Author Topic: Prayer and Religion in Public Life  (Read 634671 times)

The Scott

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #525 on: November 08, 2018, 04:20:42 PM »
No. Loophole #3004 "While Christians can believe themselves morally superior to non Christians, they are also subject to the sins of the flesh and therefore are expected to sin. However the difference between those covered in the blood of the Lamb, and heathens is, Christians are forgiven for their sins. "

Sheeesh..."Let he who is so painfully and obviously without the intelligence evolution gave a dust bunny cast the first stupid comment".

Yeah...That would be you this time and said comment is quoted above.  ;D

Man of Steel

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #526 on: November 09, 2018, 02:17:22 PM »
No. Loophole #3004 "While Christians can believe themselves morally superior to non Christians, they are also subject to the sins of the flesh and therefore are expected to sin. However the difference between those covered in the blood of the Lamb, and heathens is, Christians are forgiven for their sins. "

Sorry this is incorrect.  Not saying you're incorrect, but that quoted statement is incorrect.

Christians are deemed saints....the righteous....sanctified by Holy Spirit and therefore set apart from the world and all it's carnal desires.

Christ commanded his followers to go forth and sin no more.  

Are we at war with our flesh daily?  Is temptation a constant battle?  You bet, but there certainly isn't an expectation to sin.....the opposite is true.....to seek the will of God and overcome the flesh and be delivered from sin....to hate sin.

We are sanctified in the pursuit of being Christlike.  Christians seek righteousness and hate sin.  

Christ indicated that Christians are to be perfect or complete as the heavenly Father is....to be finished works of righteousness and that's only possible through Christ's salvific work on Calvary's cross....only then are believers made complete.


Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #527 on: November 09, 2018, 03:28:43 PM »
Sorry this is incorrect.  Not saying you're incorrect, but that quoted statement is incorrect.

Christians are deemed saints....the righteous....sanctified by Holy Spirit and therefore set apart from the world and all it's carnal desires.

Christ commanded his followers to go forth and sin no more.  

Are we at war with our flesh daily?  Is temptation a constant battle?  You bet, but there certainly isn't an expectation to sin.....the opposite is true.....to seek the will of God and overcome the flesh and be delivered from sin....to hate sin.

We are sanctified in the pursuit of being Christlike.  Christians seek righteousness and hate sin.  

Christ indicated that Christians are to be perfect or complete as the heavenly Father is....to be finished works of righteousness and that's only possible through Christ's salvific work on Calvary's cross....only then are believers made complete.



Splitting hairs. Can you say with any truth that you will never sin again? Of course not. By default that means you are expected to sin, the difference is, your sins are allegedly paid for by Jesus' sacrifice, mine aren't, So no, I am not wrong. 

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #528 on: November 09, 2018, 03:31:24 PM »
I'm not talking about Christians who believe they are forgiven I'm talking about the atheist false argument that because evil exists or that Christians commit crimes this proves the non existence of God.

Never heard of that atheist argument. There are multitudes of things atheists will say prove the biblical god is fake, that's a new one for me. Though it closely resembles the Christian argument that because an atheist doesn't believe in god, he or she is prone to rape and murder. Had a co worker tell me that with a straight face. Couldn't understand why as a non believer, I wasn't just a moral mess, raping and killing at will since there was no God to hold me accountable. 

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #529 on: November 09, 2018, 03:32:27 PM »
Sheeesh..."Let he who is so painfully and obviously without the intelligence evolution gave a dust bunny cast the first stupid comment".

Yeah...That would be you this time and said comment is quoted above.  ;D


Care to explain why it is in your view stupid, rather than post the nonsense you posted which does nothing but waste peoples time reading?

The Scott

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #530 on: November 09, 2018, 06:27:24 PM »
Care to explain why it is in your view stupid, rather than post the nonsense you posted which does nothing but waste peoples time reading?

I don't think for a minute you are this stupid.  The Nazarene said, "Go and sin no more", not "Go and sin some more".  But you knew that. 

