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Big Al and Pete Grandich discuss evil and good.

Big Al
March 22, 2012

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Discussion
82 Comments
    Mar 22, 2012 22:19 AM

    Below is a book a very thoughtful book on the is top by Alan Jackson.
    It is a selected history and well worth the time investment.
    It is a thoughful page turner I was introduced to about 3 to 4 years ago when it was reviewed by the WSJ. One of those reviews you read and find your self compelled to buy the book. Follow the link and read the introduction….right on topic!

    http://www.amazon.com/Original-Sin-Cultural-Alan-Jacobs/dp/0060783400#reader_0060783400

    It was ideas from this book that I believe inspired a post last week well received by John W. and Castan.

    Art
    Mar 22, 2012 22:27 AM

    The “religion of peace” Taking Over Europe & West
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocU5x_03MDM

    Art
    Mar 22, 2012 22:33 AM

    “Are muslims all bad people” ?
    Not all muslims are terrorists but ALL the terrorists ARE muslims.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:46 AM

      Yep Art, they sure are!

      Big Al

        Mar 22, 2012 22:46 PM

        Art/Al
        Gotta disagree, I agree with Ted Butler that the price manipulation of silver is a terrorist act, I agree with that and the guys running jp morgan and the gang I dont believe are moslem, therefore all terrorists are not moslems.
        Also, the U.S. government I would say is terrorising their own people,at least the ones that know what the government is doing.
        They are not all moslem either.
        Just my thoughts.

          Mar 22, 2012 22:52 PM

          You have obviously enlarged the term “terrorist” and, of course you are correct benb.

          Big Al

          Mar 23, 2012 23:34 AM

          benb,
          While your expansion of the meaning of ‘terrorist’ is certainly true, in that terrorism can manifest in many forms and by different entities, the way in which we traditionally, at least here in America, view terrorism, is that of the jihadist, bomb-strapped, martyr who wants to die in the service of Allah. A “terrorist” could be anyone who uses “violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.” I think most reasonable, thinking people would say that when you say terrorist, the person who comes to mind is the Islamic jihadist. Now, broadening the envelope to include tyrannical governments who use threats and intimidation to coerce the citizens is indeed using terroristic methods and yes the US gov’t could reasonably be said to use those tactics. Banksters and currency and pm manipulators also fall into that category.
          Let me say something here related to muslims. I don’t hate muslims, that is the people who believe in Islam. They are people for whom Christ died, just like anyone else, and God loves them too. Most muslims have no choice. If they were born into a harsh and rigid muslim country, then they grew up in muslim schools, were taught muslim ideology from early childhood, live, work and socialize in muslim communities where all of life is heavily controlled by the Imams and mosques. If they want to live, work, eat, have families, a social life of any kind, then they must be muslim, act muslim, abide by muslim law, etc. etc. To stray or do otherwise will most certainly invoke harsh retribution, ie., being beat up, whipped, having your house burned down, business ransacked or burned, being caned, stoned and/or beheaded in the most extreme cases. Most muslims live under extremely difficult conditions and are not free, in any sense of the word, to live, think and act according to their own dictates. What I do hate with a passion is Islam as a philosophy or belief system. It is anti-liberty, anit-freedom, and forces subjugation of people to serve the desires of the one behind it, who is in my humble estimation, the great deceiver himself, the architect of evil, Lucifer himself. I have studied Islam, read books by former muslims, seen videos made by former, now conveted terrorists, seen many examples of wonderfully and powerfully converted muslims to Christianity. Many muslims in Arab countries are coming to saving faith in Christ in amazing ways, being radically converted along with signs and miracles, as described in the book of Joel. We, as Christians are called to love all people and to pray for their salvation. But we do not have to love the false teaching and false ideology that they believe. That is what I hate, is the belief system of Islam that enslaves and dominates and subjugates so many around the world. So, benb, I hope this helps explain where I am coming from and I believe most well-intentioned people are of this mindset. We don’t hate muslim people, and yes, many of them are kind, generous, well meaning people.
          Best

            Mar 23, 2012 23:17 AM

            c hero…..thanks for the post….

        Mar 22, 2012 22:08 PM

        Nonsense, Al, utter nonsense. I hope it’s just your cold or the volume of work that was temporarily overwhelming your critical thinking.

          Mar 22, 2012 22:58 PM

          Evening impeachemall,

          Not sure exactly what you are referring to.

