oops, that last comment should have been for quecat.

john14-6: The Catholics said the same thing around 1000 C.E. The Seventh Day Adventists said the same thing in 1844. The Heaven's Gate cult said the same thing in the late 90's. So did Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins They all thought they were leaving in "the end times." Isn't it clear by now that superstitious folk can always twist their doomsday prophecies of choice to...more

john14-6: The Catholics said the same thing around 1000 C.E. The Seventh Day Adventists said the same thing in 1844. The Heaven's Gate cult said the same thing in the late 90's. So did Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins They all thought they were leaving in "the end times." Isn't it clear by now that superstitious folk can always twist their doomsday prophecies of choice to fit whatever's happening right now?less

Annie: Taking the whole of "god's word" would require exiling couples for having sex while the woman was on her period (Lev. 20:18). Where are the churches seceding for not upholding that commandment? Here is a commentary on the bible and sexual mores that I recommend you read: http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2006/03/sexual-ethics-and-scripture.html

The 30 years war is what Christianity without liberalism looks like. Is that what is half-baked "expert" wants?

Annie, you of all people should understand: You were down and out, and you didn't join a church to hate gays and lesbians. They are more marginalized than you: you didn't have strangers trying to arrange your love life, and order you around in the bedroom. Gays and Lesbians do have such rude strangers trying to do that to them.

Annie, Here's some "god's word": Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in p...more

Annie,

Here's some "god's word":

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

These churches have to decide which they care more about: doing unto the least of these, or sacrificing freedom of conscience for totalitarian sexual regulations. Because if they do the latter, they will have to do what they've been doing: separating themselves from everyone whos disagrees with them.less

"This has forced the orthodox Anglican churches in Northern Virginia to devote time, effort and energy to raise millions of dollars strictly for legal defense. Time, effort, energy and money that could (and should) be used for spreading the Gospel, helping to strengthen families, and making missionary outreach to the lost, poor and needy in the local community and around the world." S...more

"This has forced the orthodox Anglican churches in Northern Virginia to devote time, effort and energy to raise millions of dollars strictly for legal defense. Time, effort, energy and money that could (and should) be used for spreading the Gospel, helping to strengthen families, and making missionary outreach to the lost, poor and needy in the local community and around the world."

Should have thought of that before you all decided it was more important to order people around in their own private bedrooms.less

The loneliest time in my life occurred when I still believed in god. That belief did not help me, nor did prayer.

Oh, didymus, you're only complaining because you're a member of a new age one world government cult, or its because you're secretly a member of Christian Post sent to stir things up, or its because you invented the social gospel, or its because your satanic, or its because you're an atheist who is secretly seeking Christianity. Be honest, its all of those at once, isn'...more

Oh, didymus, you're only complaining because you're a member of a new age one world government cult, or its because you're secretly a member of Christian Post sent to stir things up, or its because you invented the social gospel, or its because your satanic, or its because you're an atheist who is secretly seeking Christianity.

Be honest, its all of those at once, isn't it? You need to move in with Professor X, Online4Him, Jesus4Me, or any other suitable person so they can give you every last detail of their theology, otherwise you are disagreeing with them...I mean, god, you are disagreeing with god, yeah, that's it, and they'll...I mean, he'll condemn you to eternal torture.less

Open Source: if you have read Roe v. Wade, you understand that the decision itself does not mandate legal abortion up until the moment of birth. After viability, the state can ban abortion so long as it has exceptions for the life and health of the mother. So the two numbers you cite are perfectly consistent.

Not at all. Christians do many things that I find practical and admirable. Community, ethics...singing. I'm a member of a christian church, did you know that? So's my girlfriend. It's where we met, actually. She's one of a multitude of fine people I am associated with, thanks to my affiliation with this church. Some of them even know that I'm no longer a christian, ...more

Not at all. Christians do many things that I find practical and admirable. Community, ethics...singing. I'm a member of a christian church, did you know that? So's my girlfriend. It's where we met, actually. She's one of a multitude of fine people I am associated with, thanks to my affiliation with this church. Some of them even know that I'm no longer a christian, but those that know like me just the same, as far as I am aware.

