Free Republic

One of the pamphlets LDS missionaries hand out is entitled, “The Plan of Salvation”. As it title indicates, it summarizes Mormonism’s plan of salvation. Interestingly, when it deals with eternity, it only mentions the LDS three kingdoms of glory. There is no mention of hell or outer darkness. Rather it states: “After you are judged, you will live in a state of glory. Because everyone’s works and desires vary, heaven includes different kingdoms, or degrees of glory.” (p.14) Note, as that states, the kingdoms are all part of heaven. With that in mind listen to whom, according to Mormonism, inhabits...

In the shadow of a lush mountain and near a slow-moving river in southeast China sits this village, whose name means Dragon Gate. There are narrow alleys and whitewashed homes and the flesh of sliced bamboo drying on the ground. Its humble appearance, though, belies the fact that it played a role in the famous Three Kingdoms era, when kings leading rival states fought in the third century over the right to succeed the Han empire. The blood-drenched stories were immortalized in a 14th-century classic by Luo Guanzhong, “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” which in turn has spawned countless...

Archaeologists excavate a tomb confirmed to belong to Cao Xiu, a noted general from the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD), in Mangshan county, Luoyang city, Central China's Henan province on May 17, 2010. The 50 by 21-meter tomb, which was found at the end of 2009, has a similar structure to that of Cao Cao, King Wu of Wei kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period (AD 208 to 280). A newly unearthed bronze seal engraved with Cao Xiu's name reveals the tomb owner's identity, and the Henan provincial bureau of cultural relics confirmed it at a press conference held in...

More stuff on the need to accept ethnic diversity in Korea, this time from the Korea Herald. Interestingly, the Korea Herald editorial starts thusly: Korea’s older generations had been taught to take pride in having an ethnically homogeneous fatherland. Racial homogeneity formed the basis of the 5,000-year history of the nation, which was interrupted for 35 years in the 20th century by the Japanese occupation. So, the national identity of the Korean race was emphasized as the source of power and spirit in the struggle against Japanese imperialism. Now, this is questionable on two counts. Firstly, it follows the same...