*de-activating belief related psychobabble barrier*
anti homosexualism and immoral preachings about africa and undermining health care is the catholic church. They believe that one group of old men are closer to god than other people.
I attend a non catholic church. Theres no big hierarchy, and we believe everyone is equal in gods eyes. We do not oppose homosexuality, condoms or health care. When we get sick, yes, we pray and have faith, but we also visit a doctor, as we have faith that god gave the doctor the gifts and talents to heal us.
I also believe in evolution and the big bang, and see no conflict between them and christianity. I believe that stem cells are an important cure, that genetic engineering is okay as long as we dont abuse it, and that some of Dan browns books are okay. I also believe that just because I am christian does not mean I am any better than anyone else.
Please dont lump us all into one generalised category, thats all I ask of people.
*re-activating belief related psychobabble barrier*
I wont speak any more on the subject, unless someone who wants to discuss it pms me or makes a thread about it, as it is getting off topic, and I know alot of people either
1# dont want to talk about religion
or
2# dont like to hear christians defend themselves (I hope this group doesnt exist on these forums)
On the politics thing, not only do I agree with dancemans analysis, but I love his terminolgy and analogy :p
Lol, I live in australia, where the problems are made worse by the following
1# the majority of australians are very apathetic. We have no political riots (only race riots). We have no 1000 man marches over the injustices in the world. We have no massive crowds turning up on election day to scream their support and get teary over their faviourite party.
2# Voting is compulsory in australia, hence the apathetic australians vote, and people dont make well informed decisions about who to support/vote for. Random votes and fudged votes ensue.
3# Partly because of the above 2, we get very crappy politicians. We must choose between the lesser of two evils, and because of 1# and 2#, alot of us choose almost randomly.
4# Our media sucks. They have weekly news stories, usually following one or more of these scripts
A- Old battler gets screwed
B- Corrupt Council Member
C- Neighbours argue
D- Someone Cheats/Scams the system
E- single mother of lots of kids provides for her family using tricks to get things cheap.
Also, the media is very biased. They seem to see themselves as authority figures, and often pursue and harrass people and tell them how bad they and think these people are answerable to the media. We have no impartial reporting here.
Heres some stuff they have actually said on ACA/ Today Tonight
On parking lots- "Bingles and bashings, why the local supermarket carpark is the most dangerous place in australia"
On the excesses of alcohol- "Fruit Juice, just as deadly, according to new research"
On a house that got trashed/ vandalised and graffitied- "They did this deliberatly didnt they?"
Really, with those two shows as our mosted watched news shows....you gotta worry.
At the moment, Kevin Rudd (our latest prime minister) Is in big trouble. He promised so much, and has not made good on a single promise. All he does is talk, and talk, and use big words, and talk. At least in America, people who dont care or are ill informed dont vote, politicians actually do stuff instead of talk, and your media does its job with a degree of dignity and impartiality. Yes, your politicians are often corrupt, and buy their way into power, but at least you have a proper government.
