Fri, Oct 12, 2007 2:27pm ET

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Scarborough on "perfecting Jews" controversy: "I think Jesus had a different take than Ann Coulter"

On the October 12 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough responded to right-wing pundit Ann Coulter's comment on the October 8 edition of CNBC's The Big Idea that Christians "just want Jews to be perfected, as they say," as documented by Media Matters for America. Scarborough said, "I really don't think Ann had it right when she said that Christianity was about perfecting Jews. If you read the New Testament, actually, Christianity is about serving others." After playing a video clip of the exchange between Coulter and Deutsch, Scarborough said:
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Posted by greekfurnace

In other words, 'we like Ann!'... she may be a greedy, hate-monger... but, she sure is good at it!!

Posted by mari2rose1640 in reply to greekfurnace

Strange statement to make!  ie "Yes her total distortion of the role of a Christian is skewed BUT on the other hand, she seems bright."  As my mom used to say, that sounds like an excuse not a reason.  The woman is a pariah and every time she opens her mouth, it is well intentioned to hurt and destroy.  She has NO standing to be telling others what Christians should do or how they should act.  She totally missed the point with her hate filled language.  I feel sorry for the poor dear.  Just listen to every hate filled word out of her mouth and you will know she is of all people most miserable and the least able to hold up Christian standards.

Posted by NL207 in reply to greekfurnace

Coulter 'perfected' remark is not any sort of anti-semitism nor is she making any judgements about the worth of any individuals or groups of individuals.  She is merely repeating standard Christian doctrine on the matter of faith with regard to Jews [or anyone else].

This quote:  "[the author of Hebrews] argued that Christianity represented the perfection of Judaism. Christianity was the religion foretold by the prophets. Those who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, moreover, were not the true people of God."

Hebrews 12:2 "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith"

From a noted Christian educator, "Biblical faith is self-consciously different from Hinduism and Buddhism. Christianity, Judaism, and even Islam are confident that their faith is not religion, but revelation."

in the view of Christianity, Jews and Muslims are of imperfect Faith because they do not recognize and accept Christ as the promised Messiah.  Those of 'perfected' faith both believe in God and accept Christ as His savior.

The terms 'perfect' and imperfect' are the actual theological terms applied to this topic.  Coulter at least has the education to know this.  The authors and publishers of Media Matters plainly do not.  Smear is the name of the game at this site.

So pull your pants up.  Your ignorance is showing.

Media Matters is no better.  It is, I suppose, unreasonable to believe that these apparently Godless people who write and publish MM would ever take the time to study or understand any religion beyond leftism, but it is worth a try and might expose some people around here to some truth which is sadly lacking.

Posted by mary59 in reply to NL207

You are spouting dogma.  This is churchianity; not scripture.  Defending Coulter is a great clue as to where you are coming from, and it's not Christian, that's for sure.

Posted by solon in reply to NL207

Since you DEFINE ignorance we have no reason to take your assesment of us seriously. Hey LIBERALS BELEIVE that conservatives are just ignorant of the perfection of our beliefs. So we are basically a better higher form of political awareness. We are just a couple rungs ABOVE you on the political evolutionary ladder. THAT isnt insulting because it is just OUR belief. You know that YOURS is BS. That is all we are saying just like that was all ANN is saying. Then again you are probably to stupid to understand the simple analogy here so most likely I wasted my time. Try this I am better than you because my beliefs are better, that is basically what the Gangleskank told Jews. If you are too ignorant to understand that I really cant help you

Posted by Ivy Shoots in reply to NL207

 

 NL207 writes:

Coulter 'perfected' remark is not any sort of anti-semitism nor is she making any judgements about the worth of any individuals or groups of individuals.  She is merely repeating standard Christian doctrine on the matter of faith with regard to Jews [or anyone else].

This quote:  "[the author of Hebrews] argued that Christianity represented the perfection of Judaism. Christianity was the religion foretold by the prophets. Those who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, moreover, were not the true people of God."

Hebrews 12:2 "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith"

From a noted Christian educator, "Biblical faith is self-consciously different from Hinduism and Buddhism. Christianity, Judaism, and even Islam are confident that their faith is not religion, but revelation."

in the view of Christianity, Jews and Muslims are of imperfect Faith because they do not recognize and accept Christ as the promised Messiah.  Those of 'perfected' faith both believe in God and accept Christ as His savior.

 -----------------------------------------------

Whoever wrote the above only proved Coulter WRONG.

He/she claims Coulter was "repeating standard Christian doctrine on the matter of faith" but then proves that she was actually DISTORTING that doctrine, by posting quotes about "the perfection of JUDAISM," a religion -- not "Jews," human beings -- and that it "perfects our FAITH" -- again, perfecting the practice of a religion, not perfecting individuals who are deemed imperfect by Coulter because they don't adopt the label "Christian" for themselves.

