In Revelation 17:5, the apostle John describes a mysterious figure: >"Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth." (Revelation 17:5) Many modern interpreters and some Christian teachers associate America with this symbolic "Babylon," citing its global cultural influence, economic dominance, and especially its perceived moral decline (e.g., promotion of sexual immorality, media-driven hedonism, and exporting of ungodly values worldwide). My question is: Do any Christian traditions or interpretations seriously support the view that America is Babylon the Great specifically because of its moral decay? Or is this interpretation more rooted in speculative prophecy teachings rather than established theological frameworks? I’m interested in thoughtful perspectives from within Christian theology, especially those that either support or critique this view using Scripture.

There is a substantial number of people who self-identify as or are otherwise classified as "African-Americans" in the United States who consider themselves Christians. Were the ancestors of those "African-Americans" who were captured, mainly on the west coast of Africa, Christians when they were captured by various African and European war parties, or did those captured Aftricans only become Christians after being captured and embarked to European colonies outside of Africa?

The Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study frequently highlights distinctive trends among **historically Black Protestant (HBP) denominations** in the United States. For example, the 2023-24 study identified HBP as the only Christian group where a majority believed that **moral behavior requires a belief in God**, a view that contrasts sharply with other Christian categories and the general U.S. population (Pew Research Center, "Religion and Views of Right and Wrong ," 2023-24 survey). What are the key factors (e.g., **theological/doctrinal emphases**, **historical experiences**, specific **cultural values**, or **sociological dynamics**) that contribute to this distinctive proportion of adherence to this belief? In short, where does the HBP coupling of **being a moral person** with **believing in God** come from? **Majority of adults in the historically Black Protestant tradition say believing in God is necessary to be moral** *%who say ...* | |It is possible to be
moral and have
good values
without believing
in God|It is necessary to
believe in God in
order to be moral
and have good
values|Don't know/
Refused| |--|:--:|:--:|:--:| |**All U.S. Adults**| 68% | 30% | 2%=100% | |**Religiously affilliated**| 60 | 38 | 2 | |Christian|58|40|2| | Protestant|55|42|3| | *Evangelical*|51|46|2| | *Mainline*|71|27|3| | *Historically Black*|40|57|3| | Catholic|62|37|2| | Orthodox Christian|67|39|3| | Latter-Day Saint (Mormon)|73|23|3| |Other Religions|78|21|1| | Jewish|82|16|2| | Muslim|52|46|2| | Buddhist|79|19|1| | Hindu|73|26|1| |**Religiously unaffiliated**|88|11|1| |Atheist|98|2|1| |Agnostic|98|1|Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. Source: conducted July 17, 2023-March 4, 2024. **PEW RESEARCH CENTER**

The wikipedia entry for Christian Metal says that some of the stations which do play said genre: > as a whole these larger stations generally maintain a GMA-prescribed format. > > [Christian metal (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_metal) That would seem to exclude metal since the GMA's mission statement apparently is: > Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/Gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B;, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. I guess it says all styles "including" and not to the exclusion of. But what is the connection between GMA and the many Contemporary Christian Music stations around the country and what, exactly, would be likely to not meet their seal of quality?

Which U.S. bishops are unfaithful to Church teaching on homosexuality and LGBT ideology?

A senior citizen couple I know were married in a Greek Orthodox church ceremony without ever obtaining a marriage license. The priest agreed to do this. Is this allowed by the Church? I know several Greek Orthodox people and we have never heard of such a thing. The couple reside together but keep separate finances and the wife retained her own name.

