Baptist Church Excludes Democrats

Two hot topics for the price of one

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perfessor
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Baptist Church Excludes Democrats

Post #1

Post by perfessor »

http://www.wlos.com/

I don't get it. Didn't Jesus ply his trade among tax collectors, prostitutes, and other "sinners"?
East Waynesville Baptist asked nine members to leave. Now 40 more have left the church in protest. Former members say Pastor Chan Chandler gave them the ultimatum, saying if they didn't support George Bush, they should resign or repent. The minister declined an interview with News 13. But he did say "the actions were not politically motivated." There are questions about whether the bi-laws were followed when the members were thrown out.
So my question for debate: Should the East Waynesville Baptist Church lose its tax-exempt status?

I say they should, since the pastor has turned the church into an arm of the Republican party.
"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist."

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bernee51
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Post #141

Post by bernee51 »

AlAyeti wrote:
Thanks for the enlightenment.
We are all already enlightened..we just don't realize it.
AlAyeti wrote: Interesting that Christians were so tolerant of the Goddess Pomona for so many years but anti-Christians were so nasty about the tiny cross.
That is not the point. You were claiming it as an example of victimizing christians - you were plainly wrong..as you are with you other claims.
AlAyeti wrote: "Intelligent Design" is opposed being taught in public schools because evolutionists claim that it is Christianity in disguise.
No not 'chrisitanity' - but theism. It is just that christianity just happens to be the dominant religion. Consider it 'collateral damage'.

What other 'designer' is ever seriously mooted in ID - aliens?
AlAyeti wrote: Christians do not have the same right as others in the public square by law.
Time to put up or shut up on this.

List one law, just one, that is aimed specifically and solely at christians.
AlAyeti wrote: No rational person denies that laws like the one that attacked the cross on the Los Angeles flag are aimed to discriminate and harrass Christians.
I'm a rational person and I deny it..see..you are wrong again.

There is no denying however that you are a christian and you feel harrassed.

Do you enjoy being a victim?
AlAyeti wrote: You take the same view of Christians who are "just" feeding the poor. You know all too well that there is another motive and agenda.
I do indeed know there is another motive and agenda - and that is the problem. But even if these motives are benign, are they justfied if the outcome is suffering for all concerned?

If they were just feeding the poor it would be no problem.
"Whatever you are totally ignorant of, assert to be the explanation of everything else"

William James quoting Dr. Hodgson

"When I see I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I see I am everything, that is love. My life is a movement between these two."

Nisargadatta Maharaj

steen
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Post #142

Post by steen »

AlAyeti wrote:
Bernee: "Please show law where christianity, by name, has been outlawed. You cannot, because it hasn't"
AA: That is absolutely disingenous. "Intelligent Design" is opposed being taught in public schools because evolutionists claim that it is Christianity in disguise.
Which is not outlawing Christianity; it is merely prohibiting Government sponsorship of outright religious teachings.
Even though the highly educated presenters of ID claim it is not.
Which they can claim all they want. What they are UNABLE to claim, though, is that it is science. Because it has not been demonstrated through the application of the Scientific Method to be a valid Scientific Theory. So where in school did you want it taught? Obviously, as it is not science, it can't be in science class. Yet, the ID crowd unfortunately insist that this is the very place where it should be taught.
It's hilarious how hysterical ID is opposed. Even Gould couldn't stay out of the mix.
It is fascinating how the ID crowd insist that wishful thinking and pure speculation somehow is a Scientific Theory. The lack of even basic scientific knowledge among its proponents is astonishing.
Christians do not have the same right as others in the public square by law.
Your claim is false.
No rational person denies that laws like the one that attacked the cross on the Los Angeles flag are aimed to discriminate and harrass Christians.
I do. That law just as much would target a muslim display or a Jewish display, or a Shinto display.
That is just not an honest position.
Your "because I say so" postulation is false.
You take the same view of Christians who are "just" feeding the poor. You know all too well that there is another motive and agenda. Go try to whitewash and paint someone eles fence. Your not being logical.
Please provide evidence of your "because I say so"
The Pastor knew what Democrats are doing to Christians and exposed any supporters of Liberalism and out they went.
The pastor is violating federal statutes, thus placing his church as a political organization rather than a Church (Thus endangering its Christianity-friendly status among other things), and trying to claim that God play American Party politics. Talk about spitting God in the eye, trying to drag God into political dirty-tricks battles of secular politics.