  Coulter is wrong to imply that people can be "perfected."  No person on Earth has ever been perfect nor is that possible.  Mother Teresa lived a life completely devoted to behaving as Christ instructed, and she was far from perfect.  Perfecting one's faith is a lifelong process we know can never be fully achieved, but judging others as less perfect than ourselves is never part of that process. 

  Coulter's big mistake (shared by many Christians-in-name-only these days) is her smug belief that simply saying you "accept Christ as your personal savior" makes you a Christian and therefore perfect.  Not only does that phrase highlight the purely selfish motivation (personal salvation) for taking the so-called "born again" pledge, there is no imperative in it to actually DO anything else Christ said we must do to gain salvation!

 Christ's parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us that it doesn't matter what religion or ethnicity a person identifies himself as, his treatment of others is what will save him.  The way to salvation is to do what Christ said to do, not to simply label yourself "Christian," a word Christ never used.

 It is much easier to call yourself a Christian and do nothing Christ instructed, than to do what He said is necessary to "perfect your faith." A Jew who makes efforts to help the needy has perfected his faith far more than someone who "accepts Christ" only rhetorically, then goes on TV to spread hate and divisiveness.

  Christ had plenty to say about the fate of such hypocrites, and the word "perfect" was not used.  It is very telling that they seem not to have read that part of the Bible.

Posted by JLyons

More Scarborugh phonyness, his network parent places Ann on , yet he plays the other side, just like he did with the war. I never take this man seriously.

Posted by moresby82 in reply to JLyons

JL:  I think you are totally confused as to what news/talks shows are.  They are not, "Hey, let's get all the people who agree with us in here and talk among ourselves."  Invitees are supposed to have varied attitudes and opinions just as listeners do.  Why are you so threatened by that?

Posted by yui0ta

All the trees felled to produce her book are as wasted as the lives of our fallen soldiers, marines and airmen in the Iraq boondoggle. Can we please move on?

Posted by 7YearsLeft

Ann Coulter Perfects Insanity

Ann Coulter is a hate-filled sycophant that should spend all of her time working on her own perfection. She spews vitriolic venom constantly and is the worst ambassador that Christianity has ever had. And her idea of Heaven (said it would be just like the 2004 repub convention in New York) is odd to say the least. To assert that heaven would be full of bigoted neo-con robots with flip-flops and purple bandages is simply asinine. What a waste of skin!

Posted by carlileb5935 in reply to 7YearsLeft

Maybe all those white people up there in the firmament will get skin cancer and then go to Hell.

I'm curious why Coulter said her vision of heaven was New York during the Republican convention. Why NY? Does that mean she wants Dominican hot dog vendors, too? Maybe a little Harlem jazz, for variety? 

Posted by 7YearsLeft in reply to carlileb5935

Not sure how to take the "Dominican Hot Dog Vendor" comment...It's going to take a lot of drinking to rid myself of that visual! ;-)

Posted by HuntingtonBeachLefty in reply to 7YearsLeft

"Dominican Hot Dog Vendor"

Something may have been lost in translation, but I believe that was one of the payees on Rush LImbaugh's recent credit card statement.

Can't a guy purchase a few weiners on his vacation time?

Posted by robotchubby

What I sensed in the whole tone of this panel is of people getting together after hearing a close personal friend just got cancer.  Maybe Ann's career is starting to go "terminal."  One can only hope!

Posted by billiybobjones7678

I'll tell you, babe-0-licious Ann Coulter sure gets the left/libs talking...and when they start quoting Joe, well as HRC might just say, "cackle, cackle,cackle, cackle, cackle, cackle, cackle, cackle,  cackle, cackle, cackle!"

Posted by DeminTX in reply to billiybobjones7678

Were you wearing your white hooded robe when you wrote that?

Posted by neondesert in reply to DeminTX

Naw, he just recently learned how to spell "cackle"!

Congrats, BBJ.

Posted by susangee in reply to neondesert

Maybe next he'll learn how to spell "Billy."

Posted by pearlene_scott1602 in reply to billiybobjones7678

Billybobjones, my momma had a saying 'God don't like ugly'.

Annie sure has an ugly soul. She is the farthest thing from a 'christian'. She spews hate, stereotypes and just plain ignorance and she's all yours. Be proud.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to billiybobjones7678

"babe-0-licious Ann Coulter"?????

I guess you must have lost your eyesight along with your sanity. With all due respect to your taste in women, Ann Coulter is, in common parlance, a skank.

Posted by solon in reply to IRONY 101

On a GOOD day.

Posted by FNC Liberal

By now, we shouldn't be surprised what this rightwing leg crosser says anymore. This braindead spinster should be banned from all broadcast networks.

ADL has denounced her and I hope the GOP denounces her as well-which I doubt they would. These men love her short skirts, boney arms and legs.

Of course, she can always run back to Fox News Scandal where she is loved by some, and hated by others. I can hear her now: "Sean, they are picking on me!"

I'm making a protest to Bossman Rupert and asking him not to bring this blond insult back on the network. Please join me, Media Matters.

