Is gondring on the ping list, or does he just barge in? I cannot understand what he is trying to accomplish by arguing against the Absolutes on the "Moral Absolutes" threads, rather than working out with the rest of us how these Absolutes can be restored to law or safeguarded in the lives of innocents.
The absolutes to which we refer on these threads may be Christian ones; but our understanding is that Christ came to give us the rules for living and make us ambassadors of those principles for the good of the entire world. This understanding undergirds the now-embattled doctrine of American exceptionalism, in which so many of our best and brightest have given their lives to free other nations, without trying to annex those nations permanently.
Christ warned that many would mock and fight against the principles He taught, even though they represent harmony with the imperatives of the Supreme Government of the universe; and even though going astray from them puts the transgressor into jeopardy. Those principles transcend any earthly government; and we understand all of us who believe in them may have to die for them physically, not just those who engage in combat service. Certainly we must "die to self."
It's not hard to see why some people feel that Christianity is a form of aggressive imperialism; and also why some people are tempted to the sin of self-righteousness through the use of government power.
When our pioneer nation was formed, most of its population was at least socially Christian and I believe a majority actually believed in its tenets; now, we can expect the mocking and argumentation to intensify. In modern times, now that we have prolonged our lives, improved health and sanitation and many of the other temporal ills that tested the faith of former generations, we are spoiled children afflicted with gluttony, lust and boredom. If God did not now use intellectual challenges to test our resolve to stand for what we believe is His will, what would be the point of claiming to follow Him?
NONE of the Founding Fathers supporting anything even approaching euthanasia and the idea that they were just a bunch of libertarians is absurd (some of them supported the death penalty for homosexuals).
I wasn't aware that it was a private thread. Perhaps you should just use FReepmail.
In most cases, when something is posted, other FReepers join in and post on the thread...and I know you know that.
The absolutes to which we refer on these threads may be Christian ones; but our understanding is that Christ came to give us the rules for living and make us ambassadors of those principles for the good of the entire world.
Yes, but you must have a different Bible from the one on which I was raised. In mine, Jesus didn't say, "try to get the Romans to pass laws controlling the behavior of the people." In mine, what Jesus actually taught was that if people didn't agree with what you were pushing, you just shake the dust off your sandals and move on.
I suppose you feel that you have a better absolute than what He taught.
Perhaps your buddies here are using the following, from the Book of Disrespect, though I don't recall the chapter and verse:
1Use the 'net and cast broadly, and take the red herringsa to the Forum and spread them so that all may experience their stench.Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what they follow, but I must break it to you...that's not from the Bible.
asome manuscripts include: (such as "culture of death," "pro-death," or "euthanasia," for "respecting an individual and his rights").