"Good afernoon mt, real question, there are many refernces to the devil/satan in scripture, what do you make of these refernces?" The references are influenced by the idea of a devil that the Hebrews borrowed from nearby - non-Hebrew - tribes, not so very long before Jesus was born. The devil comes from folk-lore and folk-religion.

"Your fight is not with us. It is with the Bible." No, DP, it's with the way you INTERPRET the Bible, a very different issue.

"The fact that humans seek subjective meanings to a biblical passage does not prove that there is no discenable objective meaning intended by the Author." And the fact that you "discern a meaning intended by an Author" does not prove that there is one.

Remember, fosalt, when you have to bring "the devil" into the argument, you have already lost that argument, even if it might have had some merit at one point.

"Global Warming? What does that have to do with eternity? Hey by all means Break Hell wide open with your perverted life - rock on - no skin off my nose. I am just telling you guys the truth and you hate the truth. I understand that since you are not of God you are of the devil. Hate me all ya want for you just show you also Hate Jesus! Everyone who calls Homosexuality or ANY sexual perversio...more

"Global Warming? What does that have to do with eternity? Hey by all means Break Hell wide open with your perverted life - rock on - no skin off my nose. I am just telling you guys the truth and you hate the truth. I understand that since you are not of God you are of the devil. Hate me all ya want for you just show you also Hate Jesus! Everyone who calls Homosexuality or ANY sexual perversion ok in God's eyes is going to stand before God and then they wont be able to make excuses then when the Lord says to them 'I never knew you - depart from Me ...."

Here's another brainy, well-thought-out, not to mention beautifully expressed, post from Saw.

"Lord, let me be more and more like Sawnay each day" should be the prayer of all those who want to grow in love and light.less

And pseudo-humans....

David wrote: "So this [Dobson] is the crazy who is obsessed with gay people. Trusting this guy on family issues is like consulting with Dahmer on eating disorders." I don't really think Dobson is THAT bad, but he IS a pretty creepy old schoolmarmish would-be dictator. That's enough to make ME stay away from him. I am glad his ministry is in decline.

"Children, they think, will give them legitimacy." Nonsense!

artm wrote: "The agenda of the gay community is to bring society to where it will accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle, That is why the right to adopt children is so Important to the gay community, Children, they think, will give them legitimacy." And what, exactly, would you say the Christian agenda is, artm?

doug, I really think there are more people "of good faith" than we realize on this board. Of course, many here are just "interested in religion." But many are truly searching. Some are being smart alecs. Some are "burdened" to see how others have wandered away from "the true faith." And, often, a person "gets our goat," and we slap right back...more

doug, I really think there are more people "of good faith" than we realize on this board.

Of course, many here are just "interested in religion." But many are truly searching. Some are being smart alecs. Some are "burdened" to see how others have wandered away from "the true faith."

And, often, a person "gets our goat," and we slap right back with remarks we may or may not feel deeply. We are (most of us, I think) still men, and when we start "competing," watch out! (Just ask our wives. They have to deal with us for a lifetime! I guess they love us enough to forgive us. But on this Web site, we don't really know one another that well - certainly not well enough to make an active practice of forgiving some of these caustic remarks). Still, I don't think any of us goes to sleep at night bleeding from our injuries, do you?

I seem to be losing my focus, so I'll bow out for a while. But I think you know (already knew) what I'm writng about. Later, folks......less

Not sure....but I don't think John was pointing that at you, prophet. Besides, John knows that neither science nor religion is ever going away. (Please, anyone who cares to notice, don't tell me that religion will go away when Jesus returns. You know what I mean by my post.)

believer wrote: "mtg, because if Mary did have children other than Jesus it destroys many if not most of the catholic church's teachings on Mary." What's so wrong with that? All our churches need to learn. It's not too late, of course, IF they (we) are willing.

philo wrote: "For instance, as Carl Sagan once said: The differences between the Abrahamic religions pale before their similarities." From where I stand there is not a "jot or tiddle" of difference between the Christian sects. When I meet a Christian, I assume certain beliefs, and most of the time I am somewhat inaccurate, depending almost upon which church the person attends, ...more

philo wrote: "For instance, as Carl Sagan once said: The differences between the Abrahamic religions pale before their similarities." From where I stand there is not a "jot or tiddle" of difference between the Christian sects. When I meet a Christian, I assume certain beliefs, and most of the time I am somewhat inaccurate, depending almost upon which church the person attends, let alone the sect. In my experience, Christians tend to drift from church-to-church hoping to find one that isn't too much one way or the other, depending upon exactly what the individual believes (or wishes to believe-a more accurate term) is true.

I don't care about any of this, you may believe whatever you like, of course, as may I. In fact, I really don't care WHAT you believe, or what you practice, just as long as you don't legislate any of your religion and use the police power of the state to enforce dogma."

I have rarely read a post on CP with with I agree so wholeheartedly.less

Online on Robert Bly: "he seems to be teaching a form of new age..." No, I am not really involved with that, but I when I hear the ring of truth I recognize it. I don't think there is anything "new" about what Bly says. These concepts (just like Biblical concepts) are a lot older than the Bible.

philo wrote: "Consider this: Most of you (and perhaps all of you) are wrong." philo is right, I think. We all see through the glass darkly. Thanks for saying it, philo!

"* Misunderstanding #1: Mary must have had other children with Joseph..." Gee whiz, FullGospel, how many practicing Christians really care about this point? (serious question)

Saw needs to meditate more on the distributive Christ, rather than the retributive Christ. As do we all.......

Could saw truly believe that he is in the same category with "Luther - Paul - Peter - Wigglesworth?" Astounding! Such hubris......

Come on, Mike, don't let Saw get your goat. You are correct to display righteous indignation. But it is wasted on Sawnay.

"Maybe we should allow the Muslims take over America - that way there will no longer be a same sex marriage debate - they wont allow it!" This remark shows us that religious bigotry knows no religion: Muslim, Christian, whatever. I almost think Saw would prefer the US go for Islam rather than let certain people who love one another get married. This, of course, is very, very deep-seat...more

"Maybe we should allow the Muslims take over America - that way there will no longer be a same sex marriage debate - they wont allow it!"

This remark shows us that religious bigotry knows no religion: Muslim, Christian, whatever. I almost think Saw would prefer the US go for Islam rather than let certain people who love one another get married. This, of course, is very, very deep-seated bigotry.

Also, not be be sassy, but this headline makes me want to say: Drip, drip, drip, drip..... You anti-gay marriage folks are losing this battle, little by little. Of course, that's how the civil rights movement made progress, also - and eventually won the day. Thank God for the drip, drip, drips, I say.less