 

Posted by HuntingtonBeachLefty in reply to FNC Liberal

I respect your position, FNC, but I'm on the other side. Let her talk. While other representatives of the GOP hide their true colors, she is the true face, and I don't want her locked up in the basement.

She can do nothing but good for this country by the damage she does to the right wing machine.Yeah, she might appeal to a small group of insecure imbeciles, who enjoy babbling BS and can divert their attraction to young boys to her comfortably (see Billybob's post above) but I refuse to believe that 1/2 of this country is stoopid enough that her pathetic act won't wake them up to a little reality. 

Posted by ddpd in reply to HuntingtonBeachLefty

Very, very well said....   Thank you.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to HuntingtonBeachLefty

At least you're not part of the censorship movement on the far left. That movement is growing in numbers all the time.

Posted by rms in reply to RINO Hunter

What censorship movement?  If mainstream news organization decide not to invite her to bloviate on their airwaves, she will always have her books, her website, and Fox "News" to keep her from filing for unemployment insurance...

I wish Tom Lehrer was still writing songs.  He would have found just the right words to sum up the Coulter "phenomenon..."

Posted by HuntingtonBeachLefty in reply to rms

The censorship movement on the left that is growing in numbers every day- as supported by Rinohunters evidence, and the links to.... Oh , I.m sorry, according to the hallucination pulled directly from his tar hole.

Hey! BilldO's on Leno at this very minute, explaining how his compliments toward Black people were cherry-picked to make him look like a panty-waist racist sissy.

Posted by 7YearsLeft in reply to RINO Hunter

Please! It is the far right that always wants to stifle dissent and cherry-pick their audiences. How often do rightie talk-show hosts screen out callers who would pose anything resembling a tough question? On the other hand, many liberal leaning talk show hosts move those who disagree to the front of the line. Sam Seder, for instance, likes to have these ditto-head simpletons say their peace so they can be exposed for the shallow thinkers they are. Republicans, like cockroaches, can not stand to be in the light. Haven't you heard about the study that more or less demonstrated that those who are capable of critical thinking are a lot more apt to be liberal. While those who tend to lean right do not possess the ability to assimilate new information and are more apt to be followers who want a 'Daddy' figure to lead them! I agree with HBL, let the Coulters of the world speak and show their ignorant, hateful selves!

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

There IS no censorship movement on the left YOU are a liar.

Posted by lapsedlawyer in reply to RINO Hunter

Ummmm...and just who was it that brought up that MoveOn.org Petraeus/Betray Us ad in the Senate? 

Oh right.  All those "far left" Repugnant-cons.

Posted by Bootsy

Ann really has no idea what a true Christian is.  If she did, she wouldn't constantly spew hate filled rhetoric just to sell some books.  She'll have plenty of time to regret her actions when she's roasting in Hell.

Posted by pieper in reply to Bootsy

or we could just get the democratic party to control all three branches of government.  that'd pretty close to being hell for her anyway.

Posted by RABBITLUVR

If people would just IGNORE this wretched woman and QUIT giving her attention - yeah, that means YOU, NBC! - then she will fade away as a nobody. I am really fed up with these morons in the media giving this woman air time and then whining about what she says. Her 'shtick' will ALWAYS be the same.

Posted by SFnomad

If MannThrax Coulter had any brains, she wouldn't open her mouth.

Posted by tex

As long as she has access to the Media, this means the media honchos are promoting her as a spokesperson for the Right.

As a spokesperson, endorsed by today's media, her every word helps to define for us what the Rightwing is all about.

With Bush and Cheney defining Republicans from within government, and Coulter defining Republicans/Rightwingers from outside the government, the public gets a well-rounded picture.

I agree with the poster who said LET HER SPEAK, often and from every forum available. Every time she speaks, we can almost feel a wave of newly offended voters vowing to never support ANYTHING this woman supports.

And that's a GOOD thing.

(Plus, it's good that the likes of BILLIY can derive masturbatory fantasies from her appearances. A boy needs his fantasies.) 

Posted by anotheramerican

I think the posters so far have it wrong.  Ann has not spewed hate. She has simply expressed a basic tenant of Christianity.

It seems however that she has committed another sin of the Liberal Religion. She committed an offense against moral relativism. 

She simply said she feels her religion is the 'perfected' form of Judiasm. Which in theological terms simply means that it is a fuller, truer way to pay homage to God. Everyone who is a Christian believes that... otherwise they probably would be Jews.

She never said that she didn't respect Jews or Judiasm. She never said Deutch had to convert. She only said she feels Christianity supersedes Judiasm. That is not shocking nor is it hateful.  It is simply an expression of the reality of Christianity.

I honor and respect Judiasm and those who practice that religion. There is a close kinship between Jews and Christians while at the same time major doctrinal differences.   It is okay to point that out. I believe if anyone else had said it, there would be no story.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to anotheramerican

Excuse me, but Ann Coulter did more than just benignly present a tenet of Christianity...she offered the opinion that the country would be better if everyone was Christian. Her comments also suggested that Judaism was inherently deficient.

