As U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes tries again to get Congress to approve a resolution affirming the country’s “rich spiritual and religious history,” he’s taking issue with President Barack Obama’s recent comments on religion and politics.
During a visit to Turkey last month, Obama said, “One of the great strengths of the United States is, although I have mentioned we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation; we consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”
That’s just incorrect, Forbes said Wednesday.
The Chesapeake Republican’s resolution cites dozens of historical references to the importance of religion, including a handful referring specifically to the Christian faith, which he said demonstrate the deep involvement of religion in public life.
The examples include quotes from past presidents, congressional actions, comments by the Founding Fathers, and inscriptions chiseled on public monuments. Among them are the placement of “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency, adding “one nation under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance, and an 1800 law that required Navy ships to conduct twice-daily prayer services.
Forbes wants to establish the first week of May as America’s Spiritual Heritage Week to mark the involvement of religion in “official American life.” He and other sponsors of the resolution will hold a news conference in Washington today , the National Day of Prayer, to publicize the effort.
An identical resolution, introduced by Forbes last year, died in a congressional committee. This year’s measure, HR397, is co-sponsored by 24 other legislators, but it has drawn criticism from opponents who say it is revisionist history because it doesn’t include historical information that would contradict Forbes’ views.
The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Forbes’ proposal “is not a fair or accurate representation of what religious liberty has meant in this country.”
“This is done solely to score political points now and in the event it ever comes up for a vote, to chastise as non-religious those who don’t vote for it,’’ Lynn said.
Forbes said some people may not like the idea that the nation is rooted in Judeo-Christian religious principles, but they can’t change that history.
“It is those very Judeo-Christian principles that protect everybody’s rights,” he said.
Forbes contends that some who deny the religious heritage are deliberately trying to remove religious references. His resolution calls for Congress to “reject in the strongest possible terms any effort to remove, obscure or purposely omit such history from our nation’s buildings and educational resources.”
The Rev. Geoffrey V. Guns, pastor of Second Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, said the nation may have been founded on those principles but the country has changed. He laments that Americans today are more concerned with their financial statements than religion.
Guns said he does not believe that removing religious references from monuments or in government would hurt people of faith.
“I don’t think these things impact who they are or what they practice. They will continue to practice their faith,” he said.
“I would have a little concern with someone who would want to legislate that America is a religious nation,” Guns said. “Then you have to say, 'Whose religion?’ and, 'Who is religious?’”
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Mr. Forbes' resolution
It takes a certain amount of courage, I suppose, to mention Christianity in a positive way these days in government. Mr. Forbes' historical citations are undeniable. It is a revisionist view that Christianity played no significant role in the founding of our country or the Constitution. The fact that God is not mentioned in the Constitution (except for "In the Year of Our Lord...") is only because the federal government wasn't given the right to regulate religion. Documents of the time, public and private, and many since, frequently mention God and Christ. Whatever rules the states had in place were not affected. Many of the anti-Forbes comments are knee-jerk overreactions to an innocuous resolution. G.K. Chesterton said, "There are those who hate Christianity and call their hatred an all-embracing love for all religions."
I admire Mr. Forbes for his boldness in recognizing the obvious and attempting to educate people about an important aspect of our history, and to encourage knowledge of our spiritual heritage.
People have historically misused religion, as we are seeing today in Iran and in the radical Islamist beheadings. To equate Christianity with things that are against
What Up
Why can't Christians admit that Noah, water into wine, and other "miracles" are fables? These are stories that were made up as guidelines for being a good Christian. By making these true aren't you going against the basic premise that Christ did not want to be idolized? Love thy neighbor was the message. Do not worshp me as a god was the message. I seem to remember dying on the cross in between two criminals was for the benefit of the living and future Christians.
In God we trust was not put on the money until the 1950's when good Christian leaders were putting people in jail for supposedly being communists. Are you sure that you want that to be part of your arguement? Same with the Pagan holidays Christmas and Easter!
the real problem
The real problem with this is not that he wan't to recognize the role of religion in our history, it's that he wants the Disney version of it. He wants to point out that the founding fathers were religious, but doesn't want to show how it was used to justify slavery, not allowing women to vote, or Jim Crow. If it appeared he was being fair in any way then I would support him. He just wants to create propaganda. Go to his Youtube channel and notice he has disabled comments on his speech about it. He clearly doesn't care what his constituents think. He has silenced us.
