46. The moral standard has become "you can't prove i did it".


You may be right that this is what the moral standard has become. But why do you think it comes from the schools? I think it comes from the top-down as in any organization. This has been the moral standard of the white house/administration for the last 7 years.

I also believe this is where the increased violence and gunplayin our society comes from as well. It always works top-down in ANY organization.

America's Most Gangsta at 12:51PM on Dec 13th 2007

47. I, as a Christian, am sorry that we haven't done a better job of showing the world that a life with Jesus is the only life worth living. - Karla

The only life worth living? So anyone who doesn't live their life with Jesus, have no life worth living? So their lives are worthless?

I guess it's easier to ignore, dismiss and maybe even exterminate people when you don't consider their lives to be worth anything anyway.

Thank you for explaining why religion - and in this case Christianity - is the greatest evil in the world.

fabio at 12:50PM on Dec 13th 2007

48. Larry D.

The question is not whether we should indoctrinate our children with religion or atheism....it should be what is the best for our children?
----------------------------------------------

And who do you think should set the standard for what is best for OUR children.
What you are saying is that if parents dont teach their children what is acceptable to society, then parents should lose their right to raise their children the way that they think is best for them.

Parents who break the law should be punished by the law. But to accuse parents of abusing their children for the teaching of christianity is absurd.

True christianity is to love your neighbor as yourself. Anyone who truly knows Christ is not trying to dumb down their children or put them in danger.

Many evils are performed under the banner of religion.

Observant at 12:53PM on Dec 13th 2007

49. THE POPE IS A NAZI!!!! LOL AHAHAHAHAHA

There, I just mocked the vatican.....oh no, I didn't....I just stated a fact!

America\\\'s Most Gangsta at 12:54PM on Dec 13th 2007

50. I have known kids (myself included) who decided as teens to try out a church or temple. I went to a southern baptist church for about a year.

they eventually called my mom and told her that unless I was willing to witness for christ, I really couldn't attend sunday school (too many questions) or sing in the choir (choir went up and witnessed and I didn't)

My mom said "Hmmmmm. Don't think that is the place for you". I agreed.

I understand where they were coming from at the church. It was a requirement to 'believe' and follow certain rules to remain a member.

It was a good lesson for me. Not in a negative way, the people there were pretty nice. It reinforced in me that I absolutely did not believe in any of the stuff they believed in.


Hey Linda,

I wish to say a polite and happy holiday hello.

There's also something I wish to tell you about, and explain.


Ok....

I'm a very faithful person. I spent more than half of my life away from the church, after being indoctrinated at a young age. I've had very clear God-filled experiences (which happened to occur at some church, different locations).

Now, a majority of the people I encountered have shunned me for what they "know" of me. They've turned me away, judged me, criticized me and their only form of help was "hey come to church".

Sweet as the sentiment could be, it meant nothing to me because they ask me to come to church, but if I am not like them (in lifestyle or belief) they shut me out. It's almost like they feared me.

I'm one of the softest persons I know, I cry when I'm unhappy and I hold those dear to me like a little kid. I'm very strong physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally, but I still have a very sensitive center.

Even with this truth within me, I've been turned away and hated by many "christians". People who are ready to HATE rather then HELP. This applies to all religions.

Some of the sweetest people I've known are muslims, jews, christians, non-believers, etc. None of these genuine people have EVER denied me and respect my beliefs.

Bottomline, people in religion are the same as people out of religion, some are good some are bad. What FAITH provides is a strong inner development and a connection to God.

I do voluntary substance counseling. I've had addictions of my own and stem from social behavior and childhood suffering (most of my childhood was happy, other then some very f'd up moments).

Within NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and AA (Alcohol) and Outpatient services, I've encountered a sea of people who have suffered greatly in life.

These people are mostly non-believers or cynics. On average 3 of 4 people have tried multiple times to kick their diseased habits (some for 40 years or more).

Do you know what the one constant is? At least 90% of the people who are successfully recovering (a lifelong struggle) have verified that their lives changed after accepting "A Higher Power".

Tens of Millions of people have gained this "Higher Power" and have in turn transformed their lives from homeless beggars defecating on bar stools for the next drink to diligent men and women who work and provide for their loving family. I know this from the people themselves, not made up or "statistics".

They all say the one difference in then and now is that they've accepted God in their lives (a huge majority dignify God as their "Higher Power").

Bottomline it works to believe in God.


Now, on a personal note. I have literally stood next to God in a mountain in Upstate New York. I have witnesses that support my experiences, but only I directly Felt His heart. One other person saw him (the pastor's wife). Two children independantly confirmed His location and action (they interrupted me when I was beginning to share).

I know God exists. I speak to Him every night. I've seen him, talked to him and know him.

Many extrasensory items have happened with my Mother and a missionary from Trinidad who I RANDOMLY met.

The confirmation happens on a weekly basis in different ways and people are responding in kind.

So, God exists.

About the people you said you share no belief values with, you should be more accurate and say "I don't believe in them".

Their actions are not pure and loving. Their actions are self centered and false and I too despise their hypocrisy (for I have been a victim as well). This has nothing to do with God, but with human weakness.

For background information:

Many people around me (my family, friends, co-workers, believers, non-believers, "gays", everyone) have benefited from truth and faith in their lives.

I have an extremely academic and professional background. This is my "education":

All levels of physical, quantum and high level physics.

The highest mathematical applications.

Civil Defense concepts, engineering (industrial, electrical, mechanical).

I speak 4 languages, 3 of them fluently. I know 5 languages. French, English, Korean, Russian (and some others).