Personally, I wish everyone would keep their damn religion to themselves. I don't care if AC or anyone else believes their religion is superior to another one.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

"she offered the opinion that the country would be better if everyone was Christian"

Of course it would be! The main goal of those of us who are Christians should be to spread the good news about Christ. We should convince people to become Christians. That's what EVERY religion does. We explain our beliefs to others and try to convince them that what we believe is right. It's not meant to be offensive to others. We are merely trying to save people from going to hell. We want everybody to become a Christian and have everlasting life in heaven.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

Rino, take your right wing religious "good news" and stick it right up your a**. In my opinion you are a phony Christian.

To be sure, my comments are not intended to be disrespectful to religion. They are intended to be disrespectful to you for attempting to foist your religious beliefs, which I doubt you (as a right wing Republican) practice, on the rest of us.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

Thanks for the kind words. But the reality is that any Christian who believes that non-Chrisitians can get to heaven is a phony Chrisitan. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the father except through me." If you reject what Jesus said there, then you reject Christianity all together. And it's pretty ridiculous that you doubt my Christianity simply because I'm a Republican. You obviously have an irrational hatred for Republicans.

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

how do you know what "jesus said"?   the bible has been rewritten, sections taken out, sections put in, translated, rewritten again.  and on top of it, you're asking me to believe a book that says a man built a huge wooden ark, animals from all over the world came to that ark, it rained for weeks on end, and then they floated around for a long period until that water receded [to where if it covered the whole earth?],  and then they landed on top of a mountain and eventually left the ark.   i've got a better one.   there were these three bears....

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to mefirst

You don't have to believe any of the Bible if you don't want to. I'm just saying that you can't just pick and choose what to believe out of the Bible. There are some parts that have to be put into context, but the main parts of the Bible have to be interpreted literally. Either you believe the Bible or you don't. And also, there is a lot of geological evidence for a world wide flood. You picked a bad argument there.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

What part of the Bible directed you to bother "liberals" on the internet? Why aren't you helping the sick or the poor at this very moment? Big Christian talker, eh, Rino?

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

Well, the Bible says to protect life and point out that homosexuality is immoral, so I'm certainly explaining the Republican/biblical stance on those issues.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

"...so I'm certainly explaining the Republican/biblical stance on those issues."

Selectively...very selectively. There is only one political party that is pushing the notion that you have to belong to it to get to heaven...that would be the Republican Party. The truth, Rino, is that Christianity exists in a different realm than political parties. You are attemting to fuse a value system that promotes good over evil with a mechanism that is inherently corrupt. That you don't see something as clear as that speaks volumes about your bogus version of Christianity.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

I never brought politics into this with my original post. You're the one who brought political views into this. I believe that Republicans and Democrats alike can get to heaven. God isn't a Republican or Democrat. I believe that Christians get to heaven, and it doesn't matter what political party they're in.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

Would the country would be better if everyone was Christian"

RINO: "Of course it would be! "

Not mixing politics and religion, Rino? And which party has pushed the notion that it repreasents Christian values?  Hmmmm...the Republican Party?

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

"Not mixing politics and religion, Rino"

What does that have to do with politics? Are you implying that if everybody was a Christian everybody would be a Republican as well? I certainly don't believe that. Christians of all political persuasions will be in heaven someday. It makes absolutely no difference what your political ideology is.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

"It makes absolutely no difference what your political ideology is."

Then, insofar as eternal salvation is concerned, politics are irrlevant. So why are you so political? if anything politics could mislead you down a path away from heaven. Why are you, Rino, so concerned with right wing politics if they are irrelevant to your eternal salvation? Maybe because your politics and religion are one and the same, Rino. If so, Rino, you aren't a real Christian...you're a RepubloChristian. I'm sure Jesus would be proud...

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

Huh? So I'm not a Christian simply because I have an interest in politics? That makes no sense at all. People can have many aspects to their lives. I don't have to be non-political simply because I'm a Christian. I have an interest in politics and I enjoy debating people who have opposing points of view. But I've never said that those with different political view points won't make it to heaven. You're the only one who said that!

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

"So I'm not a Christian simply because I have an interest in politics?"

Not if your politics are at odds with true Christianity. If you cannot see that right wing Republican politics and real Christianity are mutually exclusive then you are blind. But, perhaps you have re-defined Christianity to compensate for the discrepancy. Honestly, Rino, you ought to do a little deeper soul searching...

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

I see. So you can't be a conservative and a Christian at the same time. Well thanks for proving that you're the one who's bigoted and extremely closed minded. I never brought politics into this. You did. You attacked a certain segment of Christianity simply because they have different political views than you. That's sick.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

Rino, YOU are the one who has to reconcile his conflicting political beliefs with your religious beliefs and practices. But so long as you and Ann  Coulter continue to "share" your religious beliefs with us then I'll share mine as well.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

You're the one who needs to stop mixing religion and politics. I never brought politics into this discussion. You made the incredibly sick claim that simply because someone has conservative political views they can't get to heaven. You're doing the exact thing that you claim that I did. Except that I never bashed liberals on this thread. This is a religious discussion and I won't allow you to pull me off topic and inject politics into this discussion.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

"You made the incredibly sick claim that simply because someone has conservative political views they can't get to heaven."

