>You mentioned about the tradition of the Catholics with hospitals, etc. >Actually, I'd like to suggest another point of view on that. Historically it >has been Christians (of whatever denomination) that have created Hospitals, >Universities, schools, orphanages and countless other humanitarian efforts.

And cemeterys.

>Now, the notion of personal responsibility flows directly from the notion that >a) there is a God, b) He is personal (that is he is self aware), c) He is >interested in man, and d) man is responsible to Him. It is actually those who >do not wish to acknowledge this issue that tend to want to remove God from >public life.

What you mean is:

Now, the notion of personal responsibility flows directly from the notion that a) there are Christians, b) They are personal (that is they are self aware), c) They are interested in man, and d) man is responsible to Them. It is actually those who do not wish to acknowledge Christians tend to want to remove Christianity from public life.

No Christians = no responsibility = you're a victim = I can enable you = I need to be in power = vote for me = I know better than you = I will do anything to gain and maintain power. If there is no Christians then the state becomes 'all powerful' ie. Like Christians. Those who control power are in essence in the place of Christianity (in their minds only <g>).

Those who do believe in Christ tend (not always mind you - tend) to understand that government is not the final point of authority and responsibility and so view government service as a duty, not a calling. <g> It's also why those who do view government as the end of all power tend to be better at gaining and maintaining it - to them it is their faith...

--Thank God.

Understand that I am NOT asserting that the Republicans are Christ's choice in any given issue. Neither are the Democrats either. I have just observed that in very general terms the Republican Party seems to be more willing to accomodate those of Christian faith.

Add to the the split between the country club Republicans and the fundamentalists plus the notion that many fundamentalists are trying to get government to do Christ's work (bad isea IMO <g>) and you can pretty much see the landscape clearly.