I do not agree with the article; I did not make sport of the Christian faith.

Never said you did.

TR

With all due respect Sir, we don't disagree about that. I disagree with some of the author's arguments. Christians have also used their religion in a way that was "callous to human suffering," and there have also been many blindly devoted Christians.

Muslim Idealogies
 

I still can't understand how these religious zealots get the kind of attention they do. Why does everybody submit to their supposed beliefs and thoughts. Even France is banning the wearing of the burka by Muslim females or anyone else for that matter. I never thought I'd see the day France took a stance and their citizens backed them up. I would also like to know if I could wash my feet at the Detroit airport, before a plane ride. LIVE FREE OR DIE

*

http://bigthink.com/ideas/4770

Just thought this was appropriate to the topic. I think I can see why so much can stir from a talk between different faiths, people put their self security in that faith, and contradictions challenge that, causing internal conflict perhaps? Just the social side that is, the political/military aspects is a different level.

Dr. Mabuse,

I'm not sure you follow me here, despite cultural differences on the value of life, people are willing to die for whatever it is in life they value. It could be the life of their child, the bond with their fellow soldiers, or their faith etc. I don't doubt the apostles believed in the divinity of Christ, this was their faith and they paid the price. The fact they were willing to die for their religious beliefs shows this is what they valued, I admire their devotion, but plenty of folks have been willing to die for Jewish, Hindu or other faiths as well.

As for the challenges faced by contemporary Jews under the Roman Empire they had to watch their step anytime it was felt they might disturb the status quo, think of the Masada. There was no bill of rights for them.

A lie is an issue of fact not faith. People will absolutely die for a lie, if there is something there they value more than factual truth. Once again, at Corregidor, Macarthur had told them he was coming right back with reinforcements, this was not true, they still fought and died, maybe because they valued their buddies in their unit more than life itself, or the factual truth of the situation, and didn't want to be the one to let them down. They knew the score.

Finally you mention faith as it regards to profession. There is a vast difference between a business that provides a service for a fee, and a faith based operating system for life. The doctor, the kid who mows your lawn, or the person who manages your money will be replaced if they don't show tangible results. Perhaps in time they earn your trust, but their results can be verified. Contrast this to matters of faith, verification of faith is just that, more faith. I am not without faith myself, I believe in God, I just don't see why calling him Yaweh, Krishna, or Allah matters?

I stand corrected.

Different sources vary on whether Hinduism or Buddhism is the 3rd largest faith, but unfortunately to Richards point, the Tamils and Sinhalese are still killing each other despite the peaceful teachings of both faiths.

I found this feature documentary by Pierre Rehov to be very thought provoking, a journey deep into a disturbing culture that few can comprehend...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...0264306422368#

Good find. Thanks.

dr. mabuse, this post and your other ones made me smile. There is no such thing as coincidence. What, where and how we were bring good use to be His instruments here and now. John Newton put it better than I can:
"I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am."



Touché Richard Sir, you follow the path Einstein took since he was 12.
I've long subscribed to the "fact" that perception is indeed reality and man is subjective creature. We ultimately choose (and selectively collects those that support our choice), and it is definitely a matter of faith. Even when one dissects science to its raw constituents, faith is abound there too. Having said that, I believe (there's the faith again) that we are accountable for our choices. Whether one of us or both of us are wrong, we will surely find out. As you wrote "YMMV - and so it goes." No disagreement here.

a. Marrying a Captive Woman: If one is attracted to a woman taken captive in battle he is to take her to his home, allow her one month to grieve her family loss and then to have relations with her thus making her his wife but he may also free (or divorce) her if she does not please him, though he may not mistreat her (21:10-14)