Wilkipeida?????
You cannot count on anything written in Wilkipedia, because it is written and edited by anyone who chooses to do so. May I suggest you find a more reliable source for information.
49 of 55
And not a one of them put Christ in the Constitution.
Their Christian beliefs did put the idea that slaves were less than a full human being.
That and selling children away from their mothers must be some of those "Christian principles"?
The Pilot at least is a Christian publication.
The pilot is censoring criticism of this bill and the tactics behind it while posting the most absurd avowals of Christian faith and sovereignty. If it is OK for Christians to stamp their feet and say "you are ruled by god whether you like it or not" it would be, in adult conversation, equally OK to deny it, whether Christians like it or not.
At least one of the Pilot moderators doesn't want the readers to know that: Christmas and Easter are already Christian holidays that are widely recognized; or to be reminded that these back door tactics are identical to the approach used by intelligent desgin proponents when they tried to force christian mysticism into the science class room. In the post that was censored I called this "lying for Jesus." The idea that some Christians have that dishonest means (especially employed against non-Christians) are justified by their ends, a christian sovereignty.
They'll usually pass comments like this as sort of a gotcha to the poster.
49 of 55
Do some research! According to Wilkipeida, 49 of the 55 1787 delegates had a Christian church affiliation! If you put two and two together, it becomes rather clear that they are talking about the Christian God when they make reference to a higher power. Can those of you who enjoy the freedom from religion that they granted you not even pause to recognize the beliefs from which this freedom sprang?
And for those of you who do not find the name of Jesus Christ in the official documents of our freedom, here is a quote you might enjoy,
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We shall not fight alone. God presides over the destinies of nations." - Patrick Henry
Jesus Christ gives you freedom to accept or reject Him, and His followers have granted you freedom as well. Do you find freedom of religion, belief or practice in Muslim controlled countries?
Why is it that Christians are the only group of Americans who are expected to keep their beliefs within the walls of the church?
No such thing as "Judeo-Christian" values
The fibbers who use this deceitful phrase can't have it both ways.
On one hand Forbes's extremist partners (identified in the fine print as Focus on the Family et al) tell the Jewish community we're damned to death and their hell if we don't give up our own religion and accept theirs. Then they fake innocence saying they just want a harmless Judeo-Christian day to celebrate shared spiritual ties with the people they've sworn to lure from their beliefs. It's a blatant attack on my right to religious freedom merely because its not theirs.
Its a lose/lose... If I hold strong to my "Judeo" half and reject their pretending to include me in a State sanctioned blessing of their trying to make me Christian I'm mocked as a godless secularist.
So just cut out the fake "Judeo-Christian" propaganda and concentrate on being a politician.
what ever happened to cultural diversity? religion is cultural
We have Black History month to celebrate the critical role the blacks played in the building of our nation. We have Latino History month to celebrate the critical role that the Latino community had in shaping our nation. We have recognition of weeks for many diverse groups who have had a profound impact on how this nation has been built. So why is it such a terrible thing to have a week that celebrates the significant role faith-based religion has had in the establishment and building of our nation. Even though our founding fathers did not specifically address this nation as a Judeo-Christian nation, they non-the-less knew the profound impact that Christian faith had on the character of our nation. All one has to do is research the writings of people like George Washington, John Adams, John Madison, and even Benjamin Franklin. It is not forcing religion down anyone’s throat. It is purely acknowledging the role faith has played in building this country.
"Christian Principles and Beliefs"
"Christian Principles and Beliefs" says hhocke
Another empty claim with no specifics.
to MacH
MacH I agree very much with your comments about using God and the Bible for swearing in ceremonies. It was richardr72476 who was discussing the oath. Officially, the words 'so help me God' are not in the Constitution and should not be said during the swearing in. I would like to say to the offended Christians that we are not attacking your right to have your religion it is just that religion has NO place in a free government. Also, so many posts have talked about the connection with Christianity and the founding of our country, the Constitution and Declaration but I have not read any posting of an actual documented Judeo-Christian idea that influenced our founding fathers or our sacred documents. The Magna Carta, Greek philosopy, Roman ideas on citizenship and bi-cameral Senate did have influence. The only Christian idea I can think of is when Jesus said:
"render unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's and to God the things that are Gods". This may have influenced the strong principle of seperation of Church and State. Anything else????
