Once again a police officer, who should take care of peace and should protect people, was not ashamed to bring a black person to death under his knees.
I am very curious how the evangelists and other Christians shall react to the awful act Donald Trump presented in front of St John’s Church on Monday night, and his reactions against this cruel murder by a police officer.
He manifestly holding the bible high in his right hand whilst he was calling up for people to be with him and the National Guards to fight the people. It looked more like a president calling for a civil war, to have all people against him put away or even killed when necessary. A blasphemous act.
Republicans could have chosen to oppose the words and acts of their favourite president. They should have used their common sense and ethics. Even when they are not Christian we only can hope the Republicans would still have some moral to keep to. (?!?)
The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. I do not think the United States is in such a situation at the moment. Though I do admit the United Nation does seem to have a huge problem with its 45th president, who can be considered as the most dangerous president the U.S.A. had.
It is high time that the citizens in the U.S.A. come to think about the future of their country and about human rights in the places where they want to live.
Once more we can see where the biggest problem is to have a nice surrounding and cosy living place in the U.S.A..
It looks like the expendability of Black lives is not a flaw in the system; it is the
system.
We cannot fail to have the impression that blacks for most white Americans are lesser than mud. We even get the impression that blacks, in that so-called civilized country, are meant to die or, at the very least, they are not meant to be protected, to be respected, to be valued, to be considered fully human. That is how racism works, and it has operated efficiently throughout American history.
Showing posts with label United States of America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United States of America. Show all posts
Wednesday, 3 June 2020
Friday, 10 November 2017
A diluted reformation point
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| Luther Bible, 1534 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
One of the key findings in “U.S. Protestants Are Not Defined by Reformation-Era Controversies 500 Years Later”is that today U.S. Protestants are split on that issue that played a key role in the Reformation:
> 46% say the Bible provides all the religious guidance Christians need, a traditionally Protestant belief known as sola scriptura. But 52% say Christians should look for guidance from church teachings and traditions as well as from the Bible, the position held by the Catholic Church.
- Just 30% of all U.S. Protestants affirm both sola fide and sola scriptura.
- However, belief in sola fide and sola scriptura is much more prevalent among white evangelical Protestants than among white mainline Protestants or black Protestants in the United States. Among self-identified white evangelicals, 44% express both convictions, and this figure rises to 59% among white evangelicals who say they attend church at least once a week.
Preceding article:
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Tuesday, 7 November 2017
500 Years of Reformation Divisions Have Lost Much of Their Potency
After 500 Years, Reformation-Era Divisions Have Lost Much of Their Potency
Theological differences diminished to a degree that might have shocked Christians in past centuries.
As Protestants prepare to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, new Pew Research Center surveys show that in both Western Europe and the United States, the theological differences that split Western Christianity in the 1500s have diminished to a degree that might have shocked Christians in past centuries.When we look at the Lutheran, Calvinist, Presbytarian, Pentecostal and Baptist churches we do not notice a lot of free thinking and continued Biblical study in the church.
While the Reformation led to more than a century of devastating wars and persecution in Europe, both Protestants and Catholics across the continent now overwhelmingly express willingness to accept each other as neighbours and even as family members. this would not be bad when they all kept to study of the Bible and would aim to bring their flock closer to God.
The majority of present protestant churches are aiming to please their folks and are looking for ways to make their service as entertaining as possible; That way the Pentecostals are enjoying a growth whilst many other protestant churches are loosing members.
In Western Europe, the Pew Research Center conducted telephone surveys from April 11 to Aug. 2, 2017, among 24,599 people across 15 countries. In the U.S., the survey was conducted online from May 30 to Aug. 9, 2017, among 5,198 panelists on Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel (although all of the questions analysed in the survey were asked of only half the sample).
Of the U.S. Protestants 46% say the Bible provides all the religious guidance Christians need, a traditionally Protestant belief known as sola scriptura. But 52% say Christians should look for guidance from church teachings and traditions as well as from the Bible, the position held by the Catholic Church.
In the United States we can find mega churches where the preachers just shout with quotes from the bible but not really look into biblical texts to teach about the Word of God. How more entertaining a pastor can be how bigger his church can be.