"Nonsense"?!  LOL!  I write.  You and so  many others here merely type.  A chimp can type.  Don't believe me?  The Queeron is a perfect example of just that.  So are many Op Ed pieces puked out by cucktard "journalists".  As I so succinctly said elsewhere to another misguided miscreant, if you want to try and be a man again, go find your nuts.  Even if you have to look in a bag of Peanut M&Ms.

Shit. Who knows, maybe yours are the toy surpise in a box of Cracker Jacks.  Oooooo...Cracker Jacks must be whitey food.  FTN.  And to Chicago with cucktards.



Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #531 on: November 09, 2018, 09:28:35 PM »
I don't think for a minute you are this stupid.  The Nazarene said, "Go and sin no more", not "Go and sin some more".  But you knew that. 

"Nonsense"?!  LOL!  I write.  You and so  many others here merely type.  A chimp can type.  Don't believe me?  The Queeron is a perfect example of just that.  So are many Op Ed pieces puked out by cucktard "journalists".  As I so succinctly said elsewhere to another misguided miscreant, if you want to try and be a man again, go find your nuts.  Even if you have to look in a bag of Peanut M&Ms.

Shit. Who knows, maybe yours are the toy surpise in a box of Cracker Jacks.  Oooooo...Cracker Jacks must be whitey food.  FTN.  And to Chicago with cucktards.




I'll cut through the chaff and focus on the issue at hand. Jesus said a lot of things Christians disregard. Matthew 6:5 is all but ignored. The reality is, Christians are expected to sin. It isn't encouraged, but it is accepted as part of life. If there was an option to live without sin, Jesus wouldn't have had to do what is alleged to have happened. Romans 3:23 backs me up "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"

Humble Narcissist

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #532 on: November 10, 2018, 05:16:12 AM »
Never heard of that atheist argument. There are multitudes of things atheists will say prove the biblical god is fake, that's a new one for me. Though it closely resembles the Christian argument that because an atheist doesn't believe in god, he or she is prone to rape and murder. Had a co worker tell me that with a straight face. Couldn't understand why as a non believer, I wasn't just a moral mess, raping and killing at will since there was no God to hold me accountable. 
That seems to be your argument as you point out the Christian's wrongs as a reason God doesn't exist.

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #533 on: November 12, 2018, 12:30:53 AM »
Sorry this is incorrect.  Not saying you're incorrect, but that quoted statement is incorrect.

Christians are deemed saints....the righteous....sanctified by Holy Spirit and therefore set apart from the world and all it's carnal desires.

Christ commanded his followers to go forth and sin no more.  

Are we at war with our flesh daily?  Is temptation a constant battle?  You bet, but there certainly isn't an expectation to sin.....the opposite is true.....to seek the will of God and overcome the flesh and be delivered from sin....to hate sin.

We are sanctified in the pursuit of being Christlike.  Christians seek righteousness and hate sin.  

Christ indicated that Christians are to be perfect or complete as the heavenly Father is....to be finished works of righteousness and that's only possible through Christ's salvific work on Calvary's cross....only then are believers made complete.



If mere belief (unjustified too, since there is absence of evidence, hence the need for faith!) is all it takes to be sanctified, then sanctity is a meaningless term. Membership in a treehouse club is more valuable; at least treehouses have some standards.

Let’s think about why Christ supposedly died on the cross: because god loved humans so much, that he wanted to see them saved. Great. But saved from what? Himself. ???

The whole “Christ died for your sins” thing is irrational nonsense. God didn’t need to send Jesus. He could have said “aww, shucks, you guys. I love you so much, I’m taking back that thing I said earlier, where I basically doomed you all. Sorry, anger issues. I’m in therapy for it and I’m trying to work on myself.”

As it stands, if we buy the story, God sacrificed himself to appease himself and save us from his wrath. Seems rather circuitous and pointless.

I’ve heard legitimately crazy people make up stories that made no sense and are, somehow, less crazy than core and rather mainstream Christian beliefs.