No, no, no...that's not what I said. Feel free to more clearly read my comments above. I said that right wing Republican politics and Christianity were mutually exclusive...they are not not morally compatible.

BTW, you say that non-Christians can't make it to heaven. How arrogant...!

Good night. Don't forget to say your prayers.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

Exactly. You said that you can't be a right wing Republican and be a Christian at the same time. That's sick and demented. I could debate you on which political ideology is more compatable with Christianity, but there's no point in that. This isn't a political discussion. You brought politics into this; I didn't.

Posted by anotheramerican in reply to IRONY 101

Irony,

I hope you don't mind my asking, but can you point out an example where you feel "right wing" Republican politics and Christianity are mutually exclusive?

Posted by Kyle_Broflovski in reply to anotheramerican

AA -

How about 'love thy neighbor as thyself'?

 

Unless of course you are Jewish, Muslim, atheist, homosexual, black, latino, female, or liberal!

Posted by anotheramerican in reply to IRONY 101

BTW Irony,

I do not believe only Christians can get to Heaven.

It seems to me that when Christ said you cannot get to Heaven except through Him, he was referring to Himself as the example. He also might have meant it meaning that only through His dying and rising from the dead can salvation be won.

It is a hotly debated topic. The interesting thing is that it doesn't matter what we individuals believe, but what actually happens.

I for one do not want to ignore Pascal's wager.

:-)

Posted by Brabantio in reply to anotheramerican

Pascal's wager is not logically sound.  One reason for this is that Christianity is not the only choice there.  Along with the option of believing in God, there is paganism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.  The same wager can be equally applied to the deities of any of those faiths, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster as well.

Another reason is that the entire wager is based on the premise that God is "infinitely incomprehensible", but then it assumes the nature of God, that God will reward a certain behavior.  If God is "infinitely incomprehensible", then we can't possibly know his nature.

The best reason, in my opinion, is that believing in God because of the odds of a beneficial result is not a true belief in God.  It's a cynical maneuver to gain a desired result, not an expression of true faith.  So even under the concept that God rewards those who have faith, anyone who is swayed by the wager is likely to not be eligible.

The man should have stuck to his triangle. 

Posted by HuntingtonBeachLefty in reply to Brabantio

Great points, Brab. I've always liked the "just in case" bramd of religion. I take that into consideration when I see the surveys of people's religious views.I figure if people are asked if they believe in God, there are four probabilities within "yes" and "no", and God existing or not.

If God doesn't exist, the answer means nothing, it's neutral.

If there is a God, a "no" means you're going to Hell, a "yes" means you've got a shot at Heaven.

For those who have no idea what the truth is (that's all of us) there are two neutrals, one with potential negative result, and one possible positive result. The safe bet is to believe in God.

I had a co-worker years ago who was trying to save me with the "what if...?" scenario. I finally calmed him down with my own hypothetical.

What if God gave us these brains that work way better than even the smartest monkeys'. and then gave us an IQ test to see who appreciated that gift.

Suppose He made up a bunch of outlandish stories that contradicted everything our logic and senses told us was probable.Had someone write a book about Virgin births, corpses reanimating, all of the species of the Earth getting on one boat, people without modern medicine living 10 times the life span of today.

Then suppose God was reserving Heaven for only those who didn't buy it.The Supreme Being doesn't wanna hang out with chumps, that's a bad testimonial for that swell brain he designed.

What if? I've got as much backup for that as anybody else does for their story. 

Posted by Brabantio in reply to HuntingtonBeachLefty

That's a great way of demonstrating how you can't base your beliefs on a hypothetical situation.  The Lord works in mysterious ways, remember.

I think your scenario fits into the concept of the "Atheist's wager".  Wikipedia says;"A god may exist who will reward disbelief or punish belief. In the absence of clear knowledge of what if anything will benefit the gambler's hereafter it is better to concentrate on improving conditions here" (italics mine).

If you do your best to live by common-sense morality, and improve the world around you, then a benevolent God will reward you anyway, whether you believed in Him or not.  If it's not a benevolent God, then life is inherently unfair, essentially designed as a guessing game with eternal bliss or torment as the prizes.

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

If everyone in this country were a Christian of the type that bombed abortion clinics and shot abortion doctors or like Jim Jones this would NOT be a better country and if everyone in this country were a non Christian in the way Ghandi was it would be a much better country. As usual you see things in such simplistic terms that you show how little you know what you are talking about.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to solon

"If everyone in this country were a Christian of the type that bombed abortion clinics and shot abortion doctors or like Jim Jones this would NOT be a better country"

Solon, you're really stretching on that one. People like that obviously aren't truly Christians. I'm talking about people who have Christ in their lives and try to live according to his teachings. Since you claim to be a Christian yourself, I don't know why you wouldn't want as many people to be saved as possible.