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Post #143

Post by steen »

AlAyeti wrote:Steen,

You respond by your personal absolutist opinion.
Like you did.
Yet you do not have a biblical leg to oppose my points.
I have as much as you do.
Please show me from the Bible where Jesus would support abortion for convenience
Well, exodus 21:22-25 certainly shows the value of the woman as much above the value of the fetus. But then, God no more speaks against abortion than against computers or homosexual marriage, your "because I say so" claims and non-pertinent biblical quotations none withstanding.
and same-sex marriage, free needles to keep drug addicts addicted,
And neither does God speak against it. God does speak of compassion and about helping those who needs help, though.
taking money from honest hard working families to pay for Liberal-Progressive anti-Christian programs,
Fascinating claim. There are numerous quotes in the Bible directly speaking against your claim, against wealth f.ex (indicating that God would WANT us to tax the rich even more), and even the Church speaks of tithing for those in need rather tha n Jim Bakker's heated dog house.
teaching children about homosexuality and how to use condoms . . . etc., etc., etc..
And again, none of this is opposed in the Bible. So you really are making claims without evidence, based on personal "interpretation of what actually is a quite socialist text, for the purpose of claiming that God is a conservative.

Yes, I am sure that God will thank you for promoting God and Christianity as a conservative political party. God will likely be over-joyed, don't you think?
Please show me from the Bible as we are "both Christians." Come let us reason together.
The Bible doesn't speak against it. Only YOU speak against it, claiming to speak for God. That's the hallmark of a pharisee.
Democrats cannot share a yoke with a Christian and Christians cannot share a yoke with a Democrat.
As many Democrats are Christians, your claim is an outright lie.
There can be no working together. Please show me where I and the Pastor are wrong. From the Bible.
Give to the emperor... The rich squeezing through the needle's eye and so on. The Bible is more of a socialist manifesto than it is Mein Kampf.

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Post #144

Post by steen »

AlAyeti wrote:
Bernee: "Christians. like all others, have a cloice to listen or not. If you don't agree with what you are being told, do not listen."
I am forced to decide why you are making this statement. It is demonstrably false.
It is not "demonstrably false." So rather, your claim is false. Certainly, Christians have the choice of listening or not, just as has everybody else
Abortion and homosexuality and evolution are very offensive to Christians.
And fascist religious leanings, oppression in the name of Jesus and such conservative Christian going-ons are very offensive to me. Are you saying that you got a right to not be offended, but that I simply have to take it? So not only are your claims of anti-Christian legislation essentially saying that Christians commit hate crimes, you are also saying that you have the right to offend others but they can't offend you. That's hypocrisy as well.
In fact the peppered moth,
A factual, documented and confirmed change in a population over generations in response to environmental changes. Of course it should be in the books, as it is an excellent example of Natural Selection.
Haekels nonsense about recapitulation and the picture of little monkeys becoming bigger monkeys becoming humans is still in the books too.
Really? Where? Certainly, they are not established science.
Nebraska man was a hoax.
And was never part of the scientific body of evidence because it failed the Scientific Method (Just like creationist and ID claims have).
Christians are forced by law to have to not only listen to these things taught as truth,
Factual science, yes. The flat-earthers also are forced to learn that the Earth is round. And, oh horrors, Christinas in Math class are forced to learn that Pi = 22/7 rather than 3.0 as the Bible tells us.
but are tested and have to pass by answering the questions only one way.
And they are also tested on 2+2=4, not being permitted to claim that it is 5. That's the pesky thing about facts, that they are facts never much how much your political ideology demand that they are not.
There is no diversity sensitivity handed out to Christians.
Or to the flat-earthers. Or to the KKK. But that aside, your claim is false. Many people are Christians and have no problem learning factual scientific information.
A friend just called me a week ago about an assignment they were given in class. They were told to write a report "defending" same-sex marriage.
Yes, the process of learning critical thinking, seeing an issue from several sides.
Completely offensive to a Christian. Imagine an assignment about why not eating pork is ignorance in a modern world? The Muslims in the class would probably have a cow about it.
But would learn critical thinking in the process. Or are you one of those who feel that only blind faith and dogma are appropriate topics?
Not an ideological or philosophical or medical treatise mind you, no. Imagine if the question was posed the other way?
Certainly. That also would encourage critical thinking.
Defend marriage as it is "normally" and historically believed to mean and indeed the only way it has ever been thought of?
Ah, but that would not be a similar assignment, so your claim is false, of course.
One homosexual getting wind of that and the school is picketed for a month and the ACLU is a calling.
Because you were not merely saying that the assignment was to defend "traditional" marriage. You put all that extra stuff in it, stuff that wasn't in the other assignment, thus making your version a highly biased and presumptious assignment to "beg the question." So yes that would be a poor assignment. On the other hand, an assignment to "defend" heterosexual marriage would be no more unusual than an assignment defending homosexual marriage.
Abortion is not taught scientifically in schools. If it were, the word murder would accompany the word abortion.
Your claim is a lie.
And evolution?
A factual, scientifically documented Scientific Theory appropriately explored in science class.
[/quote]Just dare to utter a word against it and the Christian will suffer the most amazing "personal" attacks.[/quote]Funny, I am never suffering the most amazing persona attacks when people speak out against evolution. So that must be another lie.

