scottedward

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Posts posted by scottedward

  1. Yes, and the British Druids (and Druidesses) were massacred by the Romans as well :( While the Romans were frequently tolerant of other religions, they feared that the Druids were too politically influential, and probably felt that the early Christianity was also too subversive. The Romans seemed to fear ideas even more than military might.

    Good morning, Gruffydd. Been a while, so welcome back.

    I agree with this. I agree that the Romans were already far too aware that an idea, be it religious, social or what-have-you, was far more difficult to conquer than any army.

  2. That happens a lot :)... But on a related note, the apostle Paul was beheaded for an unpopular belief too. Not a whole lot of freedom in the old days, unlike today when religious tolerance is respected and we see no radicals spouting such terror :)

    I would like to believe that religion in all of its many forms are respected.

    It's a shame that so many try so completely to make it next to impossible.

  3. I can dig that, and agree. I don't think living with mystery takes that much adjustment. What is, is. It's all about how we respond to that mystery, whether we take it as negative or try to find the positive, as the stoics might say. At least some people can admit to faith though :) I was starting to wonder whether I would encounter any more who could.

    I'm appreciate your response. i feel sometimes that I am in a silent minority, and it isn't because of what I might be missing.

  4. If man cannot determine the truth, then how can man determine whether the bible is true?

    Man cannot. I found it interesting that Keystriker mentioned that only those who did the original writing or dictation would know for certain, because even those individuals wouldn't be able to confirm anything.

    It was never supposed to be about what was true or what wasn't. It was only supposed to be about faith and comfort. We were supposed to take things on faith, maybe learn something, become better people, and gain comfort from it. It's unfortunate that many wish to take things too literally. It's even more unortunate that some have taken lives because of it.

    Those who need something die-hard and absolute have either grown too cinical, or are simply too afraid of death to take things in any other fasion. In my opinion, those are the people I most pity, because they've never had to face death without the promise of immortality. Not really. Living with the mystery and uncertainty takes some adjustment, but it can be done. It also has the added benefit of freedom to believe what one wishes without cosmic reprisal.

  5. I remember before the year 2000 so many people were forecasting the end of the world . Then it switched to 2012. I know the world will end one day but just where do these apocalyptic millennium preachers disappear too. I know some keep changing the date all their lives with nothing happening. The JWs have given up forecasting an exact date after many times getting it wrong. I wonder why so many follow this type of preacher..

    Fear.

  6. wish you the best.

    you don't need luck scott edward, you're among friends ;) welcome! I always enjoy meeting for worship

    Like the ULC, the Quakers are very open to a wide variety of beliefs. They are also generally a very supportive community. I hope it works out for you.

    May you find the peace you are looking for and the strength found in a strong belief. During my travels I've had the opportunity, and privilege, to stay at a Quaker home for 3 days and understand what you mean about their philosophies and general good hearted nature. Hard working, God fearing folks that I genuinely respect after seeing their actions of kindness and devotion to their beliefs....without making it a Crusade or Inquisition affair.

    Many Blessings of Peace to you while on your Journey of Discovery,

    A

    Sounds like a wonderful journey, scott_edward.

    Best of luck and friendship...

    Godspeed!

    What you see above me is proof that the ULC truly is a warm place filled with the best of intentions.

    It is to all of you that I fondly tip my hat.

  7. After over a year of research into this subject, I recently decided to attend a meeting of the Omaha Society of Friends. My interest in Quakers began over a decade ago, after I sat down and watched John Wayne's 'Angel & The Bad Man'. It blossumed from there, because their philosophies and my own had much in common. The differences in belief that we might have are always going to be there, but won't ever become an issue. This is partly because of the tolerance I've gained and the lessons I've learned after being a member of the ULC.

    It wasn't just that I needed a faith to call my own (which I've had, focused mainly on offering Hope). I've also needed a real place to go, where I can pray or worship amongst real people. As of Sunday: Sept. 7th, 2014, I think I've found it.

    Wish me luck.

    :aikido:

  8. scott, that was directed directly at revtim...if you will notice he said it was stupid, bigoted, etc...if someone were more cautious of muslims, which I said I was, so yeah technically he said it obliquely...which is still against forum rules btw.

    But in any case, the above was not referenced to you, so why did you take issue? I didn't say anything at all about YOUR debating skills in this post.

    And, it says in the rules that debate is encouraged, rudeness, etc...is not. that's paraphrasing. So, if it is encouraged, then it IS for this forum isn't it?

    Okay.

    You've made your point, and have made it very well. I'll just be sitting over here and minding my own business.

