Re. Laws of Thermo, Many people understand them even though they can't quote them precisely.  For example, the common term of "shit runs downhill" is a description of entropy.  Or, "you bring a knife to a fight and I'll bring a gun" ... well, not quite with that one.  ::) ... Mou...

Hmm, it's going to be a long wait... http://fastestgrowingreligion.com/numbers.html Perhaps MG could start an athiest mission effort. That only tells half the story, though. When you also take into account the number of people who are renouncing their religion, and the number of children born in no...

Craig and TrippleB - interesting posts. What do you suggest for those of us in the withdrawal stage instead of the contributory stage? ... Mountaineer Steady as she goes. I'm not suggesting anyone liquidate, sell, pawn, or otherwise molest their retirement plans. I simply think young savers especia...

I think I'd include: unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, foul, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonorable, iniquitous, disreputable, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, miscreant; sinful, godless, unvirtuous, shameless, lowdown and sleazy.  Whew, all that for a mi...

I have been bouncing from one great show to another for about a year. First I finished up Breaking Bad. Than I tore through Battlestar Galactica. Then I watched every episode of Justified. Then I watched all three seasons of Deadwood. Then I got up to speed on The Americans. Now I'm working my way ...

Craig and TrippleB - interesting posts.

What do you suggest for those of us in the withdrawal stage instead of the contributory stage?

... Mountaineer

At least, that's the way I see it. And the fact that I see it in a different way from you and those other guys only illustrates my point that this stuff is ambiguous and subject to interpretation. By criticizing Christians for not following your own personal interpretation of Christianity, are you ...

toucee. Let me be more precise......if we would all do something (fight and claw for the lifejacket or whatever to survive) can that something be immoral? I repeat myself: Yes.  Have you done any of these, EVER? immoral adjective unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, foul, unprinci...

Can we all be immoral? Yes.  Have you done any of these, EVER? immoral adjective unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, foul, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonorable, dishonest, unconscionable, iniquitous, disreputable, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, miscrean...

Can we all be immoral? Yes.  Have you done any of these, EVER? immoral adjective unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, foul, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonorable, dishonest, unconscionable, iniquitous, disreputable, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, miscrean...

I suggest this for your consideration:  If you are looking at the Bible as a rule book for living, as so many of the questions above seem to indicate, or if you are using the Bible as a microscope to condemn other's beliefs rather than point out the truth of what it says, or if you are using the Bib...

That sounds like a cop-out, Mountaineer. Jesus and the prophets clearly told you what to do....yet Christians choose not to put their faith in God and instead follow man's laws. You are certainly entitled to your opinion.  However, in this case, if you are willing to put aside your preconceived not...

Mountaineer, Have you read Leo Tolstoy's "What I Believe"? I think most Christians would find it very hard to live up to Christ's moral teachings. That is the part that frustrates me the most about Christians. They say that they believe in the moral precepts that Christ taught, but they a...

One of my favorite quotes:  "Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made."  I think it is one of my favorites because the truth of that statement plays out every second ... so many have been and are deceived.  For example, thinking greed is ...

Quelling greed has been even moreso. I don't want to divert but I've got to ask moda why you think greed is a problem. I consider it a virtue so I'm curious. I know the overwhelming popular belief that we're taught to think is that greed is a problem, even though it's a natural human/animal charact...

…Or increases them, such that mutually-assured destruction becomes true on a personal level, and small militia groups can successfully fight off governments. We're getting closer all the time... It's called "terrorism" and the governments of the world haven't a clue what to do about it. T...

Back in the anarchronistic age of pre-cable TV and just several OTA network channels in the late 70's, Cosmos hosted by Carl Sagan inspired and transformed an entire generation; he literally gave them the stars.  Now, it's been rebooted for a new generation and I encourage everyone to check it out ...

MediumTex wrote: And I got such a kick out of the mental image of "mainstream boobs."

Al Gore?  Dear Leader?  Mrs. Hottypants?  Wolf Blitzer?  The Spokesbaby? 

... Mountaineer

Now we are dealing with "supply and demand" as a function of morals and or aggression?  Time for Kshartle to chime in.

... Mountaineer

Stewardship wrote: Humans have progressed over the centuries and will continue to.

Interesting observation.  What criteria are you using to assert that?  If it is making "stuff", I agree.  If it is in the arena of ethics, I don't see it.

... Mountaineer

Kshartle wrote: During the blackout I really thought I was banned.

I had mixed feelings about it. I almost thought maybe God was doing me a favor hah!

You should be so lucky!   

... Mountaineer

Why does the government have to steal back that which only they have the ability to freely create? Three reasons:  control, control, control.  Include your favorite modifier before control.  All in the name of insuring the peace and reducing chaos.  The more I think about Kshartle's NAP mantra, the...

Sometimes I think about what it would be like if extremely intelligent AIs were in control of the earth, and humans were absent. They could manipulate materials to their will, create beautiful buildings, gardens, landscapes, nature reserves full of animals... but I wonder if they would or could app...

I don't know about anyone else, but having sex with the same woman for the rest of my life sounds like getting a lifelong pass to a giant amusement park and only riding the same roller coaster again and again and again. I also don't like to get spiritual about sex because it isn't unique to humans....

Well, I also wouldn't underestimate the process by which ideas and talk translate themselves into action. Christianity was just a bunch of guys sitting around talking about ideas of God, but it has become one of the most influential forces of the last 2000 years. It wasn't just a bunch of guys.  Th...