 

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

I dont accept your interpretation of the bible. I dont think people have to be Christian or they will suffer in Hell. I dont buy it. I dont see why you do.

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

oh i forgot, creation science proves a worldwide flood.  where did the water come from and where did it go?

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to mefirst

Much of it came up from the ground and went back into the ground.

Posted by annes10 in reply to RINO Hunter

Huh?

Care to be more descriptive? I'm a hydrologist, and this is news to me!

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

so enough water to cover the highest point on earth, mt. everest, just sprung out of the ground all of a sudden?  sure.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to mefirst

It came out of the ground and down from the sky. Did you never read the book of Genesis?

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

you're offering the bible as scientific proof of what you're saying.  it does not work that way.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to mefirst

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070907150931.htm

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

pathetic.  i've already read that story.  they think that there was a natural land barrier between the mediterranean and the black sea basin and that broke and the black sea was created as we know it now.   that is not, repeat not, evidence of a flood covering the earth.  they make that clear in the link.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to mefirst

Hmmm. You must have missed the title:

"Marine Team Finds Surprising Evidence Supporting A Great Biblical Flood"

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to mefirst

Sorry. That didn't work. I'll try it again:

"Marine Team Finds Surprising Evidence Supporting a Great Biblical Flood."

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

hmmm.  you must have missed this in the article.  the "great flood" covered an area "four times the size of israel".   last time i checked, that is not the whole earth.                         

Posted by BillJ-MN in reply to RINO Hunter

... there is a lot of geological evidence for a world wide flood. You picked a bad argument there. - RH

If you believe that you are either scientifically ignorant or in denial of genuine science.  There is no evidence that the entire world has been covered with water in the last half billion+ years.  In fact, had that occurred (especially within the last several tens of thousands of years) there are several very specific features that would be seen which are conspicuously absent.

I believe you've allowed yourself to be misled to believe a falsehood because you'd like to believe it.

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

There you go again arrogantly telling us what we HAVE to do again. You DO know that YOU arent GOD right? Sacred literature is meant to be taken only literally. IF that were true why would the bible tell us that God has written his precepts in our HEARTS, there would be no need. YOU can believe what you want but when you tell us that unless we believe like YOU we arent real Christians you show yourself to be arrogant and full of yourself. THAT isnt your call. You should stop trying to be God, he is a lot smarter than you, so are most of the posters on this site.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to solon

I didn't call you anything. I just said that belief in Christ's death on the cross is the way to salvation, which is what the Bible teaches. If you deny that you are flat out rejecting the Bible. And yes, I know I'm not God. But I can read, and God's word EXPLICITLY says that JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY! You simply can't get around that.

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

Bunk. That is YOUR interpretation nothing more. As I pointed out when Jesus was asked directly how to attain salvation his answer was simple. Love God, be fair and honest in all your dealings basically. Nothing more. What you THINK, it wasnt in there, so you are welcome to believe what you want but there are lots of ways to interpret Jesus words about being the way.

Posted by lapsedlawyer in reply to RINO Hunter

And YOU can't get around the fact that Revelations promises a place in your God's Kingdom for the Jews, which is why your particular sect of Christianity came up with the whole anti-Semitic notion of "perfected Jews" and setting out to "perfect" them. 

Yours is the Torquemada sect.

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

You basically said we werent REAL Christians if we believed differently than you do about this. That isnt your call YOU are not God.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

My religious beliefs tell me that it is impossible to be a true Christian and a right wing Republican...the two are mutually exclusive.

Further, if you are a true Christian why are you wasting your time hanging out on the internet, bothering people on a left-leaning website, instead of praying or working with the sick and the poor. Is Christianity just a paet-time thing for you? Just on weekends, maybe? Or are you just a Christian "talker"?

My religious beliefs are no less valid than yours, so if you want to spout yours then I'll spout mine. My religious beliefs tell me that right wing Republicans who pretend to be true Christians, particularly those who lurk on the internet casting aspersions on those with whom they disagree, are frauds...they have missed the boat entirely on what it means to be a Christian. I don't pretend to be a true Christian but I know a phony when I see one. 

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

"...you doubt my Christianity simply because I'm a Republican."

My religious beleiefs are equally as valid as yours, Rino. You want to spout yours, then I'll spout mine. My religious beliefs tell me that it is impossible to be a right wing Republican and a Christian...the two are are mutually exclusive. 

Posted by Lynn in reply to RINO Hunter

I believe that anyone who lives a life that imparts the same love, kindness, and caring as Christ's will go to heaven and all those who have lived a life contrary to his teachings and mandates (they can be found in red print in the bible) to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and general see to the needs of he downtrodden regardless of what they say or what they call themselves are going to be in big trouble on the big J day.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to Lynn

I see. So people can get to heaven by simply being good. So where exactly do you draw the line at? How good do you have to be? Do you think that we can ever be as God as Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life?