Within American evangelicalism a debate has recently been reignited on economic policy, and I've been astonished at the number of people saying that some or all taxation should be considered to be theft. This recent debate got started with a blog post by Rick Phillips on the Alliance of Confessing Evangelical's Reformation21 site, entitled ["Socialism Is Evil"](http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2016/02/socialism-is-evil.php) : > So, biblically speaking, why is socialism evil? ... Because socialism is a system based on stealing. The whole point of socialism is for the government to seize control of private property, mainly involving the proceeds of peoples' work, in order to give it to others. (Note the compulsory aspect of socialism, which so differs from voluntary forms of communalism.) This activity is the very thing pronounced as evil by the 8th Commandment: "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15). ... While there is a legitimate basis for government taxation, the simple taking of one's possessions in order to give them to others is not one of them. Socialism is evil because it inherently involves stealing. R. C. Sproul Jr [has written](http://rcsprouljr.com/blog/the-non-volunteer-state/) : > Now, in my political circles, there are plenty of hot-headed young men that love to make the claim, have as their own particular banner, “Taxation is theft.” I’m not sure what I think about that, I do believe certainly, at the very least, that any taxation above and beyond what is needed to do the biblically and constitutionally limited functions of government is in fact theft, but even if you don’t believe that, you have to recognize at least this, that taxation is done by force. That’s why it’s called taxation. That’s its defining quality. It is the government taking wealth from its citizens. You can say it’s not theft if you want, but it has in common with theft that you don’t have a choice. When a man comes up to you with a gun in his hand and he says “Your money or your life”, he doesn’t mean “I’m going to give you a choice. You can keep your life or you can keep your money.” There is no choice where you get to keep your money. If he takes your life, do you know what he’s going to do next? He’s going to take your money. He also [reportedly wrote](http://theweeflea.com/2016/02/23/is-the-church-capitalist-is-the-american-church-too-compromised-with-the-culture/) : > I wonder if the author would affirm that any tax can be theft. His argument that Jesus said to pay our taxes, means that taxes can’t be theft is odd. I wonder if, because Jesus says we should give our shirt to someone who takes our coat that taking coats cannot be theft. And in [a comments section on theweeflea.com](http://theweeflea.com/2016/02/22/is-socialism-satanic-why-has-the-alliance-of-confessing-evangelicals-gone-all-political/#comments) , several other people agreed and put forwards arguments that taxation was theft: > Socialism is theft, as all taxation is theft. Yes, Christ told us to render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and because of that, I do… but that doesn’t negate the act of taxation being theft just like “if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” doesn’t negate the first slap from being assault. If I saw someone getting punched in the face, especially if they are a non-Christian, I wouldn’t tell him “That’s not assault, as Christ told you to turn your other cheek as well.” No, it’s assault and all taxation is theft. How are we to react? Just like Christ told us. But it doesn’t absolve the aggressor (Caesar or an abuser) of their sin. [](http://theweeflea.com/2016/02/22/is-socialism-satanic-why-has-the-alliance-of-confessing-evangelicals-gone-all-political/#comment-7091) > > Are you seriously saying that taxation is not theft, simply because Christ told His followers to pay Caesar? What about our non-believing neighbors that abhor paying taxes? I understand that Christ’s words are binding on my soul, they compel me, but my non-Christian neighbor doesn’t feel that way. Is it theft for him? Who will stick up for him? [](http://theweeflea.com/2016/02/22/is-socialism-satanic-why-has-the-alliance-of-confessing-evangelicals-gone-all-political/#comment-7097) > > So are taxes theft? Absolutely. We submit to paying those taxes only because the consequences of not paying them are worse. This is no different than a highway bandit that positions himself at the beginning of a route and demands all passers-by pay a toll in exchange for “safe passage” along the road. Is the bandit a thief? Or a champion of wealth redistribution? You are splitting hairs. [](http://theweeflea.com/2016/02/22/is-socialism-satanic-why-has-the-alliance-of-confessing-evangelicals-gone-all-political/#comment-7101) As an outsider to the American situation, from a country which must seem extremely socialistic to those who hold views such as these (because of course *only* socialists could support universal health care), this taxation-is-theft idea seems like a political ideology its adherents have unquestioningly accepted, which they then confused with their theology, and have then desperately looked for any proof texts they can find to support their position. But is this the case? Or is there a longer theological history and background to this economic policy? Can this position be traced back to before the modern libertarian ideology arose?

What are the receptions and reputations of Olivet Assembly in these countries? - US - South Korea - China (Is it also called Young Disciples of Jesus (耶稣青年会)?) From limited search results, it looks like it was founded in South Korea. There are also some articles about it on American and Chinese websites, with different attitudes. Is it legal and well accepted by the governments or societies in the three countries? Thanks.

What is Cavanagh Altar Bread? Why do churches in America prefer to use the product for Communion wafers?

I've dug up at least one reference that may be a candidate. Jeremiah 6:21-23 > Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion. I've heard some say this verse is talking about the nation of Russia rising against Israel, and that the 'great nation' that is 'raised from the sides of the earth' is a allusion to the United States. - Are there any other verses that people have cited as evidence the USA is mentioned in the Bible? - Is there anyone (denominations/prominent individuals) who believes that the USA is mentioned in the Bible? - What are the arguments for or against this reference (or any other)?