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jerickson314
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Post #145

Post by jerickson314 »

steen wrote:
Yet you do not have a biblical leg to oppose my points.
I have as much as you do.
From the rest of your post, it looks like you just have some appeals to ignorance and some blatant ignorance of context to stand on.
steen wrote:Well, exodus 21:22-25 certainly shows the value of the woman as much above the value of the fetus.
Exodus 21:22-25 (WEB) wrote:“If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow. But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.
Please read the passage before stating this. It says that if "any harm" beyond premature birth (NOT death) occurs, then "you must take life for life". This is clearly a reference to the fetus, not the mother.
steen wrote:But then, God no more speaks against abortion than against computers or homosexual marriage, your "because I say so" claims and non-pertinent biblical quotations none withstanding.
Although He doesn't speak against homosexual marriage, He does speak against homosexual behavior. It is the most simple and reasonable inference to conclude that homosexual marriage is also wrong, since it quite implies homosexual behavior.

A very similar inference follows for abortion, even from Exodus 21:22-25, in fact! Or from the command not to murder.

Let's take the "against computers" to the extreme. God doesn't say anything against me explicitly if I hack into your computer and delete all of your files. I guess that's OK, then...

But in general, "against computers" is the thing that just doesn't belong. There is nothing wrong with computers used properly. With everything else mentioned, it is a simple inference that they are wrong.
steen wrote:
and same-sex marriage, free needles to keep drug addicts addicted,
And neither does God speak against it.
Simple appeal to ignorance. Simple reasoning shows the problems with both of these things.
steen wrote:God does speak of compassion and about helping those who needs help, though.
Certainly. And sometimes that means helping them overcome sin, even!
steen wrote:Fascinating claim. There are numerous quotes in the Bible directly speaking against your claim, against wealth f.ex (indicating that God would WANT us to tax the rich even more),
No, it doesn't say this. It just speaks against letting wealth take priority over God, and stresses caring for the less fortunate.
steen wrote:and even the Church speaks of tithing for those in need rather tha n Jim Bakker's heated dog house.
Naturally.
steen wrote:
teaching children about homosexuality and how to use condoms . . . etc., etc., etc..
And again, none of this is opposed in the Bible.
Appeal to ignorance, again. Try using the brain God has given you for once!
steen wrote:So you really are making claims without evidence, based on personal "interpretation of what actually is a quite socialist text, for the purpose of claiming that God is a conservative.
No, he really wasn't. Why do you assume that every argument has a political motivation?
steen wrote:Yes, I am sure that God will thank you for promoting God and Christianity as a conservative political party. God will likely be over-joyed, don't you think?
This certainly isn't what Christianity is about, yes. Both liberal and conservative parties have their strengths and weaknesses. Nobody is perfect.
steen wrote:The Bible is more of a socialist manifesto than it is Mein Kampf.
The Bible is not primarily about politics!
steen wrote:And, oh horrors, Christinas in Math class are forced to learn that Pi = 22/7 rather than 3.0 as the Bible tells us.
The Bible absolutely does NOT tell us that pi is 3.0!

I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall.

And PI IS NOT 22/7. Pi is approximately 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862
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steen
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Post #146

