georgerussia

Looks like in this case people just get a warning. Some people from Russia visiting U.S. were caught speeding (something like 90 in 70mph zone), and were just getting a warning and an explanation that speed limit is 70. I have no idea what else could be done in this case. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Yes, in those countries driven by religious nuts. But the rest of the world, thanks, became a better place now. There is a lot of things which consider immoral which are (and hope will never be) a law - for example, cheating your partner in relationship. But it probably gets those religious nuts crazy when I turn into direction of Mecca while I visit a restroom, and Allah Almighty still let me live. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Looks like you assuming here that any reaction following the message is always based on the message content. This is simply not true; there might be reaction based on the message form, or on the messenger itself. And yes, sometime the message formed improperly led to diplomatic conflicts, or even wars. The ambiguity in JC's messages led to development of more than hundred religions based on his words - and any of them could be true just because the words itself were ambiguous. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Yes, you do - as you said "Christians have every right to lobby against what they deem as an immoral act." This basically means that if you consider some act of anyone being immoral according to Christian faith, you'll lobby against it - and this is trying to force others to act according to your RELIGIOUS moral! This will end up that everybody will be forced to study Bible and go to church every Sunday, as not studying Bible and not going to church is immoral act. It is easy to spread news like "your religion is fake". Christians tried it in the past, and even succeed in some places. And it is helpful to remind some people, who asking us why aren't we following the Teaching Of The Good Lord Jesus, that their beliefs are only based on their faith, and might be false. Because you believe, and I think. That's the difference. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Nope. If you want to be so specific, quote the appropriate words: 20 The young man said to him, "All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." So Jesus just said that you should go and sell what you have, and give it to the poor. He didn't say what you'd like him to say. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I think this practice should be extended. Donated blood - have your speeding ticket dismissed, and so on. And if you don't have one yet - you'll buy a "pardon" (non-transferrable) for your future moving violations :) * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Funny thing is that at least in Santa Clara county (CA) there is no difference in fine/points whether you go 5 or 15 over speed limit. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Because: - I do not force everybody (in any way) to be in accordance with my beliefs by doing or not doing something; - I do not spread my beliefs over everybody in hope somebody picks them too; - I understand that a few things of those I believe in have no proof, and MAY NOT EXIST, and react appropriately. If any Christian followed those rules, the life would be much simpler. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

A lot of people do this - even law professors sometime tell stories to explain how specific law was born or is used. However the law is stil written using strict and non-ambiguous (in most cases) languare. However JC often tells stories instead of telling the people what to do directly, and often refuses to explain what he meant. For example: Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. So basically Jesus made a strong claim that it is almost impossible (see the comparision with the camel and eye of a needle) for a rich man (funny he didn't mention women) to enter the kingdom of heaven. Does this story help us understand anything? No! There is no definition of "rich man", and comparing to some countries almost everyone in U.S. is rich (and therefore cannot enter the kingdom of God). Is there any explanation why it is difficult? Is there any advice of what should be done? Nope. But what is still here There was no explanation Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? A reasonable question from reasonable people, right? Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. So Jesus didn't answer their question at all. And his answer is far from even being considered reasonable, and is completely useless - because it is very vague, and does not provide us with any useful information. And yes, he was very good in it. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Yeap... my accountant just called to please me with the "really bad news" that I owe more than $20K in taxes for 2006. He was impressed that I was happy, as my own calculation showed a couple thousands more (and that's a lot of jumps!), but I got the overall impression was that he expected me to commit a suicide right now. You need to live in Europe for a few years. Maybe Canada would work too, have no idea how high taxes are there. But taxes in U.S. are joke comparing to those in some European countries. If you make more than 100K there, expect to pay about 50K or more in taxes - and in most cases you'll end up much more than you expected. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I don't think it is a good idea. It is hard to tell the cop that without admitting - either implicitly or explicitly - that you were speeding. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

This is important. Check the following defence: http://www.helpigotaticket.com/speed/schoolzone.html and read the vehicle code (or the appropriate law of your state) to see what you are charged with. That's why you got just speeding ticket - if you say that you go over speed limit because you are intentionally speeding, you'd get reckless driving ticket :) * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I didn't say I have no time at all. I said that trying to prove that something does not exist is a waste of time if that thing never existed. Try to prove that Flying Spaghetti Monster does not exist, and you'll get it. Regarding beliefs - I missed your point here. Could you explain? I don't really care. And the God does not care either: by your definition He is already omnipotent, so He does not need any support from anyone. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

If you look on the literature which supposed to teach us how to live by setting the rules like "what can and what cannot be done" - yes, this literature is awful boring stuff. Just look on U.S.C. or your state laws. But if you are talking about the literature which was created to entertain or amuse you - yes, I'd agree that this is the only thing the Bible is useful for. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Before I counter those arguments, let me ask you why do you think JC _corrected_ the understanding? Just because "no murder" was said AFTER "cursing children should die to death" - and this means that if we find ANY JC explanation for murdering in the Bible after that, it will counter the appropriate 5th Chapter? Or there is different reason? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

What state did you get a ticket? In CA we have a nice "trial by declaration" procedure where I won my ticket by mail - without even visiting the court! Was it "Speed Limit 25" zone, or just a school zone - "Speed limit 25 when children are present"? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I'll gladly show my arguments against the existence when you prove that the soul exists. Until that - sorry, no time for trying to counter the existence of any thing you could imagine in the wild range from a soul and Jesus to Flying Spagetty Monsters and Green Invisible Curious George Which Gonna Eat Me Tomorrow. Bad for you as well - wasting your time to care about those non-existing things instead of spending more time to care on people who do exist. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

time() is not affected by DST change. And if you use gmtime() instead of localtime(), you are fine anyway :) * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

The ability to be "spiritally whole", and even the existence of soul itself are also subject to belief. For example, I don't believe in it, and therefore there is no way (and no reason) for me to be spiritally whole. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

That's what I was going to say. If the Bible cannot be read without interpretations, the benefit of studying the Bible is the same that studying the text consist of random words. But if you read the Bible without interpretation, it is very contradicting, so cannot be studyed for anything useful either. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

This is correct for most popular texts, but not for the Bible. I can hardly remember any book which has more than one HUNDRED(!) interpretations, and all of them could be proven to be valid as long as you believe in it. And this is the book which is supposed to be inspired by God! So why were you addressing them to me? Did I posted links to "atheist websites", or you just have an impression that someone needs to check an atheist website to see that the Bible is full of contradictions? Sorry - you just need to carefully read it - without thinking about Perfect Good Lord every three seconds - and you'll see it yourself. So here is the difference - you see plain English text, but you believe it means something different - not what it written. Then your beliefs are not different that someone's beliefs that JC wanted parents to give children a 6-pack every day. Both of you cannot stand on their accuracy of beliefs, because all you have is faith, not proof. That's why I ignore the beliefs while reading the Bible, and that's why I see a lot of contradictions you do not. This is so far the third time you are making an argument regarding what God or JC did, but did not provide any appropriate proof - for example, a quote from the Bible. This makes the discussion useless. Please stop it; if you say JC did something, please either provide a proof in form of biblical quote, or add that it is your own interpretation based on your own belief. In last case the argument is much less truthworsy though, as validity of your beliefs cannot be estimated. Maybe. You cannot say it didn't happen just because it wasn't mentioned in the Bible. There is a lot of things which most likely happened (like JC farting), which are not described in the Bible. So you consider "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city." as LEAVE? Are you serious?!? The main problem with religion is exactly that all of you cannot interpret all scripture as literal - because it becomes clear that the Bible is full of contradictions, violence and stuff really far from "family values". However the catch is that if you start your interpretation, then someone else starts his interpretation, and at the end of the day we have a hundred religions based on the Bible, each of which says it is the only true religion. In terms of Salvation this is just a disaster. No, your interpretation is not based on knowledge. It is based on beliefs. Just for this man. He explicitly said that the only purpose for this man being blind is so JC could demonstrate his power. Remember that a lot of times JC heard something wrong from his followers he corrected them immediately? So why didn't he corrected them this time? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I thought those two are closely related. What is your definition of "being sexually active", if it is not related to "actually have sex"? Personally I don't think the fact parents provide protection vs the parents do not provide protection (while maintaining the same attitude and openess) affects kid's decision. Not necessary; they may refuse the BC for some reasons, but still support the kid's decision verbally * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Don't worry, I can give you free lessons :) * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Why? It is mostly belevers who deify anything from Holy Fire to lightnints. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I'm an amatuer In gay marriage? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *