sgallan

I believe what my stepfather told me that leaving things to the imagination sparked more feelings of a grater love. Should women wear Burka's then? If no, then what is the standard? Should nudes in art be banned? In otherwords.....should all nudity be banned in any form...... art or otherwise? PS - This is not picking on you Winnie, I am just using your quote. My questions are to everybody.

What is the difference between secular and religious faith? The difference between what I have seen and had hands on experience with, and that which is unseen. PS - If this is going to be one of those pholisophical parsing type discussions I think I'll bail. They never seem to get anywhere, and are so circular I get dizzy.....

I do, actually. Ghosts, Sasquatch, witches, etc.... as well? There are no doubt a number of things that you have faith in. My faith is of the secular variety. I have a kind of faith in the kids I coach. But none of it is supernatural. I may think a certain kid can beat another certain kid...... even though he/she hasn't done so yet. But if the kid is in his first year in the sport my faith is realistic.... he/she is not likely to beat the reigning State Champion anymore than I can beat the reigning World Champion. As far as 'everything' being 'fatih' based..... I guess within your belief paadigm this is true. But it doesn't fit within my paradigm.

There is more to religion than God(s), and I can prove that the ideas found in Mormonism, Catholicism, Taoism, and Buddhism (the religions I am most familiar with) have enriched my life and continue to do so. Atheism offers a healthy skepticism, but I fear for its future, as it does very poorly by itself. And I can prove that my life, with it's inherent values that have nothing to do with any specific religion can - at the very least - hold up to the majority of people. So what's the difference? I am not claiming I am better than you. Yet you seem to be claiming you are better than me. I find that odd. "There is no God" IMO seem to have a faith about this belief. Often, they hold this belief as much as the belief that there is a God. Do you believe in all the various religious tenets? Or all of the various incanations of God? If you do not, then you are every bit the athiest as I am, you just believe in one fewer gods. Yet because of this you seem to think you are superior to the athiest. That also astonishes me.

I think the reason they are taking this debate so seriously, in my opinion, is that so many atheists see 'religion' as a cause of mass destruction over the centuries. And my experience has been that so many thiests seem to think athiests are some sort of heathens utterly absense of any moral compass. Is there a double standard? It is ridiculous to say, "Look at religious atrocities" (which do exist-don't get me wrong) while thinking it doesn't/didn't happen amongst people who believe in no god. Indeed. Give me agnosticism over atheism any day. I absolutely do not believe in any God. Therefore I am an thiest. But I can't prove this anymore than any of you can disprove any of the other Gods, ghosts, and the hundreds of other hostirocal entities/myths.

Let me see if I understand. It is okay for religious people to attempt to convert others to what they believe, but it isn't okay if the roles are reversed? Is this what I am hearing as being suggested? How do they figure that they have any right in attempting to impose on anyone's religious beliefs? Works for me. I am guessing - in order to be consistant - that you are okay with me raising a secularist and more than likely a future non-believer, right?

I have two big dogs age 7 and 8. One a Shephard/Chow mix that is an escape hound. The other a Goldie that is typical golden.... sweet as can be. My girlfriend has 2 and 3 year old boys, and they are all over her, and she takes take it and seems to like the attention. I have two cats.... Wolfie is an attack kitty. Wolfie needed a "Toy", so now we have a 12 week old kitten that is Wolfie's toy, so I named it Toy. We also have a Desert Tortise - born and in captivity so legal to have - named Lightning, and two Beta fish..... Harry and Ron. I used to have a Tarantula named Icky, but he died after 12 years. I want a Rattlesnake but the kid is dead set against it, and everybody seems to agree with her (sigh).

Full-time substitute in a special education/needs class at the elementary/Middle School level. Distance education instructor for a community college. Most of my students are incarcerated. Single dad I home school my own child - she is smart and self directed so I just do lesson plans, and take care of questions, and concerns, by phone, during my lunch, or after work. Volunteer wrestling coach mostly year around, ages from 5-35. High School, international styles, and little kids. I also take my kid to wrestling tournaments all over the country. Occasionally I am a volunteer weight trainer, self defense trainer, and softball coach.

