Jesus supports separation of Church and State.

[white_wolf]

Christians love to complain about how America is "kicking God out of schools" and all that crap, but they seem to forget this verse:
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogue and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." So maybe Christians should take Jesus's advice and not be hypocrites.

[hobbit709]

1. Mark 12:17

[Mz Pip]

2. Or

"Render unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's and to God the things that are God's." Or something like that.

Seems pretty clear to me that Church and government were not to be intertwined.

[man4allcats]

3. Not that I'm religious (I'm not), but I think the Bible or at least Christ

was fairly clear on that point. I'm not quite sure why so many Christians don't seem to get it.

[Mz Pip]

5. there was some study done

that showed that non believers knew more about the Bible than ardent believers. It was kind of interesting.

My knowledge base is years of Catholic school. I left the church at 17 when I couldn't reconcile what I thought religion should be about(Sermon on the Mount ideals) and the dogma of the church.

[man4allcats]

7. Yeah, the Sermon on the Mount was a problem for a lot of people.

It seems there was this Christian guy named Jesus who believed in what he preached and thought Christians should as well. So much for that goofy S.O.B. - hang his silly ass on a cross and get rid of him!

[madamesilverspurs]

4. And if I remember my lessons correctly,

in Jesus' time the government (the Romans) chose and controlled the High Priests. That arrangement didn't make life very pleasant, did it?

-

[Mz Pip]

6. It did not

and given from what I've seen of some of our most fervent high profile believers, it wouldn't be much different today. Jesus would be vilified by those who claim to be his followers as some kind of socialist commie hippie Food Stamp loving liberal.

[OHdem10]

8. Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and Render unto God

that which is God's.