I, too, am a "pro-logic" person, which is why I understand the difference between potential, and actuality. I am potentially a future President of the United States, but that does not mean I am currently the President, which explains why it was not me giving the State Of The Union last night. Surely, someone as pro-logic as yourself can see that, right?less

"You see, Rick Warren's Purpose Driven P.E.A.C.E Plan is nothing more than an ecumenical drive to work alongside other religions in an effort to help people, when Christ has said we are to be set apart from the world, and we are to be salt and light." Working with people you disagree with in an attempt to help people? Getting beyond narrow dogma to do good? OH NOES! The FIEND!

I notice this article offers no numbers to back up their claim. That's because they can't: the numbers actually show the opposite. American youth supported Roe v. Wade 57%-34% in the spring of 2006 http://www.iop.harvard.edu/pdfs/survey/spring_poll_2006_topline.pdf

Shorter Billy Graham: Human autonomy is SCARY, so talk to the ceiling some more and maybe your friend will suddenly lose all human dignity in one cowardly, submissive display! Then you'll feel better about having done the same yourself.

It sounds to me like Joel Osteen has a great appreciation for exactly what it means to say that other religions are wrong, in the context of evangelical christianity. It is much more than "you should reconsider" or "we aren't going to follow your advice" as it would be in a general context. It involves trying to scare someone with the threat that they will suffer what i...more

It sounds to me like Joel Osteen has a great appreciation for exactly what it means to say that other religions are wrong, in the context of evangelical christianity. It is much more than "you should reconsider" or "we aren't going to follow your advice" as it would be in a general context. It involves trying to scare someone with the threat that they will suffer what is commonly considered to be eternal suffering. Common consideration for the reason and dignity of others requires that persuasion should indeed be by reason, not by fear. While Osteen has no more reason than any other christian preacher, at least he also omits the fear-mongering.less

Dagny: Your "various point" was a very involved response to my comment that your definition of "terrorist" was flawed, because it would apply more broadly than you want. That in turn, was a response to a comment that the insurance rates of abortion providers would go down if they stopped offering abortions, and insisted that every client carry their pregnancy to term. In othe...more

Dagny: Your "various point" was a very involved response to my comment that your definition of "terrorist" was flawed, because it would apply more broadly than you want. That in turn, was a response to a comment that the insurance rates of abortion providers would go down if they stopped offering abortions, and insisted that every client carry their pregnancy to term. In other words, what argument are you currently making? I'm talking about abortion, about how the rights and interests of the pregnant woman need to be balanced with the interest the state has in potential persons. You all seem to suggest that these potential persons should be treated as the same as an actual person, but you don't offer anything in support of that position but religious platitudes. I'm asking you to get beyond sectarianism, and reason in a way that persons who disagree with you on religious matters could accept.less

You all realize that "holier than thou" is not a compliment, right?

Dagny: Well, you have no scientific evidence for your creationist position, so it seems inadvisable to make national policy on that basis. ChicagoMel: The interests of the potential life, and the rights of the pregnant woman do need to be balanced. That's why, as the pregancy advances, the interests of potential increase until, at viability, they can trump the rights of the pregnant wo...more

Dagny: Well, you have no scientific evidence for your creationist position, so it seems inadvisable to make national policy on that basis.

ChicagoMel: The interests of the potential life, and the rights of the pregnant woman do need to be balanced. That's why, as the pregancy advances, the interests of potential increase until, at viability, they can trump the rights of the pregnant woman, so long as her life and health is preserved. Until that time, the fetus cannot survive outside the woman's body, and so is properly regarded as part of the woman's body, and her rights control.less

ProfessorX is a great example of what not to do when having a religion discussion. He has an agenda which involves misrepresenting anyone who disagrees with him. He'd rather persist in error than take the risk of having to face the fact that he is not already the sole owner of absolute truth.

Ironically, the mental changes produced by taking these physical, chemical compounds are evidence that consciousness is in fact a property of matter, not the result of a supernatural spirit residing in the body.