I think the same issues that compelled Jefferson and Madison landed on my conscience today. You can call it karma or the collective conscience that connects one generation to others in a continuing process of political development toward more effective self-government. And we are finishing the process that began with the founding documents, which were designed to be reformed, but by consent of the governed. We need to use our learning curve with parties to figure out how to use all our private and public institutions and resources to work out the best solutions from each angle. Not any one party or source is best suited for all applications. If we organize conventions by party, where everyone is included and represented equally, perhaps we can take the best ideas and delegate the tasks to the best parties and approaches suited for managing those. There is enough work to delegate responsibilities to all parties, and share the credit for solutions, if we wise up and quit fighting to control everything one way. I think that is where the country is heading. We have the resources, facilities and technology to organize by party. It's just a matter of organizing the right people in teams around the issues where each can be most effective. I think it is inevitable, because people are driven by justice and will not stop until all grievances and abuses are resolved. We just have to organize a way to manage that, such as through party structures and online access, and people will have access to means to solve their own problems, locally first and then affect the global level.
With the advent of Jesus, there are no longer any "unclean" foods. I see you are all about picking out what "tickels your ears" instead of looking at the broader picture. I wonder why you ommited the first part of Romans 14? Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Of course there is Peter's dream in ACTS 10: ...The voice comes again, this time providing the rationale: God has declared all foods clean. Peter is not to go on declaring some foods profane or "common." Jesus' teaching and behavior had certainly prepared the way for such a declaration (Mk 7:14-23; Lk 11:39-41), and the cross was the salvific basis for it (Eph 2:14-15; Col 2:14). The sheet from heaven and the voice both bear witness that all God's creatures are now to be viewed as clean and good, not to be refused (Gen 1:31; 1 Tim 4:3). So there are no longer any unclean foods----however, if some pagan from another religion is about, say a devout Muslim, then you wouldn't force him to eat a pork hot dog. Moving on to your homo question. It is a simple moral matter, as is adultry, rape, incest, murder, acts of beastiality, and so forth. Of course, God has never changed a moral law to allow such behavior.
I see, so your position is that an omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent being simply changed his mind about what's sinful and what's not... Never mind the fact that, as an omniscient being, "God" would have known all facts from the beginning of time - and would therefore have no basis for ever changing his/her/it's mind... Aren't you the one who earlier quoted "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them", and now wants to claim that Christ actually did change "the law" (ie: that he was lying)? How do you differentiate a "moral matter" from a "cultural matter"? Where do you draw that line? If a culture accepts adultery (under certain conditions), is that a cultural law, or would you arbitrarily decide the entire culture is immoral?
Conservatives are not Christian: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/03/1382087/-9-Reasons-Most-Conservatives-Are-Not-Christian Almost every day on Facebook, Twitter, or some other social media, I see a conservative ranting away with how the Republican Party is the party of, ahem, good Christian values Often someone will email me and ask why Im waging some kind of fight against religion. Its funny. The fact is, I dont care what creed anyone follows. My problem with some people, especially conservatives, is their willingness to try to force their religion on others. Heres what gives me heartburn many of these conservatives arent really Christian. Going to church doesnt make someone a Christian. Following the Bible doesnt even make someone Christian. Christianity is based on a belief in Jesus Christ and following him. I dont see much of that inside conservative ideology. Gandhi said, I like your Christ. I dont like your Christians. Gandhi, in my view, was spot on. Here are some reasons I think Gandhi was right. 1. Homosexuality. Many conservatives base their devotion to their religion on how strong their opposition is to homosexuality. Heres the rub. Jesus never spoke not even once on the issue. 2. Helping the poor. I dont understand how a person can call themselves Christian while supporting a political party that denigrates the poor as being moochers looking for a handout. 3. Greed. Isnt the entire premise of trickle-down economics and unregulated capitalism based on greed? Conservatives seem to have no problem chastising a family on welfare, but they consider anyone who dares to call a well-off person a greedy bastard as un-American. Just for the record, Jesus DID talk against greet. Actually, he warned AGAINST greed. 4. Full of hate. If youve been to a tea party rally, you probably were amazed at the vile hatred. 