Replies

Gotten around to responding to this yet?

Phaedrus has announced he's ignoring me. I can take it. However, casual observers may be interested in the following.

Me: Not all [E]vols ... are in the "Materialist Atheist" camp.

Yes, I exaggerated to make a point.

Ah. You get to exaggerate. Do I?

However, those who maintain they believe in both Evolution and God do not subscribe to the Evolution of Dawkins or Gould, that is, mainstream Evolution, which is both Atheistic and Materialistic ...

Are you sure your characterization of "mainstream Evolution" is correct? Or might this be another "exaggeration"?

Some apparently delude themselves that Christianity is reconcileable[sic] with the Evolution of Dawkins and Gould. It's not. And that's why the Evols exhibit such delight in bashing "Creationists", which, incidentally, has nothing whatever to do with science.

Interesting. You actually know why people who believe in evolution do things. Mind reading? I'll ask you the same question I've asked Gore3000: I'm thinking of a number from one to ten. What is it?

Me: You appear to intend to allow the impression ...

There you go again, Gumlegs. You have the irritating habit of putting words into peoples mouths, then arguing your case, even while looking the words themselves straight in the face. My words require no interpretation. Please break this very bad habit.

I have a habit? Look in the mirror. My words you quoted above were paraphrasing ... you! Your objection only appears to make sense because you unaccountably deleted the context! Here it what you had posted, and the words I responded to:

Right Wing Professor intended to allow the impression that the Pope and the Catholic Church were in accord with the "theory" of Evolution (see his post), as have other Evol posters in recent months. The Church is not and it is thus a lie, Gumlegs, pure and simple.

You clean up your act and mine will be fine. After all, I was paraphrasing you.

Me: [In response to material in the blockquote above]. Be careful about the casual use of the term, "lie."

A lie is a lie, Gumlegs, and I am not casual about lies or liars. You also have the irritating habit of giving unbidden and unnecessary guidance. Kindly direct it elsewhere. Your subsequent posts will be ignored.

It appears to me that it was you who was doing lying. However, I will comply with your unbidden advice and offer you no further advice. I hope other posters will note the lies and distortions in this exchange ... and their source.

942 posted on 7/16/02 9:54 PM Eastern by Gumlegs

I've now changed my mind about one item in the above. When you posted that all evolutionists here are atheists, it wasn't an exaggeration, it was a lie. An exaggeration would be "99.99% of the evolutionists here ... ," not an unequivocal "all." As I have been instructed, "a lie is a lie."

By the way, what is your term for intentionally distorting what others say?

In compliance with your request, I herewith offer no advice whatever.

Good News For The Day

‘'Do not worry, saying, "What shall we ear?" Or, "What shall we drink?" Or, "What shall we ear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Matthew 6:31-33)

Jesus' words contradict the mood of the age. Applied science has given people in developed lands and enormous increase in wealth. For the most part, the power to acquire property has not filled those people with contentment. One of the first acts of a person who comes into money is to load himself or herself with a pile of things that makes life fretful and death difficult.

For Jesus, life was much more that material security. He viewed the abundant life as one in which spirit reigned supreme over things. He never asked everyone to give up their possessions, but he did ask it of some, because their 'things' were destroying them. He would ask it of many today. There is no salvation for some, except in the abandonment of their riches.

The virtue in forsaking wealth does not lie in what is given up, but in what is gained. It is the secret of inner possession. What moths and rust can get at, what thieves can steal, are not treasures at all. Christ taught that the internal must transcend the external. Character needs to come before gain; duty before pleasure. These are spiritual qualities that not even death can take away from those who own them.

According to Jesus, life needs to be continually re-evaluated in the light of the highest ideal. The kingdom of God must take pride of the place above the kingdom of the senses.

When forces are aggressively working to accumulate wealth, when property and power is praised, society undervalues itself. Spiritual axioms are dethroned and the people perish. When what is intrinsically pre-eminent is given its place, every other true instinct finds satisfaction. It was so among the Puritans. 'One overpowering sentiment had subjugated to itself pity, hatred, ambition and fear. They had their smiles and their tears, their raptures and their sorrows, but not for the things of this world. The intensity of their feeling on one subject, made them tranquil on every other.'

May God be with you and me.