          Big Al

    Mar 22, 2012 22:34 AM

    Pressed send a little early:
    Below is a very thoughtful book on this topic by Alan Jackson.
    It is a selected cultural history and well worth the time investment.
    It is a thoughful page turner I was introduced to about 3 to 4 years ago when it was reviewed by the WSJ. One of those reviews you read and find your self compelled to buy the book. Follow the link and read the introduction….right on topic!

    http://www.amazon.com/Original-Sin-Cultural-Alan-Jacobs/dp/0060783400#reader_0060783400

    It was ideas from this book that I believe inspired a post last week well received by John W. and Castan.

    Mar 22, 2012 22:39 AM

    All people inherently good? No, not ALL, of course not. Most people I’ve met today, however, seem to seek some form of ‘good’ or peace, or stability, if you prefer.

    That last part may not be good enough though. Many of us, as a base level at least, seek self-preservation. That’s the true cause of any war (not religion or any other perception, as is promoted in the last 10 years). From Alexander the Great (who wasn’t so great) to Genghis Khan’s ruthless treatment of enemies and “friends”, to Hitler’s Lebensraum (living space), when we humans don’t have enough, or have had our egos emboldened, we’ll fight or take from others, particularly absent the values of the last 230 years. For all that the world thinks about the United States today, the values that most live by in western nations today, or even average people as they try to live in the Venezuela’s or Myanmar’s, the average person seems to understand and seek the freedom that was modeled by the US, which up until the time, was quite an unusual system. They seek it because of Natural Law, that freedom should be ‘self evident’. The Magna Carter or Doomsday book or other landmark dots in history which created the first vestiges of case law and rights were really not that helpful to the masses until the US Constitution was written. (Equal rights certainly were not observed in the US ‘in actu’, but it was at least codified into a Constitution).

    What do we (collectively and individually) do with that freedom, to whatever degree we enjoy it? As brought out in some recent comments over the last month, how do collective or individual contributions compare? I’d like to say that true goodness starts with individuals, since without that, a collective (government, council, etc.) cannot be good. But too many individuals are into self-preservation-mode. Their basic “Maslow” needs are already met (plenty of food, water, shelter), but other needs, like watching prime time junk or voyeuristic entertainment over-rides and over-whelms their ability to take interest in matters that affect the country (just list here all the problems here…it’s too long a list and already well-understood by users of this blog for me to do so.) Is that evil to pursue self-gratification and entitlement, while ignoring ‘boring’ issues that are relegated to air on PBS on Sunday mornings in mainstream media? It certainly isn’t good.

    I don’t mind some escapism. As someone who favors the rights of individuals, I also feel contradictory to state the above. It just seems that given the gift of freedom, and free will, the majority seem to choose sloth and self-indulgence, rather than improvement, production, and giving.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:47 AM

      Great comment, John W,

      Thanks,

      Big Al

      Mar 22, 2012 22:31 PM

      I read about the Magna Carta a couple years ago and you hit the nail on the head. The first several attempts were more to protect fudalism or the lords from the king and didn’t even trickle down to commoners for 400 years until true good men interpretated it for everyone.

      Dan

      Mar 22, 2012 22:51 PM

      John: What you say is true. Interesting how it fits with “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Sir Winston Churchill. Or another way of saying that is, History repeats that the one thing we learn from history is that most never learn from history.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:43 PM

      Hi John W., VERY GOOD on the nature of man. Before I was saved, when I was a child I was molested by a real as_hole. It left me with scares only noticed inside me, in my own spirit nature. When years ago at church, others would tell of there times when they were sinners for witnessing purposes. For me to do this would be hard, because people remember, whereas God puts them(sins) in the sea of forgetfulness. I know things by my spirit by the Holy Spirit within me. I`ve used my faith to change the very nature(the visible world) around me Mark 11:23,24 & Matthew 21:21,22; Matthew 18:18,19; John 16:23,24,26; 1Corinthians12:8-10,28-30; Isaiah 55:11; Isaiah 54:17. The thought here is I`ve used His Word to effect a change in this present world, thousands of times, so I know the Word works. I speaking in the tongues of men and angels and that by the glory of the Father in heaven. The interpretation at times is profound for sure for me, hence more knowledge and the wisdom to find solutions that I did not know by my mind. As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God. To find that by the working of miracles and special faith(1 Cor. 12:9) usually have to work together to work at all. The working of miracles(type of) can be obtained through having just really strong faith in God`s Word. Since its the Word thats doing it(the event) anyway and that by the Spirit of God. You have to watch out for familiar spirits when your in the sense realm. So I know that my God lives. Of course when I use the name of Jesus to cast out demons from say a homosexual or drug addict or bind the devil off someone I see change at work. To disarm mean people by binding the spirit that that individual yeilds to works all the time. Being in sin causes faith from working too. The anointing of the Spirit upons ones life has alot to do with moving in the Spirit and of power. For God is Love not power, for God is power but that doesn`t define His nature.