5. Racism. Not all conservatives are racist. But, every state thats currently strongly Republican also fought desegregation and stood against the Civil Rights Act. Mmmm .I cant imagine Jesus endorsing racism. 6. Pro-life hypocrites. Conservatives will defend the rights of a fetus and then insist on cutting funding for welfare programs which feed those very children once theyre born. And what is this about the death penalty? I cant comprehend how a person can be pro-life as they brag about how many people are executed in their state each year. 7. Gun obsessive. Does a conservative really know how mentally off they would have to be to honestly believe that Jesus would support semi-automatic rifles? Yet, many of them believe that JC would be standing next to them with an AR-15, ready to do battle. 8. Intolerance. Conservatives like to maintain the idea that it is really liberals who are intolerant of others. Guess when liberals including me become intolerant. When were dealing with intolerant people. I dont care if youre against homosexuality, abortion or other religions thats called choice. But dont try to limit the rights of others or force your views on others because thats when people get tired of your crap. Genuine Christianity speaks of acceptance and tolerance. You know, the whole love thy neighbor idea. 9. Paranoid and afraid. Arent Christians supposed to have faith. Didnt Jesus talk about positivity and hope? Then what are conservatives so afraid of. Many conservatives live in a continuous state of fear and paranoia. They fear brown people, other religions, the government, liberals, and homosexuals. Im not really sure how someone can say that have faith in God while being afraid and paranoid of almost everything. One cannot be Republican and Christian at the same time.
Impossible! -------- These clowns claim to have been inspired by God to run for the presidency: So did Bush before he invaded Iraq. It is just not possible to be a Republican and a true Christian.
Clinton set up the problems with Iraq when he bombed a so called "contained dictator." Not being happy with that, he then signed a public law demanding that Saddam be removed. Thank George W. Bush for the removal. I am sure Saddam lived to regret it happened.
LOL. Bush claimed that God told him to invade Iraq. If that joke had been true, then God must have a most peculiar sense of humor.
Trump recently went into a church (Presbyterian, I believe it was) and put $20 onto the collection plate. Gotta admit, I was surprised he didn't want a receipt.
It's tax deductible either way. Will he keep or remove the faith-based initiative. Also, God did want Bush to invade Iraq and Afghanistan to make it legal to preach Christ there. We should have pulled out as soon as that became law.
Gee, God sure is behind the times as he could have used Bush's "internets" to spread the word without dropping any blood.
I think that's illegal there. Besides Bush is not restrictive about his branch of Christianity. The Mennonites may be correct that Satan's role as Prince of the power of the Air means he controls radio, tv and internet. Jesus said "Go into all the world" not send letters into all the world. He said "Lay hands on the sick not mail them prayer cloths.
Too bad Bush did not provide evidence that God actually told him to invade Iraq. Could have spared us all that trouble that occurred during anti war rallies.
well, we are still waiting for evidence of all those WMD - perhaps God will help traitor Bush find them some day
Zhokar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death for using a wmd that killed 4 people. Obviously by that definition most of us have one in our kitchen. Be vague. You'll never be fully wrong.
^ yup start world war III because some clown used a kitchen utensil to bomb a few chowder heads in Boston
We arrested one man and sentenced him to spens the rest of his life waiting to be executed. We're about to elect the person who killed 4 good people President, also a life of constant sorrow.
How is it possible to be certain exactly what Christ taught? Beware any politician, tribe or government who imagines God is on their side.
It is indeed very difficult to know what the relationship is between those who claim to be Christian and whatever Christ may have actually said. It makes more sense for believers to claim to be a Catholic, Methodist, Plymouth Brethren, Episcopalian, Russian Orthodox or whatever. At least with that information we can examine the doctrine of each particular group and have some idea of what each 'Christian' believes. A good place to explore this is in Douglas Lochhart's "The Dark Side of God: A Quest for the Lost Heart of Christianity" (Publ' Element).
Sure, that makes sense, as long as individual Christian's see their religion as a club that isn't necessarily based on Christ or his teachings.... but I don't believe that's the case for most.
Ah, but here you've inadvertently hit on the truth. Each individual 'Christian' believes the version and interpretation of scripture their particular church has dished up to them is the truth. Quite often they hold to this belief so fanatically they see all other denominations as philistine.
if it's any consolation to you, the majority of Republicans and other right wingers were stupid enough to elect a murderer like traitor Bush twice - all of the Middle East is presently in sorrow because of that