Dror

Here are my results--very interesting!: You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 71% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 68% Modern Liberal 61% Classical Liberal 57% Neo orthodox 46% Charismatic/Pentecostal 43% Roman Catholic 36% Reformed Evangelical 25% Fundamentalist 18%

I don't typically spend my Church meetings thinking about politics, either--this is just a thought that popped into my head during Priesthood Meeting. Nor do I worry about candidates' current or past marital status when deciding who to vote for. However, I am tired of Republicans claiming and defining the values debate when, as far as I can tell, they have no more authority in the matter than the rest of us. Dror

Sunday's priesthood lesson in my quorum was about divorce. During the lesson the question popped into my mind, "which of our presidential candidates have been divorced?" When I realized that the Democratic frontrunners have a much better marital track record than the Republican frontrunners (with the exception of Romney), I thought how ironic it is that the Republicans claim to be THE one-and-only family values party. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that people who have been divorced are bad or don't have family values, or anything like that--I married a divorcee, after all--just that this election is ironic given the Republicans tooting their "family values" horn so much. Dror

Rebecca, Bipolar disorder runs in my family, and I suffer from it myself. Fortunately, it is very treatable and I'm doing ok (now), after finally finding a good combination of meds. Of course I still get depressed from time to time, or a little manic, but for the most part I'm doing a lot better. There are certainly times when you'll need to talk to people so they know how you're feeling and can help you. If you don't talk, they won't know. Also, you'd be surprised how many people suffer from depression, at least occasionally--you may be able to help them, too! I know it's difficult to talk about, but it is nothing to be ashamed of. Everybody has their trials and needs help at times. Dror

Faith in Jesus Christ is both to believe in Him, and to believe Him (that is, believe what He teaches). In order to have faith in Jesus Christ we need to know about him (who/what He is, what He teaches, about His life, etc.) and know Him personally, and what He is like. A good book that talks a bit about this is Stephen E. Robinson's Believing Christ: The Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News. Dror

True.I've been keeping an eye on the Yahoo! news headlines today, and it seems Ahmadinejad is trying to ease tensions. He says Iran will not attack Israel or any other country and that he thinks the U.S. is not planning for war with Iran. IMO, he hit it on the head when he said that the Bush administration's rather aggressive statements regarding Iran has more to do with U.S. electoral politics (pleasing the constituency) than with actual foreign policy. Dror

I could have phrased it better. I didn't mean suffering in general, but suffering persecution on account of religion. Everybody suffers something or other: sickness, war, poverty, etc., and no groups is exempt. Most religions have also been persecuted at one time or another, but not as consistently as the Jews have been persecuted in so many places and for such a long time. Heck, Mormons were persecuted, but for a relatively short time. It would not be fair to compare the Mormon experience to the Jewish experience. I understand your position. But many Muslims do not share your position, do not want power sharing, but do advocate eliminating the State of Israel.In principle I agree with the idea of power sharing in Israel. That's democracy. Actually pulling it off will be very, very difficult though, because of trust issues and historical reasons. I hope they can do it, but am not optimistic.

Yeah, they can take him out to DINNER! I hear they have great restaurants in New York!

It doesn't. Nor does one's religion entitle one to a political state. It just seems hypocritical that so many Muslims should demand that they be allowed to govern their countries according to Islamic law, but refuse to allow Jewish people to have their own comparatively small state. I don't know whether it was right or wrong to create the State of Israel, but it seems rather facile for us, who have a safe and free home and have not suffered persecution for two thousand years, to pass judgment. Having said that, I do disagree with much of what Israel does--sometimes they behave almost like a rogue nation, engaging in torture and state-sponsored terrorism. However, that can be rectified through reform, not necessarily eliminating the State of Israel. So what? Does it have to be the very worst case in order to receive our attention and be considered a tragedy?

