Posts Made By: Mark Norby

What's also revealing is the phrase: "so-called Founders"... it tells me that he doesn't have much respect for the term or the individuals that were the Founders.

From Britain: A private school for Jewish children was informed by the gov't that because of the anti-discrimination laws there, they (the school) must admit non-Jewish students. Remember that this is a "Private" school.

Is this too, um, opinionated?

Refet wants us to all become Muslims. Convert if you care to. I've just been responding to claims his religion makes. Again, I'm not comparing any other religion to his, just commenting on claims of science and innerancy, with my sources referenced.

If your claim is that there are scientific proofs in the Qur'an, then those claims are subject to scientific scrutiny. Astronomy started with the "Golden Age of Islam"? I think you are mistaken. It advanced, but was not born in this Golden Age. It developed with Indian and Greek influence. Here's a short history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomy_in_medieval_Islam
Here's a couple of short video concerning the history of Medieval Islam and science: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIMifWU5ucU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcSXwPsgLhE&NR=1
You suggest "Look for the truth and leave errors on the side. Debate is not good." In other words, don't question the accuracy of the Quran or Hadiths. I have no problem examining these works as literature, or as poetic writing. But they are not science, and they're not a complete history of the region. Neither are the holy books of Judaism or Christianity.

Speaking of only US population; most are Bibliclly illiterate. If the illiterate are told "donate your estate and you'll get to heaven", they are more likely to believe it than those that know what is written about such claims. At one time, youngsters' first experience with the Bible was on a parents' knee and read to. That was their first reading lesson, also. Also, let's not forget that many "Ivy League" colleges, such as Harvard, were established to provide education, including, religious instruction. Public schools, especially the more remote "one-room" type, used the Bible for literature, as well as reading practice. Today's intelligencia have prohibited that in our schools today, to the detriment of society, imo. Instead, there are, in my son's junior-high library, introductory books about Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism. But no Judaism or Christianity. Isn't that curious. Apparently, the "Powers That Be" haven't considered that a Buddhist might be curious about one of them, or are afraid of the ACLU or Freedom From Religion groups filing lawsuit. Just the threat is enough. And conservatives are accused of being fascist Thought Police. Go figure.

There is an obligation of all Christians to help the poor, widowed, orphans and others. That is done by voluntary offerings to various churches and charities that provide relief both here in the US, and abroad. There is also a lot of tax dollars spent on foreign aid. A great deal of money is spent on health insurance for the needy already, by way of tax dollars.
You say that religious individualism can be an evil brew. Would you rather that all "religious individuals" be like the Borg-of one mind, without free will? Should society be the same-religious or secular citizens going about their day without thought of anything not in the approved program?

What is your interpretation of the "camel to go thru the eye of a needle" verse?

Was it Sun Tzu who said, in effect: "Know your own weaknesses, because your enemy certainly does." The best thing to come out of this latest incident was that it showed us areas that need improvement.

I recall seeing/reading somewhere that the spreading of Aspen's range is due, in part to habitat destruction. Usually from logging of old-growth trees. The cleared areas grew aspens quickly because of more sunlight getting to the ground level-no overhead foliage to shade it. The aspen is a quicker growing tree than, say, the species that was harvested. Therefore it was able to gain a foothold in previously aspen-free areas. Of course, I may be completely wrong. Any forestry specialists out there?
The elevated CO2 levels spurring growth is worthy of note. Perhaps food crops will benefit as well.