Jacqueline H

If you are an atheist and see an answer from someone who is clearly a religist, do you automatically give it a thumbs down? Same goes for the religists...

I ask because it seems that no matter how inoffensive an answer, if it is clearly from one 'camp' or the other it gets a thumbs down. Whats up with that?

Which do you believe in? I am looking for some intelligent arguments for both sides, with no hateful comments to each other brothers and sisters.

I personally believe in Arminianism because I have trouble believing YHWH would purposely set aside some to be damned, have no power to change it, yet still be responsible for the sins that damn them. I dont believe an all loving God would do this. He knows just what He created in us, and that there would be plenty of people that would damn themselves. This would accomplish the exact same thing: the 'darkness' that will contrast with the 'light', or as my Calvinist NKJV Study Bible (MacArthur) says: 'the black velvet that sets off the diamonds displayed on it'.

I just got through reading portions of a pro Calvinist site and can agree that Arminianism is too 'man centered'. He says Arminians believe 'we chose God' instead of the other way around. Put like that, it does make ourselves too self important. However I believe it is compatible to believe that 'we love Him because He first loved us' (the same idea with His death on the cross - it would be impossible to be saved without Him acting first) while still believing in Free Will.

I believe Free Will is the second greatest Gift (after Salvation) that He gave us. Forced Salvation (by Predestination) does not sound like something an All Loving God would do. Forcing both salvation and damnation is cruel, why bother doing it that way? If you can force salvation without choice, why would you send anyone to hell with forced damnation, because it seems to me that could be avoided. This is the kind of mindset with which atheists see our God: a malicious tyrant that forces people to worship Him.

And then there is Salvation Doctrine. I have heard people try to claim that Calvinism vs Arminianism is not a point of Salvation Doctrine (that if we get it wrong, and believe the wrong thing, our salvation can possibly be at risk). I beg to differ. Calvinistic belief that "Perserverance of the Saints", or "Once Saved, Always Saved" looks to me like license to sin. It is scarily close to gnostic teachings that the soul is pure and the body is dirty but the dirt of the body cannot stain the soul and so no sin can endanger the soul to hell. If you are a Calvinist you believe that you cannot, under any circumstances, lose your salvation. "What sin? Oh that? It's nothing, I am saved. One of the elect. No reason to worry about that sin". Scary, demonic belief that one can sin with impunity and not risk hell. Every sin commited without repentance/mourning leads to yet another sin, until you have moved so far away from God you dont know how you got there and you are standing at the gates of Hell.

Sorry I was not attempting to rant, I just want you to know were I stand and why so you can state your belief AND (if you desire) refute mine. I ask NOT to cause strife/division, but to be enlightened.

Thank you all in advance.

Just bought a house and need some help. I have 3 pecan trees (2 in backyard 1 in front) and grass that is probably more weed than grass. I want to get a gas powered tiller to rip it all up and lay down some new stuff.

First: Do I need get all the pecans out of the grass before tilling? Will they damage the tiller? If they dont damage it will I have a huge problem with pecan sprouts all in my new grass?

Second: I want to rip it up and rake most of the vegetation away, probably requiring me to get some fill dirt so I dont break the bank buying soil. In the NM desert will fill dirt and a layer of grow soil be ok for low water grass seed? OR should I mix them? Is there a type of fill dirt I need to request or stay away from especially?

Third: there are ALOT of stray cats. How can i protect these swaths of fresh dirt from becomming a cat toilet? I have heard of orange peels but dont relish how they would look scattered all over my yard. I drink coffee but not THAT much coffee for grinds. Is there an attractive and hopefully low cost for the bulk I need?

Fourth: should I wait to seed until after absolutely last frost? I dont want to wait until it is already scorching at 9am.

I need to jump my battery cause it died, and so I go to release the latch. It "popped" (once, but subsequently is no longer 'popping') but the hood will not come up. It did not seem to move up much at all if any, and I dont see were the inside release (under the hood, the 'second' latch) is to try to reach it with something. Is there a trick to getting the hood to come up, or were exactly must I reach in the grill to possibly find the cable that releases it (assuming the cable disconnected) or were exactly should I be looking for the secondary hood release latch under the hood, assuming I can get to it.

Thanks a bunch!

I have been searching all over town and the net trying to find a place that will sell me grocery store size packages (1-2 dozen), and not commercial/restaurant size packages (several dozen +).

when I got her last night, she was rail thin, probably about 6 months old tortoiseshell. I fed her and she ate 2 bowls (about a good size fists worth) of dry food in less than 8 hours. She drinks alot more water than any cat I have ever had before. This morning (still going at the food every 15 min or so when she is not sleeping or loving on us) her belly is very big, and stretched pretty tight. When I palpate I feel no golfball size/shape objects (which I read is a pregnancy sign). She is urinating and pooping just fine, I think. She seems to take a little time to urinate but that may be that she is shy to do it while I am watching. I believe she is showing signs of being in heat too, so that also makes me think she is not pregnant. I have only had her less than 12 hours so far so I couldnt tell you how she was before we got her. She is very loving but seems a tiny bit lethargic for a cat that seems so young, but maybe its because she is constantly being stuffed. Is she just afraid of going hungry again and keeping herself stuffed, or does she have tapeworms or fluid belly? please help!