Among self-identified white evangelicals, 44% express both convictions of sola fide and sola scriptura, and this figure rises to 59% among white evangelicals who say they attend church at least once a week. 19% say neither religious tradition espouses sola fide, and one-in-ten U.S. adults (11%) say only Catholicism traditionally teaches that salvation comes through faith alone.
Among Protestants who know that only Protestantism (trinitarian) traditionally teaches that salvation comes through faith alone, about three-quarters (77%) embrace the concept of sola fide. But among the much larger share of Protestants who are not aware that sola fide is solely a Protestant teaching, far fewer (35%) believe that faith is all that is needed to get into heaven. The survey does not take into account the non-trinitarian protestant churches which for the majority teach that people are not just saved by their baptism or by their reborn status. Most of non-trinitarian protestant churches teach one has to become like Christ and one has to follow the commandments of Christ and the commandments of God. According those churches one has to live according the faith and have to do good works. Without repenting for the wrong being done, they do not believe one can enter the Kingdom of God.
Some of the key findings presented in “Five Centuries After Reformation, Catholic-Protestant Divide in Western Europe Has Faded” include:
- In nearly all of the European countries surveyed, majorities or pluralities of both Catholics and Protestants adhere to the traditionally Catholic view that both faith and good works are necessary to attain salvation. In fact, in every country except Norway (where 51% of Protestants say salvation comes through faith alone), belief in sola fide is a minority view even among Protestants.
- Catholics and Protestants in Western Europe generally report low levels of religious observance: Medians of just 8% of Protestants and 14% of Catholics say they attend religious services weekly or more. But Europeans who say religion is important in their lives are especially likely to hold their respective church’s traditional position regarding the means of salvation. For example, 31% of Protestants in Sweden who say religion is “very” or “somewhat” important in their lives believe in sola fide, compared with 10% of other Swedish Protestants.
- The impact of secularization is apparent, but so are pockets of religiosity. For instance, the Netherlands has a relatively high level of disaffiliation, with about half of Dutch adults (48%) describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” religiously. Yet Dutch Protestants also stand out for some of Europe’s highest reported levels of church attendance, with 43% saying they go to church at least once a week.
- In every European country surveyed, roughly nine-in-ten or more Protestants and Catholics say they are willing to accept members of the other tradition as neighbours. And large majorities of both groups say they would be willing to accept members of the other group into their families. For example, 98% of German Protestants say they would accept Catholics as members of their family, and a similar share of German Catholics (97%) say the same about Protestants.
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Find also to read
- Followers, protestors and reformers
- 500 years of a provision of the Word in the language of the peoples
- Religions and Mainliners
- Divisive pastors and Strange Fire conference
- The Catholic synod on the family and abortion
- The Anti-Reformation in Todays Evangelical Church
- A New Reformation
Thursday, 2 November 2017
A special anniversary for the Church where Catholics and Protestants find common ground
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| Luther Before the Diet of Worms, photogravure after the historicist painting by Anton von Werner (1843-1915) in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Martin Luther his legacy, 500 years later, is 560 million Protestants across the globe, making up more than a third of the world’s Christians.
Religiously speaking, the Reformation led to the translation of the Bible into languages other than Latin, allowing many people to engage with scripture for the first time. It also brought an end to the controversial sale of "indulgences" — payments the Church said reduced punishment for sins after death, which Luther regarded as corrupt.
Universal education for girls and boys is one of the legacy which is not wiped out, but some of the early protestant teachings seem by many forgotten.
For the special anniversary Chancellor Angela Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor, has encouraged German churches to promote a narrative of unity over division in their celebrations. that unity which was not present 500 years ago seems to be very close.
Many protestants today are not any more exited or more interested in reading the bible than Roman Catholics. In several countries they also are not any more interested to go regularly to services. concerning doing good a big change entered in the vision of many. In Luther’s home country of Germany, 61 percent of Protestants believe good deeds are needed for salvation. In John Calvin’s Switzerland, 57 percent agree, as do 47 percent in Abraham Kuyper’s Holland.
In the united States we can find conservative protestants and fundamentalist protestants who think whatever they do wrong they shall be saved and going to heaven when they are baptised or so called 'reborn'. Half of American Protestants say that both good deeds and faith in God are needed to get into heaven (52%).
