Please read the link first, thank you...\nhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06100/680357-84.stm\nNow, this is becoming a problem.  Shouldn't the formost expert on any religion be hired despite what that particular religion thinks of what he has to say?  Isn't that the best way to get to the truth, not propaganda of what the church wants said?  Doesn't controlling what is said with money go against what college is suppose to be teaching?  I know several universities are rejecting grants for this reason and some institutions are encoureging those in other programs with subspecialties in certain religions to go into it in that manner to bypass what is being tried in theology studies.  I am attending a forum about this later in the week as a matter of fact.  How could we reject the formost scholar in the field just because the religion doesn't like what he says?  What do you think?
207985
Well, im not going to comment on the Mormon religion, but ill say this. In the United States, that was founded on freedom of religion and so on and so forth, this is an embarrassing predicament. No religion and no money should be able to dictate whether or not somebody is hireable or not. Everyone is supposedly given an equal right to get hired, based on your skill etc. in that field which you are applying for. Therefore anyone who uses the religion or money to deny a perfectly qualifiable person a job, should be persecuted.
283873
I never have been a fan of Rick Warren and the other methods of bringing popular/trendy practices into the church, so I can relate to that. \n\nYou could try pointing out to them, as patiently as you can, that using things like PDC is walking a fine line in that it caters a bit too much to the winds of whatever's popular of the day when it should be a bit more Bible focused (note there are no books by Warren in the Bible :) ). Acts is a better guide to how to run a church, I would argue, than a Rick Warren book.\n\nOr you could find another church, as others have recommended. I don't know how well connected you are there, or what your history is at your church, but that may be a hard situation to salvage, at this point. I actually mentioned the possibility of going to a specific area seminary to people at a church I was attending (not yet a member) and they started telling me, basically, that I couldn't do that. So, I left and haven't been back to that church.\n\nAs to the teacher situation, all you can do really is tolerate it (unless there's someone you can go to above the teacher about it). You could try talking to the teacher about it, but ultimately, it may just be a situation where you would have to model Christian charity - which probably isn't a principle in PDC.
350589
Are you incapable of doing your own research?\n\nI don't recall that is was an assingment given to ME.\n\n*********\nHas anyone else noticed that some folks here think this is the "do my homework for me" site?\n\n*\nWell, OK, here's a place to start:\nhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/var_rel.htm
171682
I don't know yet. I have read it over, but not really studied it, and I am going to be watching a special about it tonight at 8pm EST on the National Geographic Channel. I do not make decisions about my faith until I know all the facts and have had ample time to think, pray, and do some soul searching. I suggest that any who are interested in gathering all the info necessary to make an informed decision watch the show and read the text.\n\n To the person above me still waiting for it's publication - you can read the text at the link below. Just click on the link, and to the right where it has the two download buttons, click the "download the entire English text as PDF."
261634
how are these views presented...\n\nwell go back to the text and see in what way the scholars communicated their points. Did they use anecdotes, scientfic evidence, etc.\n\nin what terms?\n\nquote specific things the scholars said to back up weather you think they support the argument or disagree with it.
672460
I am with you, hon.  Your response to that question inspired me to answer my self.  I think there is something new here.  \n\nIt reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld's pronouncement of "Festivus for the rest of us".  I think that group is growing, but you know I think that it doesn't really need a name.  Universalist and Unitarians are as close to it as an organized relgion can be, but it's the Organization that most of us want to stay away from isn't it?  \n\nI have been toying with the idea of Omians (like Om) or a United Ministry of Earth - and if you are interested, I can send you the url privately - but I don't know where to go with it.  It is tempting to try to put us all together under the same umbrella and help us to feel our strength in numbers, even in an organization that says we all believe different things - but some of our beliefs are similar and that is where we need to focus.  The strongest tenents are the golden rule and tolerance.  I don't know - I feel close to a very interesting idea, and yet it is so elusive...lol\n\nPeace!
568100
Conservatives usually don't try to convert others. Instead, they either rant to vent their own spleens or else they preach to the choir. However, although I support the ACLU, I don't think it's right to deny a student the right to talk about God at his high school graduation. After all, the student is simply expressing himself, and not the views of his school or the government that funds his school. I don't think that his mentioning God in any way violates the separation of church and state.