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #534 on: November 13, 2018, 08:26:27 PM »
The response to your post is about as crazy as your post.

The reason God HAD to sacrifice Jesus is God must follow certain rules. He could not just say "You know what, I apparently made the standard too high for you guys, but I knew I did because I can see the future, so I am going to give you a pass" because he would be in some violation of his own rules.. Never made sense to me. You would think a God could do anything they wanted but apparently this God is hamstrung  by some barbaric  blood sacrifice requirement.

avxo

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #535 on: November 13, 2018, 09:38:41 PM »
The response to your post is about as crazy as your post.

The reason God HAD to sacrifice Jesus is God must follow certain rules. He could not just say "You know what, I apparently made the standard too high for you guys, but I knew I did because I can see the future, so I am going to give you a pass" because he would be in some violation of his own rules.. Never made sense to me. You would think a God could do anything they wanted but apparently this God is hamstrung  by some barbaric  blood sacrifice requirement.

I'm not sure I follow what's being said here?

Humble Narcissist

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #536 on: November 14, 2018, 03:14:38 AM »
The response to your post is about as crazy as your post.

The reason God HAD to sacrifice Jesus is God must follow certain rules. He could not just say "You know what, I apparently made the standard too high for you guys, but I knew I did because I can see the future, so I am going to give you a pass" because he would be in some violation of his own rules.. Never made sense to me. You would think a God could do anything they wanted but apparently this God is hamstrung  by some barbaric  blood sacrifice requirement.
Agreed, the story has too many holes.  I never bought the story that God has to cast you to Hell unless you do x, y and z.  Remember that when the Bible was written people only knew punishment if they were immoral (didn't obey the rules) whereas ethics came out at a later time.  Even if the Christian story is off it doesn't mean that God doesn't exist.

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #537 on: November 14, 2018, 08:57:15 AM »
If mere belief (unjustified too, since there is absence of evidence, hence the need for faith!) is all it takes to be sanctified, then sanctity is a meaningless term. Membership in a treehouse club is more valuable; at least treehouses have some standards.

Let’s think about why Christ supposedly died on the cross: because god loved humans so much, that he wanted to see them saved. Great. But saved from what? Himself. ???

The whole “Christ died for your sins” thing is irrational nonsense. God didn’t need to send Jesus. He could have said “aww, shucks, you guys. I love you so much, I’m taking back that thing I said earlier, where I basically doomed you all. Sorry, anger issues. I’m in therapy for it and I’m trying to work on myself.”

As it stands, if we buy the story, God sacrificed himself to appease himself and save us from his wrath. Seems rather circuitous and pointless.

I’ve heard legitimately crazy people make up stories that made no sense and are, somehow, less crazy than core and rather mainstream Christian beliefs.

Sure there’s evidence for God (you’re replying with evidence), but people just dismiss that evidence out of hand because it doesn't comport with their subjective presuppositions about "what life should be" or “how science is done”.  Ironically, in most cases, these same objectors defy their own scientific requirements for following evidence to a conclusion….when it comes to God they ain’t following nothin LOL.   They dismiss God and thereby dismiss his objective absolutes in favor of their own subjectivity.  God's created humanity self-identifying as their own little gods accountable only to their own subjective standards.  Much like the gender issue.  Sure you can call yourself a woman but your biology, your genetics, clearly indicates you're a man.  In short, calling yourself a transgender woman, a non binary entity, a gender fluid entity or a  toaster doesn't make you any of those.

Still I understand what you're suggesting, but what the argument lacks is recognition of sin, our accountability for that sin and God's righteous justice and judgement.

What are Christians saved from?  God's judgement for our offenses against his law and the eternal separation from him that would follow.  God isn’t saving us from himself….he’s saving us from ourselves so that we may be brought into union with him.  It’s an act of propitiation or atonement on our behalf….an act of love and grace.   Is God needing to appease himself?  Sure, you can put it that way (much like saying “God is magic”…that’s fine too) provided you acknowledge your personal responsibility in that as well, but God needs for nothing.  God is satisfying the demands of his eternal laws put in place for us....laws get broken and justice is required to come after.   Still, God is and always will be just so the punishment will fit the offense.  And our punishment for denying God is separation from him and all that he is….that is hell.  Don’t want no God you don’t get no God.

