snowyegret
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:31:45 AM
stockticker, if I laughed at that joke, does that mean I'm anti-myself? 
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gaffan
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:33:10 AM
Yea, unto the seventh paragraph.
A Zoroastrian could drop by and issue a similar set of questions, with similar unsubtle implications. So what? You have made a leap of faith to accept a particular (not to say narrow) understanding of God. Fine. Do you feel that self-righteousness in any way serves to forward your cause and win converts? Or is it merely compulsive self-indulgence?
Most of those of my acquaintance who have made a leap of faith and found their God wouldn't come near a thread like this, as they realize that being offended on their God's behalf is not their place, and if anything serves to diminish Him in the eyes of others.
-gaffan-
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mzalez
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:35:27 AM
Thanks ballsandstrikes, this is a wonderfully provocative thread!
gaffan brings up a very important point. The Word needs to be read with comprehension. In order to comprehend something written, we need to study it.
shadowcat hits the home run by saying: "Studying" also implies learning, as opposed to simply accepting what you're told you should think about what the Bible says...
This is the only way we can avoid getting stuck in 'dogma' or 'religion' instead of the truth. I know what you mean about out-of-context, cultural bias, and denominational leanings.
Yeah, definately God has a sense of humor. We were given the attribute of humor, and we were made in God's image. (Don't forget the funny gorillas and chimpanzees, too! Heh heh!)
spazmodeus, is the killer poisonous platypus in one of those hilarious articles you posted?
joyreaper: AMEN!
gravid, HAAA! So what kind of car is it? That guy you bring up sounds really selfish.
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xardon
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:39:08 AM
gravid,
You've reminded me of an old joke we altar boys used to tell in the sacristy back in the Latin mass days:
What's God's phone number?
Et cum spiri2 20.
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HJW
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:50:06 AM
Just in case he is listening...
Thank God for Spasmodeous!!!
Helen
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snowyegret
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:50:18 AM
What if everybody is right?
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gaffan
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:53:54 AM
No problem. Then we're all Ba'hai.
-gaffan-
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xardon
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posted on March 6, 2001 07:57:43 AM
Could you run that Ba'hai me again?
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spazmodeus
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posted on March 6, 2001 08:02:57 AM
Hello Helen. Nice to see you changed your mind about deregistering.
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gaffan
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posted on March 6, 2001 08:03:27 AM
xardon, that was terrible. Thank you.
-gaffan-
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spazmodeus
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posted on March 6, 2001 08:05:34 AM
Irene,
It is if somebody runs to the Moderator's Corner and says it is.
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HJW
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posted on March 6, 2001 08:05:52 AM
Thank's spaz!
You brought so much joy and insight into
my drab existence, I just had to stay.
Helen
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stockticker
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posted on March 6, 2001 08:12:32 AM
Yeah, Spaz I know. Remember the French court decision regarding Yahoo? I really resented that my attempt to discuss international trade being twisted into some sort of attempt at religious hate mongering.
Irene
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stockticker
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posted on March 6, 2001 08:57:49 AM
I bet that if the French Court had decided to outlaw polka dot ties in France and I supported France's right to make their own laws, someone probably would have gone to the Moderator's Corner to complain that the discussion should be banned because it MIGHT lead to a bashing of those who choose to wear polka dot ties.
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HJW
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posted on March 6, 2001 09:06:45 AM
Stockticker,
We can discuss the arrival of Robins.
Helen
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stockticker
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posted on March 6, 2001 09:10:08 AM
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stockticker
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posted on March 6, 2001 09:20:15 AM
I'd be a lot crankier on the Robin thread, Helen. Where I live, it is not unusual to get a snowfall in May. 
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HJW
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posted on March 6, 2001 09:34:33 AM
Seriously,I don't believe in censorship. It's easy to click on
any topic and read whatever pleases you. You can easily and effectively avoid topics that are offensive to you with no unreasonable effort or inconvenience.
Helen
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looney2ns
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posted on March 6, 2001 09:42:27 AM
When God created man HE gave us the abilty to smile,laugh,and joke.As long as we don't violate any of the big ten while doing it he's not going to hold our sense of humor against us.
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spazmodeus
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posted on March 6, 2001 10:01:09 AM
There's a funny scene in a Woody Allen movie ... maybe it was "Play It Again, Sam." He's walking along explaining to Tony Roberts that he thinks his coworkers are anti-Semitic. Roberts assures him it can't be true. But Woody insists that they are and offers up an example of a conversation with his boss to support his paranoia:
Woody: So he looked at me and said, "I've already had lunch." Then he says, "Jew?"