302781
I just want to know why it was okay to have scriptures & other signs of faith posted on government property in the past and now it's not okay. Who gave a group so much authority to think and act for the majority? If something is offensive, I turn my head away, but I respect someone else's right to do the offensive thing. I don't like it, but I don't go running to the ACLU & cry all over them because I was offended. I don't urge them to hire a multitude of lawyers to make those people stop their vile display, violating my senses. I don't like a lot of things that are happening in this world. I try to make a difference where I live, and an even smaller difference at the ballot box. But, all this talk about separation of church and state is horse hockey. Our constitution DOES NOT have that wording in it anywhere. I've read through it several times and I don't see it. Must have been written with invisible ink! But, the Russian constitution DOES have that wording. I can see how that would be important...to the Russians. This country was founded on scripture and Godly values, not matter what the history revisionists are trying print in our school books now days. And no matter if you or anyone else likes that fact, it's a fact. If it was good enough for our forefathers, why isn't it good enough for us now? I don't believe that we are so very enlightened now that we've forgotten where we've come from. I think a lot of people just don't want to be reminded of any symbol of faith. It might make them uncomfortable, and we wouldn't want that! We want everyone to be happy, right? But, in their effort to please one group, they're offending another. I guess it's okay. Those crazy Christians have had the past couple hundred of years to plaster their stuff all over this country. So, now they can just back off quietly and shut up. That's the attitude that the ACLU sends every time they force someone to remove another symbol of faith from public view. It reminds me of what happened in Nazi Germany. When Hitler was killing all the handicapped people, no one made a fuss because it didn't affect them. When he started killing another group of people, no one said anything because they weren't affected. Then Hitler came for them, with not a whole lot of people left to put up a cry. It wasn't until Hitler started taking over other countries that people stopped him. This tearing down of the symbols of faith will not stop. Many new churches don't even display a cross anymore, blending in with all the other buildings in the area. I believe that this country has been blessed with so much because of Godly people living and working here. Revelation 3:15-17 says, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I wish that you were cold or hot, one or the other. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. Because you said, I am rich, and have lots of  stuff, and have need of nothing (even God); don't you know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked?" I believe we are already reaping the consequences of our departure of faith. That's why more & more bad stuff is happening to America than ever before. We will believe in anything, as long as it doesn't make us too uncomfortable. I know I am making this really long, but this is something that's very dear to my heart. I love America and I love the people who live in her. I also know that there will be a few who are offended by my long tirade. Sorry that your feelings have been hurt in any way. But, I stand firm in what I believe. Everyone has the right to live out their faith in any fashion they desire. That includes government property, because it's a part of America too. Stopping the public viewing of these symbols isn't going to stop people from believing in Jesus, worshipping God or limiting their church attendance. But,
136263
It has been suggested in several news sources (I cannot remember which, and I don't have exact details) that the Office of Faith Based Initiatives has been showing favoritism towards conservative Christian organizations when awarding federal contracts, which has driven many competing religious organizations to seek support elsewhere. This might be one reason why many non-conservative religious orders are suggesting that, when the current administrator retires later this year, the office should be closed and disbanded.
28443
Although I am a strong believer in the seperation of church and state, I also have no problem with the ID issue. I do believe it is an end run around the seperation rules, but I also know as a non-believer I am far outnumbered by those who are believers in the three major religious sects (Christian, Jewish, Muslims) of America. Despite my reservations, I think there are positive things in this controversy: \n  \n1) In Cali, it is an ELECTIVE- you can elect NOT to take it! \n2) I am secure in my own beliefs and that I have passed that on to my child. I can respect her veiws, even if I disagree with them because I know she respects mine back. \n3) I am not afraid to answer my child's questions- it would make me happy because then she is talking to me and it proves she is THINKING. \n4) If your major reason for not wanting this stuff in school is just because you don't like it, you should attend more board meetings so it never gets on the agenda to start with. Don't wait til money and time has been invested to pitch a fit. Get involved.\n5) We are becoming globally Politically Correct. If all you're thinking about is how to prove your way is the right way, how to avoid offending anyone or causing controversy, or how to please everyone, you are not thinking about the SUBJECT AT HAND. \n\nGood Question :-)
584378
Well Its to bad they don't understand. I don't like to see any walk in darkness. What they should understand is there has been a steady attack on the scriptures for as long as they have been around and by much better scholars than most or maybe any who have ever visited this site. Higher Criticism subjected it to all kinds of scholarly attack along with most of today's "institutions of higher learning". No book has been examined more closely than the Bible and no work could ever stand under that kind of attack. Yet the Word stands and carries on and the old saying that the shovel always verifies the Word remains true.
339171
I suggest you guys try and ignore this mouthbreather.  He asks the same questions on Judaism over and over again, with slightly different (though consistently biased and misleading) wording. If you don't believe me, all I can say is that you can verify this for yourselves.  I sincerely doubt that he is here to learn anything, at least in this area (though I feel obliged to at least commend him on his appropriate choice of screenname).\n\nThis guy's online hobby is something called Jew-baiting.  So don't take the bait, as it were, by responding on his terms and lending legitimacy to his line of questioning (which is shallow and insensitive at best, or, more likely from what I've seen, deliberate bigotry).  He has a real problem with Jews.  I don't know if it stems from a negative personal experience with Jews, or if he was raised by klansmen, or what.  But he keeps asking these same questions, and when confronted with information that contradicts his assumptions, he becomes belligerent and disregards the new information anyway.\n\nI once explained to him that he was mistaken in his assertion that a Jew had to have "Jewish blood" because conversion has a history going back through biblical history, all the way to the first Hebrew himself.  This did not sway him in his irrational belief.  And if someone here were to point out that calling Judaism a "cult of ancestor worship" is inaccurate because\n\na) it's not considered a cult\n\nand\n\nb) worshipping anything other than G-d, one's ancestors included, is the most severe form of blasphemy according to Judaism\n\nI highly doubt this gentleman would be swayed on either point.  My advice is not to waste your time.  There are plenty of people on here asking questions about Judaism because they actually want to learn.  If you are qualified to answer, answer those people.  They'll actually benefit from it.
670591
Ban Chick Tracts? Are you nuts?\n\n Where else can you get something that funny for FREE? Those things are a riot. My favorite are the ones about catholics note being real Christians(TM). That chick guy should be kissing the catholics feet for keeping the Jesus myth alive as long as they did. It cost them a lot of money and they murdered plenty of innocent people so he could eventually become an angry Protestant. If it was not for the catholics, the chick guy would probably worship Mithras and nobody would have ever heard of Jesus.\n\n Have you seen the ones about witchcraft? Hilarious! They are written by someone with a crazy imagination that seems to be jealous about witchcraft.\n\n It is better to let this guy operate in the open than to ban his brand of hate speech humor.
103382
The haters of christianity got rid of him. No. I think that yahoo, ditch him because of his website that he uses for "RESEARCH" to answer his questions.\n\nI don't see how this is against their community guidelines when they plainly said that you could post things to help people find research to back up your answers.\n\nAlso, I've been to Schneb's site and there is nothing there talking about a offering or saling anything. It's just plain 'ol research that he's done over the years.\n\nYahoo doesn't ditch anyone that puts up satanic websites on here for their research material so why is it always towards christians?\n\nI've been ditched before too! And probably will be again. Maybe we should just all go and support google until yahoo comes crying back for our consumtion.
304341
That's a dumb b.... It makes you really wonder about the current state of our educational system. I like how she says there's evidence that supports Christianity. I hate to tell her, but the bible is not rock-solid.
516396
Why would the asker lie about his religion? I also noticed a few  people couldn't answer the question referring him to scholars and yet others were offended because he asked.On the day of judgement I suppose the scholars would answer for you.
37594
I looked at the reviews of the books you mentioned on amazon.com. From what I can tell, I am afraid they do not offer much in the way of solid technical arguments or new discussions or reasons that creationism or a young earth hypothesis must be chosen over the current dominant accepted theories. The "experts" in the book "In Six Days" offer little that has not been dismissed before as specious arguments. Unfortunately, although these 50 gentlemen have PhDs, they are offering opinions in areas well outside their areas of expertise, in most cases. Many of arguments violate well-known scientific principles and laws.  \n\nI do applaud the creationists for trying to compile books that state their arguments and reasoning. We definitely need more of these, and we need to approach this subject with more intellectual honesty and integrity than has been evidenced in the past. \n\nI myself feel I could write a far more compelling book supporting faith that would be far more careful, if I was so inclined. I feel more of a general awe of creation, somewhat similar to that of Einstein, or Thomas Jefferson, or Newton. \n\nIt is disappointing and disconcerting that so far, these kinds of products produced by the religious community have hurt more than they have helped, have discredited those of religious faith and cast them in a bad light. They have tended to lend support for the opposite point of view, and have not succeeded as intended I am sorry to say.\n\n- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - \n\nAddendum:\n\nYes I am being honest. I have often been struck by some of the most amazing structures in science when I have been doing scientific investigations or learning about science. Unfortunately, I did not keep notes. I think that this is where religious people should direct their attention if they want to grasp the incredible majesty of creation. And it has the advantage that it is beautiful in structure, and unassailable, and compltely scientifically rigorous. \n\nHowever, I am not sure how many people of faith want to undertake a 15+ year journey into abstruse mathematics and physics, or are willing to approach it with a completely open mind. In fact, what I would ask is, if one is absolutely sure of one's faith, then would it not make sense to allow science to continue to unravel the mysteries of nature? After all, if you are positive what the conclusion will be, let them bolster your arguments with facts. If I am not mistaken, this has been the Vatican's approach for some decades.