Saying "so God sets laws and sends himself to die for those that broke those laws is irrational….he should be big enough to just say ‘I love you and all is forgiven’ ".   Does that honestly sound like justice to you?  “Oh you did a bunch of bad crap…..eh, you’re good.”  Do we even function like that in our governments?  We govern ourselves and put standards in place for people to follow.   Sure they’re subjective standards, but we aren’t objective creatures.  Try telling a judge, “I didn’t break any laws because I don’t affirm your law therefore I’m not accountable to it….I’m a free inhabitant.”   Well “free inhabitant” LOL, you goin to jail!  

God sent his son in Jesus Christ to come and live and die as a demonstration for what we lack and what we need.   Aligning ourselves with God’s will is essentially the pursuit of righteousness.  We forgo of our carnal desires and seek his will above our own.  Denying God is denying righteousness and adopting a life of temporary pleasures enjoyed on your terms, but that choice comes with eternal consequences.  Again, God needs for nothing, but we absolutely need him in order to be brought into righteous union with him.

All that said, going back to the original quote, there is no expectation for us to continue in sin.

Dang haven’t type this much in a post on GB in a very long time.  I may not respond for quite some time so please take no offense if you do reply.

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #538 on: November 14, 2018, 02:54:19 PM »
I'm not sure I follow what's being said here?

The the Christian Apologists stock explanation for your question raises more questions than it answers.

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #539 on: November 14, 2018, 02:57:40 PM »
Sure there’s evidence for God (you’re replying with evidence), but people just dismiss that evidence out of hand because it doesn't comport with their subjective presuppositions about "what life should be" or “how science is done”.  Ironically, in most cases, these same objectors defy their own scientific requirements for following evidence to a conclusion….when it comes to God they ain’t following nothin LOL.   They dismiss God and thereby dismiss his objective absolutes in favor of their own subjectivity.  God's created humanity self-identifying as their own little gods accountable only to their own subjective standards.  Much like the gender issue.  Sure you can call yourself a woman but your biology, your genetics, clearly indicates you're a man.  In short, calling yourself a transgender woman, a non binary entity, a gender fluid entity or a  toaster doesn't make you any of those.

Still I understand what you're suggesting, but what the argument lacks is recognition of sin, our accountability for that sin and God's righteous justice and judgement.

What are Christians saved from?  God's judgement for our offenses against his law and the eternal separation from him that would follow.  God isn’t saving us from himself….he’s saving us from ourselves so that we may be brought into union with him.  It’s an act of propitiation or atonement on our behalf….an act of love and grace.   Is God needing to appease himself?  Sure, you can put it that way (much like saying “God is magic”…that’s fine too) provided you acknowledge your personal responsibility in that as well, but God needs for nothing.  God is satisfying the demands of his eternal laws put in place for us....laws get broken and justice is required to come after.   Still, God is and always will be just so the punishment will fit the offense.  And our punishment for denying God is separation from him and all that he is….that is hell.  Don’t want no God you don’t get no God.

Saying "so God sets laws and sends himself to die for those that broke those laws is irrational….he should be big enough to just say ‘I love you and all is forgiven’ ".   Does that honestly sound like justice to you?  “Oh you did a bunch of bad crap…..eh, you’re good.”  Do we even function like that in our governments?  We govern ourselves and put standards in place for people to follow.   Sure they’re subjective standards, but we aren’t objective creatures.  Try telling a judge, “I didn’t break any laws because I don’t affirm your law therefore I’m not accountable to it….I’m a free inhabitant.”   Well “free inhabitant” LOL, you goin to jail!  

