The Manhattan Declaration is a propaganda stunt sponsored by conservative right wing Christians intent on portraying Christians as victims of a secular America. The Declaration is in actuality an attempt to hi-jack American culture, and force a theocracy upon an unsuspecting and unwilling American public.
The Manhattan Declaration "issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not, under any circumstance, abandon their Christian consciences". The only problem is no one is asking them to abandon anything. No one is forcing anyone to abandon their Christian conscience.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins joins a group of Christian clergy, ministry leaders and scholars, including Chuck Colson, in sponsoring the Declaration.
The true motivation of this document is a call to culture war, an attempt to force conservative Christian values into the body politic. In particular, it is a desperate and futile attempt to stop a natural social progression from darkness to light, from ignorance and intolerance to enlightenment and acceptance.
Not surprisingly, the two big issues raised in the Declaration are women's reproductive health and civil rights for the gay and lesbian community. The Christian right is not worried about protecting their own rights, they are worried about their ability to deny their neighbor his or her rights.
The Christian right is not worried about their own conscience, their worried about their neighbor's conscience, which is, quite frankly, none of their business. That is one of the beautiful things about being an American.
In America we don't have to bow to the ignorance and superstition of silly pretenders thumping their magic book, no matter how important those pretenders might think they are.
The Manhattan Declaration represents the greatest threat we face as a species, the threat from religious ignorance and superstition. The signers of the Declaration represent the American Taliban; they are Christo-Fascists, and they are every bit as dangerous as the religious fanatics who flew airplanes into buildings on 9/11.
Click here for more on Church and State
Comments
I have never read such a truthful eye-opener on the issue, until I read this article. I agree with you 100%. Though im sure no government will actually pander to the whining of these religious moaners. They really do need to keep their ignorance to themselves.
Did you even take the time to read the entire document, or did you give up half-way through the first page because it talked about God?
What if we (Conservative Christians) are wrong about all of this? Do you think that you'll be judged adversely for standing up for the sanctity of life? Do you really think you'll benefit from that gay couple down the hall having the same rights as you and your wife (if you're lucky enough to have one)?
If you're like most Liberals, you've already written off the Conservative approach to life for what looks and sounds good on television. When you're done running from yourself, there will still be a place for you at the foot of the cross.
How can a group whose intent is to "hijack" a 2,000+ year tradition, created and defined by God himself, and make it suit their own defintion, say that conservative Christians are hijacking the culture? Your logic is so unbelievably shallow that it isn't even worth wading into to try and refute! Proof positive of more ancient biblical wisdom being proven true.... "The fear (as in respectful honoring)of God is the beginning of wisdom." Having abandoned that, your logic is somewhere near the pre-kindergartener level. You are loved just the same though!
propaganda stunt? Is that so? Then I guess the whole civil rights movement and Dr. King were one big propaganda stunt. Sorry pal...if things don't chnage, I will refuse to comply. The sea chnage will not occur ...never, never, never. And there are more of us then you think.
Wow, finally, a line in the sand. If the Catholic bishops, as a body, had taken this stand 20 or 30 years ago we would not be where we are today - in the darkness that does hot comprehend the Light. They can take my gun, my home, my freedom and they can dismember me limb by limb, but they cannot take my faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. God bless the good men and women behind this Manhattan Declaration. Count me in!
My first thought was the same as Josh...did you read the document?
I am thrilled to see Christian leaders taking a stand and not worrying about being politically correct.
Your article does not follow any logic. This is about freedom of religion and continuing the agreement that there be no federal abortion funding which has been between pro-abortion and pro-life politicians for years. This is about the left forcing their lack of consciences on us. You want to take God out of society and ruin society. You secularists are the reason this society is so screwed up. So, leave my conscience alone, and stop forcing your immorality on all of us God loving people.
What amazes me is, why do you care? All I have read indicates that it bothers you to no end that we as Christians are minding your business for you. Are you not, in essence, doing the same? What does it matter to you that we, as conservative Christians, will not bow to the promotion of secularism in this country? Just the fact that you have taken the time to ponder this argument, made this plea to your readers (who from the look of things, are in the Christian majority thus far) proves that regardless of convictions or beliefs, it is pretty apparent as human beings that on some basic level we all take an interest in each other.
I don't want to take away your right to believe in whatever you choose to believe in. In doing so, I don't want you infringing on my rights as a Christian, or as an American. The leaders you support have gradually taken my right to guide my children in my faith in God away, forcing your enlightenment down my throat as well as theirs. Today it ends. I signed.