  9. calling someone stupid...does that add to the debate rev tim? Calling someone a bigot doesn't seem to add either. I suppose your debate skills must be lacking if you must resort to name calling. Isn't that against forum policy as well, the name calling I mean?

    To your point, sure, lots of serial killers in the u.s. were white, what about other countries? That seems a pretty even spread to me, however, looking at the terrorist is different. Not so universal, nor so even a spread. Especially in the u.s. sunni muslim terrorists committed more that 70%(8886) of the 12553 terrorist murders in the world last year, according to a report by the national counterterrorism center. That figure doesn't cover other branches of islam, just sunni. when nearly 3/4 of terrorist murders are committed by muslims of some sort or another, I take extra vigilance when it comes to muslims.

    IMO

    I don't believe anybody resorted to name calling.

    The bigotry was implied, but that was it. When somebody was making a scene on another thread, it was explained that the person in question 'sounded' obnoxious. Yes. My debating skills might be lacking, though I somehow doubt it.

    I think what needs to be understood is that this forum isn't meant to hold debates. It's meant to celebrate religious freedom. Unfortunately, the problems we've had recently were caused by members who apparently believe that their religious freedom should include the 'freedom' to argue, or tell others that they're wrong. I felt perfectly justified in the points needing to be made as a response to the members in question, so critisize as much as you want.

  10. I find it distressing that when I felt moved to look up 'bigoted' online, it's defined as 'utterly intolerant of any opinion that differs from one's own'.

    Perhaps Youch should find this distressing as well.

    Not because I'm calling Youch names or anything, but because it was Youch himself who made me feel moved to look it up in the first place.

    Please calm yourself, Youch.

  11. There are a few things I might say about Islam, Muslims, or an apparent desire possed by some to be heard regarding their experiences or negative observations in life. In truth, it occurs to me that this topic was only put together so that we had an opportunity to achnowledge some of the positives we might have heard or witnessed about Islam. After all, how can any established practice or devotion for God be bad? It is these positives that I believe can improve not only the way we see our world, but also the Hope that comes as a result of that.

    Youch...

    Whatever need you possess to be absolutely correct about the negatiives of Islam or the world are not helping anybody.

    Just because we don't wish to think about it doesn't mean we don't believe it exists.

  12. Israel is a bit of a touch point, in that it represents the very thing that the arab world is most upset about, European and western intervention into the middle east. The fairly wide spread feeling that Israel shouldn't be there is based, in part, on the fact that it was created out of whole cloth by outsiders without input from locals. Yes, Israel had once been on the site, but it had been gone for a long time. It is my opinion that it should not have been re established, at least not there. But it was, and I don't advocate eliminating it now. However, that particular issue is ripe with problems that are probably best left to another thread.

    However, the Muslim world is much bigger than the middle east, so narrowing you focus to it is going to give you an incomplete picture of Islam. That and the fact that you have approached it primarily from a single vantage point, a military vantage point.. might be biasing your understanding.

    Kokigami, some day you're gonna have to explain the 'rotten apple alliance' to me.

  13. Otherwise, WISHING they were peaceful isn't going to render anything positive.

    It really isn't that interesting. Five tours to the middle east, a total of about 4.5 years of my life, spent in the region, exploring a great deal of it, and having to endure countless briefings and debriefings, heck, I even had to write country studies and contingency plans, etc... About 10 years ago here I discussed some of it, I didn't think it worthy to discuss here again....precious few even read these posts. I doubt I leave you wanting, but if so, I apologize.

    As to your second point.....if that were true, why do the (and this is a rhetorical quetion, of course) VAST MAJORITY of residents of the middle east support the goal of wiping Israel off the map?

    Again, I ask, where are the voices of Islam calling for peace with Israel and the west? Certainly not in Paris. Not here in the U.S. Not in the middle east. If you got juice on the subject, provide it. Otherwise, WISHING they were peaceful isn't going to render anything positive.

    Nor do I think will you, with this level of negativity.

    I apologize for the above observation, but the earlier point I was trying to make is only that both the Middle-East and its people suffer scaring through both their hate and centuries of unresolved conflicts. It is for this reason alone that I can agree with your assertion that those from that region are almost always out for blood. I do not, however, agree with your contention that the Muslim citizens of Paris, Canada, or the United States feel the same way.

    It's possible that the attitudes of the Middle East might have a long enough reach to spread their message of hate and allow people like yourself to sustain such an opinion, but that's all I think it is. I have a need and a Hope to believe the best of people. Rather than arguing with us over whether or not the same can be said of Muslims, maybe you should examne why you're unable to do it yourself.