Does Bush's religious faith inappropriately dictatate policy

Aren't you supposed to be in church, dad?

Happy Easter to you as well, PDid.

Went there did that, know what I found out?



The tomb was empty.


How cool is that?

Easter is upon us once again. Spring has sprung, and all the little girls will be out in their new Easter outfits heading for church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. I haven't been to church for awhile, so my understanding of the Easter protocols may be a little rusty.

Anyway, on Easter Jesus comes out of the ground. Then the preacher tells us if Jesus saw his shadow. If Jesus sees his shadow, then we all burn in hell for six weeks. (It's generally not much of a surprise; the answer is almost always "YES".)

Then we kill and eat Jesus. This sounds bad, but it's okay: he likes it. "Take, eat; this is my body." It's some kind of masochistic thing. Only you just eat a little bit of him, 'cause he has to last so you can eat a little of him each Sunday until he rises again next Easter. Hey, it's better than killing the cute, fluffy little Easter bunny who brings you eggs and candy and pretty pink bonnets.

Exactly who kills Jesus seems to be an open question. It used to be that the Jews killed Jesus. Christians like Jews now, however, so somebody else has to kill The Savior. Saddam Hussein was going to carve the turkey, but he's busy roasting in hell now. Kinky Friedman thinks it was Santa Claus. Others blame the Palestinians. Personally, I think it should be the North Koreans.

You never get filled up on Jesus though, so then everybody goes to Grandma's for a nice ham and some of those Easter eggs and maybe a few Peeps. It's all good.

Then it's Monday again, so we all forget about this storybook crap and go back to work and reality. Fortunately we have more sense than to really believe all of our mythology.

This is as opposed to some other people around the world--many Muslims, for example--who really take their own brands of foolishness to heart. This causes no end of grief for them and the rest of us. The world would be so much more pleasant to live in if they would just learn the joys of Jesus, Santa Claus and Easter bunnies.

PDiddie
It's fire and brimstone for you.

PDiddie -- And I wondered what made me a skeptic!!

Au -- the fire and brimstone go away on Monday morning, too. So it's okay.

Surely we would be remiss to let slip the birthday this past week of one of our greatest Founding Fathers.

On April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the 3rd US President (1801-09).

"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
---Thomas Jefferson

Speaking of tribunals, PDiddie, have you seen the piece in the NYTimes about Bush curtailing the role of the judiciary in something he signed last week -- which, of course, slipped by... First the people, then Congress, now the Judiciary, and next...

Perhaps a better question is does inappropriate belittling of anothers faith somehow make the mocker feel more important?

I guess it does.

I prefer liquid soap, usually Calgon. It doesn't leave the filmy scum on the mirror.

Now, now, dad...turn the other cheek...

Remember, PDid, us Christians aren't perfect, we are just forgiven.

Try it, it isn't so bad.


And, of course, it beats being damned to hell for eternity.....

I don't agree with Max about almost anything, and truth be told, I'm probably more a "failed Christian" than a "Christian".
But do you (diddie et al) really have to show your disdain for religion every chance you get? Just as you doubtless would want us to keep professions of our faith to ourselves, couldn't you keep your bile toward it to yourself?

I mean, you take something very important and sacred to some people, and put it on the same level as a frikkin' "knock-knock" joke. How do you expect anyone to not take that personally? How do you think that adds anything to any debate or discussion?

snood:

How about a Valium? Prozac? Nitrous oxide?

(Listen, man, love ya like a brother, but **** ya if ya can't take a joke, okay?)

Here's some more Godless humor for those of you unafraid of the lightning bolt headed my way:

God would like to thank you for your belief and patronage.

In order to better serve your needs, The Almighty asks that you take a few moments to answer the following questions:

God's Customer Service Questionnaire

in a society so totally dominated by christians intent on disparaging any and all other beliefs it can be considered likely that any response in backlash will be taken with severe animosity. when no respect is given to others, none can be expected back in turn.

dys wrote:

I disagree with you frequently, now I know why.

We don't even live in the same society.

I know nothing of the one to which you refer.

Snood: As I have stated previously, we are a lot more alike than you realize!!

Well spoken, by the way.

dys: Upon further reflection, I have come to an epiphany of sorts as to the gist of your's and other's queasiness and, let's face it, utter REVULSION towards "Christians".

Those examples you cite so frequently are incidences where, what I like to call "demichristians" (small "c") are using God's name for something far less than I believe he intended.

True Christians (large "C"), those who remain in the word and leave matters such as judging others where it belongs, firmly in God's hands, are people with whom you would probably get along with quite well.

You probably wouldn't even mind your children marrying one!

More often than not, the events that you and other's cite as "PROOF THAT CHRISTIANITY IS A BAD THING" speaks nothing about true Christianity, but rather at a "demichristian's" failed misunderstanding of the teachings of Christ.

Don't feel bad, most "Christians" have a hard time with this concept as well.

Dad, you may not notice it or perhaps gloss over it but the rather constant barrage of the likes of Falwell-Dobson-Graham and others that are given on the media and in our society is hate, be it against jews or muslims or just plain ole savages it is still a message of hate and intolerance. This message is so pervasive in our society that it is almost impossible to ignore.

I agree it is wrong to disparage any particular religion. I am probably as guilty as the rest and will no longer indulge in the sport and hope that the rest will follow suite.
End of sermon. Thank You.

Of Falwell and Dobson I would agree, but Graham?!?

Hmmm, of that I would need some examples.

But, no matter.

It is precisely when they are in their "judgemental vein" that they leave their support of true Christianity behind.

"Judge not lest ye be judged" can't get any plainer.

I agree, it is often the demichristians and their foibles that give Christianity a bad name, but the truth and love that is the teaching of Christ will alway win out.

C.S. Lewis said it best in his work, Mere Christianity that we must all make a choice: Jesus was either a liar who conned everyone into believing he was the Son of God, a lunatic who believed he was God, or the Lord.

I have chosen the latter.

maxsdadeo
Not being of the Christian faith I would ask. Did Jesus claim to be the son of God or was his entreaty" Father they know not what they do" Just a statement reflecting that we all are children of God?