IIRC - 3.51 was because MS delibrately engineering Office (95?) to only run on Win95. (It should have been able to run on Win3.1 with 32bit extensions). So of course, as NT was a current product, it had to be updated - but the full Explorer interface NT4 wasn't ready.
Who gives a hoot if it's propaganda. At last people in the US are getting to see a counterweight piece of propaganda to FOX News etc. (Which as someone in Europe - I find either just plain scary, or hilariously outrageous!)
As far as I can make out, it's explaining perfectly why the world is turning against the US. It's a big wakeup call to those responsible for Bush and his right-wing psychos. The voters of the USA.
If they screw up come September, I guarantee you, even my country, Ireland, will host few friends of America (not the same thing as Americans, but the worse things get, the more the distinction will blur). It's debatable as to whether you could say the US already has few friends in Ireland. Hello??? That should be a wake-up call!
There's a desktop, pretty pictures, and the same old apps.
We're talking, an end-user, accidentally opening the command prompt (or "running DOS" as they know it) and happening to choose to type "fdisk/mbr". (or whatever)
Incidentally, I added Linux to a multiboot system. It renumbered my partitions so that when I put back NTs loader, it wouldn't go. Man it was pretty simple to fix (I think I just edited boot.ini in the end with the new numbers), but very hard to pinpoint! Grrr.
Windows 95 = Windows 4.00.950 on MSDOS 7 Windows 98 = Windows 4.10.1998 on MSDOS 7 Windows 2000 = Windows NT 5.00.2195 For completeness... Windows XP = Windows NT 5.1.2600
Grrr... And there was me revelling in the delights of Firefox 0.9. Although I'm not as impressed with Tbird. There's no themes on the new upload site and the old ones I can't get to install. (Oh I can go through the motions, it even shows the added theme in the theme mangler briefly as if it is installing it)
Mind you, I should content myself. I'm using goodness knows what res. with two monitors. Mwah hah hah hah. Tbird and Firefox displayed at once.
Well, it's Windows. So I went with uninstalling it. Admittedly, in Win2K/XP world I am slightly less cynical, I didn't reboot after uninstall or install.
Voila, it seems to work! Much nicer than the Firefox install - yes, muck around with the profile directories, install the Old Extension viewer Extension. Extensions generally seem a bit tricky, but this new mangler (sorry, manager) will hopefully solve problems.
Here's something that bugs me though, I used Eudora for a long while - I have many old mails saved. Importing them into Thunderbird hasn't been a roaring success. The attachments for one thing won't transfer (Eudora keeps them in a seperate directory). I'm sort of nervous about where Tbird keeps the attachments, if I export the mail / import into another app if Tbird proj goes TU, will I still have everything. OK, I guess just like Eudora, I keep an old version of the App, but still - how easy is it to import Tbird mail, attachments and all.
I too had heard about this before - not sure where, possibly in history class in school actually!!!
I hadn't heard about the casualties before.
Until the US govt. starts setting up a national firewall like China, there's not much excuse for people not getting to the bottom of news stories. There's all sides available on the Net, and quite often the original source! Hey, I mean, even Satellite TV is like this (and is presumably less blockable unless Satellite dishes or pointing them in certain directions is banned). During the Iraq war I had my domestic Irish anti-war bias TV, the balanced but not always comprehensive BBC, the scary channel (FOX News) and I could even switch to Al-Arabiya (and Al-jazeera at that time) on Sky Digital for the reports being rebroadcast on Sky News and others! Ominously, one can't receive the Arab channels "in the clear" anymore.
It was close for me, but Internet Exploder was at least 2 secs behind, despite it getting the headstart (Firefox was my second click).
Also, the second time I did it, IE screwed up HALF the icons!
Although, some icons loaded by both were sharper or better rendered in IE.
Anyways - I just like Firefox most of all because its not IE! Plus the accept/reject cookies on per-site basis I like. I don't want a question EVERY time cookies are involved with my regularly visited sites! Neither do I want cookies to automatically do stuff - except that the Firefox idea of trusted sites for cookies is nice!
We had our boyos try out a piece of kit for Irish ATC, costing over €100 million. It didn't work. I believe they didn't test it in an operational environment though. It still made news, people are a bit suspicious of government expenditure on technology after the electronic voting débacle (Lots of equipment bought - supposed to be used June 11th. A committee pointed out they couldn't even test it to approve it as the company were still bringing out software updates! It's now sitting in a warehouse somewhere! Bunch of muppets).