        Mar 22, 2012 22:01 PM

        Thanks for the comment Dennis,

        God bless,

        Big Al

      Mar 23, 2012 23:42 AM

      Hi John W R,
      Excellent writing there my friend. Thanks for helping to expand and ‘illucidate’ on this topic. Cannot disagree at all.

    Mar 22, 2012 22:04 PM

    Big Al,
    My beloved Uncle use to say: “People will be people.” or as I say -” A ______ man can stab you in the back or hug you just as easy as a _______ man can.” Now pick any and every “color of skin” or ethnicity and plug it in the above comment. That is human relationships in a NUTSHELL. Everybody has a choice to spread good, evil or love, hate. The choice is strictly up to you! The LORD loves us so much that he WILL NOT take away our FREE WILL. The rest is up to you.
    God Bless and all the best,
    Marc

      Mar 22, 2012 22:54 PM

      You, my friend, are absolutely correct!

      Big Al

    Mar 22, 2012 22:41 PM

    Evil is, but it will influence people to do evil by convincing them to ignore wisdom for the presumed greater good. Obama is one such example.

    It is futile to try and understand what evil is without understanding good and wisdom. Attempts to do good without wisdom more than not ends up doing evil. If this is true, then simple algebra tells us:

    Evil = Good minus Wisdom
    Good = Evil plus Wisdom
    Wisdom = Good minus evil

    If a person tries to do good without any wisdom, evil is usually the result. In order to do real good, a person must understand what evil really is which requires true wisdom, without that true good will not happen. Wisdom is the faith or understanding of knowing the difference between good and evil. If a person does not truly know the difference or is clouded by personal wishes, desires or dogma, wisdom will not be attained nor can it be used.

    But mathematics also teaches us the inverse of the above matrix which is:

    Negative Wisdom = Evil minus Good
    Negative Evil = Wisdom minus Good
    Negative Good = Negative Evil minus Wisdom

    The first or positive matrix above 0 represents the world we live in. The second negative matrix below 0 is Hell. It is never wise to consult hell in trying to do good on Earth. Good comes from wisdom given when truly asking from above, in penitent humbleness.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:09 PM

      That reminds me of the success triangle. Time, money and ability. Use your time to get the money to work on your ability to make money to buy time to do what you really want to do with your ability. The triangle is useless unless energy is put in. If too much pressure is applied to one corner the tringle flips and must be restarted in balance.

      Dan

        Mar 22, 2012 22:56 PM

        Good observation, Dan.

        Big Al

          Mar 22, 2012 22:01 PM

          I wish I knew who to give credit to for the success triangle but some friends and I have discussed it more than a few times. Glory to God.

          Dan

      Mar 22, 2012 22:55 PM

      Clay, I completely agree with your final paragraph.

      Best,

      Big Al

        Mar 23, 2012 23:39 AM

        Al: Which means you might not agree with the rest. But I forgive you anyway because in truth I don’t understand it completely, Math is hard. But this I do know, evil is never under any circumstances to be invited. If a person lets their guard down for an instant, evil will take the advantage and spread its tentacles.

    Mar 22, 2012 22:17 PM

    GOOD OR EVIL…..PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS…..CONGRESS OR PRESIDENT…..
    looks like to me, from the “offical record”, my rights have been deminished from
    an executive order from a person called a president…and the inaction from
    people called congress…..That was the topic yesterday…..and that is a fact….

      Mar 22, 2012 22:57 PM

      I guess I have to repeat myself Mr. In the Box,

      I am really concerned!

      Big Al

        Mar 23, 2012 23:25 AM

        BIG AL,,,HOPE YOUR MORNING IS GOING GREAT,,,THANKS FOR ALL THE
        OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREAT DEBATE, AND FOLLOWUP….
        I might try to choose my words more carefully going forward..thanks again…ootb

      Mar 22, 2012 22:07 PM

      Instant gratification equals ignorant ecstasy.

      And what about the conscience.
      To ponder the conscience is to study theology.
      Conscience: con-without….science…things that are explained.
      The conscience can be said to be that that is without explanation scientifically.
      It requires faith. You need to take that big leap.
      Is it simply an instinct?…….No.
      Because one feels remorse for things that we do or omit that have nothing to do with instinct.
      The conscience and the way one feels good or bad about doing just one of those types of things to me is a powerful proof that there is a loving God who created us.
      It is a designer’s correcting mechanism that we need to recognize.
      Like a pain in your right side says appendix.
      A fog on your conscience says warning!

