion mixed with state is so great (or even acceptable) look at theocrackies worlwide. How many are peaceful? If you are completely RIGHT--anything you do will be OK.And non-religious peopl elike me are very tired of it. Churches should pay taxes if they prech politics from the pulpit--no other country lets churches get away with this. The rest of the free world looks in confusion when the DNC has a different religion doing a “prayer” before every session--iot looks primitivized. Worhips at your church. Keep it there. Its just the law..

Most Christians do NOT want to know the truth: or hear it; they “buy” the deception that the USA is good; and that “we” are the good guys in White Hats who go around doing good in the world; in reality, like in the case of Iran: WE went to Saddam Hussain; weaponed him up, and talked or bribed him into helping over throw the Gov in Iran; to set up the DICTATORSHIP of the Shah; over & over & over again you can TRACE where the DICTATORSHIPS were set up by the USA; and do NOT want to hear anyone say anything “bad” about the USA; Revalations states: the NATIONS were deceived: and all paths point right back to the USA Gov; Yahoo news had an article of the Earth makes a loud noise: supposedly “aliens” can hear; in reality the BLOOD of the innocents, and those poisoned and killed by the Chemical Companies making huge profits at the expense of the health of the citizens; for PROFIT for their Pharma companies; READ Genesis with UNDERSTANDING: when Cain killed Abel God said to him: where is thy brother? and then said I KNOW WHAT YOU DID. YOUR BROTHERS BLOOD CALLS TO ME from the Earth. The majority of the blood of the millions can be traced back to the US Gov who while giving an appearance of “godliness” is anything BUT. This country is NOT a democracy; it is a devilishly devious dictatorship deceiving the masses by “pretending” to be good; “pretending” to be Christians; when in reality, their plan is global dominion with the same Corps who bought & paid for them long ago; it is a long term range plan with a great deal of malice & hostility in it for their own citizens of their own country.

Folks are always saying “God bless the USA” and He cannot; He wanted the “regime” destroyed in 1949 & 1950 due to oppression of the people here in USA; the only reason it stands is due to the interceding of His people thinking that it would be better for their children & grandchildren; they since repented to God and to His people; He said He had watched the people born; seen their dreams; and the lives that were oppressed by the Gov & wealthy; and it was NOT the reason He had led the people to this land. Not democracy; it is deviously deceiving dictatorship; with it’s politicians bought & paid for years ago by the wealthy; also saying aren’t you glad we aren’t like Russia? etc: when in reality WE should be saying: WHY are we NOT like Denmark, England, France, etc; who have FAR better Gov than has ever been HERE? WHY is floride still used in the water supply which was put there after learning Hitler did it? Almost every other country has banned it; NOT here; and they exploit to the nth degree the people for profit at expense of their health & lives which amounts to premeditated cold blooded murders of millions; and THIS is the long term plan they have carried out (going globally) since at least 1980’s if not prior to that; list of countries they planned on overtaking can be found at local librarires; check out Amy Goodman’s books: Static, etc; also might want to see others like Blue oil, and Blue covenant; and find out WHY during Regan’s day things he stated are being carried out today “supposedly” because “of the economy”;

I found the quasi religious fest nauseating. I find faith based initiatives nauseating. I doubt that it wil ever sto in this country.

The most prominent rabbinical participant at the Democratic convention will be Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, who will deliver the invocation Aug. 28, when Illinois Sen. Barack Obama accepts the nomination before a crowd of at least 70,000 at Denver’s Invesco Stadium.

How is it that a religion which represents less than 2% of Americans has such a disproportionate role in American politics?

Think the Rabbis lecturing the Dems will read from their holy book called the Talmud?

Jewish leaders have amped-up presence at Democratic convention

by ron kampeas jta

Religious leaders — among them at least seven rabbis — are expected to play an unprecedented role at this year’s Democratic convention in Denver.

The convention is kicking off with an interfaith gathering Sunday, Aug. 24, that will include scripture readings from Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist religious and lay leaders. The week’s proceedings will be studded with “faith panels.”

The religious tenor is the culmination of the Democratic National Committee’s “Faith in Action” committee, which is sponsoring the interfaith gathering. Matt Dorf, a consultant to the party and several prominent Jewish organizations, was a leading force behind the committee. The Third Way, a group that has tried to build bridges between evangelical Christians and political liberals, also will be involved.

Other Jewish clergy slated to participate include Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, the executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, who will deliver the keynote address at the interfaith event; Jack Moline, a Conservative rabbi from Alexandria, Va., who chairs the Interfaith Alliance, a coalition of faith groups that advocate for church-state separation; Amy Schwartz-man, a Reform rabbi from Falls Church, Va.; Marc Schneier, an Orthodox rabbi from New York and a co-founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding; Steve Foster, a Reform rabbi in Denver; and Steve Gutow, a Reconstructionist rabbi who directs the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a Jewish organizational public policy umbrella group.