It probably makes sense to the people running the airport. Just like to the unknowledgeable, trains in Britain and Ireland being slowed / stopped due to "leaves on the line" sounds incredible!
(What happens is that in the Autumn, the leaves pile up on the line, getting ground onto the rails by passing trains. They form a slippery laquer, causing the trains to loose traction - on slopes this can result in inability to make the climb without a run at it or extra locomotion. It's like ice for railways!)
But it still sounds hilarious. "We apologise for the delay, this was due to leaves on the line".
There's various possibilities with the Java. Variously adding the registry keys (plugins,FAQs), installing Java from within Firefox, and as it's Windows - just reboot lots after each procedure. The sequence of things seems to work fine in one particular way, but I can never remember what that is. So just randomly throwing those things at the system till it works is my policy for now.
Yep. I too am somewhat alarmed at the immediate opinions expressed of "America" by kids here (Ireland). It's all well and good us University students debating current affairs and bashing US foreign (and domestic) policy, but when enough ill-feeling has spread that those who do not understand or follow all the issues are influenced - it's time to get worried.
As long as things continue as they are going, I'm sorry folks, but the US is going to be less and less respected in Europe. Unfortunately, people will also begin (continue?) to blur the line between the government and people.
In fact, I would be more Anti-American than I am now, were it not for making some American friends last year (during the Iraq invasion of all times!) and going over to the US for the first time to visit.
People will easily forget all the great and wonderful things about the US. Hatred and ill-feeling is much more persuasive.
The US government's direction needs to change. Probably more than just switching to Kerry! (A more democratic voting system would be a good start!)
The EU CAN'T use passport data as it sees fit - only insofar as allowed by the rather stringent data protection laws here - e.g. no indefinite retention. You can be CERTAIN that this info will not be sold to corporations. You also have the right to query what info is held, and update it if incorrect.
Unfortunately, EU citizens will have no right as data collected by the US when they visit. It is a point of considerable consternation that the data sharing deal is going ahead when the data protection situation in the US is much looser than in the EU (i.e. there is NONE - they CAN do whatever they like with the details!!!).
I quite hope I don't have to ever go to the US again. Things here aren't going entirely in the right direction civil-liberty-wise - but at least our politicians in Ireland are mostly only interested in taking money from property developers and making money for themselves (and sometimes as a result - the country).
The European Commission meanwhile, at least have the benefits of not being directly elected (just appointed by elected govt.s) - so often they act "in Europe's best interests" rather than watching their backs. It has its advantages. All in all, the psuedo-democratic nature, the European policy-makers answering to govts and the directly elected European Parliament, seems to work much better than a directly elected executive body.
I don't think the suggestion is that this is held as a fact. It's a theory, It's not like there's the direct evidence in the Bible to support it.
It is however, a quite plausible explanation considering the past history in the Bible (angels come down to earth and breeding with humans is given as the reason for legends of Giants etc. not to mention the giant-ish Anakim that the Israelites fought). Also the fact that UFO sightings do have this link with cultish behaviour - and people claiming to have extraterrestial visits often exhibit religious tendancies after the experience (usually divergent from Christianity).
There's the whole tie-in between hypnotism and ET encounters too. Again, a theory amongst some Christians is that hypnotism leaves the mind open to demonic influence (much as drunkness - lowering all inhibitions - is viewed). Thus the connection between communication with aliens and "memories" after hypnotism. Again, I don't know that you will find a church with this as part of their doctrine. Though I should point out, both theories would be supported by some clergy from various denominations.
The salvation by "faith not works" thing is a bit more complicated. One cannot discount the book of James (as Luther would have liked) which states that "faith without works is dead". However, I do not see the contradiction between that and Paul's words that faith alone is needed. If someone DOES have true faith in God who is goodness, then they *will* do good works. Or else what they have is not really faith.
The good works thing IS important, as "by their fruit you will know them" (Jesus describing how to know false prophets in the Gospel). Someone can't be going around professing faith in God and yet living without any attempt at good behaviour. The two aren't compatible. Now to those that do have faith, grace is given to help them obey the Lord.
Those who decry the do-gooders for in example, the Catholic church (preaching salvation by works) have missed the point. These people would not be doing such works were it not for their faith. I do subscribe to criticism of this position of preaching - it can confuse. Of course, so too can the most ardent "faith alone" preachers (profess faith and just sit back).