    Mar 22, 2012 22:32 PM

    Hi Al
    Just to anwser Are all people good. No their not,a phsycopath can harm without concience,empathy or remorse, good people cant do that.
    Just a point I dont think has been made.
    During the 2nd war it was decided the nazis had to go,my father killed a bunch of them when he moved up the french coast clearing ports of the ss, his killing of them may or may not have been considered good,but what i do know is he finished the rest of his life with shrapnel in his body,deaf in one ear due to bombs and nightmares till the day he died. His killing might be considered a good act,but there was a very high price he paid to do it. So did his family.
    evil may not suffer from their acts where as good people do.
    advantage evil i suppose.
    Great comments john.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:37 PM

      Maybe the least we can do to honour people like your father is to have the retirement age bumped up a few years. That would be our sacrafice for prosperity and the greater good.

      Dan

      Mar 22, 2012 22:58 PM

      Great comments for you also, benb!

      Big Al

    Mar 22, 2012 22:50 PM

    Hey Al
    I agree with you that all people have the capacity for good. But free will does give us the choice as to who we share the good with. Enough “indoctrination” of any individual starting at a young age is often enough to sway that free will. resulting in a distorted CHOICE to adopt a given individual or mass perspective. IE who gets the good in each of us and who receives the bad based on a persons perspective, learned or inherant. This is evident in every race and religion that has ever been. Once people realize that all humans are family, all blood is red and all beliefs are valid we will find peace. Until then, hope is all we really have I guess.

    Choice and perspective….

    Mar 22, 2012 22:55 PM

    Hi People,
    75% of the Quraran comes from the Bible. There is not one phrophecy not like the Bible 25-30% is prophetical.
    In the Bible Jesus comes back but in the Quran the person coming back they say it is Satan and will want to kill him (Jesus)
    the Muslims prophet Mohammed was a pedophile I believe a 13-14 yr old wife, had 500 jews in captivity and slaughter them all he is a murderer as well and as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow this guy is in hell now and forever as well as his followers.
    Finally in the Bible God says our own heart is deceitfully wicked above all things. I do not have my Bible with me now to show.Thank you God Bless

    Mar 22, 2012 22:58 PM

    We were created in God’s image (and that is inherently good) but because God wanted to endow us with the freedom to choose, we chose disobedience when evil was permitted to enter the world and appeal to our prideful choice of complete autonomy, That inclination to choose disobedience to what God has ordained for our own good (and God knows far better than we do what is for our own good) has been at the root of our troubles ever since.
    And isn’t it interesting and ironic that those philosophies based on the underlying belief that “man is basically good” (think of the “Enlightenment” and Rousseau, think of the French Revolution, think of socialism and its advocates, think of communism, think of Marx and the Russian Revolution) — those are the only philosophies that have engendered mass murder on a horrific scale. And now we have materialistic utopians like Obama and the Eurocrats who think they know what is best for the rest of us and feel justified using the coercive power of the state to impose their vision of “progress” and the perfectibility of man on the rest of us. As St. John says in his Apocalypse: “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

      Mar 22, 2012 22:02 PM

      Yep, as St. John said, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus”!

      Best,

      Big Al

      Mar 22, 2012 22:08 PM

      Correction … Adam and eve were created in the likeness of God — good /pure — once they sinned, they were no longer good /pure. The bible tells us that their children were born in the image and likeness of adam, not God — in other words, they were born into sin, not goodness. There are none that are good, no not one.

      This could all be summed up in one word —SELF — every sin /evil known to man is a result of man’s desire to live for SELF. Pick any sin:

      Lust — “I like his / her body … I WANT THAT”
      Theft — “I like his / her car … I WANT THAT”
      Murder — “You make ME mad … So now I am going to kill you”
      Lying — “I want to cover my arse and so I had better lie” OR “I do not want to offend him /her … I want them to like ME! and so I better tell them that they look good in those ugly pants”

      Take your pick —all sin / evil begins with SELF-worship.