Great Job Randy
As I read the comments I noticed some non believers laughing at Congressman Forbes. I imagine they laughed at Noah until they could no longer tread water. My vote stays with Randy Forbes.
I applaud Senator Forbes
This is a Christian nation. Check the polls on that one and you will find that there is a strong faith in the Judeo-Christian teaching of Jesus Christ. The heritage we have is long standing and deep in tradition, and I personally take offense to those who do not recognize where we came from and who we are.
In terms of legislating who we are, that is preposterous and shows the intent of those who suggest such. In fact it is the Christian teaching that allow the freedom of other denominations and cults to operate in the free country in which we reside. Yet we do not shrink in offering faith in Christ and freedom from the slavery of sin, to all other faiths. However, it is up to the other faiths to accept the truth or reject it.
The founding father prayed to the God of the universe, Jehovah, and subscribed to the teaching of Jesus. From those early beginnings, we have the greatest nation on earth. As we diverge from those tenents of the faith, Look Out, Gods hand of judgement will be on this nation like you have never seen. If we go that way, I am outa here!
Sam Warren
I think religion has earned the right
To be loudly and proudly mocked by every late night comedian known to man...Go Bill Maher and Religulous!
Yeah yeah yadda yadda try to approve me...sheesh!
ludicrous
randy forbes is a joke!
once again the we're subjected to the hue and cry of the spiritually superior so-called "Christian Right" as it desperately tries to grasp some residual connection to its former "glory".
the country was founded by a good mixture of deists, Christian believers of various backgrounds (Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, Huegenot, Quaker, Baptists), Jews, and non-believers - as well as the indigenous beliefs of the First Peoples and the Africans. Virginia's Statute of Religious Freedoms was written to protect - get this - Baptists (along with Quakers and others) from persecution by the Church of England, which at that time was almost fully an organ of the British Crown. This is somewhat ironic given the centrality of the Southern Baptist Convention (among others) to the oppressive, invasive, quasi-theocratic political machine which brought us the Bush II administration and the lies, wars, and torture with which it's now associated.
it's time for so-called "people of faith" to keep their faith where it belongs - in their churches, homes, and hearts - and out of the lives, schools, bedrooms, doctor offices, and bank accounts of people with whom they disagree
Religious inferiority complex?
Why are religious people so insecure? You'd think with "Almighty" God on their side, they wouldn't need to be trying to foist their beliefs on everyone else's consciousness.
Comments
The comments here make me very hopeful. I hope Forbes bothers to read them.
richard1949, you don't have to swear on a Bible in court or for public office. Some choose to, it's their preference. You only have to raise your hand. Also, there is nothing requiring the President to say "so help me god." Again, some choose to. It makes no difference.
typical gop mistake
When will the GOP learn? Banning gayes, and pounding their bible only gets them votes from VA Beach crowd surrounding Pat Roberson's area, and nothing more.
Get over it Forbes, and work on something that matters.
1st Amendment
"Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." In
this case then why in the courts you have to swear on a bible, and officials taking office, President and others, make their oath of allegiance with their hand on the Bible and at the end of their oaths say, 'So help me God.' They are saying then they are under the watchful eye of God and want his help in performing their duties to their constituents. If the Federal and State governments can recognize religious holidays and make it for people to get 'paid holidays', then they can make the Observation of All Religions by having a religious observance week. I am not a Bible beater and cram rekigion on people but I do believe in God regardless of what faith or religion people observe and there should be a week of Religious Observance.
Did you even read the bill? Link provided at top left.
The bill is asking for a week to learn about and appreciate America’s history of religious faith. The bill affirms the spiritual and diverse religious history of our Nation’s founding by providing about 12 pages of examples. It recognizes that the religious foundations of faith on which America was built are the basis of our Nation’s most valuable institutions, and provides examples. The Bill rejects any effort to remove, obscure, or purposely omit such history from our Nation’s public buildings and educational resources.
How is this forcing Christianity or religion on anyone? Is Black History Week just a government ruse to force the belief that Black people are the only acceptable race, or is it a week we set aside to learn about and appreciate the contributions Blacks have made to America? What about National Hepatitis-B Week? A govt. ploy to get you to go out and contract Hepatitis?