I have my own view on the Bible. I the original Bible, especially quotes from Jesus, was a true documentation, if said in Aramaic. But while translated intro Greek - and then from Greek into English - many passages became pretty nonsencial. I once wrote here my view that "son of God" means no more no less than simply "human". Similar thing might have happened here with the pigs and the daemons. I think the "possessed with daemons" human was simply a mentally ill person - and I also think Jesus had a gift for some kind of hypnosis, able to hypnotize both humans and animals without making them relax. So, with hypnosis technique, he made the "possessed" person look sane and make the pigs run down into the water.
I also thought that the phrase "son of God" mean no more no less than simply "human", thanks for letting me see I'm not the only one.
And as for the pigs - I felt sorry for them when I was a child, but now think that it must have been a figure of speech. After all, why on earth would anyone keep pigs if they couldn't eat them? Pig milk? Pig racing? Philosowphical discussions? No, that might have been rather boaring. 
uh-oh. Christianity and politics both in the same thread.
.... I like John McCain
Mom
Good (?) idea alert: Let's keep them together in this thread, and ban them from all other threads for all time. Also, given the sausage element, we could confine the other controversial topic here as well! 
Then, when any of us feel like a good argument, we know where to look. Conversely, all other threads can be all sweetness and light!
P.S. Who on earth is John McCain? 
Unfortunately, Max, a lot of people see their religion as the absolute truth and therefore
who they are on a very deep level, not as a choice. If you criticise their religion they take it as a direct criticism of them and therefore think it direspectful.
We really have to be careful not to offend and hope that others aren't offensive to us.
btw I'm Roman Catholic by birth - but probably not a good one! I have failed to find anything offensive to religious belief here. If God isn't big enough to cope with scepticism and disbelief, then she isn't God.
Well stated Max.
Attitudes related to power and privilege are so institutionalised within society - people who are able to take advantage are often blind to the benefits.
I like to think things are improving - somewhat.
Condoleeza comes across to me as being a puppet.
I agree. Well put, Max.
And I'm not surprised by Ms Rice's being seen as a puppet - how can she have any clout when even her alleged friends are telling her, all the time, that she has her position not because of but in spite of who she is.
I humbly hope you didn't read my post thinking that I have no respect for Ms Rice.
I have enormous respect for anyone who manages to get as far as she has - and especially against odds that her boss cannot fathom.
I was actually expressing disgust with President Bush for his appallingly condescending attitude.
I would have far greater respect for the USA if Ms Rice were president, despite the fact that I disagree with her politics.
But I have a horrible suspicion that although the US will eventually elect a non-WASP-male president, the powers behind the scenes will orchestrate it so that their presidency will be perceived as an abysmal failure. Then they will say:
"We tried a *gay/female/black/native american/non-christian/all of the above* president and look what happened!"
and go back to electing each other.
Yetti, pull your horns in. You are ranting again. You'll get spittle all over your keyboard.
Oh, you didn't answer her question. Did you miss it?
And of course, anyone who rejects fundamental Islam because it prevents his 'enjoyment
of women and whisky' is bound to be a feminist!
Of all the reason's Christianity could be wrong, that's the reason you choose to stand with?
Why not? Most of the other reasons have already been stated here!
I'll agree with Emmy! Christianity is wrong because it hijacks the festivals of other beliefs and calls them holidays (Holy-Days).
I'd celebrate it the same in June..... here comes Santa Claus on his horse and wagon bringing gifts for the kids..... he has no beard because it is so hot..... and he is thin too.
Actually, no. Christmas in the southern hemisphere IS celebrated in the equivalent of June - and (big & fat & jolly) Santa has the full Coca-Cola outfit, COMPLETE with beard, all the shops have snow scenes and there are wooden snowmen for the kids to stick in the garden....
I don't really have much to say here other than I read parts of the bible a few weeks ago, and I found much of it thoroughly disturbing. I don't understand how people can claim to be proud of living their lives according to what this book says.
Most Christians prove that the less you read the bible, the easier it is to believe.
So that is the reason the Catholic Church used to forbid lay people from accessing the bible
Erkolos - DON'T READ IT!
The whole point of this thread is to concentrate all the pro/anti religious stuff that used to infect other threads. Before this thread you could hardly find a thread to read that didn't warp into religious wars, so please - leave it alone! It is a ghetto thread for stuff that no-one else wanted to read.
Perhaps you could leave your guard dogs here so it doesn't ever escape!
I have had arthritis for about thirty years. I used to keep it under control with exercise and occasional mild anti-inflammatories. Unfortunately, now I'm on blood thinners for my heart I can no longer take anti-inflammatories without risking severe internal bleeding.
So when my neck joints started to get sore I could do nothing about it and my poor neck muscles went into spasm just before Christmas. I only wear that collar when I'm out in the car or walking on rough ground, as the pain would otherwise prevent me getting any travel or exercise! I just put up with the pain indoors.
