But seriously... I don't know how certain people can actually gun/knife/beat down innocent children. Theological answer:  Original sin. Practical answer:  If they deem the children as "not innocent".  If they kill in abstentia (e.g. a remote drone pilot).  If they convince themselves the ...

God that's awful... some really horrid shit. It looks like at least some of the victims were Muslim, while being labelled as "infidels" by attackers... do they count as victims, too? I find it annoying how the following too-often ends up being how some people show their concern for the se...

Here is a flashback to Ferguson ... yes, I know, the media has moved on to more sensational stories and this is not exactly a cop killed by criminal treatise. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152409165407282 Really, you should watch this if you have not already seen.  A town was looted and bur...

For you who have been turned off by religion, is this the type of religion that you have been exposed to?  It sure would be a turn off for me (and was, although my upbringing was in a Methodist church).  This quote is from another forum I read and the characterization of the "Southern Baptist&q...

Intuit is getting on my nerves.  They're now offering Basic for $0, Deluxe for $20, Premiere for $30 and Home & Business for $40. https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/?view=desktop Pugstuff , does this software get discounted even more after the filing deadline? That's Pug chief to you Ma...

Tremendous, MT. That's more or less where I'm at as well, though I was never raised particularly religiously so I never had that moment where it all fell apart. Rather, I feel like every time I try to put the pieces together for the first time, they just don't fit. And when I ask Christians for cla...

....... That's just sort of where I'm at right now.  I still find Jesus's teachings as reflected in the New Testament gospels to be very solid principles for living, but more and more I just try to skip over the supernatural stuff.  To me, Jesus's message stands on its own without the need for supe...

Intuit is getting on my nerves.  They're now offering Basic for $0, Deluxe for $20, Premiere for $30 and Home & Business for $40. https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/?view=desktop Pugstuff, does this software get discounted even more after the filing deadline? Premier is even free if you...

Mountaineer, I'm trying to drive towards the fact that if the Bible conflicts on certain facts than it CAN NOT be 100% true. If the Bible isn't 100% true, even if it is the Word of God, then it is up for interpretation how accurate certain explanations are.  It conflicts with your previous statemen...

Moda and madbean, did you read the "clarification" I wrote about Scripture?  Your last couple of posts tell me "not yet". ... Mountaineer Moda and madbean, I'm still waiting.  I guess you guys lost interest after I addressed in excruciating detail moda's question about my belief...

This is extremely important! If Mountaineer is suggesting that while the Bible is 100% God's will as it is written, but not necessarily 100% true (I'd assert that the Bible CAN'T be 100% true, and it appears that this is the case), than I've been mis-hearing him for a while. And this begs the next ...

Here's a good review of it. http://www.basonasset.com/yes-i-actually-read-most-of-tony-robbins-new-book/ Once a huckster, always a huckster, it seems. As Faber pointed out, the All Weather Portfolio is easily replicated at low cost by the Global Market Portfolio -- which is a fancy way of saying ow...

The ONLY type of annuity that ANYONE should be considering as a tool is an SPIA [single premium immediate annuity]. Not sold by brokers, scam free.  immediateannuities.com   For those without a pension, a guaranteed stream of payments for life can be a comfort. Although, with interest rates so low ...

Another word people get squishy about... Excommunication. You can excommunicate me any day of the week from whatever church you belong to and twice on Sunday. I'll take my chances in the afterlife. FYI, the I think the purpose of excommunication is to drive the sinner to repentance - i.e. turn away...

This is extremely important! If Mountaineer is suggesting that while the Bible is 100% God's will as it is written, but not necessarily 100% true (I'd assert that the Bible CAN'T be 100% true, and it appears that this is the case), than I've been mis-hearing him for a while. And this begs the next ...

http://nicolecrank.com/img_blog/danger.jpg I have a couple of comments.  The Scriptures are fully God and fully man, just like Jesus...  ... Mountaineer Ummm no. The Bible is divinely inspired, but it is NOT divine unlike the most Holy Mysteries of the Altar. Perhaps your fingers got the better of ...

The accounts are remarkably similar though, aren't they.  How would you explain that they all tell the same basic story (Jesus died, and was resurrected) but apparently differ in some details? I suspect that telling the same basic story about the fundamental belief of the religion was one of the re...

Bazinga! That was energetic.  I would think that the word "everyone" would include the NYPD as well as you and me if we do wicked things.  Do you see it differently? ... Mountaineer Well I certainly think it's true that it's very natural to not enjoy criticism, and to try to defend yourse...

John 3:20 - "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." So could that explain why some in the NYPD don't like the criticism? Bazinga! That was energetic.  I would think that the word "everyone" would inc...

Here is a website that might be what Moda is looking for:

http://www.reasons.org

... Mountaineer

How about a thread "When the accountants are the criminals'? Any objections? OK, sure! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_Administration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme ;D And of course Enron!  Actually, now that I think about it, accountants are downright evil.  :) And...

Mountaineer, You have explained to us what we can do, these are all things that require a non-objective non-rational area of our soul/psyche... but then in certain conversations where we ask you why you don't give any credence to other religions, you try to claim that Christianity is "self-evi...

I have listened to about 3/4 of the "Prophets of Doom" podcast. It is more objective than the other one I commented on and so far much like the Protestant Reformation history I have read.  It sure points out what can happen when a bunch of Biblically ignorant people get taken in by smooth...

...wouldn't those irresponsible Pit Bull owners just select a new, powerful breed of dog to ruin and unleash on the public? So to speak Speaking of speaking:  http://www.mtv.com/artists/pitbull/music-videos/ Unleashed upon us .... ugh!  I think I prefer the canine variety.  ;D ... Mountaineer

Mountaineer, In a different thread, with regards to the "self-evident" nature of Christianity, you said this: Christianity is self-evident because of the resurrection and 2000 years of intense scrutiny and skeptics unsuccessfully trying to disprove it. This is a pretty shaky argument for ...