Ok after reading on another thread the argument evolved into whether the US government was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. This thread is not to discuss whether it is (start your own thread in the politics section if you want that), but to discuss what those principles are. I am honestly and extremely curious what those principles are?

Now, Judeo-Christian principles can mean a lot varying from denomination to denomination, but I will give my version. I know almost nothing of Judaism that isn't related to Christianity, so i can't speak for that religion. I am going to work through the Apostle's Creed because I think that's a good place to begin with for Christianity. My principles for Christianity our as follows

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth.

I Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Those are what I would consider the Christian principles. Now I am honestly curious what Christian principles are in our government or more generally what Judeo-Christian principles means?

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"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."
-John Calvin

Good point. From what I've studied I've concluded that our founding fathers established a secular government on purpose, although I'm willing to admit that Judeo-Christian philosophical teachings (not religious teachings) have had an effect on our government if someone can prove it.

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They didn’t get lost in the cause and effect..they wanted the ‘flavor’ of the constitution .. to show a slant towards a Judeo-Christian compass, BUT they also knew that allowing a free reign of any religion to imbue itself with a stance amongst others would swallow them or any up...the national prayer, the construction of the congressional house with fasces evident ( an old roman magisterial symbol) etc. they were sending a signal, philosophically, we are this, in practice on a practical level and scale and we are one ...

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Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.

H. L. Mencken


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

Personally, I think that Judeo-Christian philosophy (at least Christian and Islamic philosophy) seems to advocate socialism, or at the very least charity, neither which had a strong presence in our government at the time of its founding.

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I don't know that I would would put "Judeo-" into the equation. Christian principles I think are the good things that Jesus taught, starting with what He said were the two most important commandments: Love God and love thy neighbors as thyself, and continuing with turning the other cheek, forgiveness, returning good for evil, and I would also add all the admonishments about caring for the poor (I haven't counted, but I have read that in the whole of the Bible there are nearly 2000 mentions of taking care of the poor).

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The apocalypse is coming... we're gonna need more ammo.

socialism? I cannot see that please expound...

__________________
Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.

H. L. Mencken


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

no, think personal responsibility...

__________________
Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.

H. L. Mencken


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

Am I to assume that you are referring to the care of poor people?

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The apocalypse is coming... we're gonna need more ammo.

"Give to him that begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you"

"go, sell what you have, and give to the poor."
-Jesus loves handouts.


"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's"
-Jesus wants people to give their belongings to the state.


"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth"

"it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
-Jesus regards rich people with contempt.

Sounds like a true commie to me.

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I don't believe that Judeo fits, either. Most Xtians have no idea what judaism teaches - and Xtianity distorts the original intent of the Jewish bible.

But there are things shared - the 10 commandments for starters. And the commandments to take care of the poor (hebrew has no word for charity - the word used (Tzedaka) means justice) are pretty mush the same. In fact, Islam also has a strong thread of caretaking.

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And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." --George W. Bush, Jan. 29, 2007

Ah, the quotes we prefer to ignore in our actions, while we complain about the neighbors choices!

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And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." --George W. Bush, Jan. 29, 2007

Well I just threw it in there because that was the term used on the other thread, take it out if you wish. As I said earlier i am perfectly willing to admit my ignorance.

we could have a whole theological argument on whether Christianity "distorts the original intent" but I will say that the Christian position is that the new testament is that it fulfills it.

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"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."
-John Calvin

As far as I understand the term of "Judeo-Christian values", that is essentially the ten commandments.

The term is always applied very loosely and seemingly never defined.

Oh, I think both sides are pretty much set in stone on the intent issue. Perhaps the best way to put it is that for 4,000 years the words meant something utterly different than what modern Xtian teachings profess.

While there are commonalities, I think I've always seen the Judeo part as a sop thrown to a minority. Much like the "rapture" Xtians need to keep Jews around as an integral part of their world design.

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And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." --George W. Bush, Jan. 29, 2007