Lots of Americans are convinced they need pastors and churches. Some even believe how bigger the church how closer it is to the 'truth'. From those American protestants 52% believe that in addition to the Bible, we need guidance from church teachings and traditions, according to two studies released at the end of August by the Pew Research Center.
Pope Francis I considers this anniversary an
"opportunity to mend a critical moment of our history by moving beyond the controversies and disagreements that have often prevented us from understanding one another.”
Not long after Francis’ address, the Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury in England expressed remorse for the violence committed there in the name of the Reformation. Hundreds of churches and monasteries were demolished in the 1500s, and many people gruesomely killed, during England’s pained transition from Catholicism to Protestantism.
Since the 16th century and the tumultuous times that followed Protestant and Catholic relations have improved dramatically. At regular intervals we also can see protestants and Catholics bringing an ecumenical service. when we look at several protestant churches today we also find many which also have statues and paintings in the church depicting persons they call god or saints.
When in the 16th and 17th century so many tried to read the Bible and wanted to find the biblical Truth, today there are not many protestants really interested to examine certain dogma's or sayings by theologians. Most of them hold strongly to their denominational teachings, not giving it much thought.
Not many probably would mind if their church comes closer to other churches of the Protestant or Catholic Faith as long as they can keep to their traditions.
From that perspective the attitude of the general public has become passive not to say the least. And those who are still active in church, most often do not want to think to examine the things they are taught by their denomination.
Whilst 500 years ago many where pleased to spend a lot of time reading the Bible, today there are not so much people really interested and that reflects also in protestant services where is less given time for the word of God and where is spend more time and attention to the entertainment factor of the service.
Today we can use some preachers who are willing to take up the task given by Jesus, to proclaim the Kingdom of God. We can use a new awakening.
Read more about it:
- Followers, protestors and reformers
- A New Reformation
- Trying to Get Rid of Holy Days for a Long Time
- 8 Reasons Christian Holidays Should Not Be Observed
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Thursday, 24 November 2016
2016 Thanksgiving and politics
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| English: Elias Cornelius Boudinot (1835 – 1890) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
New Jersey Congressman, president of the Continental Congress, director of the U.S. Mint and American Bible Society's first president Elias Boudinot is one of the forgotten founding fathers of the New World. In part Americans should be thankful also to him for having that American national holiday Thanksgiving.
Rooted in a passion for God's Word Elias Boudinot declared before the U.S. House of Representatives that prayer and thanks were due to God for America's existence. According to the Annals of Congress, Boudinot stated that he
"could not think of letting the session pass over without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings he had poured down upon them."Although many members of the House dismissed his proposal, Boudinot stuck by it. Almost two weeks later, President George Washington warmed to the idea.
On October 3, 1789, Washington distributed a Thanksgiving Proclamation to the Governors of the States, calling for the
"institution of a national day of prayer and thanksgiving"and for
"Thursday, the 26th day of November…to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be."In Scriptures thankfulness is prominent and rabbi Jeshua asked his followers to show their gratitude to the Most High Divine Creator. One way of showing such gratitude was by not being afraid to use the Almighty God His Divine Name (Jehovah) and by letting the world know how God wants them to come close to Him and recognise Him as their heavenly Father.
Jesus asked to
"live in union with him…build your lives on him…and be filled with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:7). Thanksgiving should accompany "everything you do and say" (Colossians 3:17).Though we may find it sometimes very difficult to live in this world, the Apostle Paul asked us to
"Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).Yes, in all circumstances ... also in times when we do have it not easy, or when we do have much pain. Being troubled with certain illnesses can bring lots of pains to endure every day. Do know in the Word of God, the bible you may find strength and you shall be able to find the strength to conquer that pain.
Living in this world, not being of it, we also should feel thankfulness not just as one of multiple good qualities that believers should have, but a core impulse of human worship. In Romans 1, where Paul describes the depravity of the Gentiles, he first establishes the idea that God's nature can be seen in creation, and so humans have no excuse.
"They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him" (Romans 1:21).Today lots of people do not give honour to the Divine Creator, and do not want to know about The God of gods.
Do you know Him? Do you give Him the full respect?