I know Java, C++, Assembly language, Binary Code.

I am well versed in financial documentation, taxation (Federal/state/city) and corporate review.

I have worked as a schematic design engineer for telecommunications systems in the tri state area including lower Massachusetts.

I have friends from every major nation in the world. The rich, the poor, the good and the bad.

Nothing makes me feel more love then when I hold the kids with my eyes in their hair with tears almost coming out from shear happiness.

There's more, but you get the point.

I'm not an ignorant self-righteous bigot. I'm a lover a truth and a hater of no one.

Your past experiences have destroyed your will to believe, but I am just showing you my life to detail a different point of view.

Much Love and God Bless.

mincpa at 1:00PM on Dec 13th 2007

51. Here's an idea... If you want to teach a child about all the religions and claim they are full of ignorant people. If you want to teach a child that having contempt for people that believe different from you is ok. If you want to teach a child that the entire universe just happened with nothing but can't, with your intellegence, make it happen again. Then by all means have a kid of your own and leave mine alone.

angel at 1:08PM on Dec 13th 2007

52. 32. Since the secular movement and the ACLU have taken control of "public' education we have had three generations of its product to examine.

xxxxx

???Are you talking about the civil rights bill of 1964?

What great secular conspiracy are you going on about?

I don't remember any time in my life that there was any infusion of religion into my education and I started school in 1949.

There was that 'under god' crap in the pledge during the McCarthy era, but outside of that God was not taken up in school, and I was under the buckle of the bible belt - down where kansas, missouri oklahoma and arkansas are close as ticks on a shrew.

I don't think you have the slightest idea what you're talking about or you wouldn't try to base it on something so transparently fabricated. We've had churches out of our schools for sixty years. It's settled law, like Roe v. Wade and miranda only much more settled.

You sound to me like another person who thinks the atheists are organized and out to get you. It may become a self fulfilling prophecy.

Clif Kuplen at 1:09PM on Dec 13th 2007

53. mincpa, you sound a little emotionally disturbed. Exactly the type of person most easily infected with religion.
Zolof or prozac?
It's a little sad.
When and if the reasonable area of your brain ever becomes dominant, we'll be here.

Richard at 1:12PM on Dec 13th 2007

54. know God exists. I speak to Him every night. I've seen him, talked to him and know him.

xxxx

Mncpa, affective disorders don't pay much attention to resumes. Surely you know that. If you believe the above captioned, I wouldn't mention it to my colleagues if I were you.

Clif Kuplen at 1:14PM on Dec 13th 2007

55. This is one of the reasons why I could never vote for an atheist to become president of the United States. They are one of the few groups who do not seem to grasp the concept of individual rights in its real sense (at least not mainstream atheists).

xxxx

Mainstream atheists? Now you've got atheists organized and subdivided into sects? First, how do you rationalize that my disinterest in your belief system translates into my being part of some kind of organization, and second, how did THAT become subdivided?

By your logic, you are the absolute worst banjo player I've ever heard since I'm a guitarist and if you're not you must be a banjo player, part of a vast banjo band and out to get guitar players. Well, mainstream banjo players, anyway.

When it comes to dogma, the one thing christians don't understand is that your right to swing your cross like a baseball bat ends before you reach my chin.

That's what democrats understand about individual rights and where republicans and christians flipflop. What's holy for me is CERTAINLY not holy for thee for I am anointed and thou art not.

Clif Kuplen at 1:25PM on Dec 13th 2007

56. yet another example of Christians' intolerance of others religions:
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/holiday-greetings-spark-subway-brawl/20071213072209990001

jeff at 1:31PM on Dec 13th 2007

57. mincpa,

your thoughts were well written. sad to say a waste to these hard hearted people. they are a sad documentary on human life as a waste of good talent. a waste of good minds. when they could glorify god they glorify themselves. as the bible states they have exchanged the glory of god for a lie. they have become brute beast seeking whom they may devour. they have their ends marked and the saddest thing of all its for outer darkness, pray for them, thats the single greatest power you have. perhaps god in his mercy will deliver them for the fate they await. they are probably all hurt and shunned by most so they have found solace in the fringe group who call themselves atheist. god loves them as we all should. for myself i admit their hatred is hard to understand

brian at 1:42PM on Dec 13th 2007

58. Fabio, I most certainly didn't mean to indicate that people who don't believe in Jesus aren't valuable lives. I meant that we were created to know God and that is the most fulfilling way to live. A fish was made for water if there was some way we could create for fish to live on land it would not be living in its purpose.

Karla at 1:44PM on Dec 13th 2007

59. bship, the point is that people would only be teaching the facts about religion. not scriptures. they would be taught about the different symbols, not arguable opinions about beliefs. why is it that so many religious people are intolerant of even learning about religions different from their own. oh that's right, because that's what religion has been turned into, a pissing contest that embraces intolerance of other peoples beliefs. it's easier to be intolerant of things you don't fully understand, that's why some people don't want their children to be taught about other religions. personally, i will let my son decide to believe whatever he wants to believe. if he asks me about a particular religion and i don't understand much about it then we will research it together. and i will teach him to be respectful of the beliefs of all people and to not be intolerant.

Richelle at 1:46PM on Dec 13th 2007

60. fabio,

you and your thinking has failed. you will never win. you fight against God. he says the gates of hell will never prevail against his church. you are proof of that. the church will stand because he will see to it. you cannot ever ever ever ever prevail. it impossible. the shame is you don't see it. you think the creature can usurp the creator? is there a word for your stupidity? sheer blindness

brian at 1:47PM on Dec 13th 2007