To Michael Stone: Incredible editorial. Sounds like you are more threatened by The Manhattan Declaration than not, Michael. Your article sounds strident and contrived. Relax, organized religion has been around as long as "the species" has. Its done far more good than the secular politicians with whom we've dealt since the 1920s.
Your premise is flawed therefore every conclusion drawn from it will be flawed as well. For example. The requirement of ALL who participate in government run healthcare to pay into an abortion fund violates the conscience of those who believe in the sanctity of life. Show me how my religious liberty is not bring violated. This illustrates two of the three planks in the declaration: 1)The sanctity of life and 2)religious liberty. The pro abortion movement has decimated the ranks of the African American population and yet it is held up as human right. It is murder, no genocide. You make similarly flawed assumptions concerning marriage. The institution on marriage is the building block of our culture. Isn't it interesting that as the amount of divorced families and single parent families has increased so has child and teen violence and substance abuse? Your reasoning has no logic or soundness. It reads like the rantings of a self indulgent child
When Religion Dictates Politics? How about When Politics Dictates Religion? It seems pretty clear that you have not read the document. Rather, upon hearing that someone with religious convictions has an opinion, you plugged in the pre-recorded LGBT tape which ignores the whole point of the document and accuses the exercise of free speech by people with a religious conviction as an attempt to set up a theocracy. They are not telling YOU what to do. They are telling the Government what They Will Not Do.
It clearly has escaped your consciousness that if the Government can tell people with religious convictions what they can and can't do, they can also tell you. Your rant is silly.
Sounds like the Declaration might have hit a nerve there Alex.
Humm? If the Manhattan Declaration is just a propaganda stunt, why have there been over 32,000 people who have signed their names in support of this document in just the first 3 days? Before I even know that this document existed, I had already come to the same conclusion. The liberal left is trying to control Christians with laws. The gay community is advancing their agendy by taking people to court. City laws are subject to State laws. State laws are subject to Federlal laws, and man's laws are subject to God's laws. I have to obey God's laws first, becuase God's laws are right, and He is the one who is eternally and ultimately in charge. It's that simple. May I suggest that you may also want to honor God's laws fist and allow God to be first in your life. It beats the alternative.
Mikey you seem a bit perplexed and agitated lately, WHY?
It's interesting that both religious and non-religious can sound "holier-than-thou". There must be a better way to have these debates.
Hey Stoner whether you and your commie buddies want to believe it or not this nation was founded and built by European Christians, not atheists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. The majority of people in this country still classify themselves as Christians Mikey so maybe you need to move to another country huh Mikey. I can't figure people like Mikey out they love to rag on western culture but yet they won't do us a favor and leave the country for their turd world utopias, maybe the commie malcontents are trying to takeover.
I love how people like Mikey always talk about how dangerous religion is or how it has killed so many in the name of religion, blah-blah-blah. While they completely ignore that millions upon millions of people have been killed by communist atheist regimes in former Soviet Union, Mao's China, Pol Pot etc.
Mike,
<p>
You're ignorant of many things...chief among them this: Nature abhors a vacuum. The only thing standing between you and Islamic takeover of the West, is the folks who read and believe on that "Magic Book" you're so afraid of.
<p>
If you think for a minute that logic,brains or "fervent secularism" will stay the sword of violent Muslims, you're sadly mistaken.
<p>
You certainly don't have to accept Christ as Savior, but you should appreciate that they stand up for objective moral values, and your sorry ass in the face of totalitarianism.
If we are just "silly pretenders" you sure do sound awfully scared. Jesus WILL come back to judge us ALL one day, including You, and if you have not accepted Him as Lord, you will spend eternity in hell. I do not wish this for anyone. I'm praying that God can turn you hardened heart towards Him. Most Sincerely.
Christians should take a stand for what they believe. They are long overdue to speak up for what is true.
Joshua 24:15
"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
You are wrong. This Christian is concerned about pharmacists being forced to sell the morning after pill, Bible believing pastors being forced to marry homosexuals, physician's forced to kill unborn babies etc. To go along with this and be politically correct would be the highest form of hypocrisy. Either we believe or we don't. I do.
It's important to recognize that this document does exactly what our Constitution does: protects from government suppression of freedom. The government has and will enact legislation forcing churches to perform same-sex marriage, refrain from promoting certain issues (sin, homosexuality, abortion rights, among others), and halt religious broadcasting. In its assertion of free speech and private rights, this document takes a commendably strong stand--for The Church and for Freedom.