In conclusion, yes, it begins with faith. But true faith IS shown by the works of those who have that faith.
As James says, even the demons not only believe in the existence of God - but fear Him.
I think my point is that genocide/murder/torture HAVE always been morally reprehensible regardless of even a majority thinking otherwise.
I hate to get to the whole WWII thing in an argument - but it's somewhat appropriate. The point is that the evil regime (to use modern parlance) there, would not have survived but for the support OR ambivalence of a large section of the German populance. Now - that which was perpetrated - was it less wrong in Germany just because those against it were in the minority?
Even if you disagree as to how much support the whole Aryan-is-best philosophy got - the point is - would it be right no matter how many supported it?
Quite an amusing post! Actually - your reasoning is surprisingly close on at least one point! The point is we DID make a choice and the "Fall" wasn't because of a vengeful God!
Yup. Adam must really have been going D'oh after the whole thing. And Eve too. And I doubt there was a dearth of fights after the whole Adam blaming Eve thing! In fact, that was quite possibly where the "battle of the sexes" began - a real part of the fall. Men and women unfortunately do not get along perfectly *any more*!
Allegory or no - it is quite true and entirely fits into the Christian faith. Those who ignore it completely have not quite gotten the whole thing.
The "Word" is not merely a head thing, but as the Bible states - it's "written on men's hearts". Christianity is having all the puzzle pieces put together. It's a huge amount easier to see the picture. But one only has to see the amazing ease at which Christianity transcends culture boundaries and has resonance to Western, African, Asian peoples, to see that people everywhere essentially know its truths already.
It's a tricky subject - one cannot dismiss Jesus' statement of being "the Way". Yet it does not seem the act of a fair and just God, the God of Christian belief, that all peoples of other religions are condemned to hell, unless they hear the story of Jesus' death. CS Lewis has an interesting take on this towards the end of "The Last Battle" in the Narnia series of books.
There's a problem with saying there's more than one way to God (to do so is to make the Christian faith meaningless). Yet faith in God transcends actual words. After all, even the forefathers of Judeo-Christianity did not have the actual words of Jesus' death. (Yes, later they did have the predictions of the Messiah - but before that). Look at Paul's words about Abraham (I'm sorry, the book may be Romans or one of his other letters) in the Bible. He was saved - but did not know (in head knowledge) of Jesus. He had faith in God that it would all be solved somehow - as he did when about to sacrifice his son Isaac - he knew God would provide an alternative or that somehow it would work out.
So the whole aliens thing, doesn't fundamentally add to the existing situation.
If someone wants to practice genocide and believes it is holy that's OK for them if they think its OK? Despite you believing it's not OK, you won't do anything - because you're morals too are just your own POV? What right do you then have to condemn such atrocities (after all, it's only you who thinks they are atrocities).
Wise up, regardless of your religion - absolute morals exist. Genocide is NEVER right. Rape is NEVER right.
People might disagree about the contents of a full list (hence I stop there) - but the point is, it EXISTS. Some items are in that list regardless of others disagreement. There ARE absolute morals of some form out there. So this is why conflicts between religions are tricky - pluralism doesn't work in practice. Unfortunately people forget their religions values on behaviour towards others just because they "know" the others are wrong. (Stuff like killing one another over it usually goes against most religions - but people have a nasty selective reasoning) But that's the point. Only one can be right! The absolutes ARE there - unfortunately people have a tricky time accepting that.
The Bible is quite clear that Jesus died for the sins of all of us. Those who repent and believe, can benefit from his sacrifice.
The so-called 'hints' you have listed are all evils, perpetrated by those who have been misled, or are simply falsely claiming faith. I mean for crying out loud, Bush alleges to be a Christian! Even more amazingly, he may well be even if what he does is wrong!!! (Or not!)
I'm just pointing out that there's a slight dilemma if we meet aliens. Do they have another Jesus (iffy as regards Christian theology)? Did Jesus die for them also here on Earth - is that why they meet us? This is not impossible (just possibly tricky to accept). After all, Jesus' death benefited those prior to the event who did not have the knowledge we have now - in actual factual knowledge at least. The Bible (New Testament wrt. Old Testament) is clear that no amount of sacrifices could save people from their sins, that the 'old system' was simply to provide a focal point for their faith. The Jews today survive without animal sacrifices. Do they believe they are all condemned as a result? So aliens too, could also be part of the saved.
