dreamed1

Sure, they're not ready for it at the Politics or Environment sections. But we value Truth here... And the true cause of Global Warming should be obvious:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e5/FSM_...

Arrrrrrgggh, what say you?

If all truth is dependent upon the context in which it is received / illuminated / discerned, and if that context is lost, can that truth become irrelevant, unwholesome, perhaps even detrimental?

Wondering about lay orders (like Franciscan), what's involved, what does a lay person do differently from someone who's not part of a lay order? And why has almost no one even heard of lay orders, at least in the U.S.?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

reading the Weekly World News?

"It's actually a sign of progress for a society to go from inventing gods and monsters to seeking catharsis in the real life of Paris Hilton."

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1...

A group of Christians (from all stripes) are meeting to agree on a 'code of conduct' for Christians who proseletyze.

[ If you have time, read this article:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2007/08/christians-... ]

Key statement: "The code of conduct is not about 'whether' Christians evangelize, but 'how' they do it,"

So what would you put in this 'code of conduct' if it were up to you?

There is currently a category 3 hurricane headed our way. That’s okay, we’re more or less prepared, and historically hurricanes tend to skirt by our island. But I’m wondering…

I don’t see anything wrong with asking God to make sure the worst of the storm misses us. But at the same time I realize millions of people prayed the same thing 2 years ago when Katrina devastated the gulf coast. There are millions of people dying every day from things like hunger and treatable diseases. So while I don’t see any harm in asking, I’m also well aware of the arrogance of the request.

My own personal prayer would simply be for serenity and the safety of my family. But it also gave me occasion to reflect on what is the true purpose of prayer?

Please post anything you’d like…

I see some people on here who seem to imply that an explanation that ultimately derives from Faith is superior to one that ultimately derives from Reason.

If there are two explanations for something - say just as an example, the existence of morality - one explanation is based on reason (social factors owing to living in community, etc), and the other is based on dogma (that it was revealed by God), WHY should I accept the dogmatic explanation over the one based on reason?

Seeing as how the international courts have found ways to try former heads of state, like Charles Taylor... do you think one day they'll get up the chutzpah to go after Bush et al?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2963086.stm

Anyone familiar with this idea?

http://www.alphabetvsgoddess.com/site/timeline.htm...

It's basically suggesting that the rise in literacy - founded on an abstract alphabet - was at the psychological root of a rise in patriarchal religions and away from the mother goddess religions that characterize oral cultures.

Could it be that Gaia was really killed - in a way - by the Word? Hmmm... Any thoughts?

...if all Christians acted like Mother Teresa?

I know some of you would, and some of you would not. How do you then define your spirituality?

I can't tell you how many times I've seen some variation of this question: How come God made light and darkness on day 1, but made the sun and moon on day 4? Doesn't that disprove the Genesis account?

If you're trying to argue from a scientific standpoint, would you PLEASE at least learn the science yourself? Light (radiation, energy) DID come way before matter coalesced into thermal reactors we call "stars" and the "sun". Here, if this helps:

http://www.pbs.org/deepspace/timeline/index.html

I don't personally know why you would waste time trying to scientifically disprove something to people who reject science in the first place, but if you're going to do it, at least argue from evidence, not ill-formed assumptions.

Am I right?

What - specifically - was accomplished by the crucifixion? How do you view the concept of 'atonement'?

Any thoughtful answers welcome. Thanks.

Check this out:

"We have been taught that Christ is the firstborn of God, and we have declared above that he is the Logos of whom every race of men were partakers. And those who lived according to reason (logos) are Christians, even though they have been thought atheists; as among the Greeks, Socrates and Heraclitus, and men like them; and among the barbarians, Abraham and Ananias, and Misael, and Elias, and many others whose actions and names we now decline to recount, because we know it would be tedious."

-St. Justin Martyr, First Apology 46

So, the very first "Defender" (apologist) of the faith, writing less than a hundred years after Jesus died, thinks that anyone who lives according to reason (the logos) is actually a Christian of sorts.... What do YOU say?

Yes, it's a take on the old "Christian nation" theme, but it's a serious question....

I know it's only Wednesday but I got a few cold ones ready to go here...

Just curious what you're all listening to on a semi-regular basis?

(this question is not an endorsement of apple, ipod or itunes. any mention of itunes, ipod or the apple logo is for illustration only)