Darkness, ignorance and intolerance! Never heard our founding fathers described quite that way...you know Michael...those men that laid the foundation of our great nation. Men that believed in inalienable rights that came from God! I know, they weren’t all Christians, but most were and they all believed in a Creator. Well it’s been 40+ years since we began forcing God out of our culture and by every measure, our nation has suffered. Crime is up, STDs are up, divorce is up, addiction is up, Gov’t is out of control, and our once great nation is falling full speed down a slippery slope to disaster. The secular progressive world view being advanced in our culture is to blame and I personally want nothing more to do with it. I am glad to see men and women of faith finally decide to take a stand, the very stand our founding fathers took that culminated into the greatest nation on earth. May God bless America because we are destined to failure without you Lord!
The article is a bit strident, true. But the point about many on the Christian right (note *many*, not all) wanting to impose their beliefs on others is accurate.
Christians are among the largest opponents to gay marriage. They want to use the government to ban and restrict gay marriage, as well as other rights such as employment nondiscrimination and even civil unions.
Gays and lesbians, by and large, have no desire to restrict Christians' right to practice their religion. Recognize whatever marriages you want or not in your churches, it's no difference to us.
You as a Christian have an absolute right to practice your religion. That right ends, however, as soon as it begins to intrude on the rights and freedoms of other people.
Right or left, I believe that Jesus is the Christ. I hope you will too some day. If you attack my faith, you will loose.
I thought the press would find people better equipped for the job of "Examiner". Michael, you must feel threatened or something because your logic is quit befuddled and out of line. I ask you to retract your article. As you can see by the comments listed above most people realize that you have missed the mark by a long shot! Pleas reread the document! Maybe then you will understand the authors are fighting for the freedoms this nation was founded on.
This article is the most truthful piece of work i have ever read. I agree with it 100%. Well done on a great piece!
Live and let live...believe or not...it's completely up to the individual...all paths lead to the same end..the only law left to us by Jesus was to love god and to love our neighbor...I don't see that love being expressed by any of the above statements...save one
Wow, you just don't get it do you?
The Declaration, notes the irony that those who accuse Christians of being “intolerant” are often the ones who “trample upon the freedom of others to express their religious and moral commitments.”
Everyone should really wake up now!
The victims of legally sanctioned intolerance aren’t only Christians—it’s all of us. Who else can protect us ordinary people from the over reaching authority of the state?
The alternative to religious liberty isn’t “tolerance,” it’s what Alexis de Tocqueville called “soft despotism”—government by rules and regulations.
As a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese put it, “The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that’s really a problem.”
It’s a problem for more than the Archdiocese. Catholic Charities “serves 68,000 people in the city, including...one-
third of Washington’s homeless people.”
“The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that’s really a problem.”
Actually the city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to obey state and local laws. That's an important distinction. Many of these laws prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians, just as they prohibit discrimination against black people and other minorities. Being 'secular' has nothing to do with it. Please do not equate the right to practice one's religion with the right to discriminate. They are separate issues.
Muslim cashiers at 7-11 have to sell beer, and Jewish cashiers at Safeway have to sell bacon. Why shouldn't 'Christian' pharmacists have to sell the morning after pill? If they don't want to provide legal medications, they should find another line of work.
Gay DC taxpayers shouldn't have to fund Catholic Charities' discrimination. Would it be OK for gay charities to take catholic tax dollars and then not pay benefits to catholic employees? I think not.
Check out an opposing view at the Kansas City Political Buzz page
Planned Parenthood coupled with the Gay Agenda [with government handouts] has brainwashed too many of this generation via media and triangle enforcement tactics in schools. The Constitution supports religious liberty to protect our core beliefs from fascist tactics. Our religious leaders have the right and responsibility to express Free Speech.
Parts of Christianity have been the source of the worst of the worst of humanity.
Right wing protestants were behind slavery, America's greatest crime. And more American's died in the civil war then any other war, to destroy slavery. Which they replaced by segregation.
Now some of these so called Christians - who are an affront to everything Jesus Life was meant to be as a message of God's love for all his creation, are intent on keeping our gay minority as the new victims of religious based hatred, the new crime before God in the name of God.
Their declaration is really hatred against gays. Despite Maine and California, a good majority of Americans support equality and for gay people even if they have a problem with using the word "marriage".
The article was a bulls eye. We have a Christian Taliban, of which Perkins is a leader. Intent on always having someone to hate to sell their corrupt version of love.
It's they who'll burn in hell for using God's word for hate
didn't the catholic church uses this same argument against integration?
Didn't the catholic church use the same arguments against interracial marriage?