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

"...a perfect life?"

With such a large gap in the Biblical telling of Jesus' life how do you knw Jesus lived a perfect life? What about those ancient texts which say that as a child the parents of Jesus' playmates went to Mary and Joseph to ask for help because Jesus had turned their children into goats? Have you ever researched any of the ancient manuscripts about Jesus that were not incorporated into the Bible?

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

Look, if you want to doubt the validity of Christianity that's your right. You doubt that Jesus is the son of God who lived a perfect life? Fine. You're entitled to your opinion. But those of us who actually are Christians should heed what the Bible says about spreading the good word. The Bible says that we should try to tell as many people about Christ as possible. I don't understand why that makes you so angry. We're just following our religion.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

"We're just following our religion."

Actually, you and Ann Coulter are interjecting your religious beliefs into the realm of politics. Great...then I will do the same. And my religious beliefs tell me that you and Ann Coulter are both frauds pretending to be true Christians. Simply spouting scripture does not a good Christian make.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

Ann Coulter may have done that before, but where did she include politics in this discussion? If you read the transcript, she was simply talking about religion. Your personal attacks are still baseless and defamatory.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to RINO Hunter

What???? Ann Coulter believes that the ideal is for this country to look like the Republican Convention and she believes that heaven is going to look like that.

COULTER: "It would look like New York City during the Republican National Convention. In fact, that's what I think heaven is going to look like."

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to IRONY 101

Sorry. You have a point there. But I never said comments similar to that or agreed with her comments. We're not the same person. I strongly disagree with her on that. And simply the fact that she's outrageous and hateful at times doesn't mean that all conservative Christians are like that. She doesn't speak for us. That's not a good reason to suggest that all conservatives can't be true Christians.

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

but you have said you have no problem with the ten commandments being posted in government buildings.  so you are proposing mixing politics and/or government with religion. 

Posted by mefirst in reply to IRONY 101

here it is.  heaven at the republican national convention.

http://nymag.com/rnc/

Posted by lapsedlawyer in reply to RINO Hunter

We're just following our religion.

Actually, you're interpreting your religion.  You're saying, without one single shred of evidence from scripture, that Coultergheist is correct, that Christians are "perfected Jews."  That's not a belief shared by all who call themselves Christian, nor (as I've said) is it based on scripture.  In fact, in Revelations, it is specifically mentioned that the Jews have a standing reservation for heaven, which is where this whole anti-semitic "perfected Jews" Left Behind thing comes from:  Far-right Christian sects can't reconcile believing their way being the only way to heaven and this promise of a place in the Kingdom to the Jews in the Bible.

And, Rino, if you think I'm calling you out as an anti-Semite, you're reading comprehension is better than I would have given you credit for.

Posted by tiredog98x2072 in reply to RINO Hunter

So, your mission in life is to foist your viewas of Christianity and religion on the rest of us?

Posted by moresby82 in reply to RINO Hunter

Rhino:    I assume you are not talking about Ann Coulter when you refer to Christians spreading the good word about Jesus.  She, and her methods, are in direct contraction to the way Jesus and his Apostles taught.  Their's was a message of love and peace and forgiveness and a way home - together.  Nothing in the philosophy applies to Ann's Coulter's messages or methods.

 

Posted by anotheramerican in reply to IRONY 101

Irony,

Can you provide a link to the ancient documents that support you claim of Jesus turning kids into goats? :-) 

Or are you trying to pull the wool over our eyes?

Posted by mefirst in reply to anotheramerican

try this. scroll halfway down. 

Posted by mefirst in reply to mefirst

my bad.  the link:

http://www.williamgaddis.org/recognitions/I1anno2.shtml

Posted by HuntingtonBeachLefty in reply to anotheramerican

"...Jesus turning kids into goats? "

Actually, AA, the history of kids turning into goats is very well documented. Irony's comment was about Jesus turning children into goats.

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

Yes because THAT is what Jesus SAID. That to gain salvation you need to Love God and be fair and honest in all your dealings. In other words live a good life. Personally I am not worried what happens to me after I die. I never have been.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to solon

 "That to gain salvation you need to Love God and be fair and honest in all your dealings"

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except through me." He then died on the cross to take away the punishment for our sins. All we have to do is believe in his sacrificial death on the cross and we will be saved. Being good has nothing to do with it. The Bible says that even the good things we do are like filthy rags in God's eyes. We can't bridge the gap between us and God by ourselves; only Jesus can. 

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

Again you avoid the SIMPLE answer to the direct and SIMPLE question. There are many ways to interpret the way truth and light. YOURS is not the only nor definitive way. Again your arrogance is astonishing

Posted by mefirst in reply to RINO Hunter

so you can be a good person all your life, working with the poor, giving away most of your income to charity, but because you don't believe in the literal interpretation of the bible, you will not be "saved" but instead burn for eternity. 

