Rep. Mike Johnson, the newly elected Republican House speaker, used to conduct a seminar in churches premised on the idea that the United States is a “Christian nation.” This ministry, as he has referred to it, is yet more evidence that Johnson is committed to a hardcore Christian fundamentalism that shapes his views of politics and government.

The seminar, titled “Answers for Our Times: Government, Culture, and Christianity,” was organized by Onward Christian Education Services, Inc., a company owned by his wife, Kelly Johnson, a Christian counselor and anti-abortion activist who calls herself a “leader in the pro-family movement.” The website for her counseling service—which was taken down shortly after Johnson became speaker—described the seminar, which featured both her and Johnson, as exploring several questions, such as, “What is happening in America and how do we fix it?” The list includes this query: “Can our heritage as a Christian nation be preserved?” There were different versions of the seminar running from two-hour-long lectures to retreats lasting two days.

  • Motavader@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    So much for the Constitution, eh, Mike? Can you point to any historical basis for the US being a “Christian nation” or nation of any religion?

    Just like the Bible, the guys only cite the Constitution when it suits them, but ignore the rest.

      • Asafum@feddit.nl
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        1 year ago

        Which was added in the 50s in response to us shitting our pants over “godless communists.” Even that has no real history

        • mxcory@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          1 year ago

          I prefer “E pluribus unum.” Why can’t I have that on my license plate? I think it should be a better descriptor of what the US is.

          Also, “In God we trust,” isn’t a religious endorsement, if you go with court ruling.

          https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-religion-motto-idUSKCN1LD24K

          I personally believe it is, unless you look at “God” in this instance being the money itself. Which could actually track if you wanted.

          • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            The cons want to have it both ways, naturally. Having it on currency provides “proof” that this is an xtian nation and it’s also TOTE LEGITZ and doesn’t violate the First Amendment!

            I’ve often seen people say that GOD = “Gold, Oil and Diamonds/Drugs” when it comes to it being on currency.

        • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          What’s most amusing is that the Christopaths are in general so provincial that when they make such arguments for putting “in god we trust” on our currency, it not only violates a key tenant of their supposed scriptures, but they also fail to realize the “god” in question is not even spelled out.

          They just assume the term “god” is equivalent to the Yahweh/Jehovah/Allah of the Abrahamic faiths. That may be the case for their pea-sized brains, I guess…

          • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            It’s about as “historic” as most of those stupid statues put up to honor their Confederate traitors.

            The rocket surgeons on the right probably think we should learn about the Constitution from a slogan on currency and history from statues put up to racist traitors.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yep. Not one mention of their favorite character from “the” bible. If anything, the First Amendment DIRECTLY contradicts the so-called “first commandment”.

    • TechyDad@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The most they get is “endowed by their Creator” in the Declaration of Independence. One word in one document that isn’t even an official part of our laws and doesn’t refer to a specific “Creator.” But they’re ready to spin that into “this is really a Christian nation and anyone who isn’t Christian or our flavor of Christianity isn’t really a citizen!”