God has blessed us with all the things around us and with the life we do have. We should know He provided the Way to Him, by means of His only begotten beloved son, who was willing to offer himself for us. How much do we want to give to God? Are we willing to do His Will, like Jesus did His Will? Are we willing to recognize His grace and to respond with a thank-You?
Do we want to show our thankfulness to God in the way we live and in the way we go about with others? Are you as such aware that your sayings, your way of voting or choosing for some one, shows your attitude to life but also your attitude to the universe of the Divine Creator.
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Additional reading
- Words of God to stand and to be followed and to believe
- A Start for looking at the unseen and the treasure to look forward to
- True God giving His Word for getting wisdom
- Being thankful
- As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude
- Be vigilant with a view to prayers
- Be sound in mind and be vigilant with a view to prayers
- Praying and acts of meditation without ceasing
- Give thanks to יהוה! For He is good, For His kindness is everlasting
- Praise and give thanks to God the Most Highest
- Let them thank the Lord for …
- Give thanks to the One Who gave much
- Give Thanks To God
- Thanksgiving wisdom: Why gratitude is good for your health
- By counting our blessings we not only feel good, but we multiply our good
- Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #5 Prayer #1 Listening Sovereign Maker
- Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #8 Prayer #6 Communication and manifestation
- Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #10 Prayer #8 Condition
- Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #15 Exposition before the Creator
- Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #16 Benefits of praying
- Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
- Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name
- Bring praise to the Creator
- Praise Jehovah, You people
- A Meaningful Thanksgivukkah
- Hanukkahgiving or Thanksgivvukah
- A Meaningful Thanksgivukkah
- Thanksgivukkah and Advent
- Continuing Paul’s Prayer Requests
- My God
- The Proper Place of Excess
- Stopped Breathing
- Give your worries to God
- Only the contrite self, sick of its pretensions, can find salvation
- He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!
- If your difficulties are longstanding, try kneeling
- Life in gratitude opens glory of God
- A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice
- A gift of 86,400 seconds
- Thanking God by thinking of people
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2016 American Bible survey
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| A presentation edition of a GOD'S WORD bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
When you look at the current political situation in the United States of America you may wonder how it became possible such votes where cast when so many americans say they are Christian.
This year's State of the Bible survey, conducted by American Bible Society and Barna Group, reports that 51 percent of Americans believe politics would be more civil if politicians engaged in regular Bible reading.
This indicates that lots of Americans also believe their politicians do not read often the bible. when they would do so politicians would be more effective, believes 53% of Americans.
American Bible Society President & CEO Roy Peterson believes God's Word has a key role at this pivotal moment for American culture.
This year's State of the Bible survey, conducted by American Bible Society and Barna Group, reports that 51 percent of Americans believe politics would be more civil if politicians engaged in regular Bible reading.
This indicates that lots of Americans also believe their politicians do not read often the bible. when they would do so politicians would be more effective, believes 53% of Americans.
American Bible Society President & CEO Roy Peterson believes God's Word has a key role at this pivotal moment for American culture.
"As America is shaken by skepticism, this is the time to renew hope in the promises of God's Word,"Peterson says.
"When people are battling extreme violence, poverty and oppression, this is our time to open the healing words of Scripture."+++
Saturday, 12 November 2016
Fearmongering succeeded and got the bugaboo a victory
Man belongs to the animal species which hunt and has to be alert. It has to be prepared to take flight.
For the 2016 election a smart businessman who is not afraid to run over corpses made a handy use out of that knowledge.
In history it is not the first time that charismatic leaders arouse fear. Those fears
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“If the first thing you hear about a topic is something that’s associated with fear, that will often suppress the rational part of the brain. It will be placed into long-term memory by this more primitive part of the brain, and it turns out to be very, very difficult to dislodge that.”says Jack Gorman.
For the 2016 election a smart businessman who is not afraid to run over corpses made a handy use out of that knowledge.
Fear is the fuel to Donald Trump’s post-factual campaign. He can allege that immigrants are violent (when they commit way fewer crimes than native-born Americans) and “inner cities” are burning (when they’re thriving), and it doesn’t matter, from a certain rhetorical perspective — the point is to activate emotions, whether it’s to motivate the alt-right for the election or Trump TV ratings after the ballots have been cast.