And finally, as a member of the Church of the Inviisble giant pink unicorn, I feel that christian marriage degrade my marriage and I say I should have the right to deny giving benefits to christian couples nor be forced to marry them in a court of law. I say I should have the right to deny them benefits or even reconize their unholy union. Christian marriages demean traditional marriage. Its my right as a Unicornian to be able to call Christian evil cannibals and devil worshippers who will rot in hell and I should not be bound by hate crime laws against denoucing them publicly in my sermons.
See, I can be just as illogical as christains
I enjoyed this article and agree with it 100%. Thank you! I agree who told them to be silent. They have freedom of speech. What immoral and unjust laws are they talking about? What parrell America are they living in. Sounds like they want to rule the country instead of having elected officials. I am personaly sick of the disrespect of the president. They are tkin freedom of speech to the upmost extreme and embarrassing my country. They are lucky that they have their freedom. If not, i would hope that they would be charged with traitorism or at least deported out of my country. But, that is me. There needs to be a least a certain level of respect. Soldiers are dying so they can have a voice and this is how they choose to use it. They quite posibly bring the kind of war we are fighting now, here in our lap. Or a revolution or civil war. Unless they can calm down.
You have no right to use religious beliefs to prevent people from being treated equally in our society. That is in the 14th amendment to the constitution, period.
And this is not a Christian Nation. You can worship as you please, but cannot force your beliefs on others within our society. If you want to live in a theocracy, go try Saudi Arabia. They learned to fly jet planes, demonstrated on 9/11. And they will be glad to give you their version of religious love - a beheading for bible carrying Christian infidels.
And this is not a Christian Nation. You can worship as you please, but cannot force your beliefs on others within our society. If you want to live in a theocracy, go try Saudi Arabia. They know how to fly jet planes, demonstrated on 9/11.
Most of us don't believe in the christian threats of hell - a religion of terrorism. But for those who would force their religious beliefs on others - especially hatred against minorities like Gays, may God help you.
Someone said "we are bound to fail without you, Lord".
"God" has been misused over the ages. The Catholic based crusades against the Muslims killed 50 million. Any surprise their extremists groups hate us, "in the name of [their God] Allah"?
Christianity, both Catholic and conservative protestant, gave us hatred of Jews. The lever Hitler used to gain control of Germany, and give the world its worst conflagration ever.
The Protestant extremists are the Bible thumpers. It'd be nice if they look up Leviticus in the original Bible, which forms the basis for many of their hatreds, eg African Americans and LGBT citizens.
Should we take these bible thumpers, and apply the bible to them first? For if you read Leviticus, it is apparent that the bible condemns 99.99 % of the world's population to death. For eating pig and shellfish, wearing clothes made of multiple types of threads, working on the sabbath.
Nice people. No wonder there is so much religious violence in the wo
"The Manhattan Declaration represents the greatest threat we face as a species, the threat from religious ignorance and superstition. The signers of thae Declaration represent the American Taliban.."Quote
Well said. For so many, religion is has nothing to do with God. It really has to do with absolutist control extremists, whose ego is satisfied only by having a large group of people sucking up to their hatred, in the name of Jesus and God.
Virtually every tyrant is this type of person, be they religious, or secular. The "fire and brimstone Ministries" of Christianity, the Catholic church gone astray with Benedict born in 1928 in Germany, Stalin, Saddam, Bin Laden etc. are all examples of ideologies led by extremists who obviously hate themselves, and spill their hate on others to bury their own guilts.
It is this type of personality which has led the world to ruin during all periods of recorded history. And they would do it again and again, buttressed with religious f
RE complaint about our secular society eg divorce, government regulation,etc
Would you condemn a woman to live with an abusing two timer? Remember Gov. Sanford of NC, and Senator Ensign of Nev. These ultra christian "family values people", both cheated on their wives, and when caught showed zero shame. Marriage is failing because most understand that family values Christians' make marriage a joke in the process.
Why are they so adamant against civil unions or gay marriage? Almost every country in western Europe has them. And gay people have a minimal divorce rate.
\
Could the religious hatred against gay people really be nothing but a cover-up for the lies of the family values people. For whom Hypocrisy is their middle name, and their religion has always had someone to hate. And gay people will show up their hypocrisy.
Re Gvt regulation - if we'd regulated wall street, we'd have a robust economy, instead of our children paying for a Trillion $$ stolen by wall street
"Planned Parenthood coupled with the Gay Agenda " per Mike B.
I only wish Mike got pregnant. Then his views on planned parenthood would change. For so many, abortion is simply an attempt to have a "trump card" by the churches who gave us slavery, segregation and the hatred of Jesus own people the Jews. Maybe we'll listen to them after they bring all those they murdered over the ages back to life.
