An Evangelical Biblical Literalist believes that the Bible is literally true. What does this mean? It means that there is ONE correct interpretation of the Bible, the so-called 'literal' interpretation. The vast array of Christian belief systems show us that the Bible is interpreted in many ways. So, even if the Bible were the literal word of God, how could one know which of the belief systems was God's system? Is it possible to objectively study the Bible at all?
Simply given the number of translations over time from the 'first' Bible, I would argue that such objectivity is impossible. The abstraction involved in language generally, and translating between languages specifically, proves that, if anything, the bible can only be a guide to the word of God.
I didnt see any mention of Startide Rising or The Uplift War by David Brin, so I had to mention them. They are both epic novels in (the same) universe - tangible, fascinating, beautiful. Much more than simple action or mind-blowing techonologies...Brin can craft a story on many more levels. "Comet" by Sagan is a wonderful read...much better than the movie, as books always are. Also, while Im on the subject, I highly recommend other (nonfiction) books by Sagan...such as "Dragons of Eden", "Cosmos", and "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark".
There are a large number of books that include textual erotica, and those have been in libraries for many years. So then, is the issue erotic photos, videos, etc in libraries - specificially one library in Holland, MI? Clearly there is more to it than that. The issue here is not about one legal battleground. Another small town with a library issue such as this could have been picked to have the same effect. The AFA wants to set a precedent here, win a small battle in the larger "war on pornography". The opposition wants their freedom upheld. The argument could be made that, if the AFA wins this small battle and then the larger one, what will be censored next? Will information on abortion, sex, or homosexuality be blocked from public-computer access too? Slashdot has posted many issues relating to the Inernet and freedom of speech in the past and this falls into that category. You may not care about Holland, Michigan, but because cases like this one are happening around the US, you will have to deal with this issue in your town soon enough.
The history of the US is laden with Puritanism. The rest of the world was reminded of this with the "Clinton Sex Scandal" this past year...I can still imagine reports entitled "The Scandal: Day 146", or "Sex in the White House: Monica Speaks!". Sheesh! While the US puts up this Puritan exterior, people here are just as interested in sex as anyone else in the world. Chatting on AOL, anonymously as you would never talk in person, is quite liberating for people here. It will certainly continue, and AOL will defend it as a "freedom" issue until the cows come home. Still, disgusting chat rooms about child pornography and such exist in abundance. Of course, AOL has had issues with other kinds of chats...specificially, those relating to AOL security issues. As the son of an AOLer, it's interesting to see that guides will kick people out of rooms for using "bad words", while other more hardcore things are going on unabated. Talk about hypocrisy.
cnet had an interesting report on "how nanotechnology will change the world", here is the address: http://home.cnet.com/specialreports/0-6014-7-818 759.html?2011
Science fiction has once again entered the realm of practicality...and humans have one more way of destroying themselves or helping themselves immensely.
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An Evangelical Biblical Literalist believes that the Bible is literally true. What does this mean? It means that there is ONE correct interpretation of the Bible, the so-called 'literal' interpretation. The vast array of Christian belief systems show us that the Bible is interpreted in many ways. So, even if the Bible were the literal word of God, how could one know which of the belief systems was God's system? Is it possible to objectively study the Bible at all? Simply given the number of translations over time from the 'first' Bible, I would argue that such objectivity is impossible. The abstraction involved in language generally, and translating between languages specifically, proves that, if anything, the bible can only be a guide to the word of God.
I didnt see any mention of Startide Rising or The Uplift War by David Brin, so I had to mention them. They are both epic novels in (the same) universe - tangible, fascinating, beautiful. Much more than simple action or mind-blowing techonologies...Brin can craft a story on many more levels.
"Comet" by Sagan is a wonderful read...much better than the movie, as books always are. Also, while Im on the subject, I highly recommend other (nonfiction) books by Sagan...such as "Dragons of Eden", "Cosmos", and "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark".
There are a large number of books that include textual erotica, and those have been in libraries for many years. So then, is the issue erotic photos, videos, etc in libraries - specificially one library in Holland, MI?
Clearly there is more to it than that. The issue here is not about one legal battleground. Another small town with a library issue such as this could have been picked to have the same effect. The AFA wants to set a precedent here, win a small battle in the larger "war on pornography". The opposition wants their freedom upheld. The argument could be made that, if the AFA wins this small battle and then the larger one, what will be censored next? Will information on abortion, sex, or homosexuality be blocked from public-computer access too?
Slashdot has posted many issues relating to the Inernet and freedom of speech in the past and this falls into that category.
You may not care about Holland, Michigan, but because cases like this one are happening around the US, you will have to deal with this issue in your town soon enough.
The history of the US is laden with Puritanism. The rest of the world was reminded of this with the "Clinton Sex Scandal" this past year...I can still imagine reports entitled "The Scandal: Day 146", or "Sex in the White House: Monica Speaks!". Sheesh! While the US puts up this Puritan exterior, people here are just as interested in sex as anyone else in the world.
Chatting on AOL, anonymously as you would never talk in person, is quite liberating for people here. It will certainly continue, and AOL will defend it as a "freedom" issue until the cows come home. Still, disgusting chat rooms about child pornography and such exist in abundance. Of course, AOL has had issues with other kinds of chats...specificially, those relating to AOL security issues. As the son of an AOLer, it's interesting to see that guides will kick people out of rooms for using "bad words", while other more hardcore things are going on unabated. Talk about hypocrisy.
cnet had an interesting report on "how nanotechnology will change the world", here is the address:8 759.html?2011
http://home.cnet.com/specialreports/0-6014-7-81
Science fiction has once again entered the realm of practicality...and humans have one more way of destroying themselves or helping themselves immensely.