Is Christianity due for a government-imposed Reformation?

[Nathan Poe]

You're running for city council or mayor or something, aren't you?

Would I get your vote if I was?

[Nathan Poe]

it has a "compulsory EDUCATION law", and is defined by "shall attend a public or private school having as its course good citizenship". Our living room was private, and we had an American flag!

I take it "good citizenship" means more than having a flag in the room? If not, I can see why you love Texas

[Cow Poke]

Would I get your vote if I was?

It might be worth it for the entertainment value!

[Cow Poke]

I take it "good citizenship" means more than having a flag in the room? If not, I can see why you love Texas

Yes, I was being a tad facetious. But that's all it says as a requirement. Texas is big on "Texas History" --- proud of the fact, for example, that we tricked the Mexicans into thinking we were only coming to "dwell among them", then started our own Nation (The Republic of Texas) and kicked them out*.

texas_flag_come_and_take_it-600x399.png



*this may be a slight contortion of what actually happened, but not by much.

[Sparko]

If'n I weren't a hillbilly, I'd be a dad-burned Texan!

[Cow Poke]

If'n I weren't a hillbilly, I'd be a dad-burned Texan!

I believe you'd fit right in, bro! Perhaps more so in East Texas - which is a lot hillbillier than Houston area, and WAY different than West Texas or "the valley".

[Nathan Poe]

Yes, I was being a tad facetious. But that's all it says as a requirement. Texas is big on "Texas History" --- proud of the fact, for example, that we tricked the Mexicans into thinking we were only coming to "dwell among them", then started our own Nation (The Republic of Texas) and kicked them out*.

texas_flag_come_and_take_it-600x399.png



*this may be a slight contortion of what actually happened, but not by much.

Just a slight contortion -- for example, I noticed you didn't mention slavery at all...

But hey, history always gets a little spin before it gets written down -- and a major cycle before it's taught.

[Cow Poke]

Just a slight contortion -- for example, I noticed you didn't mention slavery at all...

SLAVERY!?!?!?! In TEXAS!?!?! You mean sharecroppers, right?

But hey, history always gets a little spin before it gets written down -- and a major cycle before it's taught.

When yankees move here and take "US History" in college, they are often surprised that the "War of Northern Aggression" matches up chronologically with the US Civil War, but the similarity pretty well stops there.

[Cow Poke]

Just a slight contortion -- for example, I noticed you didn't mention slavery at all...

Actually, there is a place near Navasota, Texas, where the Brazos and Navasota Rivers get real close together, and there is a very fertile "bottom" for growing cotton, corn, sorghum and other crops. When you drive back there, it's honestly like going back 100 years in time. There are "migrant workers", but for all intents and purposes, it might as well be slavery. There is a "company store" that allows the workers to "keep a tab", and they are not allowed to leave unless their tab is paid. It is not unusual for the Sheriff to be called because a family is "moving out in the middle of the night" to try to get away. It's really quite sad, and I'm surprised that the Civil Rights folks haven't made an appearance there.

TerrellFarms1.jpg

Our Church (when I lived in that area) did a lot of mission work in this community.

[Nathan Poe]

SLAVERY!?!?!?! In TEXAS!?!?! You mean sharecroppers, right?

Right -- you know, the ones that were bought and sold by other people? Those folks.

When yankees move here and take "US History" in college, they are often surprised that the "War of Northern Aggression" matches up chronologically with the US Civil War, but the similarity pretty well stops there.

I probably wouldn't be surprised -- I was in an argument with an idiot* once (aren't they always the fun ones?) who tried to say that slavery wasn't a factor in the Civil War. Note that he wasn't just saying that slavery wasn't the main reason (which is an arguable point), but that slavery didn't enter into the equation at all. He just kept droning on and on about "states' rights," and repeatedly avoided the question: "rights to do what, exactly?"

*for the record, I'm not saying he was an idiot because he disagreed with me -- although that didn't help his case.

[Cow Poke]

Right -- you know, the ones that were bought and sold by other people? Those folks.

Yes, it was (and is) indefensible, and I make no excuses, other than I never owned a human being. My DOG does, however -- and it's ME!

[Seasanctuary]

Government represents force. What the government endorses, it enforces. I would prefer the government to remain neutral instead of forcing tolerance and acceptance of what I believe is an immoral lifestyle down our throats and our children's throats in the public school system.

From what I can tell, you don't leave any room for the government to be more tolerant than your personal religious views, without the government offending your personal religious views.

I don't see any difference here from a family that has a religious issue with dancing and not only withdraws their kids from any public school dances, but complains that their family's religious freedom is being trampled by the school endorsing dancing. This family is defining religious freedom in such a way that no one else gets any.

[Sparko]

From what I can tell, you don't leave any room for the government to be more tolerant than your personal religious views, without the government offending your personal religious views.

I don't see any difference here from a family that has a religious issue with dancing and not only withdraws their kids from any public school dances, but complains that their family's religious freedom is being trampled by the school endorsing dancing. This family is defining religious freedom in such a way that no one else gets any.

you sir, are uv teh deval!

[OtherCheek]

From what I can tell, you don't leave any room for the government to be more tolerant than your personal religious views, without the government offending your personal religious views.

I don't see any difference here from a family that has a religious issue with dancing and not only withdraws their kids from any public school dances, but complains that their family's religious freedom is being trampled by the school endorsing dancing. This family is defining religious freedom in such a way that no one else gets any.

Have you ever heard of "Community Standards Laws?" Do you not agree with the principle of having them or something?

[Nathan Poe]

Have you ever heard of "Community Standards Laws?" Do you not agree with the principle of having them or something?

Depends on the community. Ever hear of a sundown town?