Why should Obama be reelected?

[RandFan]

My appologies to Ben...

...I've no idea if you are serious or not. If you are please accept my apologies as I'm in one of my red faced-spiting at the screen-irrational curmudgeon state of minds. Don't take it too seriously.

My Catholic upbringing tells me that Romney is definitely not a Christian.

Is there such a thing as a "Christian"? I'm serious. Romney belongs to a cult known colloquially as "The Mormons". The official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I was raised a Mormon. I believed Jesus Christ was the son of god. I believed that Jesus was crucified to pay for the sins of mankind. I believed that Jesus loved me and wanted me to be a good little boy. I often asked myself, WWJD?

Now, I've heard all of the arguments and to tell you the truth, I don't give a damn about the obvious fallacy of excluding Mormons as Christians because they fail to put milk on their porridge. That's a pretty good knockdown argument but I'll skip that. IMO, one only needs believe in and follow Christ to be a Christian. It strikes me as the height of arrogance to speak for a man who encouraged forgiveness and forbearance to declare that some people cannot claim to follow that man.

Still, it's all silly nonsense in the long run. Many Christians do not believe that Catholics are Christian. Why the hell do you think Christians killed so many Catholics (and vice versa)?

Besides, who gives a damn but the criminally credulous? Why argue over this at all? If Christ lived he didn't walk on water, turn water into wine or rise from the dead. If you are kooky enough to believe that opening a boiled egg on the large end (see Gulliver's travels) says something significant then you are an ass and the facts really don't matter.

And here's a hint for all of our Bible Scholars who never bothered to read the Bible or learn the history of Christianity, modern "Christianity", in ALL of it's various flavors and superstition, bears little to no resemblance to early Christianity. It's arguable that Christianity doesn't even exist.

So, go back outside and play ball with Timmy, if you don't think he is a Christian then pretend that he is anyway and treat him as if he were a Christian. I'm sure the Zombie Jesus would want that.

 

[Aridas]

...I've no idea if you are serious or not. If you are please accept my apologies as I'm in one of my red faced-spiting at the screen-irrational curmudgeon state of minds. Don't take it too seriously.

Is there such a thing as a "Christian"? I'm serious. Romney belongs to a cult known colloquially as "The Mormons". The official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I was raised a Mormon. I believed Jesus Christ was the son of god. I believed that Jesus was crucified to pay for the sins of mankind. I believed that Jesus loved me and wanted me to be a good little boy. I often asked myself, WWJD?

Now, I've heard all of the arguments and to tell you the truth, I don't give a damn about the obvious fallacy of excluding Mormons as Christians because they fail to put milk on their porridge. That's a pretty good knockdown argument but I'll skip that. IMO, one only needs believe in and follow Christ to be a Christian. It strikes me as the height of arrogance to speak for a man who encouraged forgiveness and forbearance to declare that some people cannot claim to follow that man.

Still, it's all silly nonsense in the long run. Many Christians do not believe that Catholics are Christian. Why the hell do you think Christians killed so many Catholics (and vice versa)?

Besides, who gives a damn but the criminally credulous? Why argue over this at all? If Christ lived he didn't walk on water, turn water into wine or rise from the dead. If you are kooky enough to believe that opening a boiled egg on the large end (see Gulliver's travels) says something significant then you are an ass and the facts really don't matter.

And here's a hint for all of our Bible Scholars who never bothered to read the Bible or learn the history of Christianity, modern "Christianity", in ALL of it's various flavors and superstition, bears little to no resemblance to early Christianity. It's arguable that Christianity doesn't even exist.

So, go back outside and play ball with Timmy, if you don't think he is a Christian then pretend that he is anyway and treat him as if he were a Christian. I'm sure the Zombie Jesus would want that.

For the record, raised as a Protestant, I can quite understand where Ben's coming from. There's a lot of informal "Sure, they claim to be Christians, but..." that goes on, in general (yes, about Catholics, too). Lots of reasons that matter within the individual religious worldviews, but mean little to nothing from the outside.

 

[Tricky]

I'm pretty sure Ben is speaking tongue-in-cheek, but yeah, there is a lot of "no true Scotsman" going on in lots of Christian churches. As a youth, I experimented with several denominations, and when I asked the ministers why I should choose their denomination, their explanations were filled with stories of how other denominations weren't really Christian. The Protestant/Catholic schizm was the most profound, but then, back in Alabama, we'd never heard of Mormons.

 

[RandFan]

For the record, raised as a Protestant, I can quite understand where Ben's coming from. There's a lot of informal "Sure, they claim to be Christians, but..." that goes on, in general (yes, about Catholics, too). Lots of reasons that matter within the individual religious worldviews, but mean little to nothing from the outside.

Well yeah, I grant all of this but it changes nothing. It's this kind of my sky daddy is bigger than your sky daddy that has led to death and suffering on such a large scale. If it was just the school yard bully nonsense and if turn the other cheek wasn't at the heart of it I could excuse the solipsism and arrogance. It's when you factor the atrocities. irony and ignorance in that you realize that Christianity is theater of the absurd.

 

[BenBurch]

...I've no idea if you are serious or not. ...

No need to apologize!!! I was serious in one sense; The Franciscans and Jesuits who were my pedagogues were quite clear that they strongly disapproved of Mormons, and in their opinion that they worshipped a false god.

However, it is not an opinion I hold. I think that when it comes to religion, I am going to take anybody at their word who says he is a Christian. Or a Hare Krishna. Etc.

