Jim,

>snip<
>>
>>I do think that DD-bashing has been a bit unfair here, it take a brave person to support institutions like religion these days and it's much easier to criticise when you don't have to offer any alternative, but the fact is that churches will outlive all of us no matter how much we rage. And our children or grandchildren will turn back to the principles offered by religion and criticise us for our materialism. Serve us right.
>
>Well DD doesn't really support "institutions" like religion, does he?... and that is what makes it difficult to 'discuss' some of these things with him. There's no way to know where he's really coming 'from'. I have finally concluded that he is coming from his own study and interpretation of the Bible. Yet his opinions of things like liberals or lawyers or Islam or a host of other things continue to confuse me.
>I am quite sure of one thing, and that is that Doug takes his religion very seriously and takes the Good Book literally (by his interpretation). So he is doing what he is called upon to do when he defends his religion so aggressively.

Thank you.. I think... <bg>

You can discuss these things with me all you'd like Jim. All I'm trying to do is point out the difference between religion and relationship.

I think that religions all want to make man better and that Christianity wants to make man worse. Why? Only the sick need a physician. Only those who see etheir tremendous spiritual needs will go to God rather than continuing to delude themselves that they can somehow fix themselves.

Jesus said, "Blessed (Oh, how happy!) are the poor in spirit."

Why? These folks go to God.

Religions always place God just outside of the reach of man and use that falsehoods as a means of control and power. Christianity says that God so loved man that he allowed Himself to become a man and die for man. Toucheable, and touching us at our level so we can have a way to relate and thereby providing us an opportunity to "connect". Grace says "You cannot but God will", whereas religious system all seem to want to place a burden on you. "Just pray a little more, give a little more..", but you never get there or are good enough - so you pray a little more and give a little more and at sometime you 'wake up', turn cynical and throw out the baby with the bathwater (so to speak). God says, "You cannot, but I have and I will. Will you let me?"

You can know exactly "where I'm coming from" if you want..... <g>

Let God love you. <s>

As far as my opinions on things liberal, conservative, etc... It's really no mystery. Apply the concept of love. Let's think about the genreal notion of social responsibility. Love compells one to help his fellow man (often called liberalism) while at the same time knowing that the absolute best way to help one's fellow man is to teach him how to take care of himself (conservatism). Love also compells me to want to forgive the offender on one hand and yet, for the sake of my family, lovved ones and community, also hold the offender responsible for their offense. Liberals without a brain are as equally odious as Conservatives without a heart. <g> That's why the Libs went ballistic over the concept "Compassionate Conservative". Conservatism without compassion is death just as much as compassion (liberalism) without a brain is. You need both IMO.

I think capitalism is better than communism but I also think capitalism has many many evils equal to or greater than communism. It's just that given a clear understanding of man's true nature capitalism is a bette r'fit' - as long as you hve that clear understanding... <g>

Most people, Jim, haven't taken the time to "connect the dots", so to speak. While I'm certainly no expert I do think I've studied this more than most. The whole notion of the "wholly integrated human being" or what used to be called "The Renassaince Man" is kind of the direction I'm coming from. I think that man should be "whole", from the inside out. Most are not. Most live in a self-inflicted fog.

Look... Without you telling anyone the details I can guarantee you that deep deep inside of you there are fears that not even your spouse knows about. The Bible says that "perfect love casts out all fear" and I have found that to be true, though I still have many left. <s>

Love exposes but does not condemn. Love sees but does not condemn.