Join the conversation and tell us what you think. Citizens Project: Creating a community valuing diversity, equality, and religious freedom.

Lynn Y. -

March 15th, 2011 at 12:01 pm    

I don’t think we benefit as a community when we call any group wrong. Or ask that they have less influence. Or label something as powerful and central to so many people’s lives as ‘superstition.’ For me, I believe strongly that we’re best when we invite people to live into their lives fully. Respectfully. And powerfully. Honoring that beliefs or non-beliefs are infinite. Everyone—people of diverse faiths, people who are atheists, people who are agnostic, people who don’t claim to have it all figured out. Simply everyone. People–freely living, loving, believing and pursuing their life. This kind of inclusive honoring creates a truly vibrant community, I believe!

Julie F -

March 23rd, 2011 at 8:50 am    

I appreciate and applaud the good work that churches (ALL churches) do and feel our community is better for their presence.

C -

March 23rd, 2011 at 11:07 am    

Wow!!! Biased much??? Please tell me that no tax dollars were spent on this. It seems that this question wasn’t designed to really get people’s perspective, it was designed to malign a segment of our population.

Bosnia-Kosovo-Iraq-Afgan Vet -

March 29th, 2011 at 4:07 am    

This isn’t a Christian nation, it never was and it wasn’t founded in Plymouth. The religious zealots are a blight on our nation, hinder progress and are routinely duped into voting against their best interest (anti-union) because “gays are getting married” or “abortion is immoral” even though Yahweh is verry much in favor of abortion, Hosea 13:16 and does quitea bit himself (rejected zygotes and miscarrieages). I had to reenlistin private ceremonies because of the bigotry that occured the first two times after not saying “So help me god”. Why are trailing more secular nations in everything from infant mortality to education to health care? Because of the divisive intolerance and social Darwinism of the religious.

Bernie -

March 30th, 2011 at 9:08 pm    

I just stumbled upon this organization.

First off, I want to wish the greatest success in your endeavors, and God Bless you all.

Secondly, Do not turn your backs on Focus on the Family, they are quite surreptitious in their ways. They have remained quiet for quite some time now, with the exception of that one gal who makes her way into the media opposing anti-bullying laws. I think their silence may have something to do with one of their founders, Dr. George Rekers. He, if you are unawares, was caught with a call boy last year vacationing in Europe. He was forced to give up his chair on the board of Narth.

Also keep vigilant over the fact that the Family Research Council is the militant arm of Focus. I’m sure you are all aware of the backgrounds of Tony Perkins and Peter Sprigg.

One other adopted child of theirs is Acpeds, the ACP (American College of Pediatricians). This group, which is comprised of a couple of hundred uber-conservative religiously right pediatricians. Their so called research falls limp in the eyes of the 57000+ members of the AAP(American Academy of Pediatrics). It is from Acpeds that Focus and the FRC will quote from when they tout, “but, the Social Sciences have said….”

Other than that I thinks it’s grand that their is an org, such as yourselves, willing to fight the myopic dominionist views of the Religious Right.

God Bless, and Peace

Jill -

March 31st, 2011 at 9:55 pm    

Everyone has a right their religious opinions, but their rights end when they try to force their beliefs onto others, or discriminate based on religious beliefs.

Our community benefits from the many and varied religious and non-religious beliefs that we all hold true. We lose ground when we make judgments about others based on these beliefs instead of just getting to know each individual as a unique and special person. Because the truth is that most of us share very similar hopes and dreams, and just want to live peaceful and happy lives.

Robin -

April 9th, 2011 at 12:22 pm    

I can’t answer the question, since I don’t know what a “Religious Right” is? I hear the phrase in the news and oftentimes accusations are made to people of being a “Religious Right”, but it is done in a derogatory way. To me, it’s like asking if a “jerk” or “bookworm” should have rights.

Everyone has rights in this Country, and they should be equal. That’s the only opinion I can offer.

Estella -

April 13th, 2011 at 7:00 am    

I didn’t vote the ‘superstition’ way, because I definitely believe in God, Heaven and Hell. The rest of the statement, however, pretty much nails my opinion. I believe that common sense and ethics, not religion, play a greater role in society and lawmakers should not lean so heavily towards the “Christian Right.” I point out that Colorado Springs has the second highest suicide rate only to Las Vegas, NV, our divorce rate is around 70%, and we are one of the drunkest cities in this country. Just how religious can we, as a city, really be?? Just because you SAY you’re a Christian, doesn’t mean you ARE.
The separation between church and state was put in place so that government could not regulate religion, but also so that religion could not regulate government. Religion, since the Clinton/Lewinski sex debacle, has hijacked politics, and politicians have drawn in people and votes based solely upon the statement “I’m a born again Christian.” Their actions would prove otherwise. How could one possibly call themselves a Christian, when one advocates wars of aggression, separatist views, and hate and intolerance? Jesus welcomed EVERYONE. Here, you have one of the largest churches in the area telling a lesbian she is no longer welcome – I know others in the same church didn’t agree, but how is this ‘Christian?’
Hypocrites, and so many of them here.