Looking at it from the point of view of someone who is a Christian, it is hard to see how Aliens would be like us. Either:
They've never screwed up like we did and had the 'Fall' - so they have no concept of good or evil - in which case I doubt any meeting would be allowed to occur. My other problem with this is that the Bible, and the world around us, suggests that creation has also been affected by our mistake. There's far too much in nature that "isn't right" as people say.
Or:
They have had their own equivalent of the fall, and are just like us, the kind of Aliens you don't want to meet (think we'd avoid war in that scenario?). Considering the unique role of Jesus Christ, this would also be unlikely to be allowed by God.
I guess there's a third scenario too. The Bible isn't particularly specific on where angels and demons are (though they do business on Earth already). It is possible that some supposed UFO or alien encounters are a result of this. It's not entirely impossible, especially considering the apocalyptic sections of the Bible, that as part of some end times scenario, people beleive that we have encountered aliens (with the reality being more sinister).
Personally, the distance to our nearest stars, which may not even support life, looks suspiciously like a "buffer zone".
I'm sure that to those who do not beleive in any of the Bible, or in God, or Jesus, this sounds like nonsense. Hopefully its interesting though, and won't be modded down simply by those disagreeing. Also it would be interesting the different opinion that other beleivers have, not necessarily agreeing I'm sure!
Cén sórt amadán thú in aon chor? Is cinnte nach bhfuil aon rud chliste le rá ag tusa!!!
Níl Éire laistigh den Ríocht Aontaithe faoi láthair, ach amháin an Thuaisceart.
ÉIRE GO DEO!!!
Ahem, yes, Ireland is indeed no longer part of the UK, apart from Northern Ireland of course, which remained a part of the UK after 1922. I'm guessing you're one of those few from the US who not only has eloquence problems, but also deficiencies in geographical and political knowledge.
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, here in Europe should start a "Voice of Europe" and broadcast into the US. Oh wait, it's called Euronews...
(Although BBC World would be better)
But hey, there's the Internet, and the US hasn't set up a national firewall like China's... Yet.
IIRC - 3.51 was because MS delibrately engineering Office (95?) to only run on Win95. (It should have been able to run on Win3.1 with 32bit extensions). So of course, as NT was a current product, it had to be updated - but the full Explorer interface NT4 wasn't ready.
I might be wrong on some of the detail...
It's not your fault.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Democracy simply doesn't work" - Kent Brockman
Who gives a hoot if it's propaganda. At last people in the US are getting to see a counterweight piece of propaganda to FOX News etc. (Which as someone in Europe - I find either just plain scary, or hilariously outrageous!)
As far as I can make out, it's explaining perfectly why the world is turning against the US. It's a big wakeup call to those responsible for Bush and his right-wing psychos. The voters of the USA.
If they screw up come September, I guarantee you, even my country, Ireland, will host few friends of America (not the same thing as Americans, but the worse things get, the more the distinction will blur). It's debatable as to whether you could say the US already has few friends in Ireland. Hello??? That should be a wake-up call!
Yes. But for Windows end-users...
/mbr". (or whatever)
There's a desktop, pretty pictures, and the same old apps.
We're talking, an end-user, accidentally opening the command prompt (or "running DOS" as they know it) and happening to choose to type "fdisk
Incidentally, I added Linux to a multiboot system. It renumbered my partitions so that when I put back NTs loader, it wouldn't go. Man it was pretty simple to fix (I think I just edited boot.ini in the end with the new numbers), but very hard to pinpoint! Grrr.
Yes. And what was scary was they actually sang the jingle with "we'd rather have a bowl of choco krispies"...
Windows 95 = Windows 4.00.950 on MSDOS 7
Windows 98 = Windows 4.10.1998 on MSDOS 7
Windows 2000 = Windows NT 5.00.2195
For completeness...
Windows XP = Windows NT 5.1.2600
Come on, out-pedant me...
Bah! I hadn't noticed that! Now it annoys me!!!
Grrr... And there was me revelling in the delights of Firefox 0.9. Although I'm not as impressed with Tbird. There's no themes on the new upload site and the old ones I can't get to install. (Oh I can go through the motions, it even shows the added theme in the theme mangler briefly as if it is installing it)
Mind you, I should content myself. I'm using goodness knows what res. with two monitors. Mwah hah hah hah. Tbird and Firefox displayed at once.