      Take that a step further — all man made religions revolve around SELF in part, or in full (works based). To earn my way into heaven I must do this many prayers, I must give to the poor, I must go on a pilgrimage, I must, I must, I must ….. Only true biblical Christianity takes ALL focus off of SELF and places it solely on God and what HE DID for us … Not on what we can do to “earn” their way into heaven. You cannot “earn” your way into heaven period — no number of prayers, rosaries, pilgrimages, giving, rituals, etc. can gain you access into God’s kingdom — they cannot … And never will wipe away your sins period. Only Christ can do that by believing FULLY in Him alone (not in OUR works / good deeds) because HE DID IT ALL … He does not, nor ever will need our help … Salvation is a GIFT from God that cannot be earned … And the moment a person things that they have nothing to add to the equation (ie. MY prayers, MY giving, etc.) they have slipped back into the lie of believing in SELF … And taken their focus / trust off of God and placed it partly on SELF.

      That my fire nds is the difference between every single man made religious institution and true biblical Christianity — they ALL take the attention off of God’s redemptive power and place it partially / fully on SELF. They are man-centered … Whereas biblical Christianity is 100 percent God-centered … It is all about what HE DID for us lowly little worms, not the other way around.

      Just remember … Satan was kicked out of heaven because of pride — he said “I WILL” five times —– Adam and eve were kicked out of paradise because of pride — they said “WE Will be like the Most High” —– and billions will be cast into outer darkness because of pride because they have placed their trust in SELF … They say “WE WILL earn our way into heaven by going on pilgrimages, WE WILL do the work because the LORD could not do it Himself for us … He needs our help”

      Where is your trust? Is it fully in God alone … Or is it in SELF … If its the later, then you had better remember where ALL sin comes from — the ME, MYSELF, and I attitude.

        Mar 22, 2012 22:12 PM

        Should read: the moment a person thinks that they have SOMETHING to add to the equation …

        Mar 22, 2012 22:34 PM

        Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10: I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, enen to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

        I have to disagree with you on this one all. All people are inherently evil. Far too many times do our thoughts wander from the ways of God.

        I thank my God for His great work of Grace given unto us through faith in His Son, The Lord Yeshua.

        Peace,
        Lynn

        Mar 22, 2012 22:05 PM

        Of course, Bentnail,

        God is the ultimate. For me that is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

        God bless,

        Big Al

    Mar 22, 2012 22:11 PM

    Sorry Al:
    We are all born in sin (who taught you to be selfsish, self-centred, lie, become angry, hate ….), desire to do things our way (rebel against God or even desire to be God) and only when God puts his Spirit into us, we have the opportunity to love as Jesus did. Good people do not go to heaven.
    A Jew who had been in a concentration camp, and wass giving trestimony against Adolph Eichman, suddenly broke down. They had a recess and the person tending to the witness said, “I can understand seeing that evil man would cause you stress”. The witness said, “That is not it. As I sat there and looked at Eichman, it suddenly dawned on me that he looked no different than you or I”. we all have the ability to be an “eichman or Hitler” given the proper circumstances and opportuniy.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:13 PM

      Damn, Reg, fascinating and intriguing comment…..that’s where free will comes into play!

      Mar 22, 2012 22:58 PM

      Hey Lynn (male) and reg cole,
      What you say is true about mankind’s nature being inherently evil, as a direct result of the introduction of sin in the garden. The Word of God declares it to be so, and so it is. These are hard words for many people to accept because we want to believe that we are really OK, or at least pretty good. I believe this is due to the fact that most people think that they will get to heaven hoping their good deeds will ‘outweigh’ their bad deeds. Yes, ‘the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked’. This is the declaration of the general state of mankind apart from the redemptive work of Christ. Enjoying the discussion by all. Keep it up.

    Mar 22, 2012 22:18 PM

    CONGRESS
    Bill to Curb Insider Trading Passes Congress; Now Goes to Obama
    Senate passes less restrictive House-backed measure
    By Dan Friedman
    Updated: March 22, 2012 | 1:48 p.m.
    March 22, 2012 | 12:38 p.m.

    The Senate approved a House-passed bill to prevent insider trading by members of Congress and thousands of executive branch officials. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.
    Senators agreed to discard a more extensive version of the bill they passed last month in favor of the House measure. That meant dropping amendments including measures to require people engaged in “political intelligence activities” to register as lobbyists and to help prosecution of public corruption.
    Passage of the bill on Thursday completes a process that senior lawmakers in both parties considered unnecessary as policy but an important public relations exercise in response to reports of lax restrictions on insider trading by members. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he moved the House measure because Republicans blocked a conference committee to reconcile differences between the chambers’ measures. But Reid chose to quietly move the House bill rather than force a fight, to the chagrin of some senators.
    Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa., who sponsored the political intelligence amendment, said he voted against cloture on the bill to protest its exclusion. “The majority leader’s heavy-handed tactics leave few options for restoring the provision this go-round,” said Grassley, who pledged to try again.
    Want to stay ahead of the curve? Sign up for National Journal’s AM & PM Must Reads. News and analysis to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:27 PM

      Maybe, that is why some of the congressmen are retiring…..investing will be more of a challenge without the insider info.

