Comments on: Who Wants a Christian America?

By: MrRedwood

MrRedwood — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:12:00 +0000

I pretty much agree. The causal arrow really points both ways, though. Certainly, schools at the time were largely used for indoctrination towards a officially accepted worldview, and in public schools that worldview was heavily WASPish. Was there an explicit anti-Catholic bias? I’m sure there was an implicit one, but

By: Larry Charles Wilson

Larry Charles Wilson — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 15:03:00 +0000

Whatever the reality was for Catholics, perception is more important. A major reason for the creation of the Catholic school system was the hostility of the general public towards Catholics and the the anti-Catholic bias of public education.

By: MrRedwood

MrRedwood — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:48:00 +0000

There’s very little evidence that Catholics were any more likely to be puppets to their religious leadership than any other religion. Vatican II did a great deal to assuage the fear (as did JFK’s presidency), but like most social fears, it was pretty groundless in the first place.

By: MrRedwood

MrRedwood — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:47:00 +0000

Possibly because entire devastating wars were fought over it back then, and government leaders occasionally died when they chose the wrong religion.

(Although technically that was before the UK existed; of course, its birth was mired in The Troubles, which was another instance of sectarian violence more profound than anything seen in the U.S.)

By: MrRedwood

MrRedwood — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:42:00 +0000

Because air travel is implicitly involved in interstate commerce, the Congress could probably override state jurisdiction within airports via the Commerce Clause. So, strictly speaking, the article’s assertion is both true and (marginally) to the point, despite any California law.

By: Weekend Reading | Backslash Scott Thoughts

Weekend Reading | Backslash Scott Thoughts — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 18:23:44 +0000

[…] Who Wants a Christian America? […]

By: Abe Blue

Abe Blue — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 14:22:00 +0000

Exactly, polls show that 96% of all poll numbers are made up on the spot.

By: Abe Blue

Abe Blue — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 14:20:00 +0000

All this article says to me is that Americans don’t even understand the First Amendment. We are seriously dumbed down in this country and need to start asking real questions. Our school systems are designed to school not educate. Our food and environment are loaded with toxins. Our media is state run. Our politicians are corrupt and elitist. Our money is controlled by the Fed behind closed doors with zero accountability.

By: Who Wants a Christian America? | Progressive News & Politics

Who Wants a Christian America? | Progressive News & Politics — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 21:06:33 +0000

[…] http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/11/05/who-wants-a-christian-america/ […]

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 23:06:00 +0000

I found the results of this poll really shocking, thanks for bringing it to our attention! However, I have to say that the way you wrote this article is a lazy pot shot at Republicans. Look how astonishingly high the numbers are among democrats and independents as well! Even though Republicans are so much higher, I think the big news story is that regardless of political affiliation there is substantial support for state religion – this is not some fringe opinion just among tea party activists! Also, I clicked on the link to the original data, and there are some VERY interesting differences by age and educational level that you didn’t even note in your rush to castigate Republicans.

As a last point, since this blog is written by scientists, it would be helpful for us readers if you could give some indication as to how rigorous this YouGov’s sampling and polling strategy was.

By: Larry Charles Wilson

Larry Charles Wilson — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:09:00 +0000

Mainly because Catholics were loyal to a foreign power (the Papal States, later Vatican City) and didn’t think for themselves but only voted the way their priests told them to vote. Vatican II helped end much of the Protestant fear of the Catholic Church and Catholics in general.

By: Larry Charles Wilson

Larry Charles Wilson — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:05:00 +0000

That’s for Federal Officers

By: Elena

Elena — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:03:00 +0000

Sure, but not *because Protestantism was the state religion*.

By: The_L1985

The_L1985 — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:26:00 +0000

Persecution of Catholics in the UK? Why go back that far, when anti-Catholicism was rampant throughout the 19th century in the US?

By: The_L1985

The_L1985 — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:25:00 +0000

Article IV of the Constitution clearly states that a religious test cannot be applied to governmental officials or candidates for office.