Well, it's Windows. So I went with uninstalling it. Admittedly, in Win2K/XP world I am slightly less cynical, I didn't reboot after uninstall or install.
Voila, it seems to work! Much nicer than the Firefox install - yes, muck around with the profile directories, install the Old Extension viewer Extension. Extensions generally seem a bit tricky, but this new mangler (sorry, manager) will hopefully solve problems.
Here's something that bugs me though, I used Eudora for a long while - I have many old mails saved. Importing them into Thunderbird hasn't been a roaring success. The attachments for one thing won't transfer (Eudora keeps them in a seperate directory). I'm sort of nervous about where Tbird keeps the attachments, if I export the mail / import into another app if Tbird proj goes TU, will I still have everything. OK, I guess just like Eudora, I keep an old version of the App, but still - how easy is it to import Tbird mail, attachments and all.
I too had heard about this before - not sure where, possibly in history class in school actually!!!
I hadn't heard about the casualties before.
Until the US govt. starts setting up a national firewall like China, there's not much excuse for people not getting to the bottom of news stories. There's all sides available on the Net, and quite often the original source! Hey, I mean, even Satellite TV is like this (and is presumably less blockable unless Satellite dishes or pointing them in certain directions is banned). During the Iraq war I had my domestic Irish anti-war bias TV, the balanced but not always comprehensive BBC, the scary channel (FOX News) and I could even switch to Al-Arabiya (and Al-jazeera at that time) on Sky Digital for the reports being rebroadcast on Sky News and others! Ominously, one can't receive the Arab channels "in the clear" anymore.
It was close for me, but Internet Exploder was at least 2 secs behind, despite it getting the headstart (Firefox was my second click).
Also, the second time I did it, IE screwed up HALF the icons!
Although, some icons loaded by both were sharper or better rendered in IE.
Anyways - I just like Firefox most of all because its not IE! Plus the accept/reject cookies on per-site basis I like. I don't want a question EVERY time cookies are involved with my regularly visited sites! Neither do I want cookies to automatically do stuff - except that the Firefox idea of trusted sites for cookies is nice!
We had our boyos try out a piece of kit for Irish ATC, costing over €100 million. It didn't work. I believe they didn't test it in an operational environment though. It still made news, people are a bit suspicious of government expenditure on technology after the electronic voting débacle (Lots of equipment bought - supposed to be used June 11th. A committee pointed out they couldn't even test it to approve it as the company were still bringing out software updates! It's now sitting in a warehouse somewhere! Bunch of muppets).
It probably makes sense to the people running the airport. Just like to the unknowledgeable, trains in Britain and Ireland being slowed / stopped due to "leaves on the line" sounds incredible!
(What happens is that in the Autumn, the leaves pile up on the line, getting ground onto the rails by passing trains. They form a slippery laquer, causing the trains to loose traction - on slopes this can result in inability to make the climb without a run at it or extra locomotion. It's like ice for railways!)
But it still sounds hilarious. "We apologise for the delay, this was due to leaves on the line".
There's various possibilities with the Java. Variously adding the registry keys (plugins,FAQs), installing Java from within Firefox, and as it's Windows - just reboot lots after each procedure. The sequence of things seems to work fine in one particular way, but I can never remember what that is. So just randomly throwing those things at the system till it works is my policy for now.
Yep. I too am somewhat alarmed at the immediate opinions expressed of "America" by kids here (Ireland). It's all well and good us University students debating current affairs and bashing US foreign (and domestic) policy, but when enough ill-feeling has spread that those who do not understand or follow all the issues are influenced - it's time to get worried.
As long as things continue as they are going, I'm sorry folks, but the US is going to be less and less respected in Europe. Unfortunately, people will also begin (continue?) to blur the line between the government and people.
In fact, I would be more Anti-American than I am now, were it not for making some American friends last year (during the Iraq invasion of all times!) and going over to the US for the first time to visit.
People will easily forget all the great and wonderful things about the US. Hatred and ill-feeling is much more persuasive.
The US government's direction needs to change. Probably more than just switching to Kerry! (A more democratic voting system would be a good start!)
The EU CAN'T use passport data as it sees fit - only insofar as allowed by the rather stringent data protection laws here - e.g. no indefinite retention. You can be CERTAIN that this info will not be sold to corporations. You also have the right to query what info is held, and update it if incorrect.
