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If "Nuns on the Run" is your point of reference I can understand why you might be confused.

The basic doctrines of orthodox (small "o") Christianity are derived from the Bible and represented in two creeds nearly two thousand years old: the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed. Those are still commonly taught and recited today, just as the teachings from the Bible have been in those many thousands of churches. There are churches that go off the rails, or teach false things, but that generally becomes apparent from studying the Bible.

Rather than believing random nonsense or the results of zany antics, faith in God is more of matter of believing God is who He says He is, will do what He says He will do, and obeying even when you don't see the reason or understand why. There are some things you'll never know in this life, and others will be apparently only years later.

You'll gain more insight listening here than from "Nuns on the Run."

I did not say that there was a law, I said that the presiding popular opinion seems to be that pastors should be forced to marry homosexual couples. As an example...example the 2nd

Again: not talking about law, talking about opinion and what the loudest voices are shouting for.

The Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church spent $19,000 last year for a Microsoft Exchange email system, which could easily have been done in OSS (Linux, Postfix, SquirrelMail and Mailman) for a grand total of $0.00, using a system which would have been otherwise obsolete for use as a desktop. Guess I need to write a sermon on OSS and social consciousness. At least I know at the non-profit where I work, Illinois Institute of Technology's Center for Professional Development, has all open-source production servers--at least all the ones I am responsible for!

Fixed link for UMC's views on the environment.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Bush might go to a Methodist church, but his beliefs are much more in line with the Southern Baptist church than the Methodist church.

UMC on:
Environment
Abortion
End of life care
Gay rights
Healthcare and contraception
Unions
Separation of Church and State
Freedom of Information
The Death Penalty

Bush can call himself a Methodist all he wants, but he sure doesn't act like one to me. His beliefs on the subjects above are much closer to that of Southern Baptists.

In fact, most "mainline" Protestant denominations tend to hold social beliefs that would be considered moderately liberal. American Catholic beliefs follow similar lines. Which makes me wonder why the Administration speaks as if all Christians are on their side.

Phil Plait's page linked to the Skeptic's Dictionary, which in turn linked to this cool site:

Miracles of Islam:
* Does this tomato carry a message from God?
* Second Miracle Tomato
* Miracle stone
* Name of 'Allah' on eggs and beans
* Miracle Melon
* Holy Message on Eggshell

This is strangely comforting to me, as a Christian myself. I had thought that visions of Christ in pond scum and the Virgin Mary on tortillas were God's way of helping us laugh at ourselves, but I wondered why He would have everyone else giggling as well. Turn out He's being a divine Prankster to the rest of his children as well.

As for us Methodists, I don't think we tend to make a big deal about religious signs in fruit, stones, and tortillas. Perhaps this is due in part to the Protestant reluctance to worship iconic figures. Note that at your local Baptist or Methodist church, the cross is empty... symbolically, that's an important distinction from our Catholic brethren.

But if that tortilla is what it takes to strengthen your faith... "God works in mysterious ways," indeed.

I'm pretty sure the sexual charges weren't deemed "false" -- I want to say he plead out on them, but I'm not certain.