Are you implying that the proper exercise of religion should put nation before one's faith?

This seems a little problematic.

@domos The churches that I am familiar with teach the separation of church and state, obedience to law, loyalty to country, and respect for all religions, as well as love for all of humanity. What is problematic about such teaching?

You have singled out the “evangelical community” as a threat, not only to religious freedom but to other religious groups, and I strongly disagree.

The news media, in their quest for a scapegoat, seem to have created this monster they call evangelicalism, but the definition is unclear and contradictory. Hillary Clinton, for example, is a Methodist. Her church advertises itself as evangelical in no uncertain terms. Even the Catholic Church is evangelical if you look at the meaning of the word.

Perhaps since you have leveled these serious charges you will define just what you mean by “evangelical” and will give evidence that the evangelical community is a threat.

If the evangelical community continues to maintain its influence over American foreign and economic policy then I think it is appropriate to consider them a threat to the world.

As it stands, many domestic religious groups associated with wealthy evangelicals and corporate interests are capable of pulling their resources and hiring private military contractors for their own ends.

@domos That's pretty far fetched. We are in this mess because of one guy. When he is gone so is their so called power. All of our allies are just biding their time hoping he doesn't do something too stupid. If you think the majority of Republicans in either the House , and especially in the Senate really like or support his foreign policies you would be mistaken. I don't care how much money they raise for an army, they can't buy jet fighters, tanks, aircraft carriers, and drones. They would maybe make it out of their front yards. Those guys like Olsteen could not care less about some Evangelical agenda. He only cares about the money as do all of those so called "preachers".

@Sticks48 I think it is very misguided to imply that this situation resulted simply because of one man.

it is taking multiple decades of toxic political and social norms to generate the situation we are in now.

The extremists in the evangelical community has been preaching their religion of social and political dominance for decades.

I also disagree with your assessment that they do not have the resources to purchase considerable military hardware. Areas afflicted by American supported missionary outreach t could greatly be affected by a small and relatively modernized military force. exactly the type of services that American private military contractors tend to offer.

This, coupled with the rise of Christian fascism means that there are many American veterans with evangelical leanings or beliefs ready to be employed by private military contractors who promote or imply an agenda they agree with.

@domos I'm sorry that is so silly. So you think they can beat the US military. That is just laughable. Those people haven't been around for decades. They have been around for centuries. They will be around for a whole lot longer too.

@Sticks48 no one claimed that they could beat the United States military in a conventional style war. however they could instigate global conflicts that can wear down any military.

just look at what organizations like al Qaeda and ISIS have been able to accomplish... and they do not have the access to capital / resources that extremists American Christian factions do... And that is before factoring in the network of Christian religious organizations around the world which are vulnerable to extremism.

Religious extremists from developed countries are capable of seeding insurgency and violence around the world. Saudi Arabia spread of militant and extremist Islam is a textbook example.

The religious/Christian extremists of the United States in America are very much in a position to to propagate religious violence. Much like Saudi Arabia did with their interpretation of Islam.

@Sticks48 I am specifically referencing the scenario of extremist Christian organizations using private military contractors to arm and militize local populations under the guise of religious freedom.

@domos Christians are pussies. They don't sacrifice themselves for their beliefs. They don't do shit but talk. They have been that way all my life. They are less of a threat than Muslim extremists, and l don't worry about them either.

@Sticks48 I think you underestimate or are unaware of American Christian influence in geopolitics.