It was intended to be a comment on the difference between faith and religion. We had some who are down on religion and/or faith and I wanted to make sure that they weren't intertwined. The post was not accusatory of Blair, it was more a general observation about "religion' vs. 'faith'.

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Gotchya...you were going "big picture"...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Yes Sir.

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It hasn't hurt me. But I don't have a dog in that fight.

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture

Actually you do...

Without belief in a creator, there begins the lack of a belief in an afterlife...With that, there becomes a lack of moral responsibility...

People make decisions not only based on what might happen to them from a legal or physical perspective, but also (and sometimes, moreso) because of what may happen to them if they are judged based on their actions after their life on earth is finished...

Without thinking a judgement would ever be made, people start to justify their actions immorally...and that ends up hurting everybody...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Thanks reverend,

I don't really get going on this because its circular. And you are happy with your faith. So anything I say sounds like an attack on your beliefs. And I respect your choice. That being said.

I have never felt the need to question our existence. Or where we go. Or where we came from. I don't really care. What is important to me is how I treat others. And that they give me the same respect. I am honest because I don't know how not to be. I am not that good a liar. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. My kids are honest hard working people. They voulunteer their time to help those less fortunate. They have a sense of duty and are couragous. And I'm proud of them. As you can tell. So I am comfortable in my beliefs. And its people like you that tell me I'm not doing well just reinforces my independence. I have no guilt. And not to be rude but I think that any God that feels the need to be praised has plenty of his own issues. (See I'm sorry)
But I will never buy the idea that were all just pawns in someone elses game. You can have it.

I hope were still friends. Because I just read where people like me are not trusted by folks like you.

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture

That's not a Christian belief...

Even people who believe in reincarnation believe they'll end up as a different animal or person based on the deeds done in their present life...

It's far from circular...It's quite simple really...

If you believe that your negative actions will have negative consequences in the afterlife, you'll be less likely to do them...If you don't believe that, then you'll be more likely to do them...It works the exact same way in life right now...

When I say "lack of moral responsibility", I'm speaking in generalities, not specific individuals...There are even people who DO believe in the afterlife that have a greater lack of moral responsibility than those who don't...

I'm saying that people, (in general), are more APT to do things if they believe there will be no consequences than if they do...Doesn't mean they WILL, but the window of justification is larger...

Apparently, you've never heard of "free will"...

And, of course, you'd have every reason to believe something someone wrote as representative of all "folks like me"...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Oh I believe in free will. I just don't believe someone gave that to me. I can tell you that if you believe in God or not you can still feel guilty when you do wrong by someone else. Its not some future consequences that effects me. Its my own sense of right and wrong.
Somethings are ingrained in our DNA. For example. Why does a dog know automatically that a snake is dangerous? I hope I didn't just open a can of worms there. But you get my point.
The only guilt trip I get now is from religious people that tell me I'm in trouble. I can live with it though.
Some of the people I respect the most throughout history are and were God fearing. I have the same respect for them regardless of their religious beliefs. What would be great is if they could do the same. But it doesn't work that way I know. Christians are supposed to spread the word.

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture

Not at all...

But I've never said that people do things SOLELY on whether or not they may get judged in an afterlife...For those that do it's ONE other thing to consider tha people who don't believe in an afterlife or being judged in one has to deal with...

The sense of right and wrong can also come (and mostly does) from an individual's upbrining...The "being judged afterward" can be the difference bewtween someone wanting to do something with 49% willingness and 51% willingness...

You telling me that your willingness of doing something is already at 95% because of the difference between right and wrong only tells me about YOU...not everyone...

And you know as well as I do that there could be millions of people in the percentile I've given...

Which is the difference bewtween millions of things being done in what people considers right and what people consider wrong...

And ESPECIALLY when people KNOW that what they're doing is wrong but do it anyway...

Which was never me...so don't bring it up...

I'm a Christian...when have you seen me "spead the word"?...

I guess you'll judge me a "bad Christian" now because I'm not doing what I'm "supposed" to do...

I notice the harsh hypocrisy of your last two comments...

First, you have an issue of "religious people" judging you...(by way of your "guilt trip" comment)...

And then...in the VERY NEXT PARAPGRAPH...You judged those same people in their religious obligations...(supposing to "spread the word)...

It would be much easier to write "I don't like people who call others a-holes...I think they're a-holes."...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

If I may interject.

1) Not all religion is bad, it's the concept of fundamentalism that is troubling. Generally fundamentalists have issues with the rights of others that disagree with them. The same is true for radical atheists. Neither is willing to accept that a belief system is a very personal journey not arrived at lightly nor changed easily.

2) We should be very careful about imposing our belief systems on others by force of law. This goes for both sides. Removing religious monuments from federal grounds that have been there since the foundation of the nation is just as bad as supporting staff led prayer in the classroom. Respect and tolerance don't equate removal and silence nor do they equate imposing and demanding. There is a middle ground upon which the rights of both can and should be respected. There is a middle ground upon which both can and should come together in the spirit of solidarity and progress. Sure, there will always be differences, but as long as we defend each others right to existence and defend each others status as equal, then we shall be able to stop out the extremism that has gripped not only this country, but much of the world.

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