I pretty much agree with you on your points, it's just the methodology used by the pastor is...questionable at best.
There's a difference in being provocative and being idiotic. I don't see Muslims running to Christianity because someone burned a stack of Korans - more than likely they'll use it as an excuse to attack other Christians.
I WOULD ignore him, except the media has picked this up and run with it and about all we have seen is the religious left-of-center reaction. Trust me, those of us who are conservative aren't happy with it, either.
That's a MASSIVE overstatement of fundamentalist Christianity, even if you're using a narrow definition of "fundamentalist." The Koran-burners may incite violence, but aren't doing any directly themselves.
Historically, it MAY be a wash with the Muslims (who didn't exactly spread their message peacefully), and I could say the same thing about atheistic communism (Stalin and Mao) or paganistic/atheistic Naziism (Hitler).
Of course, your first statement can be viewed as overstated itself...
For those of us who are a bit more conservative in our Christianity (many here may call me a fundie - the pastor burning the books would probably call me a lefty, so there you go...), this book burning issue is sad not because of the intolerance and idiocy that it shows, but because it serves no Gospel purpose. It will push Muslims away from Christianity (as well as Western values in general - many non-western Muslims link nationality and religion together). It does nothing to fulfill the Great Commission - the idea that Christ commanded us to go into the world and preach the Gospel (man is a sinner in need of a Saviour, provided by Christ's death on the Cross).
It just does the opposite.
Bad use of Fahrenheit 451. That was about preventing education of the masses, not making a religious or nationalistic statement. They're burning just the Koran, not any books they can get their hands on.
I'm speculating on BP right now. It's at around $38/share, went down as low as about $35. It WAS in the 60s under the current price of oil. If/when they get past this, it's a good stock play.
Then again, I would have to care about the uber-wealthy. Honestly, if I manage to live a decent middle-class life, what do I care how much money they make, even if it's off of me? They REALLY don't intrude all that much on any freedoms I have - I can still go, do, and say pretty much anything I want in this country, and the most anyone else can do is complain.
We'd just have different problems if they all went away in any case; and, in America at least, if you really do work hard and hold down a decent job life really isn't going to be all that bad without a major health malady.
Sorry, link a bit drawn out.
Google "Democrat astroturfing" and you'll get plenty of results as well.
There's plenty of poorer people who vote Dem who can't exactly afford professional signs.
I've seen more instances of astroturfing for the Dems - here in Central GA, there have been several instances of people being paid to show up and hold signs at Dem rallies.
Which are usually pre-printed beforehand.
Tea Party signs seem to more often be handwritten.
That's a rather generous use of the word "racist."
I honestly think you could be wrong here. It's not an issue of race AT ALL - it's an issue of ingrained culture. We're seeing it in Iraq, in particular, as well as in Russia. Adaptation to freedom DOESN'T happen "overnight." There's cultural issues to work through, issues that are ingrained into people for GENERATIONS. I'm not saying it can't - or shouldn't - be tried, just that it's not going to be as easy as you're making out.
You're trying to be funny, but at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, they learn how to build furniture - with unmodified power tools. No accidents, and some really nice pieces. Has been done for YEARS.
Which is why society - and mankind - is so screwed up. We live on lies - small, supposedly meaningless lies - instead of living and speaking the truth.
From my Christian perspective, God, being Truth inherent, all lies - of whatever level or motivation - are evil. If He exists, than anything that is not True goes against His nature; and if He stated otherwise...then it wouldn't be a lie.
Of course, if He doesn't exist, then truth and lies and hurting or not hurting people doesn't matter.
I know that Christianity is often anathema around here at times, but I can't sit idly by when the nature of truth is challenged, particularly in the name of "not hurting someone." Yeah, we all lie a little every day...but where does that "not harming people" standard stop so that we tell the truth - which may hurt - and a little temporary harm leads to long-term healing?
Any truth is hard...which is why society rejects it so often.
I'm not saying that doesn't occur. It just doesn't disprove my point.
You appear to be equating harmful with evil, which isn't always necessarily the case, either. More evil is done because we don't want to hurt someone than otherwise.
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I pretty much agree with you on your points, it's just the methodology used by the pastor is...questionable at best.
There's a difference in being provocative and being idiotic. I don't see Muslims running to Christianity because someone burned a stack of Korans - more than likely they'll use it as an excuse to attack other Christians.
I WOULD ignore him, except the media has picked this up and run with it and about all we have seen is the religious left-of-center reaction. Trust me, those of us who are conservative aren't happy with it, either.
I'm trying to figure out exactly HOW he believes that this is going to convince Muslims to become Christians...
