17
votes
What is the Catholic Church's answer to Nancy Pelosi's argument of a double standard between abortion and the death penalty?
The Catholic Church's stance on the death penalty, as on many other issues, is not static. Cardinal Ratzinger, known as a conservative scholar (which earned him applause from conservatives and ...
12
votes
What is the theological background to the belief that taxation is theft?
Foundations: Taxation and private property are in tension
The commandment (Exodus 20) "Thou shalt not steal" implies the right to private property, and this is everywhere assumed in ...
- 7,597
11
votes
Why do Latter-day Saints believe that the US Constitution is divinely inspired and what does that mean?
This belief can be traced to 1833 where in D&C 101:77 it states
77 According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the ...
- 8,612
9
votes
Accepted
Why do Latter-day Saints believe that the US Constitution is divinely inspired and what does that mean?
I'd like to supplement the excellent answer by depperm with a few other scriptures and some theological background to address some of the discussion raised in the comments.
--
High-level overview on ...
- 11k
8
votes
Accepted
In the USA today are there congregations who still follow in the footsteps of J C Philpot?
The closest equivalent to the British Strict Baptists in the US is Primitive Baptists, also called 'Old School Baptists' or 'Hardshell Baptists'. Like the Strict Baptists they practice believer's ...
- 31.2k
8
votes
What does "Christ was born across the sea" mean in Julia Ward Howe's The Battle Hymn of the Republic?
First, just to be clear, this line is about Christ's birth, not about his being carried somewhere.
As explained at Grammarist.com here:
"Borne is the past tense and past participle of bear in all ...
- 8,506
7
votes
Accepted
Are those who have a history of eating disorders excused from obligatory Roman Catholic fasts?
From a Question and answer page from the United States conference of Catholic Bishops:
Q. Are there exemptions other than for age from the requirement to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?
A. ...
- 1,531
6
votes
What does "Christ was born across the sea" mean in Julia Ward Howe's The Battle Hymn of the Republic?
Songwriting is Word Sculpture
It is hard to nail down what goes on in a poet's or a song writer's head as they sculpt words and phrases to craft a verse. (As a dabbler in poetry I reach far and wide ...
- 6,707
6
votes
Accepted
What are the theological reasons some Protestants are Zionists?
It would be wrong to think that a majority of Protestants are Zionists, but Christian Zionism is nevertheless a substantial movement, especially in the United States. There is a belief among some ...
- 14.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Do all Catholic seminary schools require instruction in Latin and/or Greek?
Do all Catholic seminary schools require instruction in Latin and/or Greek?
Not all Catholic seminaries require their seminarians to learn Latin unfortunately. Greek is often an elective in many ...
- 65.8k
5
votes
Have Christian Scholars been forced to use BCE and CE instead of AD and BC?
Our traditional calendar references of AD and BC are neither ancient nor entirely sacred in the sense of a reference to the birth of Jesus. It was first proposed in 533 by the Roman abbot Dionysus ...
- 14.4k
5
votes
Automatic Excommunication in 1967?
Back in 1967, the 1917 Code of Canon Law still in effect. Divorce alone was never a cause for excommunication. This remains in force even in the 1982 Code of Canon Law. The 1917 Code did allow for the ...
- 65.8k
4
votes
What do Christians against state recognition of same-sex marriage think of the fourteenth amendment in US law?
What do Christians against state recognition of same-sex marriage think of the fourteenth amendment in US law?
There is a principle of law called "original intent".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
- 4,673
4
votes
What is the theological background to the belief that taxation is theft?
The first thing to notice about the posts linked to in the question is that neither of the theologians in the discussion is claiming that all taxation is theft. Rick Phillips explicitly says "there is ...
- 31.2k
4
votes
Accepted
When was the first African American ordained in a US Presbyterian denomination?
You are correct that John Chavis, although he is reported to have been the first college-educated Black/African in America, was never ordained. He was licenced to minister.
It appears that John ...
4
votes
According to Lutherans, what is the Kingdom of God?
This is what the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, has to say about the Kingdom of God:
Kingdom of God: Term prominent in proclamation of John the Baptist, Jesus, and apostles; evidently synonymous ...
- 28.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Has the US Catholic Church given an imprimatur to any English Bible translations intended for children?
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has published a partial list of approved translations, which contains
Translation for Early Youth, A Translation of the New Testament for Children, ...
- 14k
4
votes
Accepted
Why was Thanksgiving in the US traditionally the last Thursday before Advent?
Why was Thanksgiving in the US traditionally the last Thursday before Advent?
The Short answer is: There seems to be no connection between Thanksgiving Day and the First Sunday of Advent. However, ...
- 65.8k
4
votes
Accepted
How many Pentecostals and Charismatics are there in the U.S. today?
Todd Johnson, who is the director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, reported on the global demographics of the Pentecostal and Charismatic ...
- 698
4
votes
What do Jehovah's Witnesses students do when the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag is recited at American schools?
My Jehovah's Witness relatives forbade their children to attend any form of religious instruction in school - they were excused and sat in an empty classroom doing homework instead.
As for singing &...
- 28.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Do mainline Protestant seminaries in the United States involve rigorous study of Hebrew and Greek?
Nowhere near as rigorous as evangelical colleges. To compare colleges it makes sense to consider the MDiv because it is meant to be internationally comparable. But as we'll see, that's not really true....
- 19.8k
3
votes
Why was Thanksgiving in the US traditionally the last Thursday before Advent?
Ken Graham has answered your question, but it appears that the first Thanksgiving took place in Virginia on 4 December 1619. These quotes come from a Catholic source: Is Thanksgiving was a civil ...
- 28.7k
2
votes
Why is "Battle Hymn of the Republic" considered to be a patriotic hymn in the United States?
If you look into the history of the hymn, you'll see that it was published around the time of the Civil War (to the tune of a song about the abolitionist insurrectionist John Brown). The (militant) ...
- 623
2
votes
Relative popularity of premillenialism, postmillennialism and amillennialism in North America (excluding Catholics and Orthodox)?
I don't believe that a comprehensive answer to this question is possible at this time.
Many denominations refrain from even identifying a preferred eschatological position, let alone require their ...
- 12.5k
2
votes
What do Christians against state recognition of same-sex marriage think of the fourteenth amendment in US law?
Although I think that this is ultimately more of a political question than a religious one (asking for opinion regarding the validity of a certain amendment), it might be able to be answered to a ...
- 861
2
votes
What are the theological reasons some Protestants are Zionists?
When I investigated this matter (at a time when my American Baptist church was exploring this in some depth), the conclusion to support the modern state of Israel rested upon these pillars:
1) A ...
- 11.2k
2
votes
Why was Thanksgiving in the US traditionally the last Thursday before Advent?
Consider this answer an extended comment, subject to deletion or removal to History.
The short answer to the main question is no, as far as we know there was never any consideration of synchronizing ...
- 1,994
2
votes
How could I bring up security concerns at the church that I attend?
Uniformed security at a church is uncommon enough that you can use it as a conversation opener.
If I were you I would seek out a (non-clergy) trustee / deacon / elder / congregation-council member / ...
- 131
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