JAT

Is there a sober, not hung-over person out there who has a feeling for what NYC traffic will be like throughout the day today? OK, I know it would be a wild guess, but if you have any insight please let me know.

A neighbor's tree just put 2 holes in my roof - and of course water is leaking in. How is this usually handled in terms of my insurance. Should I simply get it repaired as soon as possible & then put in a claim? (Yes, I am totally ignorant when it comes to these practical matters.)

There are many of us who after honestly recalling our past are certain we never had the slightest discussion with ourselves, or anyone else, as to what sexual preference we'd adopt in life. At some point it just seemed we knew without much doubt, what we "liked." Actually, we had difficulties even understanding how anyone could be attracted to the gender we weren't attracted to. But since many Christians on this forum are convinced that it is really a "choice," I am willing to concede that they, the Christians in question, knew that they COULD, unlike us, take either direction. Thus these good Christian people were able to make a "choice" - which by definition involves at least 2 options - and are somewhat justified, as we were, in assuming that everyone must think the same way.

Isn't it possible then that this is a "good faith" misunderstanding? In other words, these Christians, who obviously could have chosen either hetero- or homo-sexuality, are unaware that many of us do not have this capacity, or flexibility if you will? Obviously I am not condemning Christians who are equipped with these options. Not having had it, I cannot judge others.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200805...

To Muslims Everywhere: How true is this? (Or, what century are we in?)?

According to the NY TImes, Obama's conversion to Christianity was a crime in Muslim eyes (“irtidad” or “ridda” = "apostasy" but with hints of "treason.). This is "the worst of all crimes that a Muslim can commit," worse than murder (which the victim’s family may choose to forgive).

With few exceptions, the jurists of all Sunni and Shiite schools prescribe execution for all adults who leave the faith not under duress; the recommended punishment is beheading at the hands of a cleric, although in recent years there have been both stonings and hangings. (Some may point to cases in which lesser punishments were ordered — as with some Egyptian intellectuals who have been punished for writings that were construed as apostasy — but those were really instances of supposed heresy, not explicitly declared apostasy as in Senator Obama’s case.)

According to the NY TImes, Obama's conversion to Christianity was a crime in Muslim eyes (“irtidad” or “ridda” = "apostasy" but with hints of "treason.). This is "the worst of all crimes that a Muslim can commit," worse than murder (which the victim’s family may choose to forgive).

With few exceptions, the jurists of all Sunni and Shiite schools prescribe execution for all adults who leave the faith not under duress; the recommended punishment is beheading at the hands of a cleric, although in recent years there have been both stonings and hangings. (Some may point to cases in which lesser punishments were ordered — as with some Egyptian intellectuals who have been punished for writings that were construed as apostasy — but those were really instances of supposed heresy, not explicitly declared apostasy as in Senator Obama’s case.)

According to the NY TImes, Obama's conversion to Christianity was a crime in Muslim eyes (“irtidad” or “ridda” = "apostasy" but with hints of "treason.). This is "the worst of all crimes that a Muslim can commit," worse than murder (which the victim’s family may choose to forgive).

With few exceptions, the jurists of all Sunni and Shiite schools prescribe execution for all adults who leave the faith not under duress; the recommended punishment is beheading at the hands of a cleric, although in recent years there have been both stonings and hangings. (Some may point to cases in which lesser punishments were ordered — as with some Egyptian intellectuals who have been punished for writings that were construed as apostasy — but those were really instances of supposed heresy, not explicitly declared apostasy as in Senator Obama’s case.)

“In my soul I feel just that terrible pain of loss, of God not wanting me – of God not being God – of God not existing.”

It was said by a person I admire for the works she performed in this world – Mother Teresa. Even though I never agreed with her religious views, I believe she exemplified the best of humanity. Profound doubt has always been the lot of many of the truly religious, and especially of the religious figures who contribute to bettering the world.

What say ye who claim that you've never had a doubt?

My mother-in-law, who is 87, lives with us. Sometimes our commitments force us to be away for hours at a time. I would like to know what's out there that she could use that would be an emergency life-line - something like "The Pendant." Is there anything better? Something could detect a problem - say, a fall, etc. - without her having to take any action?

She has 99% of her marbles ... but just in case!

Apparently many new dollar coins were recently struck without the phrase, "In God We Trust." Is this yet one more sign of end-times? Wasn't this prophesied somewhere? I just hope the number wasn't divisible by 666.

Will somebody explain this to me???

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgVdz...

I'm feeding 6 outside feral cats (Well, they used to be feral.) The winter here in the northeast U.S. seems hard on them. Does anyone know of enclosures with some sort of warming thingee? I'm thinking of something like a dog-house with a solar panel, or some heating device that's not dangerous, or even a small shed. Any other suggestions are welcome. (No, I'm not a "cat person," but it's not right to let them suffer because some idiot threw them out.)

I just read in the current issue of the "Onion" that Father Thomas Mandow (Taos, NM) can actually turn just about anything into the body & blood of Christ.

According to the article, at a press conference he displayed: " ...a transubstantiated 24-piece bucket of chicken, a 64-oz Mountain Dew bottle and an issue of Sports Illustrated.."

How did he come by these powers? He believes it's because he was bitten by a radioactive bishop.

is this a gift from the almighty?

From a dear theist friend. Opinions?

"We make His essence dependent on the primitive and cruel writings and traditions of bygone priest-classes with their own agenda. We besmirch His name by insulting the intellectual pursuit of truth in science if it contradicts already contradictory references. When science comes up with a solution that undoes scriptural interpretation, we have to invent yet another metaphor to cover our absurd meanderings, e..g., the days of Genesis, the solar system, etc. In this the doubters are correct, we have reduced Him to be “God of the Gaps.” And each gap that science closes demonstrates our folly.

We are disrespectful of His great gift of discernment, on which our free will depends.

I suggest that God is not defined by our ignorance. He fits gloriously within any future achievement of science – whether in physics or evolutionary science.

To conceive of a discovery that would diminish God, is to have already diminished Him."

I read a lot of anti-immigrant chatter here, but I notice that more and more Americans are using the same tonal "sentence end rise" typical of Mexican street Spanish. Calling it "Valley-speak" may fool some people, but discerning polyglots can spot it immediately. It is particularly prevalent in young people and I've detected it on both coasts. The only other instance of this type of intonation occurs in certain Irish populations, but that variation is developed locally, without outside influence..

Is this one a precursor of things to come, ese?

Even though their convention defeated the measure, what do you think of the idea they proposed to withdraw their kids from public education? Some say it would be a boon to the science curriculum in public schools.

There is a historical pattern. What would induction give us?

Animism – Thousands of gods

Early Paganism - Hundreds of gods

Classic Paganism - Dozens of gods

Monotheism - One god

Next step - ???

I clicked on "dumpfinds" to give her the 10 points, but instead Yahoo answers gave it to "J.A.R." - who isn't even on Yahoo Answers anymore and whose answer I found lacking.

My question was "Is there a contradiction in being against abortion AND against contraceptives?"

I just heard Laura Bush say that a ban on gay marriage should NOT be a political platform issue, and that: "It requires a lot of sensitivity to just talk about the issue — a lot of sensitivity." Who is going to put this into words her husband can actually understand?

Please consider contraceptives as a whole.

If it were proven that contraceptives reduce abortions, would religious figures still be justified in attempting to ban all contraceptives? (Several religiously oriented officials of the FDA are on record as being against all contraceptives as well as abortion.)

Jeremiah 4:4

"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Psalms 137:9

"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones."

Deuteronomy 23:1

"He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD."

I find these somewhat distracting, and a bit harsh.