And the Gay agenda is the 14th Amendment - to be treated equally under our laws, and to be free of religious terrorism and hatred and even occasionally murder in the name of these so called religions.
How many realize that in MD, until 1964, it was actually illegal for someone to get married by a Priest or a Rabbi, or have a legal, non religious marriage. Thanks to christian hypocrites.
It wasn't until 1968 that the supreme court ended laws against interracial marriage which were created by so called Christians. No wonder they hate Obama. Sickos
"The victims of legally sanctioned intolerance aren’t only Christians—it’s all of us. Who else can protect us ordinary people from the over reaching authority of the state?" quote
Who is to protect us from the over-reaching authority of churches to which we do not subscribe or believe?
Churches and their ideologies have been the cause or the supporting cast of the worst murderous rampages in history.
The thousand year dark ages, which included the Catholic church and emperors murdering tens of millions of Muslims during the crusades. Not at all surprising that they hate us. Despite the fact that Bin Laden should have loved us for helping him kick "the Godless ones" (Russians) out of Afghanistan. Just another example of the irrationality of conservative religion.
And Catholocism, who created Hitler, and leveraged his campaign to take over germany via the church hatred of Jews for a millenia.
This scene is terrible. People selling their souls to hate in the name of G
Waaaa-Waaaa-Waaaaa, I've never heard so many whiny libtarded hypocrites in my life. Waaa-Waaa Christians hate gays Waaa, Christians hate Jews Waaa, if anything gays and Jews have demonstrated hatred towards Christians, ever hear about the Bolsheviks slaughtering Christians, well just look and see how many of those in charge of that commie atheist regime were of Jewish descent. Another example is why do gays always protest at white Christian churches only, given that black churches and Muslims are both vehemently opposed to homosexuality in general much less gay marriage.
I don't get what you are worried about Mikey. If you don't want to listen to the Christians, or conservative talk show hosts, or anyone else, you don't have to. Just change the channel.ds
I recommend that all you frieghtend people out there buy Sarah Palin's book and relax, and enjoy a good read. Take you mind off all your gloom and doom. Relax, remember Barry has only 3 more years and then we have a chance to get a real president.
Talk is cheap. How many of you berating the Christians truly know what the doctrine is all about? You are as ignorant as long as you allow it to be and ignorance will not be an excuse, not in the court of law (of your current world) nor in judgment time in the world to come. Bask now, in your so-called freedom, you do not even know what freedom means and where that word came from. Talk is cheap. Truly cheap when ignorance prevails.
I agree B52RN people like Mikey should just mellow out and quit being so uptight and just toke up some maui-wowee while they settle back with a good book like Palin's "Going Rogue" or Beck's "Arguing With Idiots."
Sir, I am a Christian and I subscribe to this document and I am willing to go to the mat for my faith. I am sick and tired of people calling me a homophobe, racist and uncompasionate because I believe in GOD as king, and sin is sin. If that is too tough for you tough. It is my core priniple not some propaganda and I have the duty and right to say it. Thank you
I have actually read the entire Manhattan Declaration. It does, indeed, contain some basic truths: 1. Human life is sacred in the Creator's eyes -- even the life of the unborn. 2. Marriage between men and women was the Creator's purposeful design.
The Declaration, however, only makes a cursory admission of the Church's hypocritical failure to live by the Creator's basic teachings in daily living. When supporting the wrongness of murder of the unborn, no mention is made of the Church's sordid history of support for human warfare. The millions slaughtered by clergy-fomented wars are never mentioned.
The above commenter's point of the clergy's lack of protest over the Holocaust is well made. Only Jehovah's Witnesses as a religious group stood up and condemned the Nazi persecution and extermination of the Jews.
Although some truth is to be found in this declaration, the hypocrisy of its religious authors takes much of the wind out of their arguments. It's too little much too late.
"Is mandated health insurance Constitutional? "
No it is not. Remember the coal mine owners and the gold and diamond mine owners of yesteryear? They owned the mines that were the only employers in the areas. They built the housing that housed the workers. The mine owners owned the general stores that were in town. The mine owners hired doctors and dentists fro the workers. The mine owners controlled the goods and services that the mining town had at its disposal.
When this government can FORCE, by penalty of law and fines and jail, force the citizens to buy a good or product the mandating entity sells, it is indentured servitude. As in the above mining town days. The miners ended up with about 20% of their pay because the mine owner (the Obama government) took all the payments for services out of their pay. You lose CHOICE of WHO you want to pay. The government provides all for a payment paid according to your ability. INDENTURED SERVITUDE! ONE step up from SLAVERY!
Proverbs 24
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!