The New World uses prison for those too lazy to work 'by the rules.' Think of prisons as moral welfare states, and it's not so bad. :-) LOL.... funny stuff. ;-)

Given this nation locks up a higher percentage of it's populus than any other developed nation.... by quite a lot (about 2,000,000 or so)..... I find it interesting some could suggest we are somehow the more moral nation. Given there are an awful lot of people without healthcare (including me at the moment), I would question the morality of a country that cannot take care of the basic needs of it's own citizenry. I think I'll take their morality over ours. I can't help but notice a lot of so-called god fearing nations, aren't very nice. Like ours.

Sorry, what is a POTUS? Sgallan, why haven't we talked (much) before sir? POTUS = President of the United States. I'll have to get back to this tommorrow. I am tired and going to bed. :)

Of the mass murders that have happened, this one is very odd. The guy had a good job. A family. Kids the age of those he killed. Other than a couple of days leading up to the event, no precursers. In other words this was anybodies normal middle class neighbor who basically woke up one day and decided to commit mass murder on children. It is just to bizarre to explain. Even the profilers are having a hard time with this one. I do suspect more will come out.

I mean murder/sin when done it is not a "Christian act" (Christian there meaning God seeking/focused behavior). Okay, all sin but even the murder thing can be hazy. Suppose you are a Commander in Chief, and order a legitimate military move that will no doubt kill people who are entirely innocent. Are they now "not Christian"? Also, since all are sinners, and you as a Christian sins, why are you different than the murderers in prison, who also sinned? To be cynical..... is there a top ten "sin list". If it is the Ten Commandments then I would suspect any POTUS is doomed. Generalities are nice, but the details tend to be problematic.

while a true Christian would similarly follow suit to act in a way that is not harmful (refrain from murder because it is ungodly). Then I would suggest to you that there are very very few "true Christians". And you couldn't even count yourself as one except by faith, because given the right circumstances you could also do the same..... and only have it on faith that you wouldn't. Since you brought up the term "true Christian". Please define this.

That is you. I am not you. I am surprised you cannot see this.

Would you say that those inmates were "walking closely with God" (you define that for us) when they murdered? Oddly enough, I would say this is the case in three quarters of the situations. But much like God believers in other cultures become suicide bombers, a lot of these folks get caught up in a culture of crime, gangs, and so forth. It is what they were raised with. Would you not concede that those prisoners might claim a belief in God but not actually have a solid relationship with God (a life changing behavioral drive for moral action)? They think they do. But it seems to go wrong when they get out, and back into a world that doesn't want anything to do with them, except maybe to continue the punishment even after they have served their time. With some of the harshest adherents of this mindset, and law making, those who are self-proclaimed Christians.

I would like to think that you never would but does that mean that you couldn't/wouldn't? I think that anyone is capable of anything at anytime if the situation is right/wrong. Would you disagree? Agree. But what does a belief in God, or religion, have to do with it? I teach distance education. Most of my students are in Prison. Some of them are murderers. I think the belief in God percentage is well over 90%. Should I therefore draw the conslusion that the belief in God causes henious crime and even murder? Of course not. That is a logical fallacy.

When left to our own devises, it think we turn into the Lord of the Flies. Murder just follows. Just my thoughts. Do you therefore consider me a murderer just waiting to happen? Here is an idea, name me a time when you think "God was alive", and I will give you a run down of the historical conditions of that time.

And yet there is so much hate, and killing, in the name of god as well. Interesting that you think such of people like me however. Funny how something like this brings out peoples true feelings. One more thought..... perhaps the most peaceful person on earth - though very spiritual - does not believe in a specific God. His name is the Dala'i Lama. If there was anybody, or religion I might emulate, it would be him and his.... and not one which would attempt to blame, and in a manner even hate, those not like themselves in a religious sense. Just some thoughts....

Well using the evangelicals POV, that would also be a form of work. One must "continue" to have faith. "Continue" is a verb. ;-) So the evangelicals believe in work as well..... just less of it. :)

As such, mere forgiveness of sins, is no ticket. Even though I have been a non-believer for pretty much my entire life, I was once "saved" as a young teen, and therefore - if per chance there is a evangelical God - have my ticket.

No hits and one bit bullet.

And why you are being told what "not" to think..... remember to - the next time you have a medical issue - to avoid all of modern medicine, which is science based. Except for your kids, who deserve not to die because of your anti-science pogrom.

Hi Nicole - Who did you annoy? Not me that is for sure....

Wow.... that kid in your avatar is amazing. Those eyes.... :)