Bro. Hex

Well spoken! Perhaps what is needed instead are a few prayers that the scales might fall from the unseeing eyes, and that Wicca might be understood as "The Old Religion" which was before Christianity, or Islam or Judaism, which will continue to be as long as wind blows and seasons change, and which is already very much in touch with God. So, thank you very much anyway, but "the Wiccans really don't need your prayers".

Saturday, April 24, 2010 What Does "Liberal" Truly Mean? I am probably one of those you might call the 'Super Liberals' - and I certainly don't want government intruding in our private lives. As a Liberal I want our people provided decent lives and individual rights. I am no fan of the ‘Nanny State’ – being a Liberal DOES NOT mean believing in an intrusive government that wants to lord power and control over our personal lives. So what does being a Liberal truly mean? What I have come to understand as TRULY Liberal is a philosophy that is based on generosity, freethinking, tolerance, is not bigoted, that favors maximal personal freedoms, and that supports progressive reforms that improve the welfare of humanity. A True Liberal could be called socially progressive and individually Libertarian.* A True Liberal is socially progressive when it comes to providing our citizens a decent standard of living. This means a belief that no one should go without food, shelter, health care, or education. True Liberals feel that there is no excuse for the wealthiest society in the history of the world to selfishly deny basic standards of human existence to the disadvantaged. True Liberals hold that the greatest amongst us have an obligation to help provide for the least among us. True Liberals also believe in strong occupational health and safety laws that help to guarantee a safe working environment. True Liberals also believe in product safety standards that ensure our people aren't sold faulty or unsafe products. True Liberals support child labor laws, and regulations that guarantee fair and decent work schedules and conditions. True Liberals believe in environmental regulations that keep polluters from dumping toxic waste all over the place on our land, in the air, and in our drinking water. True Liberals believe in taking care of the sick, the handicapped, and the elderly (through Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security) and helping to provide for the poor through welfare, food stamps, and educational grants and scholarships. True Liberals believe in investment in early childhood nutrition, education, and family living skills. True Liberals believe in Civil Rights and Equal Rights for ALL our citizens. These things all are, in my opinion, TRULY Liberal. True Liberals think everyone should be given a basic foundation from which to build - no one should go without food, shelter, health care, education, freedom, and the ability to pursue their dreams. True Liberals know that there are more than enough resources on Earth and in the Solar System to guarantee enough to go around for everyone. Hopefully, enough people will agree and live their lives in a way dedicated to see that this eventually comes to pass. As well as just, equitable social systems, True Liberals believe that we should extend real freedom to ALL our people. True Liberals are Libertarians when it comes to our individual rights. True Liberals do not think that any of the rights we already have should be infringed upon in any way - in fact True Liberals believe that the United States of America should be in the business of advancing human rights, creating new rights for our people, and expanding those rights we already have. True Liberals totally support free speech, freedom of and from religion, the right to bear arms, freedom of assembly, and all of the rest of the rights enumerated by our Founders in the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the subsequent Amendments to the Constitution. True Liberals also believe in a TOTAL right of choice. True Liberals believe that individuals have the right to control what goes into, goes on it, and comes from their own bodies. This means choice not only in reproductive rights, but also in terms of sexual preference, the right to die, the right to control of our genetic material, the right to control any specimens from our bodies, the right to ingest whatever we wish, and the right to privacy as well. If members of a society do not have the total right of choice to control their own bodies, the people are slaves to the state, other institutions, or corporations. All of the above beliefs are TRULY Liberal. True Liberals are patriots who support freedom and an equitable society. Without the social justice provisions and individual liberties described above, we are not living up to our ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and are falling into a downward spiral of exactly their opposite! *Libertarian: a person who upholds the principles of individual liberty, especially of thought and action - - Merriam-Webster Copyright 2010, B. E. Foley Posted by An American Philosopher at 10:20 AM Labels: Liberal, Libertarian, Political Philosophy, Politics, Progressive, Social Justice

They who do this, create a "hell-on-earth" with their fixations and hatreds, which are really fears in fancy dress. It is a "personal hell" which envelops those who "see evil everywhere".