Ariel -

April 16th, 2011 at 11:07 am    

The issue is maintaining Separation of Church and State. Anything less is going down the path of destroying this country. History shows time and time and time again it is disastrous. The Religious Right is completely and utterly wrong to rewrite our history to say this country was founded on Christianity when the Treaty of Tripoli expressly states it is not. The Religious Right is wrong to try and remove federally funded schools so any schooling becomes an radical indoctrination center.

Ian -

April 19th, 2011 at 2:03 am    

This nation was ABSOLUTELY NOT! founded on any religious basis, those who believe so need to crack a history book because you are ignorant of the truth. The colonies were founded on religious freedom, not our nation. and our founding fathers made it so you could protect that freedom of religion, but they knew that a nation could not be founded on a religion! period! Hence the separation of church and state!! The bible is a book, do we all agree on that? Then for mercy’s sake IT IS NOT HARD EVIDENCE SO STOP USING IT AS SUCH!!!!!! Example the civil unions bill debate in Denver 2011, was an absolute joke….. So when e still have this separation of church and state the debate consists of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Jewish society, and it ends with the downfall of our society….. Really? I never knew that when two guys or two girls kissed it created a rift in time and space right beneath our countries major cities…. Do you not realize how uniformed, unintelligent, and ineloquent you sound when you say this garbage!? All your doing is proving your homophobia!! And heres the simple truth, GET OVER IT!!! Its natural, Fun fact** homosexuality occurs in over 480 species, homophobia occurs in one….. who looks like the oddity now?!?! Fact number two Its only older conservatives that have an issues and their families who they teach that hate too, well guess what my generation is accepting loving and tolerant, and your eventual death is going to lead to a new group of political leaders and ideals WILL CHANGE, all you’re doing is prolonging the inevitable.

darryl wyatt -

April 21st, 2011 at 11:43 am    

The religious right can believe whatever they want. It is not right for them to force their beliefs on others through laws that are grounded in their religious morality.

k -

April 24th, 2011 at 11:12 pm    

I think they might ruin us all.

trey -

April 30th, 2011 at 11:29 am    

If a religious organization is forcing their beliefs on someone, then they obviously haven’t read their Bible. As a religious leader God is the most important thing in my life. But God states in the Bible that we are not to force our beliefs on anyone, because you can’t win anyone to anything by forcing anything on them.
But no matter how we answer this question or what we believe, i bet if i met half the people who post on this page…we would probably be friends or at least have something in common.
we could even possibly be neighbors. Regardless of what we believe i know that we all love this country. Is it perfect no are we? No. but will all the differences that we have we can make this country the best place to live ever.
But anyone who passes laws just to force their way of life on everyone else is just wrong. How about we focus on being an awesome nation and let everyone else look up to us!!!

Miko -

May 10th, 2011 at 9:08 pm    

If you have to force your beliefs onto others, in MY perceptive reality…..you don’t really believe in it yourself! <3

Miko -

May 10th, 2011 at 9:10 pm    

Every BEING has the Free Will to choose AS THEY PLEASE…..one of our Universal Laws! <3

Chris -

June 16th, 2011 at 2:17 pm    

If Colorado Springs is the most religious city in the country, God help us all. Being religious is not the same as being spiritual. I know a lot of religious people who could use a good dose of wisdom and compassion. Separation of Church and State is imperative lest we revert back to the Middle Ages and become another theocracy.

Chris -

June 16th, 2011 at 2:20 pm    

Trey,

I really liked your comments. But with all due respect, God does not state anything in the Bible because God did not write it. Human beings did.

Josh Fitch -

August 19th, 2011 at 2:00 pm    

The problem with the “live and let live” philosophy when applied to religion is this: Religious people only call for “tolerance” when they feel threatened. Otherwise, they are more than happy to slowly being enforcing their own world view on everyone else via majority rule legislation.

The simple fact of the matter is that our country was intended to be tolerant of a vast array of beliefs… and yes, even lack thereof.

We are not a “majority rule” country, as I have seen stated by religious activists repeatedly. We are a republic that protects the interest of minority groups, including atheists, against the sometimes bigoted self interest of the majority.

Religious people, and Christians in particular, are not being persecuted in America, as they would have everyone believe. They are a staggering majority. The rest of us are simply pointing out that simply being a majority doesn’t entitle them to special treatment. That is not persecution, no matter how badly they want it to be so they can fulfill their end-time prophesies.