US Education

[banana]

How have what I said been offensive? Or what ringo said for the matter? He/she has been constantly apologetic for every infringement of some arbitary boundary, slammed for being young or immature for having the courage to use decisive terms, while not directly targetting anyone in particular. If anyone here is so sensitive, then it's no one's problem but their own.

[Wind In My Hair]

I'm entitled to my opinions as shitty as they might be...or would you deny me that basic human right?

you have every right to say whatever you think, of course. i also have every right to lose respect for you, as is happening now. there comes a point when you're not funny anymore. disagreement and disrespect are not the same thing. know when to stop, kid.

[banana]

knowing now that you see other people as merely entertainment or fodder for your own self justification, let me assure you the feeling is mutual.

[ringo100]

As I seemed to have started this little row I will apologise again for adding in that one sentence.

It didn't add anything to the argument and was meant to stir things up a little but seems to have just stopped the debate. So I regret that.

However, it shouldn't have been offensive (as it is true) and was not directed at anyone specific.

I do agree with banana’s point that so far the only people to make a personal attack have been WIMH and Mary.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:12)."

[Wind In My Hair]

i'm sorry it's turning out this way too. but if anyone vilifies or insults my family, my church, my country, or anything near and dear to me to my face, i will stand up and defend it. i started by trying to clarify, ended up defending, and certainly never meant to attack anyone. i apologise if anyone felt personally attacked, but don't expect a catholic to sit idly by when her church is misunderstood and mocked. you don't have to agree with my beliefs, but here in singapore we learn to respect religious differences.

[ringo100]

I don't think I did vilify or insult any of the things you mentioned. Also, I don't think anything i've written indicates I misunderstand the Catholic Church's current doctrine.

I also think that questioning is not the same as intolerance and as far as i'm aware there are, in fact, a number of banned religions in Singapore.

[banana]

i'm sorry it's turning out this way too. but if anyone vilifies or insults my family, my church, my country, or anything near and dear to me to my face, i will stand up and defend it. i started by trying to clarify, ended up defending, and certainly never meant to attack anyone. i apologise if anyone felt personally attacked, but don't expect a catholic to sit idly by when her church is misunderstood and mocked. you don't have to agree with my beliefs, but here in singapore we learn to respect religious differences.

Your passion and strength of your belief is commendable and no one can ever take that from you. Respect and tolerance goes both ways though and I hope you will not deny another the right to their belief system, or disrespect them for it. Especially when no offence was intended.

Love and god bless,

Bananakid

[Wind In My Hair]

ringo, i've got nothing against you and we had previously apologised to each other and were back on track for a while so let's try again.

once and for all, the "heretics" and "non-believers" that "drink christ's blood" have or should have no issue with evolution. those terms were uncalled for, and the fact that you suggested we NEED to watch that program suggests a misunderstanding of catholic doctrine. hence, my attempt, once again, to clarify: WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH EVOLUTION.

now if we can get past that hurdle, let's go on to discuss something else. US education, perhaps?

[Wind In My Hair]

Your passion and strength of your belief is commendable and no one can ever take that from you. Respect and tolerance goes both ways though and I hope you will not deny another the right to their belief system, or disrespect them for it. Especially when no offence was intended.

Love and god bless,

Bananakid

i do respect and tolerate your belief system, whatever it is. when did i attack it? or ringo's for that matter? as far as i recall no other belief system was under discussion or attack except mine. and i was just telling you not to be a cheerleader for disrespect of mine.

ps: for the record, i think islam, hinduism, judaism, buddhism, agnosticism, atheism etc are all good, taken in the right spirit. each person has to decide what the truth is for himself. i have more respect for an atheist who has questioned and searched and knows what he does or does not believe than a catholic who has no clue what it's all about. and you will not see me, or most other catholics, attacking another religion or non-religion. it's not our style.

anyway thanks for the olive branch. you're not too bad yourself, kiddo. ah, finally, world peace...

[banana]

i do respect and tolerate your belief system, whatever it is. when did i attack it? or ringo's for that matter? as far as i recall no other belief system was under discussion or attack except mine. and i was just telling you not to be a cheerleader for disrespect of mine.

anyway thanks for the olive branch. you're not too bad yourself, kiddo. ah, finally, world peace...

PSYCHE! get over yourself and your imaginary friend, when you enter a debate about theology, you expect to have your beliefs attacked. What if my belief system involved making irreverent remarks at the absurdity of organised religion?

Hey yeah, we want world peace, and that will come about when you all believe what we do!


Now back to dinosaurs.

[banana]

Everyone take this test and post your scores.

For the record, I bit one bullet for having views contrary to what might be considered socially normal and took no hits.

[ringo100]

WIMH it is simply not true, I have read both of your links and then searched several other sites to try to understand the Church's position on Evolution. If you read the links you posted, it is obvious the Church doesn't believe in Evolution (as we know it). It believes in “Catholic Evolution”

[Wind In My Hair]

What if my belief system involved making irreverent remarks at the absurdity of organised religion?

to bananakid: "your freedom ends where my nose begins." - Locke / Hobbs (?)

to ringo: with all due respect, i'm tired and going to bed. you have a good night too!

[banana]

to bananakid: "your freedom ends where my nose begins." - Locke / Hobbs (?)

Then maybe you shouldn't be poking your nose where it doesn't like to be? And what if you're MJ?

[ringo100]

for the record, i think Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, agnosticism, atheism etc are all good, taken in the right spirit. each person has to decide what the truth is for himself.

People don't decide the TRUTH: the TRUTH is the TRUTH. They can decide to believe in what they think is the truth but they can’t all be right. Jesus either is or isn't the son of God, there is either one, many or no Gods.

One question: If one of the fundamental beliefs a Christian must have is-

Commandment 1: “I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me”