The fact is, no one knows (with 100% certainty) how things would have turned out if history had been different. BUT, the U.S. (and the British and other Western countries) have had a history of colonialsim, imperialism, and genocidalism that has been unmatched by any other nation.
Hence, the U.S. has developed a certain 'exceptionalism' and culture (over 500+ years) built on Genocide, slavery, exploitation, racism, and more that is unmatched by all other than Britain.
And this has little to do with religion (let alone Christianity).
Hmm. As Empires go I'd say Spain was the worst. Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Turkey and the Dutch weren't very nice. The USA and UK did pretty well, while Denmark might be the best of the lot. Not that I approve....
China has never shown they wouldn’t act morally. The Uyghur thing is a CIA and Israel construct and not a valid argument. To say the lack of religion is causing the fighting is laughable.
Not sure about the Uiger thing being a CIA and Israel thing. China wants nothing to do with Islam as it threatens all political systems - including the Chinese dictatorship.
Yep, no hope…repent and believe trust and obey! It requires faith in a gracious, holy, patient, loving and forgiving God. But He is not going to save everyone. Faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is incomparable and a necessary substitutionary death for my sins and for yours…..what a loving God - offering us forgiveness for all our sins! How can you not want the gift of forgiveness which is on offer!
Do you not see the contradiction between how you describe your god and the fact he won’t love and forgive those who don’t accept him? Sounds like the USA to me.
I get your point, but a Holy God can forgive sin but that first requires repentance and acknowledgement of the need of forgiveness. If you accept forgiveness freely offered but don’t wish to repent, then there would be no contradiction in God’s not accepting you. God must remain holy in order that he can act with both love and justice. These are both core values that define His deity. Easy!
Which GOD are we talking about here, Glenn? My deity is Nature -- that Complex Adaptive System of Systems-- more well informed and self-regulated than any human system ever created -- or by inference, any deity based on human "image and likeness". We have indeed pretty much abandoned that system as inferior rather than superior to our puny fucking brains and creations. This, in my opinion, is why we are doomed little lumps of detritus -- and fully merit that position both within the Biosphere -- having outlived our evolutionary window -- and within the larger universe.
Stephen
I am confused by your logic.
Are you saying that no country could do worse than the US?
My point is that power corrupts and it could manifest through any country that wielded the power that the US has.
Only very recently has China emerged as a threat to US hegemony.
Would you really think that a state like China would act morally and ethically as the sole global hegemon.
Ditto for Russia should it regain its former status.
I would add that this is a pointless to speculate because we don't know the future.
Evil seems to be on the rise just as Christianity is abandoned.
How ironic that the US is nominally Christian.
Emphasis on nominally!
Abandon God and abandon all hope.
The fact is, no one knows (with 100% certainty) how things would have turned out if history had been different. BUT, the U.S. (and the British and other Western countries) have had a history of colonialsim, imperialism, and genocidalism that has been unmatched by any other nation.
Hence, the U.S. has developed a certain 'exceptionalism' and culture (over 500+ years) built on Genocide, slavery, exploitation, racism, and more that is unmatched by all other than Britain.
And this has little to do with religion (let alone Christianity).
Hmm. As Empires go I'd say Spain was the worst. Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Turkey and the Dutch weren't very nice. The USA and UK did pretty well, while Denmark might be the best of the lot. Not that I approve....
Agreed - no argument from me!
China has never shown they wouldn’t act morally. The Uyghur thing is a CIA and Israel construct and not a valid argument. To say the lack of religion is causing the fighting is laughable.
Not sure about the Uiger thing being a CIA and Israel thing. China wants nothing to do with Islam as it threatens all political systems - including the Chinese dictatorship.
Anytime you hear the US media and politicians accusing someone of genocide, you can be sure it’s not what it seems.
Because??
We agree to disagree.
So .. Glenn Crichton those who don't believe in a Christian God or a creator God have no HOPE?
Yep, no hope…repent and believe trust and obey! It requires faith in a gracious, holy, patient, loving and forgiving God. But He is not going to save everyone. Faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is incomparable and a necessary substitutionary death for my sins and for yours…..what a loving God - offering us forgiveness for all our sins! How can you not want the gift of forgiveness which is on offer!
Do you not see the contradiction between how you describe your god and the fact he won’t love and forgive those who don’t accept him? Sounds like the USA to me.
I get your point, but a Holy God can forgive sin but that first requires repentance and acknowledgement of the need of forgiveness. If you accept forgiveness freely offered but don’t wish to repent, then there would be no contradiction in God’s not accepting you. God must remain holy in order that he can act with both love and justice. These are both core values that define His deity. Easy!
Which GOD are we talking about here, Glenn? My deity is Nature -- that Complex Adaptive System of Systems-- more well informed and self-regulated than any human system ever created -- or by inference, any deity based on human "image and likeness". We have indeed pretty much abandoned that system as inferior rather than superior to our puny fucking brains and creations. This, in my opinion, is why we are doomed little lumps of detritus -- and fully merit that position both within the Biosphere -- having outlived our evolutionary window -- and within the larger universe.