05-20-2016, 11:40 PM
(05-20-2016, 10:05 PM)Kinser79 Wrote:What the secular state does depends on whether or not the state enforces their secular values on others in the same way they seem to fear that religious groups would do if given the opportunity. It seems to me that the government is increasingly forcing compliance with their secular views. For the majority who are secular ,this seems OK.(05-20-2016, 09:50 PM)radind Wrote: None of this changes my assessment that the country is now primarily a secular society.
Socially the US is primarily secular, and has been primarily secular for a very long time. Part of the benefit of freedom of religion is that the state doesn't impose religious doctrine on anyone and religious institutions do not impose their doctrines on the state. Coupling the church (and by that I mean religion in general) to the state corrupts both.
Quote: Christians will feel increasing pressure to adapt or go underground.
I doubt that will happen. Christianity is ebbing as a political and social force and has been for a while. The fact of the matter is that the mainline forms of Christianity are not a threat to the state so the state has no reason to be a threat to them.
Quote:I don't see Trump as religious at all, but I don't expect him to attack Christianity.
He isn't religious at all, and even Sanders who is Jewish wouldn't attack Christianity. They both think the country has bigger problems than the perhaps least offensive of the Abrahamic Religions.
Quote:If Clinton is elected, I would expect increasing pressure against Christian values.
HRC is a threat to human values, period. Full Stop.
I am concerned about too much imposition of government power and would prefer a much smaller government in general.
… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8 (ESV)