That's a MASSIVE overstatement of fundamentalist Christianity, even if you're using a narrow definition of "fundamentalist." The Koran-burners may incite violence, but aren't doing any directly themselves.
Historically, it MAY be a wash with the Muslims (who didn't exactly spread their message peacefully), and I could say the same thing about atheistic communism (Stalin and Mao) or paganistic/atheistic Naziism (Hitler).
Of course, your first statement can be viewed as overstated itself...
True enough, I thought about jumping in way too late. BP is on its way back, so I still should make some money.
For those of us who are a bit more conservative in our Christianity (many here may call me a fundie - the pastor burning the books would probably call me a lefty, so there you go...), this book burning issue is sad not because of the intolerance and idiocy that it shows, but because it serves no Gospel purpose. It will push Muslims away from Christianity (as well as Western values in general - many non-western Muslims link nationality and religion together). It does nothing to fulfill the Great Commission - the idea that Christ commanded us to go into the world and preach the Gospel (man is a sinner in need of a Saviour, provided by Christ's death on the Cross). It just does the opposite.
Bad use of Fahrenheit 451. That was about preventing education of the masses, not making a religious or nationalistic statement. They're burning just the Koran, not any books they can get their hands on.
You're the first I've seen making any reference to "intimidation," which is entirely subjective. How are they being intimidating?
I'm speculating on BP right now. It's at around $38/share, went down as low as about $35. It WAS in the 60s under the current price of oil. If/when they get past this, it's a good stock play.
IOW, Check your vector, Victor.
Then again, I would have to care about the uber-wealthy. Honestly, if I manage to live a decent middle-class life, what do I care how much money they make, even if it's off of me? They REALLY don't intrude all that much on any freedoms I have - I can still go, do, and say pretty much anything I want in this country, and the most anyone else can do is complain.
We'd just have different problems if they all went away in any case; and, in America at least, if you really do work hard and hold down a decent job life really isn't going to be all that bad without a major health malady.
Sorry, link a bit drawn out. Google "Democrat astroturfing" and you'll get plenty of results as well. There's plenty of poorer people who vote Dem who can't exactly afford professional signs.
http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Want+to+know+how+to+really+astroturf+a+movement%3F+Just+ask+Democrat+money+men+Craig+Varoga+and+George+Rakis++|+Washington+Examiner+&expire=&urlID=421168677&fb=Y&url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Want-to-know-how-to-really-astroturf-a-movement-Just-ask-Democrat-money-man-84860827.html&partnerID=422054&cid=84860827
I've seen more instances of astroturfing for the Dems - here in Central GA, there have been several instances of people being paid to show up and hold signs at Dem rallies. Which are usually pre-printed beforehand. Tea Party signs seem to more often be handwritten.
That's a rather generous use of the word "racist."
I honestly think you could be wrong here. It's not an issue of race AT ALL - it's an issue of ingrained culture. We're seeing it in Iraq, in particular, as well as in Russia. Adaptation to freedom DOESN'T happen "overnight." There's cultural issues to work through, issues that are ingrained into people for GENERATIONS. I'm not saying it can't - or shouldn't - be tried, just that it's not going to be as easy as you're making out.
For those of you who believe that our rights are somehow egregiously eroded in the US, I give you China.
If freedom of speech is prohibited in the US, I haven't seen it.
The Supreme Court uses those letters because they expound on what the written law is supposed to mean by its author.
You abduct...aliens?
Did he see Farrakhan up there as well?
The VIC-20 had some personal-comp type programs - calculator, accounting, VERY basic spreadsheet apps, stuff like that.
You're trying to be funny, but at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, they learn how to build furniture - with unmodified power tools. No accidents, and some really nice pieces. Has been done for YEARS.
Aren't solar panels produced through highly toxic methods?
Which is why society - and mankind - is so screwed up. We live on lies - small, supposedly meaningless lies - instead of living and speaking the truth.
What is "good" or "bad?" How are those defined?
From my Christian perspective, God, being Truth inherent, all lies - of whatever level or motivation - are evil. If He exists, than anything that is not True goes against His nature; and if He stated otherwise...then it wouldn't be a lie.
Of course, if He doesn't exist, then truth and lies and hurting or not hurting people doesn't matter.
I know that Christianity is often anathema around here at times, but I can't sit idly by when the nature of truth is challenged, particularly in the name of "not hurting someone." Yeah, we all lie a little every day...but where does that "not harming people" standard stop so that we tell the truth - which may hurt - and a little temporary harm leads to long-term healing?
Any truth is hard...which is why society rejects it so often.
I'm not saying that doesn't occur. It just doesn't disprove my point.
You appear to be equating harmful with evil, which isn't always necessarily the case, either. More evil is done because we don't want to hurt someone than otherwise.