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Other gods

2007-08-29T17:30:40Z

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As opposed to [[God]], people have worshiped other '''gods''' throughout the history of humankind. While the word "god" refers in a general sense to any deity that is or has been worshiped as part of a theistic belief system, when spelled with an upper-case "G," the term is normally referring to the God of the [[Abrahamic]] religions, the One True God, that big jerk who continually makes us suffer for our sins on earth and laughs jovially at our puny existence.

== Other gods in the Bible ==

The [[Old Testament|Jewish]] and [[New Testament|Christian Bible]]s contain references to more than just the Jewish and Christian God, but these gods are seen as false and having no real power, whether it be the [[golden calf]] or the images of [[Baal]].

== Genesis ==

God in the Garden of Eden often uses the plural when referring to Himself:
*'And God said, let us make man in our image.', (Genesis 1:26)
*'And the Lord God said, Behold, then man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.' (Genesis 3:22)
*'Let us go down, and there confound their language.'. (Genesis 11:7)
This is occasionally explained as use of the 'Royal We' in [[Judaism]] or foreshadowing of [[The Trinity]] in [[Christianity]].

== Exodus ==

The Bible refers to Egyptian gods several times, but they are never presented as having real form or power. For instance, no god is ever discussed taking an action, having a thought, speaking, etc. There are references to collective worship of other gods, but God always takes out His wrath on the Egyptian people themselves and the consequences of that wrath are seen, since they are real and exist.
*'And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.' (Exodus 12:12)
*'Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?' (Exodus 15:11)
*'Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.' (Exodus 18:11).
* The Magi of Egypt are able to produce plagues of their own, but it is never stated this is due to the power of a god.

The First Commandment makes it clear that God will not tolerate the worship of these other deities:
*'Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.' (Exodus 20:3, 5)

Other laws express the same idea:
*'He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.' (Exodus 22:20)
*'Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.' (Exodus 23:13)
*'Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.' (Exodus 23:24)
*'Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.' (Exodus 23:32)
*'For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.' (Exodus 34:14)

There is also this section on multiple gods: 'Thou shalt not revile the gods.' (Exodus 22:28) This follows from simple logic - how can one revile that wich does not exist?

== Psalms ==

*'God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the gods.' (Psalm 82:1)
*'Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord.' (Psalm 86:8)
*'For the Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.' (Psalm 96:4)
*'Worship him, all ye gods.' (Psalm 97:7)

The Psalms are considered to be the poetic writings of [[King David|David]]. In the near east culture of the time, kings and other men of renown could be called "gods." There is no indication in any of the discussions of David or Israel's kings over almost 500 years where any god was ever considered to be real. For instance, no other god was ever said to have caused a storm or shown any other sign of actually existing.

== The rest of the Bible ==

None of the 66 Biblical books written over 1500 years of history have any mention of any other gods at all in any form that would grant them living qualities.

==Short Story==

Horror writer [[H.P. Lovecraft]] once wrote a short story called "The Other Gods."

==Historical==

Other gods worshiped historically include [[Zeus]], [[Vishnu]], [[Aphrodite]], and others.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Religion]]

Continental Congress

2007-08-29T17:26:46Z

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The '''Continental Congress''' refers to two separate conventions held in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the mid-1770s. The [[First Continental Congress]] was called together in 1774, with 55 delegates representing twelve of the [[thirteen colonies]] ([[Georgia]] did not send a representative and neither did [[Heaven]]). This body debated over what the colonies should do, if anything, in reaction to the [[Intolerable Acts]] passed by [[Parliament]] that year. The First Continental Congress successfully boycotted [[British]] goods coming into the colonies, drastically reducing imports. Also, they agreed that a Second Continental Congress should meet the following year.

The [[Second Continental Congress]] is by far the more noteworthy of the two. As the British government's treatment of the colonies had not improved, the Congress drafted the famous [[Declaration of Independence]] in 1776. As war broke out and the [[American Revolution]] swung into full scale, the Congress acted as the unofficial government of the colonies. After the victory, they also drafted the [[Articles of Confederation]], which would serve as America's governing document for the next nine years until it was replaced by the [[Constitution]].

[[Category:United States History]]
[[Category:American Revolutionary War]]

Separation of church and state

2007-08-29T17:25:23Z

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'''Separation of church and state''' is an interpretation of the [[Establishment Clause]]
of the [[United States Constitution]], particularly favored by [[atheists]] and those who realize that [[God]] may have created man, but 'He' was not a member of the [[Continental Congress]]. The section in question reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof....".<ref>[http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmenti 1st Amendment of the US Constitution]</ref> This phrase has been interpreted by some judges to exclude religion from [[Government]] and public life by declaring that [[Church]] and state must be kept separate.<ref>''See, e.g.'' [[Lemon v. Kurtzman]].</ref> [[Conservatives]] have long criticized this interpretation as being without justification in the text or meaning of the [[First Amendment]].

== Keeping the State from the Church's Influence ==
[[Thomas Jefferson]], the least religious of the [[Founding Fathers]] and one of the few who played no role in the drafting of the [[U.S. Constitution]] or the [[First Amendment]], first coined the phrase as president in 1802 - a decade after the [[First Amendment]] was ratified.<ref>[http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html Religion and the Federal Government], ''LOC.gov''</ref>. Jefferson used the phrase to appease the Danbury Baptist Association rather than recite an objective interpretation of the law. At the end of his letter, in reflection of how Jefferson himself did not interpret his own phrase to exclude religion from government, he expressed prayers for the letter's recipients:<ref>[http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/dba_jefferson.html Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the DBA]</ref>

:''To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.''

:''Gentlemen''

:''The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.''

:''Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.''

:''I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.''

:''Th Jefferson''
:''Jan. 1. 1802'' [http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html]

The [[Treaty of Tripoli]], drafted during Washington's presidency and ratified by John Adams, states that "The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."<ref>[http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11.] Ratified in 1796 and again in 1797.</ref> Many proponents of a Christian America point out that the treaty was superseded by the [[Treaty of Peace and Amity]] in 1805 (although the superseding of the treaty does not change John Adams' secular view of the United States).

== Separating the Church from the State's Influence ==
Like many political doctrines, the separation of church & state is a double-edged sword. If religion cannot influence government, nor can government influence religion. Accordingly, churches and religious organizations are kept from government intrusion with the highest deference to ecclesiastical matters. For example, Title VII contains a built-in exception for religious organizations.<ref>42 U.S.C. 2000(e)-(1).</ref> The provision has been construed to allow churches to handle their ministerial matters without government intrusion in any way.<ref>McClure v. Salvation Army.</ref> In this sense, separation of church & state is ''good'' for the church, as it ensures religious autonomy.
== References ==
<references/>
[[category:politics]]

Tipper Gore

2007-08-29T17:23:48Z

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'''Tipper Gore''' is the wife of former [[vice president]] and Presidential candidate [[Al Gore]]. In the 1980s, her crusade against explicit lyrics in popular music led to the introduction of Parental Advisory labels on albums. RAGE!

[[Category:Women|Gore, Tipper]]