On Saving Us From The Immoral, Or "Ready, Fire...Aim!"

by: fake consultant

Thu Aug 19, 2010 at 18:00:13 PM EDT

A couple of days later, I had a story up that walked through the ruling, describing the tactics used by the Prop 8 proponents, which, in the opinion of the Judge who looked at the evidence, were basically to try to scare Californians into thinking that gay people, once they're able to get gay married, will somehow now be free to evangelize your kids and make them gay, too.

In the course of answering comments on the several sites where the story is up, I noticed that there were those who felt the Bible should be guiding our thinking here...that if it did, we would be better off than where we are today, with all those immoral gay people running around free to do all those immoral gay things.

This led me to an obvious question: are those who have been using the Bible as a sort of "divining rod" to figure out who is immoral and who is not...actually any good at it?

Parable of the Talents (new american revised version)

by: William Allen Simpson

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 13:26:50 PM EDT

Unto Yochanan was given five talents, to Michaela two, and to Baruch another one; to each according to their heritage; and straightway took his journey.

For Baruch was the child of a poor woman, abandoned and divorced, but industrious and wise, and her parents likewise; by dint of alms, frugality, and long labour, he excelled in his study, and leadeth among the learned of the law. Giving thanks for his blessings, he escheweth riches, in service to the families of the poor and needy.

And Michaela was the child of two parents, although her father had a wasting disease, but took upon himself extra labour, striving according to his working; she was the product of a public school education, she excelled in her study, with honour among the learned of the law.

Now Yochanan was by far the eldest, the scion of an illustrious and wealthy family; he attended an all-male posh school under one Ravenel III of Alexandria, yet learned not the honor code; he ranketh among the least of the Naval warriors, and wasted his substance with riotous living and nocturnal perambulations.

So the hand of God hath gone against him, and he was struck down, and delivered into the hand of his enemies, who vexed him. And his wife was stricken likewise, and her beauty taken from her.

Yet he turned not from his wickedness. He abandoned and divorced his afflicted wife, enjoying the pleasures of a young wealthy strumpet.

After a long time the master of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so Baruch came, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me one talent: behold, I have gained beside this nine talents more.

Their master said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Michaela also came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained eight other talents beside them. And have joined with Baruch as his wife, and we are one flesh.

Their master said unto her, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then Yochanan came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

Thus I was thy most faithful servant, taking that which I earneth not, seducing a wealthy heiress; she hath disinherited her sisters, and hath purchased me a high office among the princes and mighty men; I remember not the number of her talents.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou thinkest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Take therefore everything from him, and give it unto them that hath twenty talents together.

For the labourer is worthy of his reward; unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, committeth adultery; and whosoever shall marry him that is divorced committeth adultery.

Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

[updated language]

Howard Dean Talks About Faith and Politics at Hope College

by: mersmanblog

Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 23:48:29 PM EDT

"I am not here to persuade you [into voting Democrat] and if that happens that's great that's God's work," Dean told the audience jokingly. 

Dean stated that he was a member of a church back home and that his beliefs were what led him to choose the Democratic Party.  In the past few elections Democrats have not done well among religious voters and he said that the Democratic Party needed to do a better job of reaching out to people of faith.

Dean was there to talk about what the two parties have in common and he said that there really is a lot they have in common. 

To read the rest of this post please visit my site : http://mersmanpoliti...

Michigan Workers Effectively Gagged

by: Michael Motta

Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 08:48:23 AM EDT

We had a fairly lengthy discussion about this in the Lansing State Journal Community Message Board. I'm going to post one of my contributions. If it seems to enter abruptly, in medias res, that's because it does. I think a basic knowledge of the news story should suffice as context though.