        Mar 22, 2012 22:07 PM

        Mr. In the Box,

        If you have not already, you should read, “Vote Them All Out”

        Pretty interesting read.

        Big Al

          Mar 23, 2012 23:03 AM

          I think they got the idea from me……..

    Mar 22, 2012 22:55 PM

    It is true that the Koran is a vitriolic book that teaches hatred and intolerance toward those people it considers sinners, but so is the Bible. The difference is that Christians have learned to ignore much of what their holy book teaches, while Muslims still take theirs seriously. As to whether people are inheritantly good or bad, i conclude that people are inheritantly human, and we are thus capable of both good and evil. Jesus taught us to love one another, but he also taught intolerance toward those who don’t accept what he promoted. As a Christian you can cherry-pick his teachings and justify your “love your neighbor” point of view. I am an atheist, not a religious person, and I too practice loving my neighbor, but not because of what an ancient holy book or religious leader teaches. I take that position because my conscience tells me it’s the right thing to do.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:37 PM

      Wayne know what your taking about I hope you do not invest the same way. Get educated and you are just another Jesus critic, lost and following the herd to the slaughter(Hell) Get saved before it is to late

        Mar 22, 2012 22:10 PM

        But please Wayne,

        Keep being a good guy!

        Big Al

      Mar 22, 2012 22:10 PM

      Hi Wayne,

      You make a very good point!

      A good friend of mine feels as you do. I am a Christian, but I applaud your attitude towards others.

      Big Al

      Mar 23, 2012 23:17 AM

      Wayne…..Al, might be a little confused on the message….you as an atheist,
      can not have any insight into the word of Jesus, because his spirit would not
      be in you, and a word, to you will not be the same word as to a christian…
      sorry,,,but, that is truth, and an atheist , can not have truth, or even,
      comprehend what the word of God, would be because you have already decide
      that he does not exist….therefore, Gods message is void to you….sorry,,
      And basically, IF. God does not exist for you, you would not know how to
      “RIGTHLY DIVIDE THE WORD”….and IF you do not know that , you will be
      totally confused, as anyone else…..THAT DOES NOT RIGHTLY DIVIDE…
      if, you would like to know , where in the bible it clearly spells this out,
      turn to ACT. in the KING JAMES VERSION 1611, AND START THERE..
      DO NOT USE A CONTEMPORY BIBLE FOR THE WORDS AND MEANINGS
      HAVE BEEN CHANGED…..this is only ment to enlighten,,,for as everyone
      has said we are all sinner here, but, God, thur Jesus would like to
      invite you in …for eternity….respectfully….

        Mar 23, 2012 23:22 PM

        Amen brother. Very well put Jerry. I like your approach with nonbelievers. I’ve got to work on mine. I grew up scrappin’, and made my livin’ for over 20 years scrappin’. I’ve got some pitbull blood in me I think(maybe that’s the irish), and my natural instinct is to go for the jugglar and take no prisoners. I’ll have to take my cue from you, Big Al, and John W R. You guys keep me in line now, OK?

          Mar 25, 2012 25:52 AM

          Iron sharping iron….

      Mar 23, 2012 23:11 AM

      Hi Wayne,
      Interesting that you say, “and I too practice loving my neighbor, but not because of what an ancient holy book or religious leader teaches. I take that position because my conscience tells me it’s the right thing to do”. So, you follow your conscience? What is your conscience? Who gave you your conscience? How is the conscience developed or sensitized, or desensitized? What influences your conscience? Your statement needs much more info. And why do people like you declare, ” I am an atheist, not a religious person”, as though this is a position of respect, dignity, honor, and esteem? Do you consider yourself more intellectual than a “religious” person? Your arrogance betrays you. OK, let me see if this works for you. You look at a great painting, and you want to know who the painter was. You look at a beautiful skyscraper, and you want to know who the architect was. You look at a wonderful young person, with poise, grace, dignity, respect, aculturation, education, and you want to know who the parents are. You see a mangnifcent ocean liner and you want to know who the nautical engineer was? You get the point. But then, an atheist looks at the universe, the planets, the stars, the solar systems, the galaxies, the earth, its precise orbit, perfect distance from the sun(not too cold, not too hot), the harmony of systems, interrelationship of ecosystems, the hydrologic cycle, the CO2/Oxygen conversion process, !st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics, and on and on, AND the atheist looks at all that, and says…..Oh, it just made itself. What? Really? You’re kidding, right? And you think that is a position of reason and intelligence??? Please, excuse me if I forcefully disagree!!!