God sent his son in Jesus Christ to come and live and die as a demonstration for what we lack and what we need.   Aligning ourselves with God’s will is essentially the pursuit of righteousness.  We forgo of our carnal desires and seek his will above our own.  Denying God is denying righteousness and adopting a life of temporary pleasures enjoyed on your terms, but that choice comes with eternal consequences.  Again, God needs for nothing, but we absolutely need him in order to be brought into righteous union with him.

All that said, going back to the original quote, there is no expectation for us to continue in sin.

Dang haven’t type this much in a post on GB in a very long time.  I may not respond for quite some time so please take no offense if you do reply.


Question. IS it possible for a Christian to live his life without sin? If not, then there is an expectation that they will sin. They may certainly try not to sin, but if you know they will, its expected is it not?

avxo

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #540 on: November 15, 2018, 12:13:53 AM »
Sure there’s evidence for God

Before we get to that, you need to define God.


(you’re replying with evidence)

I'm just pointing out the irrational and absurd foundation of Christianity.


but people just dismiss that evidence out of hand because it doesn't comport with their subjective presuppositions about "what life should be" or “how science is done”.

Can you please point to this "evidence" you speak of?


God's created humanity self-identifying as their own little gods accountable only to their own subjective standards.  Much like the gender issue.  Sure you can call yourself a woman but your biology, your genetics, clearly indicates you're a man.  In short, calling yourself a transgender woman, a non binary entity, a gender fluid entity or a  toaster doesn't make you any of those.

I'm uninterested in examining this topic in depth (diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks and all that) and while I do believe the generics are certainly dispositive vis-à-vis one's biological gender, several studies that utilize functional MRI have highlighted structural differences in the brain of biological males that identify as transgender. See here if interested.



Still I understand what you're suggesting, but what the argument lacks is recognition of sin, our accountability for that sin and God's righteous justice and judgement.

Assuming that the Christian God exists, his justice can't be righteous if he has set a standard for us that is, by his own admission, impossible for us to meet. And if he insists on enforcing that standard, his judgement is suspect.


What are Christians saved from?

The wrath of the being to whom they promise fealty, and the eternal fire and pain he promises in the book you claim contains his eternal and inerrant word?


God's judgement for our offenses against his law and the eternal separation from him that would follow.

Oh boy, there we go with C.S. Lewis' hell-is-living-without-you theory.


God isn’t saving us from himself….he’s saving us from ourselves so that we may be brought into union with him.

No. He is saving you from himself, since he's the one (in your world view) who imposes the punishment. It is in his power (omnipotent as he is) to accept you as you are, warts and all. In fact, it was in his power to make it so you never “fell”, but he didn’t.


It’s an act of propitiation or atonement on our behalf….an act of love and grace.

Love and grace would be to save everyone without preconditions; not threaten with "believe, or else."

If my wife is hanging from the 3rd floor balcony, I'll try and save her; I won't negotiate with her, by saying I'll save her but only if she, first, agrees to make me a steak


Is God needing to appease himself?  Sure, you can put it that way (much like saying “God is magic”…that’s fine too) provided you acknowledge your personal responsibility in that as well, but God needs for nothing.

My personal responsibility in what? Satisfying God's vanity? I don't feel any responsibility to stroke your God's ego.


God is satisfying the demands of his eternal laws put in place for us....laws get broken and justice is required to come after.

It would be both irrational and immoral to pass a law that said "All cats must eat a vegan diet! Any cat caught killing and eating a bird, mouse or other animal will be euthanized." Not only because cats lack the rational capacity to understand, but because our law would be impossible for a cat to follow even if it could understand: cats are obligate carnivores; they must eat meat. It is against their nature to not eat meat.
 
The situation with your God, if the Bible is accurate, is no different. We are told that sin is in our nature; that we cannot meet the requirements of the law that we are being forced to live under. That it is impossible for us because it is against our nature. I submit that punishing us for something that is beyond our control is morally wrong.


Still, God is and always will be just so the punishment will fit the offense.  And our punishment for denying God is separation from him and all that he is….that is hell.