As for myself, I believe in the psycho-physical benefits derived from the tactile expression of human caring. It is a facet of our animal nature...pre-intellectual, subliminal...a physical benefit of knowing (tactilely) that "we are not alone"...we are a member of "the pack", "the herd", "the tribe"... others care about us. That is extremely powerful, yet unquantifiable.

Where have you been, dude? This place has been getting boring in your absence. P.S. -at- Pete, RE: "Laying on of hands". Let us not underestimate the healing power of human touch. It's not "religion", and it's not "magic".

While this is all very interesting, and I genuinely appreciate this information, isn't the "burden of Proof" on the "church" or on the "individual representing the church"? Isn't the person operating a church without the benefit of 501© (3) certification, leaving both himself/herself AND his/her church "wide open" to the possibility of "seizure of assets" at-any-time, should the IRS decide to question the status of this church. Maybe it would be perfectly safe to rely upon the "content of a pamphlet" for your protection, and I agree that it is unlikely that a seizure would occur as long as the size of your "operation" remains financially in the general vicinity of a "mom and pop store". But if you are talking a many-membered church handling "serious money" I wouldn't recommend running the risk.

By whom? Not by the I.R.S.

Since your classifying of your "church" as an NPO occurred "accidentally", why not just tell PayPal that "you made a mistake", and that you are not "yet" a sanctioned NPO?

Don't be. It's beauty left me speechless.

Well Carpenter, "not to offend you", but you have just made a very ARROGANT judgment.

Yes, impracticable IS a word. It refers to an ACTION or a PRACTICE that is not "practical". Use impracticable to describe an ACTION. Use impractical to describe a THING (like tower speakers that "weigh a ton and won't fit in a car". These are not "hard and fast rules". You can call an action impractical.

"That's disgusting!" replied the wide-eyed racoon, as he leaped from Hop Sing's sholder and headed for the door...

And we all remember what Forest Gump's Mamma taught us: Manure IS as manure DOES!

turned suddenly, and said: "Damn!"...meanwhile, back at the Ranch...

There's an awful lot of those going around this place lately!

decided to circle back upon them, thus confusing everyone as to "who was in the lead", and thereby creating...

You must be sure to tell us, Fyrewalker, Where did you find such a forum ??? :rolleyes:

When at a loss as to which version to apply, I always rely upon the Corpus Fawzonium. It's hard to find, but very insightful!

I pretty much agree with the sentiment that Brother Sky has just expressed. We are not trying to drive you away Carpenter, but we are put off by your attempt to judge others. You have no right to say who is or is not "saved". (I don't even believe in the idea of being saved, but if I did, I would say that "only God knows"). Also, lots of us do not believe that the Bible is "the word of God", so citing it to prove a point "might work with some folks", but it doesn't work with me, and it doesn't work with most Liberal Christians...we are far more interested in "what Jesus did and taught" than "what the Bible says".

Allow me to say "for the record" that after reading "the entirety" of your post, that I really don't think you have very much in common with ANY of the Liberal Christians that I have ever known. I don't understand how you can even suggest that YOU are a Liberal Christian, and in (virtually) "your next breath" go on to say something like this: That is quite simply "fundamentalist cow droppings", and it is most unwelcome here. Pete is not the one who is confused... you are.

Amen, Brother Sky. Amen.

Thanks, Sky Brother, For the info about this book... Now that you have explained what it is, you have triggered my interest... I intend to look for it.

Raven, after listening to You are the Music, I think you may like: John Mayall Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton - Steppin' Out (cover)

Interesting observations, Raven... but this will surprise you (I think)... Santo & Johnny are actually from the era BEFORE surfing caught on nationally as a music genre...they are from the "slow dance" era. Actually, of these two groups, it was THE VENTURES that pioneered Surfing music...listen to this classic version of WIPEOUT: Or....if you have REALLY GOOD WOOFERS.... This later recording of THE VENTURES doing PIPELINE: Enjoy!

I feel like I'm from a "different planet" Here is my fav version of SLEEPWALK by Santo & Johnny (1959) or THE VENTURES version: