Jennifer, I'm really sorry that what I said offended you. It was intended to be funny and flippant. Unfortunately that sort of humour always offends someone. However, to say that anything that offends anyone is bad just isn't feasible in reality. As twisted as it may seem there are those that believe they have a right to do things that are absolutely hideous and depraved to the majority of the world. So, when they are persecuted for their actions, which were based on their beliefs, who is really wrong? We cannot simply say that because it is a persons belief that it must be upheld as a right. (Point in case, there are actual organizations fighting for the right to pedophilia. Part of their argument is that someone should not be discriminated against based on their sexual practices. Asinine right? Well, in jurisprudence it is simply an extension of the kind protection that homosexuals receive under the same argument. Don't believe me? That was cited by the judge as part of the recent ruling in Canada where a person was recently found to be within their rights to possess material depicting sexual relations with children. Of course, that has been taken to a higher court.) I could say that I am offended by the fact that you feel you know what I believe. Does that make you 'bad'? Of course not. (By the way, I'm not offended at all.) Being kind, generous and rational is very subjective criteria for living ones life. I know people of all sorts of belief systems that are kind generous and rational, except for the occasional lapse in self-control. Like the fellow who killed someone while driving drunk. He was an otherwise great guy, except for that one serious lapse in good judgement. On the, "self-proclaimed religious person would mock another religion like you just did" statement; my goodness I am certain I have never proclaimed to be religious. I am a follower of Christ and believe that he is Lord, but I am not religious. (what religion is is a whole other thread!) To have a belief system that is non-exclusive of other belief systems is to admit that yours is imperfect and subject to change as need be. That, in my opinion, is not a belief system but a formula for confusion and dissension. You also said, "Or in other words, if you don't want people to hold your beliefs against you, don't hold theirs against them." Hey, hold all my beliefs against me, I don't mind. I am unshakably convicted of my beliefs. However, I am sorry that my flippant remark was construed as me holding someone else's beliefs against them. I may disagree with those beliefs, certainly, but never to the exclusion of the validity of that individual, or group, as a human that I inherently care about. As a Christian there are many "rules" but they are all weighed and measured against the greatest commandment; to love one another as Christ has loved us. If that is fully understood, then all else falls into place. And just to stir the pot a little bit more........ I'm a Jew too. And a Catholic. *awaiting barrage* (Brief qualifications of those statements) Jew - I am a son of Abraham. I follow the God of Abraham, Israel and David. Catholic - I believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost as universal. 'Taint that a can o' worms? Guy Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 09:39:14 -0700 From: Jennifer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Belief-O-Matic Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 09:04 AM 5/16/2001 -0400, you wrote: >Is it me or does the Unitarian doctrine sound like it >could be summed up in one word - "Whatever". It's you. I think I could sum it up better as "Do no harm" or "Think about how you can be part of the good that exists in the world." I know a lot of Unitarians and each one of them is kind, generous, and rational. It's a big craze among college professors. My mother recently joined the Unitarians (converted isn't a good word for it since they do not believe that religions are necessarily mutually exclusive). And although I do not count myself among their numbers (despite my rating on the test) I admit that I was disturbed that a self-proclaimed religious person would mock another religion like you just did. Obviously Unitarianism isn't strict enough for you and doesn't dictate enough rules for your taste, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have a system of beliefs. In fact, its system of belief dictates that the thing that you just did that disturbed me is a bad thing. Or in other words, if you don't want people to hold your beliefs against you, don't hold theirs against them. This rational flame was underwritten by the Unitarian Church. Or something. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cf-community@houseoffusion.com/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
