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Gene Savory,
I agree with everything but the nomadic part. My interpretation of Genesis Ch. 2 is that it explains the difference between farmers (Adam and Eve, because of the expulsion from Eden) and nomads (everyone else).
Not only is it abusive; it is crazy making.
Think of the neurosis created when one realizes that what they have been told is real is not real at all.
Damn. Poor kids. Not only are they bringing up these children intellectually inept - they are completely unable to relate to other people (who are reality based) so their social network will be constrained to people who believe the same way.
Religious 'education' is child abuse.
...it's like saying "George Washington had wooden teeth, therefore wooden teeth is the best form of dentistry!"
[Crap. Sorry bout that. Did not mean to post that blank.]
Re: Child Abuse or Religious Freedom
I believe, as a free society, parents have the right {and the responsibility} to bring up their children according to their own belief system. I also believe that parents have a responsibility to teach their children other people's points of view and belief systems.
However, there comes a line that when one crosses it, it is no longer religion it is now a cult. A cult is realized when the believer no longer accepts reality and instead creates their own.
Calling scientific fact a "different point of view" is clearly a good indicator of a cult.
Last night as I was trying to get to sleep, something occurred to me that I'd like to share. Often the progressive movement holds protests, but I haven't heard of the progressive movement holding rally's. I know some might say "What's the difference?" Well to me a protest organizes to address only one or very few issues, and generally in a confrontational setting. A rally I would submit, could be held to encompass as many progressive issues possible in an educational setting, like going to a trade show to learn about the latest tech. Progressive group representatives could have booths in which they can handout literature as well as discuss their views with visitors. Consider walking down an aisle where you could visit the Democratic Party booth, Green Party booth, then the Medical Reform booth, Green Tech booth, etc... on the way to the main stage area where perhaps a band is playing or a local progressive candidate is giving a stump speech.
My thought isn't trying to make these rally's super-massive, but more or less trying to get a couple of thousand people to go through it. Perhaps holding it at a college parking lot, or regional park. Think about your local metropolitan area doing these rally's biannually or quarterly. I think it would be a very positive way to get out the progressive message, while being difficult for the Corporate ran media outlets from treating it as " just a bunch of angry protesters"
Does this make sense to anyone?
Thom,
The argument that the World is only 6-7000 years old is derived from the argument that when God "created the universe in 6 days", they meant 6 LITERAL days... or one 24 hour rotation of the Earth.
Now tell me, if Light wasn't created until the "sixth" day, then there was no "24 hour day" by which to apply to the preceding 5. How to you calculate a "day" before there was an Earth or a Sun?
"Day" meaning "24 hours" is a human construct. There is NO reason "day" in Genesis couldn't refer to a billion years or more.
I was tought that 1 day of the Lord was equal to 1000 years. If man was created on Day 6, that math does not make sense.
When Creationists cite ancient scientists from BEFORE we knew the world was ancient, as evidence that the world is not ancient, they commit a basic logic flaw whose name I forget. It's like citing someone who doesn't speak English as an argument that English doesn't exist.
Re: Child Abuse or Religious Freedom
Our alleged educational system is being corrupted and bent to an authoritarian model that tries to inoculate our children with complete nonsense garnered from an ancient compendium of nomadic fairy tales.
Thom, get Michael J. McHugh on the fact that "secular" doesn't mean "atheist". Secular things don't deny religious ideas. He asked what's wrong with presenting an alternative world view. The answer is that it's a problem when it's not presented as an alternative; they present their view as fact, and in contradiction with science.
Bishop Ussher calculated the age of the earth to be 6000-7000 years old
As sad as it is, fact is only fact when you believe it.... it becomes well known fact when most people believe it.
Karl Rove is proof of this...
FACTS HAVE A LIBERAL BIAS.
"People should choose the facts that they want to believe".
I choose to believe that the world is flat.
Once a person claims the Earth is 7,000 years old, the conversation is over.
YEWWW!!!! McHugh just opinion-casted all over your shoes.
EVOLUTION IS FACT!!!!
Just speculating; how about renaming The House of Representatives to The House of Reprehensibles?
Why is the department of homeland security not protecting us from financial terrorists?
If their job really is to make the "homeland" secure shouldn't they be pushing "protectionist" policies in order to make this country more self reliant and secure???
Thom,
You keep saying “Cesar Chavez,” but I think you mean “Hugo.” And he’s more “socialist” and “populist” than “terrorist.” He’s using Venezuela’s oil revenues to help the people.
And he is doing a lot to hurt the "people" in Venezuela. If he is not careful he will end up with another mess like Zimbabwe...
I will definitely wait to hear the hour-two discussion of the topic:
"Is it child abuse to homeschool your children with books from Bob Jones University? "
As a politically progressive former homeschooling mom, current qualified evaluator of homeschooled students in the state of Colorado, holder of a Ph.D in education, and a former teacher in public and private schoolsI have a unique perspective on this topic.
I would never use material from Bob Jones University and other conservative Christian sources with my daughter or other students. However, when I interview homeschooling parents and children to do academic evaluations, I don't feel it's my place to question their religions, politics, teaching styles, philosophies of education, or the teaching materials they use. If the children are making academic progress in all academic subjects, I am fairly satisfied.
In my experience, even the most conservative, curriculum-bound homeschooling families I have interviewed offer their children rich and varied experiences in the community, as well as individual attention and opportunities for the children to learn at their own pace.
I may not agree with everything they're teaching their children about history or science, but it's not my place to judge the way they're raising their children, if they are not neglecting or abusing them. Just my opinion.
Mark K,
I didn't get to hear Thom's complete shows lately so I don't know what he said regarding Cesar Chavez. I am familiar with Chavez' work, though, and I have always considered him to be a hero who stood up for the rights of the so-called "little guy" that makes up the backbone of this country.
Re: Florida caging list lawsuit. "Justice" is not only blindfolded in this country, she is bound, gagged and fighting for her life as well.
http://images.doba.com/1639/img_woodlandimports_-_1157284353068_75386.jpg
A free market is free in the same sense that a reality show is real. (Stolen from a good source.)
MEDICARE for ALL is a JOBS BILL is an ECONOMIC STIMULIS BILL --
a CURE-ALL -- hummm --
employers could hire great employees --
knowing this --
each employee comes with a life time of medical benefits --
because the employer has collected their federal income taxes --
more employees make a healthy economy --
MEDICARE for ALL is a JOBS BILL is an ECONOMICS STIMULIS BILL --
i suggest tying it together for your lawmakers --
the lobbyist are distorting the beauty --
of the PUBLIC securing their own PUBLIC PHYSICAL + ECONOMIC HEALTH --
thank-you for your consideration --
GRATEFULLY EVERYTHING CHANGES --
with so many options -- MM