Opinion of the phrase "America's Judeo-Christian values"

[All Along The Watchtower]

Obviously a horrible phrase/piece of political fiction.

[Modernity has failed us]

Horrible phrase used by social reactionaries to condemn tolerance

[ElectionsGuy]

Used in a way that screams "America is losing its innocence!" so horrible phrase.

[traininthedistance]

And of course the "Judeo-" part is thrown in there as a completely meaningless, misleading, pandering sop.

[Mopsus]

Insensitive to the countless Jews who have been persecuted by Christians throughout history.

[H. Ross Peron]

And of course the "Judeo-" part is thrown in there as a completely meaningless, misleading, pandering sop.

I suspect that it'll become our "Abrahamic Values" once enough time's passed from 9-11.

[IceSpear]

The people who use this are the same people who think the Founding Fathers put "under God" in the pledge of allegiance.

[Cassius]

Well, the west, as it exists now, is largely a product of Judeo-Christian values. Taking aside for one moment the political connotations of the term, Christianity (and the Jewish influences which are embedded in it, not least the Old Testament) has been one of the most important cultural influences in shaping the west as we know it today. That is not to discount other, important influences (the influence of Greek philosophy for example), but it the fact remains that Christianity has been the dominant faith in the western world for over 1500 years. The vast majority of scholarship carried out in Europe (the cultural precursor to America) was carried out by Christian clergymen up until the 1400's or so. The vast majority of people in the west would have considered themselves, at least nominally, as Christians, right into the 20th century. We can see all around us the influence of Christianity and Judaism, from our names (John, Matthew, Paul, Mark, David, James and Peter, to name but a few of the more common ones), our politics (which particular Christian denomination you belong to can, even today, can be an important marker of where you stand politically), our culture and even the very buildings that you see every day. 'Judeo-Christian' traditions are so deeply embedded in our society that occasionally we're in danger of forgetting that they're even of a religious origin. So, the phrase itself is perfectly sound, in the same way as Islamic traditions have shaped the Islamic world, or Hinduism has shaped the subcontinent (just look at the caste system). So it's a very real concept.

Politically, I also have a favourable opinion of the phrase.

[TNF]

Moronic.

[PJ]

People who say this should not be taken seriously.

[Sopranos Republican]

LOL

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

LOL

[DC Al Fine]

Horrible phrase used by social reactionaries to condemn tolerance

Hi there.

[Supersonic]

Freedom phrase as a general rule.

[Modernity has failed us]

Horrible phrase used by social reactionaries to condemn tolerance

Hi there.

Howdy.

[Peter the Lefty]

Horrible phrase.  The "Judeo" part clearly was only added after the right decided to target Jewisj voters by hugging Israel.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Freedom Phrase

[Flake]

Used by people only afraid of cultural change because their once all-christian neighborhood now has a nice family who are *gasps* ATHIESTS!1!!11!

[politicus]

Freedom phrase as a general rule.

This. Its a useful concept describing an important reality about American culture.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

And of course the "Judeo-" part is thrown in there as a completely meaningless, misleading, pandering sop.

I suspect that it'll become our "Abrahamic Values" once enough time's passed from 9-11.

Perhaps. If not for the GOP's nativism, Muslims (at least Arab/Asian Muslims) could be part of their coalition (and were before 2004).

[RedSLC]

Horrible phrase. The biggest problem I have with it is that it implies that "Judeo-Christian values" are the only values that should be considered valid in America, and that it also has a bit of a "real America" sentiment that discourages non-Christian lifestyles.

Also, what PtL said about the "Judeo" part.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Also, what PtL said about the "Judeo" part.

Especially since the American right (both northern nativist Republicans and southern Democrats) was pretty openly anti-Semitic until the end of World War II.

[Deus Naturae]

HP

[Person Man]

HP.  Many people who talk about it do not truly understand it. The ironic thing is that secular Government is arguably an idea that stems from Christian thought.

[politicallefty]

Horrible phrase.  The "Judeo" part clearly was only added after the right decided to target Jewisj voters by hugging Israel.

^This. I've always found the the "Judeo" part particularly grating on account of that. Of course, I can't say the phrase "America's Christian values" would be any better.