That's a nice bit of apologetics that C. S. Lewis dreamed up: you're not being tortured; just separated from God, which is what you wanted! Let us turn to Mark 9:47-48: "It is better that you enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to be thrown into hell with two eyes, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." I don't know man, sounds very much like torture to me.


Don’t want no God you don’t get no God.

I see Mark's excerpt above didn't do the trick. Let us turn, brothers and sisters, to Matthew 18:8: "And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire."

We aren't just talking about "no God" here. We are talking about eternal fire. Again, sounds very much like torture to me.


Saying "so God sets laws and sends himself to die for those that broke those laws is irrational….he should be big enough to just say ‘I love you and all is forgiven’ ".   Does that honestly sound like justice to you?

The Bible literally says that it impossible for us to live up to the standard that we are being asked to live up to. It doesn't sound like justice to me if I have no choice in the matter.


“Oh you did a bunch of bad crap…..eh, you’re good.”  Do we even function like that in our governments?  We govern ourselves and put standards in place for people to follow.

Yes, we do that. But we put in place standards that people CAN follow. That is to say, we don't pass laws that make breathing illegal. Rather, we pass laws that make the premeditated killing of one human being by another illegal. And, what's more, in our system, in order to violate a law (a criminal law) you must have the requisite mens rea; without that, no crime can be committed.


Sure they’re subjective standards, but we aren’t objective creatures.  Try telling a judge, “I didn’t break any laws because I don’t affirm your law therefore I’m not accountable to it….I’m a free inhabitant.”   Well “free inhabitant” LOL, you goin to jail!

"Judge, I know that running red lights is illegal, and I concede that there is video of me that shows me running the red light at the intersection of First and Main. Your Honor, this is a sworn affidavit by Mr. X attesting to the fact that minutes before this incident, a shipment of nails fell off his truck in the vicinity of the intersection. The nails punctured my vehicle's tires, which resulted in an unexpected loss of control of my vehicle through no fault of my own and prevented me from stopping. I respectfully ask that the Court find me not responsible for violating the statute, and dismiss this ticket."


God sent his son in Jesus Christ to come and live and die as a demonstration for what we lack and what we need.

Are you suggesting that it is possible for a human to be saved on his own merit, without relying on Jesus's sacrifice? Unless you are, Jesus was no demonstration of anything.


Aligning ourselves with God’s will is essentially the pursuit of righteousness.

It's not righteous to punish someone for something that is outside of their control. If it's impossible for us to meet God’s proverbial bar, punishing us for our failure is morally wrong.


We forgo of our carnal desires and seek his will above our own.

At least that’s the theory. But I’ll bet even the holiest man you can think of tried to sneak a quick jerk here and there.


Denying God is denying righteousness and adopting a life of temporary pleasures enjoyed on your terms, but that choice comes with eternal consequences.

If you define God as righteous, I guess that you could stretch denying him into denying righteousness. But there's no objective evidence that is righteous; indeed, several instances in the BIble suggest that he's anything but righteous (Mark 4:11-12).


I may not respond for quite some time so please take no offense if you do reply.

I won't. I know that these sort of exchanges can be very draining. It's 3am here on a rainy night and bed is calling.

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #541 on: November 22, 2018, 04:42:54 PM »
Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789
Thanksgiving Proclamation
[New York, 3 October 1789]
By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-04-02-0091

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #542 on: November 25, 2018, 06:20:06 PM »
Even though this particular example focuses on the technicality of whether the case is a federal or state issue, it is insane that the US tolerates the genital mutilation of children as long as "religion" is involved. Quite interesting also that "prominent" feminist voices are not particularly vocal about this.

Judge dismisses female genital mutilation charges in historic case

In a major blow to the federal government, a judge in Detroit has declared America's female genital mutilation law unconstitutional, thereby dismissing the key charges against two Michigan doctors and six others accused of subjecting at least nine minor girls to the cutting procedure in the nation's first FGM case.