What’s special about fear is that it’s such a powerful, pre-conscious, pre-rational emotion. It frames your thinking before you can even think about it, regardless of how intelligent you are.The "Make America Great Again" campaign was constructed in bringing bad news first sot that people would have enough fear to look for an other solution. Those made black for sure should than be the ones to avoid at high cost. Having told such bad things about Hillary Clinton made her the one to avoid most.
In history it is not the first time that charismatic leaders arouse fear. Those fears
"are often committed to permanent indelible memory, and they become extremely hard to dislodge, and they are easy to evoke simply by making people scared again,"Jack Gorman says.
“So all that Trump has to do is say ‘these immigrants are going to kill you,’ and his entire message about immigration becomes immediately recalled.”
+Additional reading
- Refugee crisis, terrorist attacks and created fear
- Coming closer to the end of 2015 and the end for Donald Trump as presidential candidate
- 150 Years after the 13th Amendment
- 2015 In the Picture
- Summary for the year 2015 # 2 Strewn with corpses and refugees
- Blinded crying blue murder having being made afraid by a bugaboo
- Are United States of America citizens going to show their senses
- Some quotes Americans should remember when going to the ballot office
- When so desperate to hold onto power
- The clean sweeper of the whole caboodle
- A strong and wise fighter who keeps believing in America
- Brexit No. 2 Blow-up
- Nigel Farage called Donald Trump’s victory ‘bigger than Brexit’
- American Christianity no longer resembles its Founder
- God Isn’t a Republican
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Living with some type of physical disability in the U.S.A.
About 1-in-5 people in the USA live with some type of physical
disability; 10 million people a year experience a serious mental
illness; and 1-in-6 Americans struggle with chronic health conditions,
leading to roughly 65 million Americans providing care for someone with a
disability or chronic illness.
[See Bible Gateway Blog post: Tyndale to Release Beyond Suffering Bible]
Not enough people who suffer realize that the Bible contains answers for their plight. Lots of people who might know that the answers may be there in that Book of books just don’t know where to look.
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[See Bible Gateway Blog post: Tyndale to Release Beyond Suffering Bible]
Suffering always prompts heart-wrenching questions: if God is good, why would He allow this pain in my life? Is God truly sovereign over accidents and birth anomalies, or does the devil set the world’s agenda? How do I counsel people who are despairing of their condition? What are the right choices when it comes to assisted-suicide and other tough ethical issues? For that matter, where does a person struggling with a life-altering accident or illness find peace of mind and a purpose for living?says singer, artist, radio host, and bestselling author Joni Eareckson Tada, one of the the experts at Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability which publishes the first Bible with study notes that address the topics of disability and suffering. The new Beyond Suffering Bible (website) will release from Joni and Friends and Tyndale House Publishers this October. It’s a combination of both a study Bible and a devotional Bible, with knowledge and insight gleaned from the Scriptures, as well as encouraging words from a wide array of top Christian experts who are often the “go-to” resources when people are looking for direction or next steps when ministering to individuals with disabilities, pain, addiction, and suffering.
Not enough people who suffer realize that the Bible contains answers for their plight. Lots of people who might know that the answers may be there in that Book of books just don’t know where to look.
This was my story shortly after the 1967 diving accident in which I became paralyzed—even in my despair,says Joni Eareckson Tada who continues
I knew in a vague way that the Bible held hope for me in its pages. I just didn’t know where to begin. Thankfully, God brought wise Christian friends alongside to help me discover life-transforming precepts in his Word. The Beyond Suffering Bible can be that “wise Christian friend,” helping those affected by disability grasp the goodness of God amidst critical questions about pain and hardship.
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The Beyond Suffering Bible: An Interview with Joni Eareckson Tada
Monday, 28 December 2015
Megachurches out of america now have a higher average attendance
Despite American roots that reach back to the 19th century, megachurches abroad now have a higher average attendance, even though the vast majority of megachurches are still in the United States. While there are 230 to 500 such churches elsewhere in the world, the Hartford Institute estimates
that there are about three times more megachurches in the United States.
In the United States, the median weekly attendance is about 2750, while
the median weekly attendance in world megachurches is nearly 6000.
— Washington Post, 7/24/2015
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