<div align="center">In the name oh Allah</div> Well Dror, mybe you are disagree of freedom.Everyone can say his belief.We should tolerate others and think about their belief wether it is right or wrong and also you shouldn't mocke others.It is against of Religion's teachings in every religions also in Islam.As one of my friend "Jason" said,If you read his site you will know him better . Mahdi, I do not at all disagree with freedom of speech. In fact, I am possibly one of the more hard-core freedom of speech advocates you are likely to meet. I said I do not like Ahmadinejad. I asked the other people at this forum what they thought of his speaking at Columbia. However, I never said I would deny him the opportunity to speak--I was just seeking others' opinions. Typically I do not mock others' religious beliefs, and I certainly don't mock Islam. However, I reserve the right to mock should I so desire, because that, too is part of freedom of speech. It would be nice if people in the Taliban and al-Qaeda would practice tolerance of others and allow others their freedom of speech instead of threatening and killing them for being "infidels." Dror

Given that from ancient times until after WWII, the Jews did not have a homeland and so depended entirely on the benevolence of whatever government they were living under, and that more often than not people distrusted or disliked them and so the Jews were frequently persecuted and driven from country to country, I would say it is a big deal that Ahmadinejad wants to take away their sovereignty! How many Muslim countries are there? Why should they not tolerate the Jews having their own country?And ignoring 4 million deaths is also a big deal.

News Story What do you say, is Columbia University wrong to allow the Ahmadine-"jerk" to speak? [sorry about the name-calling, but I have a serious problem with anti-Jewish Holocaust deniers who support blowing Israel off the map.]

If humans do contribute to global warming, will action now make a difference quickly enough to save the polar bears? If global warming is natural and/or inevitable, is there something else we can to do save the polar bears, even if it involves some kind of "non-traditional" arrangement for the bears? That is, do you think they can adapt somehow, and is there anything we can do to help them adapt to the new circumstances? A few months ago I read the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman. (The fact these books involve polar bears is one of the main reasons I decided to read them!) In one of the books, the panserbjorn (armored/highly intelligent polar bears) decided to move to the Himalayas because the Arctic ice was melting. They hoped the fact it was still cold and snowy in the mountains would make the mountains a good habitat. As it turned out, that environment didn't work because it didn't meet their dietary needs. Of course, that was a work of fiction. Thanks, Shanstress! Dror BTW, I learned a while ago that "Arctic" comes from the Greek word Arktikos, "(land) of the bear" ("bear" = arktos), because the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are in the northern sky.

Well, I'm an active member of the Church, but have not given up using my ability of critical reasoning. I recognize, and frequently point out, that the Church has its shortcomings, but I don't think people think of me as an anti-Mormon. Maybe it's because I'm a member? Dror

Sadly you would be fighting to stay alive. I have to say that as much as I love polar bears, I wouldn't want to be one. They are having a really hard time surviving bc of the ice thawing, and subsequently not being able to fish for seals. Don't know if you guys watch Planet Earth (we bought the whole series and I HIGHLY recommend it), but they had a segment about polar bears. There is no food for them and they showed one who swam a distance of 60 miles looking for food (seal pups who live on the ice). Once they swim to exhaustion like that, they just die bc there's no way they can make it back. It was SO sad! Even if they don't die of starvation, when they're hungry, they don't have the energy to reproduce. Sorry to bring this thread down! Yeah, I've heard about the polar bears' struggle. Do you know what people can do to help save them? Our local zoo is building a new arctic exhibit that will include polar bears (which we haven't had for decades). I look forward to being able to see them, but I hope they can survive in the wild, too. It's really sad when a species survives only in captivity, but I suppose that's better than not at all. In any case, I greatly admire polar bears! :)

A polar bear, just because I think they're great. :) Or a pampered house cat.

Do you really think so? Democrats are no more in favor of soliciting sex in public restrooms or sexual activity with Congressional pages than are the Republicans. And do you really think that if those two were Dems, the Republicans would just silently let the whole thing pass?Dror

*blush*Do you ever, by any chance, read "News of the Weird?" It really cracks me up--it is astounding what kinds of things people do!! Actually, much of what I read in the regular news is truly bizarre. To paraphrase Will Rogers, "I don't tell jokes. I just watch [people] and report the facts."

