rabid_scientist

I'll start it off:

Libtards: is there a faster way to reduce the IQ of a conversation?

Sheeple: it was funny the first time.

Meme: people use it as though they know what it means.

Synergy: the person who uses this is often paid to spew meaningless buzzwords.

Your turn!

For example, Elizabeth MacDonald is calling for months of training similar to what the police have before ever being allowed to purchase a gun, and background checks at all firing ranges.

If gun owners agree to that, then being so well trained, would gun-control advocates agree to allow the graduates of this rigorous training to carry their weapon concealed? Any time, anywhere, any state? Schools, malls, theaters, military bases, government buildings...wherever.

I'm just wondering if anyone apart from me has actually read them. They're actually very educational, and I was a bit less angry with the ruling afterward, although I still agree with the dissent.

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c...

If Reps. Slaughter and Pelosi carry out a plan to pass the senate health care bill by a "self-executing rule" while simultaneously passing a bill of changes, what happens if the Senate says "no" to the change package? Is the senate health care bill still considered "passed" because of the house vote? Or is it not considered passed until the senate agrees to the change package as well?

I'm thinking of getting it, but I'm wondering what people's experiences with it are. Specifically, how does Fios TV compare with satellite? How does the internet stability (how often it works) compare with DSL? Is it hard/expensive to have it set up?

I've never seen a great refutation of this argument, so maybe you all could help me out here.

If I build a robot, and it turns out to be faulty--say it goes out and kills someone--whose fault is it, mine or the robot's? Of course I'll be sued and maybe even end up in jail.

But if God created everything, and some people go out and kill other people...well, whose fault is it? If God actually knows what he's doing, isn't it his fault for making a crappy product? And if you're Christian, it's even worse, because then you believe that because of these defects, you're going to hell. How fair is that?

So tell me, how is this not God's fault?

This goes for you, too, atheists and agnostics. Tell me how your beliefs improve your life as it exists today. Give me a specific example if possible. How do your beliefs affect you? Where in your life can you point and say, "There. See, that part? That's because of my belief in X."

If the end of shipbuilding is a ship, and the end of economics is wealth, then what is the end of spirituality?

There are some questions on here--and you all know what I'm talking about--where the person asking has no real question and is not interested in our viewpoint in any way. We know that they'll pick a best answer that most closely dittos what they've already said. Yet we answer anyway.

Why do we bother? Be honest, I'm sure you've done it. Why did you bother answering a "question" like that?

And no, this isn't a rant...more that I'm astounded by human behavior--my own included!

Let's be honest now. Lots of people say that religion should play no role in politics, but it most certainly plays a big role in the election process. How has religion affected your views of the presidential candidates (either your religion or theirs)? And how important is it to you: is it the sole reason you're voting for/against them, a major reason, a minor reason?

And last but not least: in a perfect world, what role should religion play in this whole process?

Most people say they have a soul, even if you can't exactly point to it and say "here it is". I just saw a question asking if animals have souls, and most people said "yes". My question is, do all living things have souls? Maybe you'd agree with a cat having one, or even a squirrel, and if you're feeling generous, a rat. But what about bacteria? Does a virus have a soul? How about tapeworms? Does a tree have one, or a mushroom?

It's all very confusing to me. Where is the line? Can anything that is alive not have a soul?

Have you ever seen one? I'm not convinced that such a thing exists. What does it do--while you're still alive, I mean? What makes you think that souls exist--or that they don't?

And atheists especially, do you believe that you have a soul? I mean, souls are just as unobservable as God.

Thoughts?

I've noticed that the one thing most people who are tolerant of the beliefs of others can't stand is an intolerant person.

The nature of tolerance is that we accept that we all believe different things. It does not imply agreement with those things. Given that, should we treat the intolerant with the same respect as we treat others with different beliefs? Are we being intolerant ourselves if we don't?

After all, what is intolerance except the belief that I am right to the exclusion of all others?

Thoughts?

If there was one truth you wish the whole world understood as completely and deep-down as you do, what would it be?

We often learn more from our mistakes than our successes. What truth cost you the most, and was it worth it? Enlighten us.

Be specific. What qualities do you try to emulate? What activities do you engage in? Do you have a daily or weekly ritual? Perhaps a special quote or thought that you try to remember?

I was driving home from work today in a light drizzle. I love the rain, because of the way it sounds, and the way the colors become so vibrant. And I thought to myself, it's good to be alive, enjoying this. And then I wondered: do you suppose most people consciously think this, or not very many? How often do they think it?

What do you think?

Does it mean that all others must be wrong?

I once read that spirituality is like climbing a mountain in which there are many different paths leading to the top, that each path has its own challenges. Does this seem right to you, or do you disagree? Why?

Speaking about religion, the Sufi mystic Rumi once said, "The lamps are many, but the light is One."

Do you think this is true? Why?

Maybe it didn't change your life, but an experience you'll never forget, one that you lean on and remember when times aren't so good. What was it like? Where were you? What were you doing? How did you feel? And how does it help you even now?