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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
 Posted - 04/18/2011 : 23:29:54 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by On fire for Christ
Heaven and Hell are the ultimate carrot and stick. |
Only if one thinks that Heaven is desirable. The descriptions I've heard make the two destinations a toss-up of awfulness. Except for Twain's, of course. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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alienist
Skeptic Friend
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 07:43:40 [Permalink]
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I have been reading about a fundamentalist preacher, Rob Bell, who has written a book questioning the existence of hell. It seems to be causing quite a stir among fundamentalist christians. They just can't imagine that people can be moral without the threat of hell.
To me, morality is more about remembering we are all humans together. I was lucky to be born to a family and enviroment taht was supportive and loving. It is more important to understand why some people end up committing crimes then just condemning them as being "bad." |
The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well! - Joe Ancis |
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Machi4velli
SFN Regular
USA
854 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2011 : 20:39:41 [Permalink]
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In some states it is allowed for unelected state school boards to take over districts that don't perform and make their decisions for them even though the local school boards are elected -- at least I know in West Virginia, the state school board is fully appointed and counties have publicly elected school boards. I expect some other states have this system as well. I'm not well-versed in the Wisconsin situation other than what I've seen on TV, so I'm not commenting on that really, but I don't think we should overreact to any instance state superseding local authority.
Similarly, the federal government has been gaining power from the states throughout our history. (The transition from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution was fully legit, but I am speaking of history after 1788.) That supersedes state elected officials, and states have even more legal protections of their powers from the federal government than local governments generally have from their state governments. And, these transitions have often produced very good results, particularly in the context of the federal government. Of course the local issues are less newsworthy or memorable, but I imagine some good has come of states taking local powers. |
"Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people."
-Giordano Bruno
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge."
-Stephen Hawking
"Seeking what is true is not seeking what is desirable"
-Albert Camus |
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Fascism on the march....
