President Bush

[butzkeg]

Well said Cowboydoc.

It seems so many times that spirituality gets confused/mixed up/combined with religion. Many religions are close to peoples' ideas of a cult. That said...

If it were only as simple as what Cowboydoc stated: "I still fail to see the problem with just believing in God, reading the good Book, and living by the ten commandments."

I questioned my faith once, and this how I looked at it: you either believe in God or you don't. If you don't you don't, then you probably think you just die when you're dead and that's it. Then ask, what if this is wrong, there is a God, and the Spirit filled people were right? You would be screwed. However, if you believe in God and follow the plans laid out in the Bible, and this idea is right, you've got it made. If this is wrong, what have you lost...Pretty much nothing. So to this day, I'm a strong, devout Christian.

Freedom of Religion, what a HUGE priviledge.

 

[MikePA]

Human animals seldom kill each other to eat them.
Human animals 1, other animals 1.

 

[Chuck52]

Well now let's see.....there are, or have been, some human cannibals. Most, though certainly not all, of the other animals seem to avoid eating their own kind. Hard to score.

Chuck

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Kevin,
<font color=blue>Not sure if a Canadian is allowed to participate in this little discussion</font color=blue>
The more perspectives that are involved, the better. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Al

 

[cowboydoc]

Butzkeg,

"I questioned my faith once, and this how I looked at it: you either believe in God or you don't. If you don't you don't, then you probably think you just die when you're dead and that's it. Then ask, what if this is wrong, there is a God, and the Spirit filled people were right? You would be screwed. However, if you believe in God and follow the plans laid out in the Bible, and this idea is right, you've got it made. If this is wrong, what have you lost...Pretty much nothing. So to this day, I'm a strong, devout Christian."

My feelings exactly. Not to add much to that but you've also probably lived a pretty good life and can look back with pride and not fear death. The patients I've dealt with that have had terminal illnesses faired far better when they believed in God than those who didn't. They also surprise you and get well through their faith as well!

 

[cowboydoc]

Chuck,
I didn't mean it that we would kill over reiligious differences. What I meant is that in the wild animals will settle a dispute to the death with no regard for consequences. If we aren't held to a higher power what is to stop us from doing the same? If we weren't created from God and God gave us a conscience and humanity then what separates us from animals? Evolution? Just because a person can think doesn't mean they are moral. Where does the line become drawn once you throw religion out the door? If that's the case we're just back to the evolutionary monster that only the fittest survive and where do you draw the line or who even can say where to draw the line? If there's not a higher calling or order to the randomness of evolution what's the point? Why not just lie, steal, even kill your way to the top of the pile, because if there's no God, there's no conscience.

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>pejorative </font color=blue>

Now I don't feel so bad, Mike. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

It's bad enough we weren't sure what the word meant, but even worse we couldn't spell it. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

<font color=blue>Out of desparation, tried http://www.dictionary.com </font color=blue>

I shouldn't say anything, but the irony is just too funny -- it's spelled, "desperation". /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

p.s. To the rest of you readers -- my apologies for being so far off topic in this thread. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[gerard]

Gotta agree with you cowboy doc. If you truly beleive there is no god, then logically speaking you should get out of this life the most you can irrespective of laws or consequences. After all if there's nothing after this life where's the advantage (evolutionarily speaking) of being "moral"? Conscience and self imposed morality is the biggest factor separating us from the animals. The downside to religion is when zealots pervert it to justify their means to THEIR ends. Don't know why people find it so hard to let other people have their own beliefs but history shows wars have been fought for centuries in the name of religion.

 

[Chuck52]

Cowboydoc,
Intra-species fights to the death are not the norm in nature; such behavior would not usually result from evolutionary development as it would not favor species survival.
This thread has really wandered from my objection to what I saw as an over-simplification and over-glorification of George Bush and his rise to the presidency. I'd really prefer not to get into a detailed discussion of religion, and apparently I started it all with my use of "deification".

 

[scruffy]

Chuck, I really don't understand where you come up with the 'deification' issue at all, but you are certainly entitled to your viewpoint.
I believe fully in God, while I can honestly state that I cannot agree with various denominational doctrins, particularly those that seem to have no biblical basis.
I 'sat' on this article, solely because of its potential to 'irritate' a segment of society....the same segment who feel that it is TOTALLY their right to impose THEIR wishes upon everyone, irreguardless of others feelings, beliefs, or wishes.
Sorry, but my faith and beliefs put me into that catagory described by CBDoc <font color=red>The patients I've dealt with that have had terminal illnesses faired far better when they believed in God than those who didn't. They also surprise you and get well through their faith as well!</font color=red> I have been fighting Mantel Cell Lymphoma for the past 10 months, and currently am in remission. Is this pretty much standard for this type of cancer? Hardly. Only 10 to 15% survive out to the one year mark with it. Did I, or the Doctors do any heroical procedures to reach this point? Nothing out of the normal scope of treatment prescribed for cancer. In all aspects, I can but give credit where credit is due...Almighty God. If that makes you uncomfortable, I am sincerely sorry for you.
Irreguardless, I will (along with many, many others) pray for God to daily guide George W. in the decisions he makes for the welfare, safety, leadership, and protection of our country, as well as the many others who have joined the International endeavor to irradicate terrorism.