    Mar 22, 2012 22:05 PM

    One piece of evil that was not hit upon.. Obamacare… Today is the 2 year anniversary of the signed monstrosity.

    Peace,
    Lynn

    Mar 22, 2012 22:14 PM

    Hi Big Al,
    Humans are creatures of habit. Good habits and bad habits are created in 30 consecutive days or more of doing. And we did not pick our parents. Best to you.

      Mar 22, 2012 22:12 PM

      Thanks for the reminder Lynn,

      It certainly is an interesting piece of legislation that appears to be unconstitutional.

      Big Al

      Mar 22, 2012 22:12 PM

      Yes Mr. Keep,

      We are definitely “creatures of habit”!

      Big Al

    Mar 22, 2012 22:42 PM
      Mar 22, 2012 22:13 PM

      Many thanks for the link Dagen!

      Big Al

        Mar 22, 2012 22:12 PM

        Hunter Lewis presenting the Henry Hazlitt at the Von Mises Institute.
        His topic Keynesianism & Crony Capitalism. Does Keynes debase our culture as well as the medium of exchange? Can you do one without the other? Does Keynes inject evil in society by debauching the monetary base?
        It is an interesting lecture for this crowd and the conclusion is very well suited for this topic. For your consideration:
        http://mises.org/media/7421/Crony-Capitalism-Revisited-Is-Keynesianism-What-We-Think-It-Is

    Mar 23, 2012 23:27 AM

    Si sbaglia. Sono sicuro. Sono in grado di provarlo. Scrivere a me in PM, parlare.

    Mar 23, 2012 23:53 AM

    Amateurbonnie,
    Indeed I think he is correct, and I’m sure of it. Sono sicuro!

      Mar 23, 2012 23:24 PM

      so, c….heio,,, are you italian….or just know the language?

    Mar 23, 2012 23:33 PM

    Hi Jerry O^OTB,
    No not really, but I am fluent in Portuguese and fairly conversant in Spanish and a little Romanian, which are all romance languages with fairly consistant Latin roots, so it’s not a huge stretch to figure it out. I’m not Italian, as far as I know, but I do talk with my hands, am fairly demostrative, and love Italian food. That’s about as close as I can come to being Italiano. Best to you. Love your points of view. Kep up the good work here. Blessings to you and yours!

      Mar 23, 2012 23:08 PM

      it that anything like a PORTUGESE WATER SPANIAL FROM ROMANIAN…
      all kidding aside , thanks for all the insight….have a great week end…
      I think I am going to pick on irish over the weekend…since he has
      been quiet for awhile,,,

        Mar 23, 2012 23:10 PM

        I don’t know Jerry, You got me on that one. I can’t even think of anything clever to say. help me out.
        As to irish. Yes, he has been quiet. Maybe getting some much needed rest.

      Mar 23, 2012 23:15 PM

      How is your manicotti?

    Mar 23, 2012 23:16 PM

    Hello Dennis,
    Man, you’ve got my mouth watering for some. Have not had it in a long time. Might just have to make me some. I’m hungry all of a sudden. Thanks for the suggestion. Let’s see, chopped spinach, mozzarella cheese, ricotta, some Prego sauce, romano, a couple eggs, some shells and bingo we got it.

      Mar 24, 2012 24:35 AM

      Make your sauce from scratch….don’t be lazy.
      Make sure to add brown sugar, sweet itlian sausage and I always throw in a couple pork chops to add flavor.
      Bon Appetit

        Mar 24, 2012 24:46 PM

        Dennis,
        Sounds like you’re a chef par-excellance. I’ve got a friend who is a local Police Chief, and is also an excellent cook. If I do attempt it, I will do the sauce from scratch, I promise. thanks for the tip.