From a sermon illustration: That quote was the last words of a young man in southern USA (18th century), who was sentenced to be hung for a crime, whose family had interceded with the governor. The governor took a pardon enclosed in a Bible to the young man. But the young man refused anything religious, the Bible, and his unknown visitor.

My father dodged the Vietnam War and we later found his whereabouts to be in New Zealand. My mother tried to get an annulment but was denied. She divorced for abandonment and said she was excommunicated. She must have told me this 50 times as it hurt her tremendously. She "secretly" attended and remained personally devout. Her second marriage was to a Protestant so I don't know if that played a part. My sister-in-law doesn't believe what my mom told me and thinks you can only get excommunicated if you committed a horrendous crime in a sane mind. Back in 1967, I think the Church was more cut & dry / strict, when it came to divorce. I know my mom had 'shopped' many other religions to appease her spiritually and for the need of community, to no avail. She was Catholic and there was nothing else! Please clarify this for me.

To what extent do mainline Protestant seminaries in the United States involve rigorous study of Hebrew and Greek? What is the minimum course load in learning these languages? How rigorous are such courses? How many elective courses tend to be offered, and how frequently are these chosen by current students? By mainline Protestant seminaries, I mean the seminaries of the sort that are associated with Ivy League universities (eg Princeton Theological Seminary, Union Seminary) or those affiliated with mainline denominations (eg Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, associated with the PCUSA).

When and who declared the Immaculate Conception the patroness of the United States of America?

Some number of years ago, I recall having seen (I am sure it was on television and I believe it was in the 1990s) a documentary (I would like to say it was a show called "Unsolved Mysteries," but I am not sure)---on a prophecy regarding the future reshaping of the map of the United States due to some kind of massive flooding. I don't recall if this flooding was to supposed to occur gradually or quickly. I further recall that it was a prophecy of the recently beatified, Solanus Casey. However, over the past few days or so, I have tried to find a prophecy of this sort attributed to him---without success. Furthermore, I know that the alluded to show did do a segment on him in the 1990s, and maybe one thereafter---but from what I can find out, they may have pertained to miraculous healings. I am certain that such a prophecy was presented on television in the 1990s; and so, I imagine, that others are familiar with it---whether by that program, or by some other means. My question: Can someone recall more specifically, what the details of the alluded to prophecy are; and who is it attributed to? Bl. Solanus Casey? Someone else? Thank you.

[J. Gresham Machen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gresham_Machen) is best known for his battle against theological liberalism in the northern Presbyterian church in the US (the PCUSA), first founding a seminary (in 1929) and then an independent missions agency in 1933. This latter action in particular was swiftly condemned by his denomination, and after a couple years of trials and appeals, he was defrocked in 1936. Not long after, he founded a new denomination – the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I'd like to know if it's documented anywhere that Machen seriously considered joining another Presbyterian body in the US prior to creating the OPC. At the time, there weren't nearly as many Presbyterian options, but others did exist, such as the PCUS (in the South), the ARP, and the RPCNA. Do we have any evidence, particularly from his writings, that Machen considered joining another Presbyterian denomination instead of founding a new one?

**Background** During the 1800s, Americans expanded farther west into the territory of Native Americans, which led to many interactions between settlers and Native Americans. From my limited but increasing knowledge of these interactions, they could be peaceful, but they could also be brutal and deadly. **Question** How did pastors teach their congregations to interact with Native Americans during the 1800s? For example, did pastors teach their congregations not to deplete the herds of buffalo that tribes relied on for food, and to respect the boundaries the tribes had? Or how did pastors tell their congregations to respond if a tribe kept on stealing their horses, or kidnapping their children? I would be helped if you could provide some examples and tell me how you found them. *Note*: I looked at various Stack Exchange sites, and the *Christianity* site seemed like the best place to raise this question. Thank you for your help!

Are Catholic schools run by seculars (non-religious laity) a post-Vatican II novelty?

Inspired by this other question on the LDS denomination. What I am curious on is if the Jehovah's Witnesses holy writings (whatever they consider "canon") say anything about the United States, and what beliefs do they then hold about USA?

Recent events have brought more attention to some Latter-day Saints who have referred to the US Constitution as "divinely inspired." When did this belief originate? What scriptures do they refer to as the basis for this belief? What exactly does it mean, and how does it differ (if at all) from the belief that the scriptures are divinely inspired?