Religion

Ballot Proposition #4: Public Acknowledgement of God - The use of the word "God", prayers, and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as be permitted on government buildings and property. YES OR NO – Texas Legislative Update

Even though it only appears on the Texas Republican Party Primary ballot, non-binding Prop 4 is causing a stir all across the state, including the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

What has the American citizen become and why.

President Obama signed an executive order last week continuing the faith-based initiatives program created by former President Bush. When the program was created, I warned that giving taxpayer money to private religious organizations would eventually lead to political control and manipulation of them. This week has provided some evidence that this was a justified concern.

The logic behind funding faith-based initiatives seemed reasonable to some. Private organizations are much more effective in charitable endeavors than government programs and bureaucracies. Therefore, why not “outsource” some of the government’s welfare-state activities to these worthy organizations? This appealed to many conservatives, especially after the follow-up executive order exempting recipients from discriminatory hiring laws, which assured many that taking federal funds would not jeopardize their control over their own operations. But beware the government program started under an administration you like, for it may look a lot different under the one you don’t. Exemptions that Bush gave, Obama can take away.

Madame Speaker, I strongly oppose H. Res. 34, which was rushed to the floor with almost no prior notice and without consideration by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The resolution clearly takes one side in a conflict that has nothing to do with the United States or US interests. I am concerned that the weapons currently being used by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza are made in America and paid for by American taxpayers. What will adopting this resolution do to the perception of the United States in the Muslim and Arab world? What kind of blowback might we see from this? What moral responsibility do we have for the violence in Israel and Gaza after having provided so much military support to one side?

Season's greetings? No.

Madam Speaker, as one who is most consistently opposed to war and violence, I join my colleagues in condemning the brutal and unjustified attack on a Jewish community center in Argentina 14 years ago. I do not support this resolution, however, as it misuses a tragedy 14 years ago in a foreign country to push for US war against Iran today.

Although this resolution clearly blames Iran and Hezbollah for the bombing, in fact the investigation is ongoing and far from conclusive. In an article titled “ U.S. uses probe to pressure Iran ,” the Wall Street Journal earlier this year suggested that renewed US interest in this 14 year old case is more related to politics than a genuine desire for justice. Reported the Journal,

"SAN ANGELO, Texas — The mothers of children removed [kidnapped] from a West Texas polygamist sect's ranch after an abuse allegation are appealing to Gov. Rick Perry for help."

And this comment sums the situation up nicely:

Tubal wrote:

Wow. Baptist ministers* rape teen girls too. Let's go take all the Baptist kids and lock them up. Then when their mothers want to come see them, lets tell them no. Then when the mothers that they rounded up too want to call their loved ones to tell them what's happening, lets take away their cell phones.

Since the Catholic Church scored big with its first Seven Deadly Sins back in Century No. Six they've recently decided to do a sequel (Seven Deadly Sins II?). Predictably, the new Deadlies are a mix of politically correct, socially manipulative and ruling-class-friendly injunctions. And vague. What is "obscenely" rich? What is "social" justice?

"High on Mount Sinai, Moses was on psychedelic drugs when he heard God
deliver the Ten Commandments, an Israeli researcher claimed in a study
published this week. Such mind-altering substances formed an integral
part of the religious rites of Israelites in biblical times, Benny
Shanon, a professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University
of Jerusalem wrote in the Time and Mind journal of philosophy. 'As far
Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic
event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe

If Mike Huckable were to be elected president, would he place his hand on the constitution and swear to uphold the bible? Hell no, but he would proceed to make the bible our constitution.

You thought that the Manna that rained down from Heaven was a myth. Wrong. It was real. Hear the truth; a story that pulls back the veil, bringing with it solutions to the most egregious problems we face today rebuilding our economy and giving all humankind hope.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you felt that you and Sherman had just stepped aboard the WAYBAC machine? A connection so deliciously ripe with irony that you're forced to hold your head with both hands to keep your mind from exploding plumb out of your head?

Thought of the moment:
Please go sign the SMU petition one way or another. It's time to know if this country supports atrocities and illegal activities, or if it has a backbone enough to stand up and speak out against evil.

 - Current Article: -
SMU: The Battle of Petitions, by The Melinda
http://www.reasontofreedom.com/smu_petitions_battle_referendum_bush.html
At Southern Methodist University the spectre of a George W. Bush Library is awakening Methodists to the horror of living cheek and jowl with someone who endorsed torture. This has brought on line petitions that allow Methodists - and all Americans to speak their minds in plain sight, rendering an effective referendum on the Bush presidency.

At Southern Methodist University the spectre of a George W. Bush Library is awakening Methodists to the horror of living cheek and jowl with someone who endorsed torture. This has brought on line petitions that allow Methodists - and all Americans to speak their minds in plain sight, rendering an effective referendum on the Bush presidency.