steveorino

Your biblical interpreation skills are very lacking. I'd say you are on par with my understanding of science. You make a lot of errors. Scripture is easily misinterpreted and taken out of context. Reading it in a translation is a recipe for misuse too. It makes a lot more sense when you read Konia Greek and understand languages uses idioms. steveOrino

An omnipresent god could start it everywhere, at all times. Yep, unless he chose to do it through humans. steveOrino

it's about context. not about the word. George Carlin explains it in one of his monologues. Talk to most black guys my age (50s) and they will tell you it IS offensive. Most of the black guys that use that word never had to drink in a separate fountain, sit in a theatre balcony, use a separate restroom, or denied access to some place because of the color of their skin. Most of those who endured that see it as a racist term. Of course, there were exceptions to that rule. Richard Pryor used the "N" word a lot to get laughs froma mostly white audience. Go figure. steveOrino

Or he is telling you what he believes to be fact, and is trying to help you. Paj and I are alike in many ways (Special Forces, Christian) but we are different in many ways too. I "think" he has a more fundamental view of scripture than I do. I see him truly trying to help. steveOrino

Stay in SF after you earn the beret. Invest in a company called Microsoft. steveOrino

Hey, he begged the question. steveOrino

I agree they do -- in fact I see many morals are nearly universal despite the differences in religions. I wonder why? steveOrino

HAve you read Psalm 22? Just curious. BTW my point wasn't it was proof that God exist (I thought the scripture affirms that, but that wasn't my point) My point was MOST of the contradictions that are listed can be explained by a Bible college freshman. steveOrino

One of the problems fundamentalist (Christians and atheist such as yourself) have is they view scripture in ways it was never intended to be, such as a history book or a science book. Much of what you are labeling as "contradictions" can easily be explained away by the Bible college freshman. I have no desire to do that. However, some of what you call "contradictions" are anything but, such as: God forsakes Jesus - Mark 15:34 Jesus is inseparable from God - John 10:30, 14:10, 16:32 God does NOT forsake Christ on the cross. When Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? " It was a quote from scripture (Psalm 22) NOT a statement of fact. At that time Psalms were know by their first line, not by a number. here is where it gets real interesting to the atheist. Psalm 22 was written as early as 1000 BC (fundamental scholars) or as late as 300 BC (liberal scholars). Long before crucifiction was a common practice. No Jew thought Psalm 22 was a messianic Psalm before Christ died on the cross. It would be absurd to their way of thinking. They believed in a warrior messiah, not a suffering one. However 100s of years before it happend scripture foretold of the Messiah suffering through the cross. THAT affirms scripture. It does not contradict. Psalm 22:24 declares God has not forsaken him. That would have been the point Jesus was driving home when he quoted that passage. EDITED TO ADD: The problem fundamentalist get into when they try to explain passages such as this is they have to add theology. For instance in the affore mentioned passage in the NT where JC quotes Psalm 22. If they take his staement as literal then they must defend why God will forsake His son. They come up with a theology that says something like, "God can't look at sin, therefore he turned his back on JC when he had the sin of the world on his shoulders. BS! If God can't look at sin, how does he look at us now? It is a slippery slope when you must rationalize every word as literal. steveOrino

Since those are obviously questions only God could answer with 100% certainty I doubt anything I may say would sway your opinion. steveOrino

Gotta start somewhere. It BEGAN in Jerusalem Acts 1: 8 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. steveOrino

I don't have any idea. A thought. It was in the fullness of time. Because of Rome there was a world peace, a common language (Greek), roads to take the gospel out, the expeltion of Jews in and around 70AD help take the gospel beyond Jerusalem (first Christians were Jews). Just a few ideas. Could it had worked today? I don't know -- I believe it was the timing God wanted. steveOrino

If you go to this web site, www.letssaythanks.com , you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier who is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a minute. steveOrino

USA WW2 casualties: 407,000 + USA Iraq War casualties: 2,400 - I have a son in Afghanistan and a son-in-law in Iraq. I'm gratefull for some differences. steveOrino

Its a matter of choice. Not all rules are a violation of freedom. steveOrino

A voluntary set of rules (like a HOA) is a lack of freedom? steveOrino

Yeah, it was the inquisition he likes to bring up, not the crusades. Off by a few hundred years ... sorry. SKYRAD:"What about the inquisition? Mass terror organised by the Pope and vatican!" steveOrino

I guess here is what I don't understand. When I bought my home I knew it had a HOA and rules. I read it -- I thought it was liveable and purchased the home. If the HOA code was not liveable for me i would have not purchased it. Are there that many of you having HOA forced on you? steveOrino

Funny you feel that way. because when people criticize Muslim terrorist for what they are doing now, you quickly bring up the crusades. Or maybe I'm confusing you with another poster. steveOrino

Two Harleys and 100s of shirts. Initially I wanted to own a shirt from every town I've ever been in. After a while a hundred black tee shirts creates a very limited wardrobe. When I first started skydiving I wanted the tee shirts as well. I bought 2-3 right off the bat. I never wear them now (except the Skydive Cancun and the BSBD rescreen being offered on the History forum) I guess it is a right of passage for many. If you are a peacock ... you strut! steveOrino

When I lived outside Ft. Bragg, the neighbor thought he could bring his car on the lawn to work on it -- He put it on blocks and there it sat. Just one of many reason I own a home with a Homeowners' Association. steveOrino

Really? How far do you carry that illogic? Can only pediphyles have an opinion on their punishment? steveOrino

How's that been working? Granted some would do well if rehabilitated, but sadly, prison seems to be more of a graduate school for criminals. I stll say Maricopa County does a better job. Perhaps that should be the standard. steveOrino

Are you confusing him with his art dealer grandfather? This theo Van Gogh was assassinated in 2004 steveOrino

Yep, that is him. steveOrino