Post by steen »

jerickson314 wrote:
steen wrote:
Yet you do not have a biblical leg to oppose my points.
I have as much as you do.
From the rest of your post, it looks like you just have some appeals to ignorance and some blatant ignorance of context to stand on.
I could say the same about your posts. Are you done with the ad hominems now?
steen wrote:Well, exodus 21:22-25 certainly shows the value of the woman as much above the value of the fetus.
Exodus 21:22-25 (WEB) wrote:“If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow. But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.
Hmm:
22 "When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt her shall be fined, according as the woman's husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life,
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Please read the passage before stating this. It says that if "any harm" beyond premature birth (NOT death) occurs, then "you must take life for life". This is clearly a reference to the fetus, not the mother.
Funny. My Bible reads different as you can see above, with the focus about "harm" clearly being about the woman regardless of whether she miscarries or not. The reference clearly is to the woman.
steen wrote:But then, God no more speaks against abortion than against computers or homosexual marriage, your "because I say so" claims and non-pertinent biblical quotations none withstanding.
Although He doesn't speak against homosexual marriage, He does speak against homosexual behavior.
Just like the Bible speaks against heterosexual behavior. Paul, in particular, was big on that. So that proves nothing.
It is the most simple and reasonable inference to conclude that homosexual marriage is also wrong, since it quite implies homosexual behavior.
INFERENCE??? Yes, there we go again, trying to make claims about what God WOULD have said. And you feel that personal, political INTERPRETATIONS of the Bible are appropriate for public policy (Which, by the way, are not allowed to endorse a specific religious view)?
A very similar inference follows for abortion, even from Exodus 21:22-25,
I already showed where that claim is tenuous, and clearly needing an anti-choice Bible rather than a neutral, Christian Bible.
Or from the command not to murder.
Abortion is not murder, so you are not making sense here. If you have to stretch interpretations that far, how should we then interpret the Exodus rules about how to treat slaves, and how much you can beat them, f.ex.? Or are you saying that only PART of the Bible is valid, and you get to decide which part?
Let's take the "against computers" to the extreme. God doesn't say anything against me explicitly if I hack into your computer and delete all of your files. I guess that's OK, then...
According to the Bible, possibly. According to the law, nope.
But in general, "against computers" is the thing that just doesn't belong. There is nothing wrong with computers used properly.
How do you know? How do you know that God doesn't consider computers the worst tool of the Devil yet? Because you CHOOSE to interpret the Bible that way even if the Bible doesn't talk about using computers, right?
steen wrote:
and same-sex marriage, free needles to keep drug addicts addicted,
And neither does God speak against it.
Simple appeal to ignorance.
Ah. like your appeal to your unique subjective interpretation of your wishful thinking as "facts"?
Simple reasoning shows the problems with both of these things.
When your "simple reasoning" involves incredible inference and assumptions based on your political/moral filter of schemas, then it is not so "simple" anymore regardless of your claim.
steen wrote:God does speak of compassion and about helping those who needs help, though.
Certainly. And sometimes that means helping them overcome sin, even!
And there is no evidence that God sees abortion or homosexual marriage as particularly a sin. But we DO know that God sees humans trying to "enforce" what they see as God's moral code as being sinful. "don't judge least..." "See first the splinter..." Let the one without sin throw the first rock" Etc. That one is pervasive throughout the Bible. So when you seek to restrict others civil rights through your politicized INTERPRETATION of the Bible, then you are most certainly committing a sin. Are you interested in getting help overcoming that sin?
steen wrote:Fascinating claim. There are numerous quotes in the Bible directly speaking against your claim, against wealth f.ex (indicating that God would WANT us to tax the rich even more),
No, it doesn't say this. It just speaks against letting wealth take priority over God, and stresses caring for the less fortunate.
Ah, because you say so, right?
MHT 19:
24 - Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."


It is very specific. If you are rich, you will NOT enter heaven. Socialism at its best. Income redistribution is a MUST according to the literal Bible. You may have CHOSEN TO INTERPRET this differently as your personal politics don't agree with the bible at this point, but that's your problem. And it certainly shows al-ayeti's claim of God being a repugnican/conservative to be outright false.
steen wrote:and even the Church speaks of tithing for those in need rather than Jim Bakker's heated dog house.
Naturally.
Glad you agree. Perhaps you can then persuade the person whose "side" you are taking in these arguments. He seems convinced that God specifically is a republican politician and that democrats are ungodly atheists.
steen wrote:
teaching children about homosexuality and how to use condoms . . . etc., etc., etc..
And again, none of this is opposed in the Bible.
Appeal to ignorance, again. Try using the brain God has given you for once!
I did. God wants the best for children. The best is for as much education and support in reaching your goals as is at all possible. It is not to lie to kids or withhold information from them. Case closed.

And BTW, feel free to drop those silly ad hominems. Or we could descend into "but you are ugly and your mom is dressing you funny" kind of accusations. I look forward to posts from you that do not contain such ad hominems.
steen wrote:So you really are making claims without evidence, based on personal "interpretation of what actually is a quite socialist text, for the purpose of claiming that God is a conservative.
No, he really wasn't. Why do you assume that every argument has a political motivation?
Yes, he really was. Because al-ayeti decided to claim that only republicans are Christians. That is very much a politicalization of God, making claims without evidence that God is a conservative anti-tax loon.
Steen wrote:Yes, I am sure that God will thank you for promoting God and Christianity as a conservative political party. God will likely be over-joyed, don't you think?
This certainly isn't what Christianity is about, yes. Both liberal and conservative parties have their strengths and weaknesses. Nobody is perfect.
I am glad you disagree with al-ayeti, then. But then I am puzzled why you up above defend that very sentiment you now disagree with?
Steen wrote:The Bible is more of a socialist manifesto than it is Mein Kampf.
The Bible is not primarily about politics!
Yes, I know that. But the political implications are much closer to socialism than to the anti-social fascism that al ayeti is claiming.
Steen wrote:And, oh horrors, Christians in Math class are forced to learn that Pi = 22/7 rather than 3.0 as the Bible tells us.
The Bible absolutely does NOT tell us that pi is 3.0!
However, if you are as literal in single bible verses as al-ayeti is, then Pi indeed is 3.0 The two of us have already agreed that the text of the Bible is to be looked at somewhat in context. The person you are defending has not. To him, every single Bible verse is a literal truism in itself. I would suggest that you check out some of his writings before choosing to go down that road any further.

AlAyeti
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Post #147

Post by AlAyeti »

Steen,

Your mathematics testifies against the Bible if you want to claim the Bible has nothing to say about homosexuality. Allowing sinners to be comfortable in their sins is anti-Biblical. It is anti-Jesus. It is claimed in the New Testament to be derived from the spirit of anti-Christ.

Man plus woman. An absolutist view painted very brightly in the Bible. Science agrees with that math 100%.

Homosexuality is categorically opposed by the compilers of the Bible. As is keeping a drug addict in clean needles.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Joseph, were exceedingly rich men. All "blessed" by God.

Bernee's position can be understood as it can be easily seen as coming from a place of hatred and intolerance for Christians and Christianity. It is acceptable to me to understand his view since it is shared by evolutionists and atheists in totality.

Your position stands against the clear written words of the Bible. Claiming to be a follower yet denying what you claim to follow? Benedict Arnold then is one of the finest Americans to have ever lived.

Your position is not in agreement with the Bible.

The Pastor and his actions clearly are.
Last edited by AlAyeti on Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

AlAyeti
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Post #148

Post by AlAyeti »

"Yes, he really was. Because al-ayeti decided to claim that only republicans are Christians. That is very much a politicalization of God, making claims without evidence that God is a conservative anti-tax loon."

No. that is not what I am saying. What is clear in my points is that Democrat politics and therefore Democrats, cannot be joined in their political (or any other) quest BY Christians. Bernee has a point in that they can murder their children by constitutional law, but no Christian can help them. WWJD? And I doubt that an orthodox Jew like Jesus, would turn water into wine at a same-sex "marriage." Or, civil union. Abomination is not the place you see a lot of acceptance and "tolerance" in the Biblical perspective.

"Yoked together," they cannot be.

I have made it clear why I think Republicans can be voted for by Christians. On Biblical grounds. As was the actions meted out by the Pastor to those "Christians" who admitted to have voted for a Democrat like Kerry. See ya.

I've made it clear that I claim that Republicans need to embrace the poor with a better view. I am not an Republican. I deserve to be believed. I would not be surprised if "The Anti-Christ comes from their ranks, and also claims to have been a "Christian." Makes Biblical sense. Look at Schwartzeneggar!

But right now June 2005, the Democrats support a far more anti-Christian agenda. Abortion "for convenience" and demanding that same-sex legal relationships be called "marriage" and many, many, other "Progressive, Liberal" political agenda's cannot be agreed to by Christians.

I have asked Christians like Steen, to prove my position and the Pastor's position wrong from the words of Moses or Paul or the Lord Jesus Christ, whom I and every other Christian will have to give an accounting to! That is to say, "from the Bible."

Atheists and Deists and other non and anti-Christians can rail on and on about not agreeing with my position of intolerance, discrimination and persecution being levied against Christians because of actions and laws to silence Christians in public schools and the public square. Which puzzles me because we know that they are coming to silence Christians. It is not a secret by the highly esteemed of their most famous and influential leaders. Dawkins is very blunt about it. And Dawkins is absolutely a prophet of atheists and and garden variety evolutionists.

Am I, as an American supposed to be happy that our churches are the only place we are allowed to speak and be able to gather while, sexual perverts and anti-Christians get to poison the minds of our children everywhere with no challenge? And our Churches are under great threat. By laws. Tax laws are laws. That is to say, the Churches that allow Republican politicians to speak in them! The Democrats get a pass time and again.

I use only science to oppose abortion and deviant sexual acts, but my empirical voice is denied license by anti-Christian laws hidden in "diversity and hate crimes legislation." Legislation is "Law."

Intelligent Design has been presented very scientifically yet, the highly educated men and women who present it, must pass an inquisition of intolerance and hatred to cleanse them of their civil rights to believe in religion without the sterilization of Gould and Dawkins being used to scrub clean any freedom to think outside jack-booted Darwinism.
Last edited by AlAyeti on Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

AlAyeti
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Post #149

Post by AlAyeti »

Just in case you wanted to know why I view Dawkins as an anti-Christ and a common liar. . . and, why I think that the Liberal-Progressive that dominate the Democrat party are not anything or anybody that a "Christian" can support.

Is Science a Religion?
by Richard Dawkins

(http://us.f213.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLe ... w=a&head=b) For its entire length.

Published in the Humanist, January/February 1997
The 1996 Humanist of the Year asked this question in a speech accepting the honor from the American Humanist Association.

It is fashionable to wax apocalyptic about the threat to humanity posed by the AIDS virus, "mad cow" disease, and many others, but I think a case can be made that faith is one of the world's great evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate.

Faith, being belief that isn't based on evidence, is the principal vice of any religion. And who, looking at Northern Ireland or the Middle East, can be confident that the brain virus of faith is not exceedingly dangerous? One of the stories told to the young Muslim suicide bombers is that martyrdom is the quickest way to heaven — and not just heaven but a special part of heaven where they will receive their special reward of 72 virgin brides. It occurs to me that our best hope may be to provide a kind of "spiritual arms control": send in specially trained theologians to deescalate the going rate in virgins.

RD: Given the dangers of faith — and considering the accomplishments of reason and observation in the activity called science — I find it ironic that, whenever I lecture publicly, there always seems to be someone who comes forward and says, "Of course, your science is just a religion like ours. Fundamentally, science just comes down to faith, doesn't it?"

Well, science is not religion and it doesn't just come down to faith. Although it has many of religion's virtues, it has none of its vices. Science is based upon verifiable evidence. Religious faith not only lacks evidence, its independence from evidence is its pride and joy, shouted from the rooftops. Why else would Christians wax critical of doubting Thomas? The other apostles are held up to us as exemplars of virtue because faith was enough for them. Doubting Thomas, on the other hand, required evidence. Perhaps he should be the patron saint of scientists.

/ / /

RD: "Although it (science) has many of religion's virtues, it has none of its vices."

That is absolutely a false statement willingly made. Science kills tens of millions of human beings. Dawkins just gets to kill them by becoming a secular prophet lexicograper.

RD: "It is fashionable to wax apocalyptic about the threat to humanity posed by the AIDS virus, "mad cow" disease, and many others, but I think a case can be made that faith is one of the world's great evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate."

That is absolutely an anti-Christ position. And it points to Dawkins' blatant ignorance and/or intolerance and certainly hostility towards Christianity in particular. The man found his education AND his paycheck in Christian founded schools. Evil is the H-Bomb that is the b-stard child of scientists by their gang-rape of morality. That "some" repented of their evil proves that point. And math proves Dawkins culpably ignorant about "great evil."

He is comparing virtuous and decent people to sexually unrestrained sociopaths. Odd, that a man that spent time in the United Kingdom compares the Irish "political" civil war to purely religious Muslim terrorists. The Irish want independence from England far more than Protestants want to kill Catholics. Very poor position from such a highly educated man.

And again, to weave this back on topic, it is like someone calling themselves a Christian and supporting what Democrats support. Like a Atheist or, "Zeroist" as Dawkins calls them, claiming there is no outlawing of Christianity. It smacks of willing misrepresentation of truth.

The Pastor knew what he was doing and to Whom he would have to give an accounting. He did what was Biblically sound doctrine to do.

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ST88
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Post #150

Post by ST88 »

I realize this is an inherently antagonistic topic, but let's try to keep the rhetoric out of the realm of the personal. Ad hominems should be avoided, not just because they are irrelevant to the topic at hand but they also make the person using them appear ill-equipped to continue the debate.

As per the rules:
1. No personal attacks of any sort are allowed.
14. In general, all members are to be civil and respectful.

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