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to Lynn

Sorry. Meant "good" as Jesus.

Posted by archfiend in reply to RINO Hunter

"Phony soldiers", "Phony Christians"... you guys sure have a yen to declare those who don't believe like you do, "phony".

I guess if you've got nothing else to argue with, what have you got to lose by going ad hominem?

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

I say anyone arrogant enough to say either you accept MY interpretations or you are not a REAL Christian like pious old Rhinomoron, then you are an arrogant, ignorant weasel. Yes Jesus said that. So did Prajapati a millenium before that. It needent mean what you THINK it does. Prajapati's job was to escort the dead into the presence of God. When Jesus was ASKED DIRECTLY by the rich man HOW to gain salvation he basically said Love God and be fair and honest in all your dealings. NOTHING about following YOUR arrogant prescriptions. I think Jesus is a better judge here than say YOU.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to solon

Belief in Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross for our sins is THE BASIC BELIEF of Christianity. If non-Christians can get to heaven then Jesus died for nothing. It's simply a slap in the face to Jesus and his suffering to say that non-Christians can get to heaven.

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

I know it is a matter of faith or perhaps more accuratly delusion that if you keep repeating something it magically becomes true. It doesnt work that way. It is no truer now than the first time you posted it. That is YOUR belief and YOUR interpretation nothing more. It certainly isnt what Jesus said DIRECTLY

Posted by mary59 in reply to RINO Hunter

These beliefs are based on dogma, interpretation of scripture.  That's why Jesus told the pharisees that they search the scriptures, for in them they claim to have eternal life, but that life eludes them. 

When the scriptures are written in the heart and mind, one lives an enlightened life and has no need to divide people by false judgements.  The whole point of scripture is to bring Light to the soul, so each one of us can be a Light to the world.  (This Light is real, by the way.)

Posted by Pithaughn in reply to RINO Hunter

Newsflash "It's not meant to be offensive to others" It is offensive, please quit it. Your beliefs are no more valid than the beliefs of my friends the Navaho's (whose beliefs, incidently may have originated over 12,000 years ago). Or the recently revealed wisdon of the Great Spaghetti Monster religion. Your book of handed down myths, legends and parables are no better than anyone elses. There are many, many people in the world who view the symbol of the cross as it was originally intended by the Romans, the most tortuous, terrifying means of oppression known to mankind. The cross has led countless invasions of indigenous peoples the world over who were subsequently enslaved or simply slaughtered. The genocide of the native peoples of north americca is recent history to cultures that measure their history in milleniums, not decades. Get over yourself and your transparent sanctimonious belief that converting will feather your bed in the after life. My big word for the month, ethnocentric, look it up and see yourself in the meaning. Try some humility. Sorry to go off on one poster, but this statement she made just set me off.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to Pithaughn

So you hate Christianity. I get it. My point is that each religion is sincere in their beliefs and believe that their religion is the way to get to heaven. There's nothing wrong with that. It's good to have strong beliefs. If you went up to a Muslim and told him that his belief is worthless because non-Muslims can go to heaven as well, he would just take that as an insult. People of other faiths have more respect for your faith if you take your faith seriously and literally.

Posted by Pithaughn in reply to RINO Hunter

And predictably " I hate Christianity" Yep, that's why I married one and joined the local Methodist Church, go pretty regular and bite my tongue doozens of times a day. Gosh, imagine the hate that drove me to give up a week of unpaid vacation and chaperone the youth group on a mission to lovely OK in August. Or sitting out in the spitting snow last Sat for four hours helping out with the kids triathalon, sponsored by a group of local churches. You've got me pegged big hunter, hate hate hate that's me.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to Pithaughn

If that's the case then why do you have a problem with what I said? Do you believe that Jesus lied when he said that he was the only way to get to heaven?

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

Not that he lied but that YOUR interpretation of what he meant is not the only valid option. My guess is that is what someone TOLD you he meant since you get your political beliefs from Rush I bet you get your religious beliefs the same way. You are TOLD what to believe.

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to solon

Did you miss the part about how he died on the cross? What do you think he did that for? Do you think that he just died for nothing? Or do you think that he died to take away the sins of the world?

Posted by solon in reply to RINO Hunter

Are those the ONLY two options just because you keep SAYING they are? You can keep telling me what you BELIEVE, you are welcome TO your beliefs. They are not the beliefs of all Christians and you are in NO POSITION  to say that the only REAL Christians are the ones that believe the way you do like you have already said once with incredible arrogance. YOU are not GOD it isnt your call. I believe differently and many Christians I know believe differently. Jesus said DIRECTLY what it took to gain salvation and there was no such obligation mentioned. Interpret anyway you want or more likely the way someone TOLD you to. It matters not to me. When you become so astonishingly arrogant you take on the mantle of GOD to tell us we arent REAL Christians unless we believe the way YOU you unmask yourself as an arrogant charlatan

Posted by RINO Hunter in reply to solon

So what exactly do you believe then? I just want to know.