LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY swisscelt)

I hope my fellow members here won't mind if I say a few words on something that isn't related to the topic of this community. Rather, it's related to the community itself: In other words, a metatopic. If the moderators of this community find this inappropriate, I will be more than happy to back down and remove this post myself if need be.

I don't say this to brag, but the fact is I've been in this community for a long time. If I'm not a charter member, I'm close. In that time, I've witnessed a pendulum swing to this community. Let me explain: This community is founded upon what I've called a "great compromise". We value contributions from Christians and non-Christians alike; indeed, we value contributions from people of every creed and non-creed. The "great compromise", then, is that members of this community must understand that this community exists to critique and report on the phenomenon known as Dominionism, while going lightly on the larger group of people we call Christians.

The pendulum swing results from fine tuning this compromise. This is to be expected, as we are but human. We tend to swing from antitheism toward a defense of Christianity. While this swing is minimal, it is tolerable. When, however, the swing takes us too far off-kilter, those of us with a vested interest in the success of this community must speak up.

My friends and fellow members, I fear we may be reaching that time. It wasn't too long ago that the timbre of the community leaned too heavily toward a kind of antitheism. Now, however, I think we've overcorrected, and may be reaching toward Christian apologia.

What can be done about this? Simple: We need to discuss this, thoughtfully and honestly, so that if an imbalance exists, we can correct it. I can point to specific posts and actions made recently, but really there's no need, as that would simply inflame passions against prudence. With that, I leave this metatopic to the community to discuss. Thanks for reading.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY raven_oreilly) Yup. More mail.

Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) wants money to help launch "Good News Clubs" into "EVERY single public elementary school in the nation!" as a result of a Supreme Court decision allowing them to have their clubs in schools (Justice Stevens and Souter's problem was opening state facilities ((the school)) to religious proselytizing). The letter also talks about "studies" that say, "the older kids get, the less likely they are to accept Christ. In fact, pllster George Barna's research shows that 'whatever a child believes by the time they are 13 is, in most cases, what they will die believing!'"

The wiki entry had an interesting bit at the bottom about break off groups, so I took a look at CEF's site and at their statement of faith. Not sure of what to make of them, but their #1 entry there is:

1. That "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole book called THE BIBLE; that it is inerrant in the original writing and that its teaching and authority are absolute, supreme and final. That the Holy Spirit guided the holy men of old in all that they wrote. 2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 4:2; 2 Peter 1:21. (emphasis mine)

11. In the evangelization of the world; that the supreme mission of the people of God in this age is to preach the Gospel to every creature. That special emphasis should be placed upon the evangelization of children. Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19; Matthew 18:14.

15. In the reality and personality of Satan, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9) Ephesians 6:11, 12; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10.

Again, still new at this, but those bits caught my eye.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY crazyjane13)

I've been doing a bit of musing on the small storm generated by the recent thread on the teacher who was allegedly fired for calling the "Eden" story a fairy tale.

One of the points that was brought up - regarding investigating reasons why Christianity apparently lent itself to fascistic behaviour - resulted in the thread being frozen. I do think there's some merit in investigating this for our purposes, though. (Bear with me, mods, because I am going somewhere relevant with this.)

( Where do they get their incredible drive?? )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY navytron89) The Council of Europe is making the right stand: opposing the teaching of creationism and "intelligent design" in European public schools isn't a slam on religion but instead an effort to keep up standards on science education. Considering the number of young-earth creationists who try to claim that "Darwinism leads to Nazism and Communism", pointing out that attacks on evolutionary theory were rooted in religious extremism was a nice touch. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070925/sc_nm/europe_creationism_dc

Interesting article; I like the fact that they are making sure that they are not accused of being religious intolerant and have properly worked to word it to keep creationism and intelligent design out of  schools across Europe. Additionally keeping EU politicians from supporting their Religious Reich associates who are backing the ID movement across the EU. 

Hopefully this resolution will keep the Religious Reich  students prostelyings out of public schools especially, the ones that have migrated from America and are converting the old countries students  to their new ideological views. I would love to see the look on their faces when they see the resolution has passed and have to go to high court to justify their sick world view being taught to others. I know a few of the Crown barristers will probably scoff at them, if not fine them fore wasting valuble court time. 

The sad thing is how much funding is shelled into Creationists /ID movement would be better spent in helping people getting their lives together instead of preaching about a fantasy realm after you've shuffled off the mortal coil. The funds would be better spent making  peoples' lives better in the here and now, instead of a place that may or may not exist. But explain that  to a bunch of morally stunted and psychological immature sheeple.