The historic case involves minor girls from Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota, including some who cried, screamed and bled during the procedure and one who was given Valium ground in liquid Tylenol to keep her calm, court records show. The judge's ruling also dismissed charges against three mothers, including two Minnesota women whom prosecutors said tricked their 7 -year-old daughters into thinking they were coming to metro Detroit for a girls' weekend, but instead had their genitals cut at a Livonia clinic as part of a religious procedure.

Nagarwala has long maintained that she committed no crime and that she was charged under a law that slid through Congress without proper vetting:
“The law was never debated on the floor of either chamber of Congress nor was there ever any legislative hearing addressing the justification or need for the federal law. Instead, all that exists is the criminal statute itself,” defense lawyers have argued in court documents, claiming the driving force behind the legislation was one lawmaker's belief that the prohibited conduct was 'repulsive and cruel.' "

But the Constitution demands more than that, the defense has argued, claiming Congress could not have passed a female genital mutilation ban under the Commerce clause because "notably, here, the activity being regulated has absolutely no effect on interstate commerce."

The judge agreed:
"There is nothing commercial or economic about FGM," Friedman writes. "As despicable as this practice may be, it is essentially a criminal assault. ... FGM is not part of a larger market and it has no demonstrated effect on interstate commerce. The commerce clause does not permit Congress to regulate a crime of this nature."

The prosecution disagrees, arguing genital mutilation is an illegal, secretive and dangerous health care service that involves interstate commerce on a number of fronts: text messages are used to arrange the procedure; parents drive their children across state lines to get the procedure; and the doctor uses medical tools in state-licensed clinics to perform the surgeries.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/11/20/female-genital-mutilation-michigan/1991712002/

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #543 on: December 19, 2018, 05:12:35 PM »
Even though this particular example focuses on the technicality of whether the case is a federal or state issue, it is insane that the US tolerates the genital mutilation of children as long as "religion" is involved. Quite interesting also that "prominent" feminist voices are not particularly vocal about this.

Judge dismisses female genital mutilation charges in historic case

In a major blow to the federal government, a judge in Detroit has declared America's female genital mutilation law unconstitutional, thereby dismissing the key charges against two Michigan doctors and six others accused of subjecting at least nine minor girls to the cutting procedure in the nation's first FGM case.

The historic case involves minor girls from Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota, including some who cried, screamed and bled during the procedure and one who was given Valium ground in liquid Tylenol to keep her calm, court records show. The judge's ruling also dismissed charges against three mothers, including two Minnesota women whom prosecutors said tricked their 7 -year-old daughters into thinking they were coming to metro Detroit for a girls' weekend, but instead had their genitals cut at a Livonia clinic as part of a religious procedure.

Nagarwala has long maintained that she committed no crime and that she was charged under a law that slid through Congress without proper vetting:
“The law was never debated on the floor of either chamber of Congress nor was there ever any legislative hearing addressing the justification or need for the federal law. Instead, all that exists is the criminal statute itself,” defense lawyers have argued in court documents, claiming the driving force behind the legislation was one lawmaker's belief that the prohibited conduct was 'repulsive and cruel.' "

But the Constitution demands more than that, the defense has argued, claiming Congress could not have passed a female genital mutilation ban under the Commerce clause because "notably, here, the activity being regulated has absolutely no effect on interstate commerce."

The judge agreed:
"There is nothing commercial or economic about FGM," Friedman writes. "As despicable as this practice may be, it is essentially a criminal assault. ... FGM is not part of a larger market and it has no demonstrated effect on interstate commerce. The commerce clause does not permit Congress to regulate a crime of this nature."

The prosecution disagrees, arguing genital mutilation is an illegal, secretive and dangerous health care service that involves interstate commerce on a number of fronts: text messages are used to arrange the procedure; parents drive their children across state lines to get the procedure; and the doctor uses medical tools in state-licensed clinics to perform the surgeries.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/11/20/female-genital-mutilation-michigan/1991712002/

Its really just a matter of extremes. There will come a time when people will stop pretending doing things because they believe  this invisible god demands it is ok or normal. Personally, if someone wants to cut off their hand because they think God said to, or handle a rattlesnake because of some added scripture that is fine.. it's when they force children and others into following their lunacy, it should be outlawed.