LOL! Looks like a walking mop! (Hey, that could be very useful... )Based on what I see in the news, by far the most bizarre animal on earth is the homo "sapiens" (people naming themselves "wise" is even more bizarre!)! Dror

Though I live far from the sea and have little experience with it, there is something very romantic about the sea. I like books and movies about the sea, and enjoy sea-related allegories, metaphors, etc. And the times I visited the sea were just intoxicating. Maybe I should move to the coast! Thanks for posting "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Dror

Your question reminds me of William Ernest Henley's famous poem "Invictus." A couple of our general authorities have labeled it as arrogant and defiant, and Orson F. Whitney even wrote a response to it, but I think they were being too harsh on Henley. In the April 2000 General Conference, President Faust gave what I consider to be a more fair assessment: "As a hopeless cripple, William Ernest Henley courageously looked beyond his outward physical condition to triumph in his heart and mind when he wrote 'Invictus.'" Henley was a victim of tuberculosis of the bone. One of his feet was amputated, and doctors told him in order to save his life, they would have to amputate the other, as well. Thankfully, he was able to keep the other foot after all, but one can only imagine how he felt when the doctors told him he'd lose both feet! He wrote 'Invictus' from his hospital bed. Elder Whitney and the other GAs were, of course, right that we need to keep Christ in the equation, but I think it clear that we are the captains of our ships/souls in that the Lord grants us full agency to act as we please. It is wisest, of course, to use that agency to submit ourselves to and obey our "Admiral," Jesus Christ (maybe "King" would do just as well, but for the sake of the analogy... !). Dror Let me add the texts of both Henley's and Whitney's poems: Invictus Out of the night that covers me Black as the Pit from pole to pole I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced or cried aloud Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid It matters not how strait the gate How charged with punishments the scroll I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul -- William Ernest Henley The Soul’s Captain Art thou in truth? Then what of Him who bought thee with His blood? Who plunged into devouring seas And snatched thee from the flood, Who bore for all our fallen race What none but Him could bear— That God who died that man might live And endless glory share. Of what avail thy vaunted strength Apart from His vast might? Pray that His light may pierce the gloom That thou mayest see aright. Men are as bubbles on the wave, As leaves upon the tree, Thou, captain of thy soul! Forsooth, Who gave that place to thee? Free will is thine—free agency, To wield for right or wrong; But thou must answer unto Him To whom all souls belong. Bend to the dust that “head unbowed,” Small part of life’s great whole, And see in Him and Him alone, The captain of thy soul. -- Orson F. Whitney

Apparently Roger Ebert didn't like the movie: Zero Stars from Ebert!! Good for him. Whether or not the movie's timing has anything to do with Romney's bid for the presidency I don't know, but please don't paint all us "lefties" with the same brush! I'm a Dem, but also (very!) pro-LDS. On the one hand I'm kind of curious to see the movie. On the other hand, part of me doesn't care to see another piece of anti-Mormon propaganda. Dror

I'm for it! (Universal, single-payer healthcare, that is. :)) One of my aunts lives in Canada, and she likes their system a lot (as do most Canadians). In fact, that's why she lives there instead of in the U.S., even though it means she's far from the family, who live here. Dror

Fiannan, I, too, would like a multi-system party better. Maybe the reason the two-party system has such a hold in the U.S. is simple inertia, I don't know. In any case, when you get candidates from the two major parties trying to appeal to virtually everybody, the candidates all start to look the same, with only relatively minor differences. Plus, various voices with interesting ideas tend to get stifled in our system. You're right, some of the minor party candidates are also less "beholden" to powerful interests than the major party candidates. Dror

You've got a point there, what with all those powdered wigs, lace, etc. Though I have to wonder if that had more to do with distinguishing themselves from "common" men (read, men who actually had to work for a living) than femininity. They did wear those exaggeratedly large codpieces, too, to make it look as though their "member" was larger than it actually was!! Or who knows, maybe the behavior of old style kings and nobles is one of the reasons effeminacy unpopular now! Dror