Unfortunately, EU citizens will have no right as data collected by the US when they visit. It is a point of considerable consternation that the data sharing deal is going ahead when the data protection situation in the US is much looser than in the EU (i.e. there is NONE - they CAN do whatever they like with the details!!!).
I quite hope I don't have to ever go to the US again. Things here aren't going entirely in the right direction civil-liberty-wise - but at least our politicians in Ireland are mostly only interested in taking money from property developers and making money for themselves (and sometimes as a result - the country).
The European Commission meanwhile, at least have the benefits of not being directly elected (just appointed by elected govt.s) - so often they act "in Europe's best interests" rather than watching their backs. It has its advantages. All in all, the psuedo-democratic nature, the European policy-makers answering to govts and the directly elected European Parliament, seems to work much better than a directly elected executive body.
I don't think the suggestion is that this is held as a fact. It's a theory, It's not like there's the direct evidence in the Bible to support it.
It is however, a quite plausible explanation considering the past history in the Bible (angels come down to earth and breeding with humans is given as the reason for legends of Giants etc. not to mention the giant-ish Anakim that the Israelites fought). Also the fact that UFO sightings do have this link with cultish behaviour - and people claiming to have extraterrestial visits often exhibit religious tendancies after the experience (usually divergent from Christianity).
There's the whole tie-in between hypnotism and ET encounters too. Again, a theory amongst some Christians is that hypnotism leaves the mind open to demonic influence (much as drunkness - lowering all inhibitions - is viewed). Thus the connection between communication with aliens and "memories" after hypnotism. Again, I don't know that you will find a church with this as part of their doctrine. Though I should point out, both theories would be supported by some clergy from various denominations.
The salvation by "faith not works" thing is a bit more complicated. One cannot discount the book of James (as Luther would have liked) which states that "faith without works is dead". However, I do not see the contradiction between that and Paul's words that faith alone is needed. If someone DOES have true faith in God who is goodness, then they *will* do good works. Or else what they have is not really faith.
The good works thing IS important, as "by their fruit you will know them" (Jesus describing how to know false prophets in the Gospel). Someone can't be going around professing faith in God and yet living without any attempt at good behaviour. The two aren't compatible. Now to those that do have faith, grace is given to help them obey the Lord.
Those who decry the do-gooders for in example, the Catholic church (preaching salvation by works) have missed the point. These people would not be doing such works were it not for their faith. I do subscribe to criticism of this position of preaching - it can confuse. Of course, so too can the most ardent "faith alone" preachers (profess faith and just sit back).
In conclusion, yes, it begins with faith. But true faith IS shown by the works of those who have that faith.
As James says, even the demons not only believe in the existence of God - but fear Him.
I think my point is that genocide/murder/torture HAVE always been morally reprehensible regardless of even a majority thinking otherwise.
I hate to get to the whole WWII thing in an argument - but it's somewhat appropriate. The point is that the evil regime (to use modern parlance) there, would not have survived but for the support OR ambivalence of a large section of the German populance. Now - that which was perpetrated - was it less wrong in Germany just because those against it were in the minority?
Even if you disagree as to how much support the whole Aryan-is-best philosophy got - the point is - would it be right no matter how many supported it?
Quite an amusing post! Actually - your reasoning is surprisingly close on at least one point! The point is we DID make a choice and the "Fall" wasn't because of a vengeful God!
Yup. Adam must really have been going D'oh after the whole thing. And Eve too. And I doubt there was a dearth of fights after the whole Adam blaming Eve thing! In fact, that was quite possibly where the "battle of the sexes" began - a real part of the fall. Men and women unfortunately do not get along perfectly *any more*!
Allegory or no - it is quite true and entirely fits into the Christian faith. Those who ignore it completely have not quite gotten the whole thing.
The "Word" is not merely a head thing, but as the Bible states - it's "written on men's hearts". Christianity is having all the puzzle pieces put together. It's a huge amount easier to see the picture. But one only has to see the amazing ease at which Christianity transcends culture boundaries and has resonance to Western, African, Asian peoples, to see that people everywhere essentially know its truths already.
It's a tricky subject - one cannot dismiss Jesus' statement of being "the Way". Yet it does not seem the act of a fair and just God, the God of Christian belief, that all peoples of other religions are condemned to hell, unless they hear the story of Jesus' death. CS Lewis has an interesting take on this towards the end of "The Last Battle" in the Narnia series of books.
There's a problem with saying there's more than one way to God (to do so is to make the Christian faith meaningless). Yet faith in God transcends actual words. After all, even the forefathers of Judeo-Christianity did not have the actual words of Jesus' death. (Yes, later they did have the predictions of the Messiah - but before that). Look at Paul's words about Abraham (I'm sorry, the book may be Romans or one of his other letters) in the Bible. He was saved - but did not know (in head knowledge) of Jesus. He had faith in God that it would all be solved somehow - as he did when about to sacrifice his son Isaac - he knew God would provide an alternative or that somehow it would work out.
So the whole aliens thing, doesn't fundamentally add to the existing situation.
So there's no absolute morality?
If someone wants to practice genocide and believes it is holy that's OK for them if they think its OK? Despite you believing it's not OK, you won't do anything - because you're morals too are just your own POV? What right do you then have to condemn such atrocities (after all, it's only you who thinks they are atrocities).
Wise up, regardless of your religion - absolute morals exist. Genocide is NEVER right. Rape is NEVER right.
People might disagree about the contents of a full list (hence I stop there) - but the point is, it EXISTS. Some items are in that list regardless of others disagreement. There ARE absolute morals of some form out there. So this is why conflicts between religions are tricky - pluralism doesn't work in practice. Unfortunately people forget their religions values on behaviour towards others just because they "know" the others are wrong. (Stuff like killing one another over it usually goes against most religions - but people have a nasty selective reasoning) But that's the point. Only one can be right! The absolutes ARE there - unfortunately people have a tricky time accepting that.
The Bible is quite clear that Jesus died for the sins of all of us. Those who repent and believe, can benefit from his sacrifice.
The so-called 'hints' you have listed are all evils, perpetrated by those who have been misled, or are simply falsely claiming faith. I mean for crying out loud, Bush alleges to be a Christian! Even more amazingly, he may well be even if what he does is wrong!!! (Or not!)
I'm just pointing out that there's a slight dilemma if we meet aliens. Do they have another Jesus (iffy as regards Christian theology)? Did Jesus die for them also here on Earth - is that why they meet us? This is not impossible (just possibly tricky to accept). After all, Jesus' death benefited those prior to the event who did not have the knowledge we have now - in actual factual knowledge at least. The Bible (New Testament wrt. Old Testament) is clear that no amount of sacrifices could save people from their sins, that the 'old system' was simply to provide a focal point for their faith. The Jews today survive without animal sacrifices. Do they believe they are all condemned as a result? So aliens too, could also be part of the saved.
Looking at it from the point of view of someone who is a Christian, it is hard to see how Aliens would be like us. Either:
They've never screwed up like we did and had the 'Fall' - so they have no concept of good or evil - in which case I doubt any meeting would be allowed to occur. My other problem with this is that the Bible, and the world around us, suggests that creation has also been affected by our mistake. There's far too much in nature that "isn't right" as people say.
Or:
They have had their own equivalent of the fall, and are just like us, the kind of Aliens you don't want to meet (think we'd avoid war in that scenario?). Considering the unique role of Jesus Christ, this would also be unlikely to be allowed by God.
I guess there's a third scenario too. The Bible isn't particularly specific on where angels and demons are (though they do business on Earth already). It is possible that some supposed UFO or alien encounters are a result of this. It's not entirely impossible, especially considering the apocalyptic sections of the Bible, that as part of some end times scenario, people beleive that we have encountered aliens (with the reality being more sinister).
Personally, the distance to our nearest stars, which may not even support life, looks suspiciously like a "buffer zone".
I'm sure that to those who do not beleive in any of the Bible, or in God, or Jesus, this sounds like nonsense. Hopefully its interesting though, and won't be modded down simply by those disagreeing. Also it would be interesting the different opinion that other beleivers have, not necessarily agreeing I'm sure!
Cén sórt amadán thú in aon chor? Is cinnte nach bhfuil aon rud chliste le rá ag tusa!!!
Níl Éire laistigh den Ríocht Aontaithe faoi láthair, ach amháin an Thuaisceart.
ÉIRE GO DEO!!!
Ahem, yes, Ireland is indeed no longer part of the UK, apart from Northern Ireland of course, which remained a part of the UK after 1922. I'm guessing you're one of those few from the US who not only has eloquence problems, but also deficiencies in geographical and political knowledge.