Skeletor

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #544 on: December 20, 2018, 10:41:55 PM »
And another one...

The shocking details of his crimes revealed, Faucher gets 25 years: ‘I was one really sick puppy’

Quote
In total, Faucher was charged with 24 crimes: 21 counts of felony sexual exploitation of a child, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance (LSD) and two counts of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance (marijuana and ecstasy). He pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of sexually exploitative material, two counts of possession of sexually exploitative materials and one count of drug possession.

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article223389105.html

Skeletor

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #545 on: January 03, 2019, 05:41:24 PM »
Members of a Jewish sect based in Guatemala kidnapping children in the US...

Jewish sect members accused of kidnapping children in New York

Four members of a Jewish sect have been charged with kidnapping a young brother and sister in New York state.

Prosecutors say the men belong to the ultra-Orthodox Lev Tahor group, which is based in Guatemala. They are accused of abducting a 14-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother from the village of Woodridge, which is north of New York City.

The men planned to take the pair back to Guatemala after their mother fled the sect six weeks earlier. The woman had reportedly feared for her children's safety and felt the group, which was founded by her father, was becoming more extreme under the leadership of her brother. Its teachings reportedly include that women must be veiled from head to toe in black tunics.

The four men, aged between 20 and 45, are accused of kidnapping the siblings from their home on 8 December and taking them to a small airport near the city of Scranton in Pennsylvania. They were then flown to Mexico, but were located in the the town of Tenango del Aire on Friday morning and have since been reunited with their mother in Woodridge.

Three of the suspects, Nachman Helbrans, Mayer Rosner and Jacob Rosner, were deported from Mexico on Thursday and arrested on their arrival in the US. The fourth suspect, Aron Rosner, was arrested by the FBI in Brooklyn on 23 December and is accused of providing financial support to the group. All of the men have been charged with one count of kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46708691

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #546 on: January 15, 2019, 03:26:08 PM »
Saints and Eagles Players Kneel and Pray Together Before NFL Playoff Game
By Michael Morris | January 14, 2019


Outspoken Christians TE Benjamin Watson and Nick Foles join Saints and Eagles teammates in NFL Playoffs Divisional round to kneel in prayer on the field. (Screenshot)

In the NFL Playoffs Divisional round matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles, Saints Tight End Benjamin Watson, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, and numerous other players from both squads, knelt, linked arms and prayed together on the field.

Saints TE Watson and Eagles backup QB Foles are both outspoken Christians.

In a post on his Facebook page, Benjamin Watson said about his brothers from Philly, “I have a great amount of respect for our brothers in Philly. They have been steadfast in faith and their influence has gone far beyond the field. #MeetUsAtThe50”

Watson also included Scripture in the post:

“I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Psalms 16:8

The Saints would go on to win the Divisional round matchup between the Saints and the Eagles by a score of 20-14.

TE Watson had one reception for 12 yards on the game, while QB Nick Foles went 18/31 for 201 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, according to the New Orleans Saints website.

https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-morris/benjamin-watson-saints-and-eagles-players-kneel-pray-together-nfl-divisional

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #547 on: January 15, 2019, 08:14:59 PM »
And?

The Scott

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #548 on: January 15, 2019, 08:28:17 PM »
And?

And go fuck your fake LEO self.   There's your "and".   You're like Wiggs only twice as smart.  Of course that's still dumber than a box of cat shit.

Agnostic007

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Re: Prayer and Religion in Public Life
« Reply #549 on: January 15, 2019, 08:33:01 PM »
And go fuck your fake LEO self.   There's your "and".   You're like Wiggs only twice as smart.  Of course that's still dumber than a box of cat shit.

The Scott is in rare form tonight  :)