No intention of causing offense, just relaying the data.

 

[RandFan]

No need to apologize!!! I was serious in one sense; The Franciscans and Jesuits who were my pedagogues were quite clear that they strongly disapproved of Mormons, and in their opinion that they worshipped a false god.

However, it is not an opinion I hold. I think that when it comes to religion, I am going to take anybody at their word who says he is a Christian. Or a Hare Krishna. Etc.

No intention of causing offense, just relaying the data.

Cool. I don't take it too seriously. I just get my panties in a bunch from time to time.

 

[BenBurch]

BTW, this might shed some light on Catholic thinking on the matter; http://www.catholic.com/tracts/distinctive-beliefs-of-the-mormon-church

 

[RandFan]

BTW, this might shed some light on Catholic thinking on the matter; http://www.catholic.com/tracts/distinctive-beliefs-of-the-mormon-church

I love that stuff. It's one group that thinks its magic is real critiquing the magic of another group. Catholic holy water works where Mormon holy oil doesn't.

 

[BenBurch]

So, don't expect many Catholics to vote for him unless he goes to the Holy See and is baptized by the Pope.

 

[RandFan]

So, don't expect many Catholics to vote for him unless he goes to the Holy See and is baptized by the Pope.

Yeah, I actually think Romney's Mormonism is more of a liability than JFK's Catholicism was to JFK. It's a fair point.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Just for a point to ponder, in the politics section.

Seems to me that to be "Christian" you follow Christ. How you do that seems to vary quite a bit, vive le difference.

Multi quote seems to be on the fritz, or maybe Cardinal Fang hit it with the comfy chair.

I'll bo out and come back in again.

 

[Darth Rotor]

What are the connections between Mormons and Masonry?

This post was brought to you by Sesame Street, and the letter "M" ...

There are days when the bounty of this forum is endless.

And the booty bookitty is ... ya know, I thought there was a joke in there, but there wasn't.

I am surrounded by fools and rogues.

Ah, so you are a cabinet member.

Now, I've heard all of the arguments and to tell you the truth, I don't give a damn about the obvious fallacy of excluding Mormons as Christians because they fail to put milk on their porridge.

Ought to use heavy cream ...

Still, it's all silly nonsense in the long run. Many Christians do not believe that Catholics are Christian.

Which is kinda funny, if you look at who carried the mail for so many centuries ...

Why argue over this at all?

Why not? It's part of the religious lineage from the Abrahamic root. Argue like crazy over all of this and that and the other, ecclesiastically and religiously and theologically. It comes as part of the set. No football game without the goal lines, as it were.

It's arguable that Christianity doesn't even exist.

No, it isn't. Christianity is here, in all of its dysfunctional glory.

I'm sure the Zombie Jesus would want that.

As I understand it, Jesus wants your soul, and zombies want your brains.

Anyone bidding for one heart? Two clubs? Three no trump?

WOW! So Gay Marriage will actually PREVENT divorce!!!

I don't think gay marriage will be divorce proof, but will instead add to the aggregate number of divorces when all is said and done. Humans is good at bein' human. Good for lawyers, I suppose ... 'tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good ...

Believe it or not, Condi Rice would have been a good candidate, except for her becoming tainted by becoming associated with Bush. The woman is freaking brilliant. Few people on the planet as smart. I just wish she had the judgement to say "no" when she was asked.

I guess we'll never know. I hear she went back to the ivory tower.

Oh, I get it. If there are no atheist candidates, then atheists shouldn't even vote.

Tricky, be real careful about what memes you start, by accident, on the internet. I understand your intended sarcasm, but some things replicate that shouldn't.

If hes a democrat, he's not really a christian(tm).

Explain Jimmy Carter, if you please?

Yeah, I actually think Romney's Mormonism is more of a liability than JFK's Catholicism was to JFK.

Yep. Being from Massachusetts ought to be the greater liability, as it was for Dukakis. (Or maybe he was just a dweeb ...)

 

[RandFan]

No, it isn't. Christianity is here, in all of its dysfunctional glory.

Only if you reject the arguments that Mormons aren't Christians. Remember, I said "arguable".

 

[Jeff Corey]

JFK was from where?

 

[BenBurch]

JFK was from where?

Left field.

 

[AlBell]

Re thread title:

To see what a $20 trillion deficit and 25% unemployment look like in late 2015?

 

[bikerdruid]

Re thread title:

To see what a $20 trillion deficit and 25% unemployment look like in late 2015?

yes, all the nations will be cured overnight, when you have one of the not so 'G'OP bozos in the oval office.
which of the bozos is your choice, or do you favour the bimbo?

 

[AlBell]

No one I favor is still running; Cain would have been ok if yrs ago he had stopped thinking with the small head.

Christie, Rubio, Condoleeza, Jeb Bush.

 

[bikerdruid]

No one I favor is still running; Cain would have been ok if yrs ago he had stopped thinking with the small head.

Christie, Rubio, Condoleeza, Jeb Bush.

JEB BUSH!!!!!!???????
well, at least now we know you are not serious.

 

[mhaze]

yes, all the nations will be cured overnight, when you have one of the not so 'G'OP bozos in the oval office.
which of the bozos is your choice, or do you favour the bimbo?

I'm okay with any non-Bamsters, which here means people running on the Repub ticket.

I fear though that the electable may not be the ones who will take on the 20T problem head on, and hope that the electable will not make it worse.