Defending the Truth

First, I'd like to say I don't like John Kerry, but saying that he's a traitor is just a bit harsh considering his circumstances. I think many people would like to believe that he was protesting soliders, saying they were murderers. Look, things get mixed up or exaggerated in such elections as fierce as last year's. Tons and tons of probaganda movies like Farenheit 911 and the video produced by the Swift Boat opperators (I forgot the name of it, you'll have to excuse me). Kerry was arguing that the Vietnam War had become too brutal and the US needed to pull out; no one can deny that it was driving our soldiers crazy. They'd never known this type of warfare before, just the few that fought in the Filipino-American war, whose stories were never really heard.

Had Bush actually been involved with the Vietnam War, I honestly believe we wouldn't be occupying Iraq at this point. A man doesn't drop loads of napalm or incendiary bombs on people and not feel a sliver of shame, guilt, or regret. Had Bush even tried to fulfill his duties, he'd have realized that war is a horrendous ordeal.

I believe that what Kerry did was so much more honorable than what Bush did, but I won't let issues like that that determine who gets my vote--people make mistakes, especially when they're as young and Bush and Kerry were during that time. Bush is as incompetant as Kerry is unopinionated.

As for secularists, I support what they fight for, which isn't to abolish religion, but to make it clear that religious leaders need to be careful with how they use their power. Their beliefs and morals don't apply to everyone and they need to realize that the country is populated by individuals, not followers. Americans are born surrounded by God, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I do believe people should grow up with the ability to form their own beliefs. If they could, I don't think there would be so much hatred towards Christianity. Everyone should be entitled to their own truth, but it seems that we are born into this country with our beliefs already assigned to us, which in my mind is wrong. I think many people who come to hate Christianity either feel betrayed by it, or recognize that it can indeed be harmful to individual minds.

Since Christianity is so deeply engrained into American culture though, I know it's impossible to reverse the tradition of teaching our children that the truth is in the Bible. Some people see it as their saving grace, some people see it as an itch that won't go away. I simply don't think Christianity should be advertised as the one universal truth. Influence is tyranny in the hands of men.

"...We must not judge other cultures through our own eyes, instead we must judge them by their own."

I respect the average Christian, but there are some out there who feel it is their duty to enforce the laws of [the Christian] God, which I don't respect. Christianity seems to suffer from the telephone effect, but I think it's a fact of life that individuality doesn't. There are universal rights-and-wrongs, but Christianity has been influenced by the ideologies of individuals for 2000 years which has most definately had an effect on the religion. This is why some see so much evil in it today.

That's my two cents anyway. You have your own beliefs.

You're reading the words of one, albeit, not a very good one. I swear, and break the abstinence rules on a regular basis, but that doesn't mean that that my beliefs aren't strong, just that sometimes my will isn't as strong as it should be. The actual teachings of Jesus were very "liberal" or "compassionate" by today's standards. Don't judge the merit of an entire faith based on those people that twist the core beliefs to meet their own needs.

This is a logical fallacy. You claim that "no one can... know anything about God." However, you also say that your argument that no one can know anything about God is "more than opinion", suggesting that it is the truth. It sounds like you are saying that you know something about God, but whatever anyone else knows about God is not true. Your position leaves two possibilities:

1. No one can know anything about God (which means that we cannot know that God is completely unknown to people).

or

2. People can know something about God.

Either option eliminates your position.

My Head exploded when I read this... Now I am headless... Thanks...

Haha. I hate when that happens.

Wow, good point. I like the way you think.

I understand what you're saying. The only problem is the concept of God is the creation of the human mind. I know you're talking about logic, but when it comes to God...logic is just thrown out the window anyway.

I am saying no human can objectively know if God exists or not. No more, no less.

I agree, that's why they call it 'faith'. It's great to have you back my friend.

Whatever happened to liberalguy?? He started this topic which has seen much attention. Hope he comes back to see all the replies.