(For the benefit of the joke-impaired among us, the humor is derived from Woody's paranoid misperception of his boss's question. What the man really asked was a contraction of "Did you?", which Woody heard as "Jew?" In reality, there was no anti-Semitism on the boss's part. But Woody's character was hypersensitive to the point of absurdity, and thus construed an innocent comment as anti-Semitism.)
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mzalez
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posted on March 6, 2001 11:17:27 AM
gaffan, I don't think self-righteousness wins converts. People who are self-righteous are not pointing to God, but to themselves. I don't know if it compulsive self-indulgence--I'm sure in some cases it may be. I would think it's probably more of self-pride--the old "I'm right and you're wrong" power struggle.
I live in New Orleans, and used to work on Bourbon Street. Because of all the decadence in the French Quarter, it is a popular place for street evangelists. There used to be this one guy with a megaphone. I walked by him one day, and he started to yell at me that I was a whore and was going to hell--just because I was there on Bourbon Street. And I'm a believer! It definately turned me off--his methods surely would not draw people to the Lord. He was either a false teacher or an evangelist who needed a better understanding how the Lord wants us to share the Word.
About the people you know who would not come near a thread like this, remember that the Lord went everywhere--among unbelievers, lepers, and sinners of all kinds (think of Mary Magdelene) to help them. He sees everything written in these boards.
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spazmodeus
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posted on March 6, 2001 11:23:28 AM
Thank God for decadence.
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mzalez
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posted on March 6, 2001 11:36:43 AM
Yes, thank God for decadence...for without it we would not be able to appreciate what is good.
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joyreaper
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posted on March 6, 2001 11:48:33 AM
It is my belief that God definitely has a sense of humour!
Sometimes we try to act more religious rather than demonstrating relationship!
I love to laugh with God. Hence the name, joyreaper!
My bible says, "He will fill your mouth with laughter!" That's Job 8 and I don't know the verse! Also, Psalm 126 says when he returned the captivity of the Jews, he filled their mouth with laughter. Of course, learning from that and knowing he will do the same for me, I enjoy a good laugh with a good and funny God!
The joy of the Lord is my strength!
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gaffan
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posted on March 6, 2001 12:48:12 PM
Well said.
Harking back a couple posts,
Oh, Jesus.
I suspect I'm not the only one around who found the litany of questions and their implicit answers to be every bit as offensive as you found the man with the megaphone. I suppose what makes your behavior Right and Just is that we are all infidels.
Have you ever considered that the evil spirits may not be driven from your body unless a dog (having divine sight) is brought to gaze upon your body? Do you not realize it is possible that you may not achieve a pleasant afterlife if the sun and the vulture are not allowed to perform their acts upon your corpse?
(Note to moderators: these are basic tenets of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is a legitimate religion with several million adherents. I am attempting to provide a counterpoint to the set of Christ-ian questions earlier in the thread.)
-gaffan-
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lotsafuzz
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posted on March 6, 2001 12:52:31 PM
Good to see you, Brother Gaffan.
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gravid
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posted on March 6, 2001 01:01:41 PM
mzalez - I am showing my age - Fury was a model of Plymouth. Now I guess even Plymouths might be on the way out. I think they nade them until the late 60's. I had a '58 that I would give a lot to have again.
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mzalez
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posted on March 6, 2001 01:05:01 PM
gaffan, yes, the truth is offensive to many. As you can imagine that is the basis to 'speak the truth and soon you will be considered dangerous'. It's only natural we don't like to hear the truth when it clashes with our own selfish desires.
On your other comment, my behavior is not always right and just...even though I strive to do the right thing. I'm a sinner just like everyone else. Only the Creator is right and just--thank God he is merciful, forgiving, and loving. I'm curious, do you consider yourself an 'infidel'?
I never heard of Zoroastrianism before...some of the things you describe remind me of the Shinto religion (the religion of my mother's side of the family).
Anyway, religion can't save you because religion is man-made.
spazmodeus, I forgot to tell you earlier that your locked thread about Bush and Egypt was one of the best threads I'd ever seen--very clever. Too bad it got shut down so fast.
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mzalez
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posted on March 6, 2001 01:08:36 PM
gravid, haaaa! Of course it was a Fury! I should have known. I was going to guess it was a Honda, since Adam and Eve were 'of one accord'.
Back in 1977 I had a Fury (1971, I think) that was previously an unmarked police car. It still had the little spot light near the driver's side rear view mirror. It was funny to drive down the highway and have everyone slow down to the speed limit. Boy, could that car peel out!
[ edited by mzalez on Mar 6, 2001 01:44 PM ]
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ballsandstrikes
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posted on March 6, 2001 02:00:29 PM
mzalez, you are welcome lol. If this thread proves ANYTHING, it proves my point that the originator of the thread does not always have control or dictate the direction of the thread. lol GHEESH hehe.
http://ballsandstrikescollectibles.beckett.com/
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