    Mar 25, 2012 25:30 PM

    Wow…we humans get carried away with our top of the food chain status. First of all we are part of the animal kingdom and we ourselves are animals (and if you are too proud to admit that then admit we were once more animal like) Religon, tradition, advanced speech….are the spoils of years and years of being at the top of the food chain….fanciful things that don’t really matter…nothing more. Todays 9 to 5 job has just replaced the hunter that we used to be and our “kill” of today is a paycheck that gives us the food on our table. We are animals and how dare we think better of ourselves. Good and Evil? I remember watching a documentary on wild foxes…I believe it was in Russia. They actually bread the aggressive (evil) foxes out of existence by selectively mating only the more passive “good” natured foxes. I know that if this was done to humans as well we could breed these aggressive thoughts out of existence in us. We are nothing more than the product of lob sided evolution…I don’t think we can call it evolution anymore because all of us are surviving…the weak, sick, and sick minded. Molesters and murders are allowed to breed and make more molesters and murders. The honorable and good natured man is being bread out of existence….slowly diluted out of existence in the now virus like animal called man that ravishes the earth with no worry but to ourselves.

    Mar 25, 2012 25:18 PM

    Danny,
    If, as you say, we are nothing but animals and therefore have no right to ‘feel’ superior or special, note where you say, “Wow…we humans get carried away with our top of the food chain status”, then I assume by what you say that you are insinuating that we just happen to exist at the top, as a result of some ‘fluke’ of nature, some fluke of “evolution”. ((Definition of the Religion of Evolution: a mindless, directionless, chance-driven process of continual upward progression of all life forms,(in particular the human species), through random, ‘beneficial'(this is rediculous) mutations, over millions and millions of years), which belief dominates every thing the believer does, says and thinks, and colors the way he/she interprets all information coming thru his/her grid of understanding)). So then, we are to believe that at the end of this process, we arrive where we are today, as reasonable, intellectual, spiritual, morally-conscious humans(we’re not animals)who have the capability of demonstrating good or evil, kindness or meanness, generosity or stinginess, belief in God or atheist, etc… but I digress. Danny, if we are just animals, i don’t understand why you care, one way or the other, about any kind of moral issue. Animals don’t care, they don’t feel compassion or sensitivity. The cheetah doesn’t care about the gazelle. He goes after the youngest, slowest, weakness fawn in the herd, because he can’t wait to sink his massive incisers into that juicy little tender morsel. The cheetah doesn’t consider the needs of the fawn, its desire to grow up and have a family of its own one day, nor the needs of its mother, her desire to nurture and nurse her precious little baby. There is no moral consideration in the animal kingdom(more on this later). Cheetah says, I’m hungry, I see fawn, I catch fawn, I eat. That’s it. If we are just animals, it doesn’t matter whether you think we are arrogant(animals don’t have feelings of arrogance, I’m just borrowing your argument) or not. It’s a non issue. It doesn’t exist, so Danny, what’s your point? Your question or supposition makes no sense if we are just animals, so please a little reason and consistancy is in order here. Thanks,

    Mar 25, 2012 25:29 PM

    All I am saying is good, evil, religion, tradition, god, money… are just words. Words that we invented after we mastered the art of survival and wanted more. There has to be more to life right? more than just survival? There must be! When you have the luxury of time and security you think up all kinds of stupidity.

    Mar 26, 2012 26:03 AM

    Danny,
    You ask a great and profound question, and I like it because it shows to me that you are a thinker and that you are probing the deeper issues of life related to purpose and meaning of existance. To your question, “There has to be more to life right?” Ah, my friend, there sure is!!! There are at least 4 deep questions that must be answered for life to have meaning. I would put them as follows. 1) Where did I come from? (Origin) 2) How should I live? (Ethics) 3) Why am I here, or what is the purpose of life?(Meaning) and 4) Where am I going when I die, and how can I know? (Destiny) Danny, I love your name, because it’s actually my name too. Daniel = ‘the Lord Jehovah is my Judge’. Even though I was raised in a Christian home, I rebelled for a time and questioned what I had been taught and even challenged some of my Father’s beliefs. But, over the course of several years my heart was won back to the teachings of God’s Word, the Bible. I am so assured today, through the internal witness of the Spirit of God, and the relevance, the timeless accuracy and applicability of the Bible to all of life, that it is indeed the infallible Words of God to us, you and me, his creation, whom he loves so much, that HE, GOD, was willing to send his very own Son, JESUS CHRIST, GOD incarnated, to this earth, to the very people that HE had created, to be despised and rejected by them, and to be cruelly hung to die on a rough wooden cross almost 2000 years ago. Oh, what Love incredible, that He would give his life for you and me, who were yet some 2000(almost) years in the future. Danny, if you would like to study these things out further, you can go to “gotQuestions.org” and the link is here: http://www.gotquestions.org/correct-religion.html. May God divinely bless you in your honest search for truth! There is indeed truth to be found.
    All the Best to you,