"the new pledge of allegiance" tought it was cool and would share it w/ you

[werewolfx13]

They weren't teaching intelligent design when I graduated, but my roomate just moved from a small town in Kansas, she lived with a family with a 16 y/o son..his school is required to teach intelligent design, and required to spend no more than 3 chapters on evolution...

[85MudMonster]

These things always turn into debates with two sides on them, and both sides think their right. SgtDel, I'm not that far out of school either as indicated by my age, however when I was in Biology and we did the "Darwin" thing, we had an essay test on "How the earth was formed?" So I quoted the bible, and was almost failed until I told the school that they were violating my rights to believe what I wanted to, and didn't want to make an ordeal out of it if I didn't have to but I would. Also the way I look at the no prayer in school thing is that now my rights are impeded because someone else had their rights impeded, I know we have freedom of religion and speech and beliefs but we have to draw the line somewhere. I mean Why does having God on our money offend anyone? Does God make our money less valuable, if anything I would think it would be the opposite. But I think this country will fall hard if we turn our backs on God and play the politically correct card and try to make everyone happy. I mean what is the difference if the courthouse has the ten commandments on it? Would you rather have Satan on it? Would you rather our future generation be running wild with no morals and doing whatever feels good without thinking of the consequences? Would you rather that courthouse be covered in graffiti because of the lack of respect kids have for authority? Look at the US 50 years ago and now. Where have our morals gone? We sold them for the all mighty dollar and the feel good now moments. I'd rather live in the 1940's or 50's then see what the next few decades hold. I've read how it all ends and it's not pretty, wars, disasters, disease...I'm just glad that I won't be here for it. That's just my 2 pennies on the God thing.

Dan

[Lt.Del]

SgtDel, I'm not that far out of school either as indicated by my age, however when I was in Biology and we did the "Darwin" thing, we had an essay test on "How the earth was formed?"

Precisely my point 85mudmonster.


This is what i wrote earlier....

I don't know if they are teaching intelligent design or not.  They didn't when I went to school.  There were more Science courses teaching evolution (ala:Darwin).

The point I made is that we are not infringing upon the atheist's rights.  In public schools one learns of evolution moreso than intelligent design. I never took a test on Adam and Eve in school.

Look at the US 50 years ago and now. Where have our morals gone? We sold them for the all mighty dollar and the feel good now moments. I'd rather live in the 1940's or 50's then see what the next few decades hold. I've read how it all ends and it's not pretty, wars, disasters, disease...I'm

I concur.  You are wise for your age.

And I am sorry for using the term "GEEZE" earlier  (Geeze is slang for Jesus--You know, when you can't believe something--it is commonly used in place of a profanity, like "Jesus Christ!"  So, for those who are offended by my use of a religious character, please forgive me ---oh, wait, it doesn't matter if i am forgiven or not, at the gates, St. Peter doesn't exist, oh, wait, what gates?) 

[werewolfx13]

I'm not the type to be offended by the use of a religious figure in daily speech...I do it all the time, mainly because soon after my HS graduation, I realized that I seldom managed a sentence without some form of profanity, and worked dilligently at weening myself off of it..now I just stammer and sound stupid, instead of filthing and fouling and..sounding stupid..

[85MudMonster]

Look at the US 50 years ago and now. Where have our morals gone? We sold them for the all mighty dollar and the feel good now moments. I'd rather live in the 1940's or 50's then see what the next few decades hold. I've read how it all ends and it's not pretty, wars, disasters, disease...I'm

I concur.  You are wise for your age.

....

I blame that on good parenting. 

[cjtimp]

To whom it may concern - I LOVE JESUS!!!!, I believe the BIBLE, and I miss Dale Earnhardt.   

[75stepside454]

First off, Ive always been considered an agnostic. For those who dont know what that is, it basically means that I just dont know. It doesnt mean I dont believe in a deity.. I just dont know.
 After the attack on 9/11 I started to realize that  we are under attack by religous extremists who believe that anyone who dont carry the same faith are dogs ,& need to be destroyed. It made me wonder where people get faith from. I started asking questions. I commonly do service calls at churches, so whenever possible, Id strike up a conversation, I started reading.... the Bible, & other inforamtion. I actually have been going to church weekly. I do believe that there is a higher power, its obvious to me. I cant however call myself a Christian, because I cant say that I have Faith.
      I never understood how anyone can take offense to "in God we trust" it doesnt specifically say...what God. Like it or not, this country was founded on Jew-Christian values & beleifs. the seperation of church and state has been strongly missuded by the ACLU & others.
  I could go on, but Im starting to ramble LOL. John

[85MudMonster]

We all miss Dale. 

John, I'm glad that 9/11 has had that effect on you, I'm sure you're not the only one who started looking for answers after that happened. Faith is hard to explain, although some religions and groups of people go to far, but hopfully the U.S. will be there to kick some butt when people get jumpy. I'm not going to force one certain religion down your throuht because I hear people all the time say how much they hate that, and I would never want to turn someone away from Jesus by what I said. I encourage you to keep going to chruch and keep your heart open, Jesus is always there offering the gift of eternal life, all you have to do is believe and accept. Anyway, I do not want to start preaching, and forcing beliefs on people, so I will end there.

Dan

[75stepside454]

Thanks, I dont know if Ill ever find faith, however, I find myself both more informed, & confused...wierd  LOL. It is obvious to me that there is a creator, & although some of what Ive read in the Bible doesnt make sense to me, the message is good.
 I also believe part of what is wrong with so many people today is lack of any instilled moral values. Now, Im not saying the only place to find moral values is church, but, alot of the people who dont go to church, have children who are disrespectful, unappreciative, inconsiderate, rude, selfish, etc., just lack of being kind to others. So, if nothing else, I enjoy the messages that I already know, just a nice reminder. John

[Captkaos]

Thanks, I dont know if Ill ever find faith, however, I find myself both more informed, & confused...wierd  LOL. It is obvious to me that there is a creator

John,
You have already found faith...
To commit oneself to act based on sufficient evidence to warrant belief, but without absolute proof.  You found with this"

I started reading.... the Bible, & other inforamtion. I actually have been going to church weekly.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Everyone has faith, most of it is taken for granted though.  We wake up knowing there is life giving air to breath, even though there is no absolute proof that it exists when we awake, that is faith.

[85MudMonster]

Captkaos, you hit the nail on the head.

[75stepside454]

I appreciate the remarks, but I dont think thats faith. To me, somebody who has faith in God, or faith in Jesus for eample, believes in the lord, as its written in the Holy Bible, without question.
 I however believe in a creator, & I love the message, but Im not for certain who the creator is. I think the creator is  God, & I think his son is Jesus, & to believe in Jesus is the true path to heaven, but I dont know, thats where I lack faith.
   My problem is ,Im a skeptic, over lotsa stuff, not just the Bible. All through biblical times there were skeptics, some , or many where given angels & visions. Some became belivers, some didnt.Im one of those. LOL. John

[Lt.Del]

It never hurts to be a skeptic....and not just take "the word for it" (even if you are not from Missouri--the show me state).  You are being honest and there is nothing wrong with that. Some people "want" to believe in it and simply say they do because that is what they are "supposed" to say.  I think more people have some doubt than what any one person realizes.

Ask yourself honestly, "How can one be sure?" Yes, generations before ours believed strongly in their religion--does that mean we should?.   We are presently in a world of information and know the reasons for many things.     Why does it rain? Why are leaves green?  Why does water put out fire?  Why did your Chevy truck get a flat last week?  We know these things because we can see it or touch it--experiment with it.

Religion was the answer for all of these things before we found the science of these things. Why does water flow downhill?  Because God created it that way.

Now many want to see the science of religion.   How can it be tested, proved, validated?

I sound like an atheist but I am just bringing to light the turmoil many find within themselves.  I consider myself a religious person but not in the text book sense.  I know there was a man named Jesus Christ and had followers.  Was he the son of God?  I believe in evolution, but, a foundation could have been laid to set this in process by an almighty being. Did we evolve from chimps?  No.  However, sharing 99% of their DNA, it could be concluded that chimps and man did share a common mammal ancestor millions of years ago and simply, somewhere up the line, we branched apart--after millions of years one branch became what is now known as chimps, the other after millions of years evolved into us. Mutations may be the staple to an evolving species.  They do occur.  Some groups are immune to specific diseases, while others will and have died from it...due to mutations (ie:Black Plague).  It is nature's way of cleansing to become a more perfect species. Some groups are more susceptible to cancers than others due to their DNA--which was a result of mutation somewhere along the line.   I know that the good book says that God created man in his own likeness.  The bible was written by man, as egotistical as he is. In this information-rich society, we need to know the how and why and what and when, etc...Sometimes it is a shame to spend so many years in school learning the sciences. But I, for one, strive for answers--that is just who I am.  And I know we cannot answer everything---I have a disease for knowledge that cannot be satisfied. My 6,000 nonfiction books in my basement don't hold all the answers unfortunately.   

[75stepside454]

yousound like we share a common boat.

[85MudMonster]

what's wrong with Missouri? I was raised there!!