Shulamite

Reply to Religion vs. Faith in Religion JoeUser Forums

Thank you CS. I think you were the one who made the distinction in a thread originally that I was referring to. I'm enjoying your presence here immensely.

God is Not My Co-Pilot! in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

"God is my co-pilot" reads the bumpersticker. This implies God is in control with you. He's in the passenger seat next to you, holding the map, making suggestions. Rather ludicrous, don't you think? Our society has seen God "tamed." We want all of the God-niceties, none of the bad. A saccharine God-substitue. Santa Claus, not King; Protector, not Judge. I th

Reply to God, Indifference and Denial in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Andy -- your post about the mind and whether to trust it is spot on for the most part. If we're an accidental bundle of neurons, we can't trust our own firings. It's all one big crazy accidental symphony without a Conductor! How crazy is that! A watch with no Watchmaker... et cetera. We can't trust our own functions, thus thinking of our own existance and purpose is vanity. However, if we aren't an accident, if we are purposeful, led by a "Co

Religion vs. Faith in Religion JoeUser Forums

I read this in a post recently and was relieved to see someone FINALLY articulate something about which I'd strongly felt for so long. Religion simply implies something you do over and over again. It's prescriptive. It says you must do this and this and this. For instance, you can brush your teeth religiously just as you can go to church religiously. That's

Reply to Get back in that closet! in Politics JoeUser Forums

Great reasoning, Jamesonite, and I agree with your analysis. It is sound. But why must that make it moronic? Are you saying that really, a majority of people in the country would vote liberal despite what polling data says? Could it be that many people vote party line because of heritage, both republicans and dems? I know my grandparents vehemently despise all that they dems stand for -- they just don't know it. Hear them talk politics, you'd think the

Reply to You Won't Read This in the Bible in Religion JoeUser Forums

people here for gift, not salvation -- good point Abe, I think most people come to God wanting the salvation if they come at all. However, I think CrispE meant immidiate gratification, not eternal change. Doesn't that do your point justice, CrispE? God did give us free will, Abe. Right-o. But we surrender that control when we make Him Lord and King over our lives. That's what CrispE is referring to. It's surrender. It's perfect submission. Ob

Reply to You Won't Read This in the Bible in Religion JoeUser Forums

Abe -- I'll try to chime in here also, if you don't mind. The reason you did not get the impression God demands a personal relationship, quite frankly, is because of your religious background. You belonged to a religion that is considered "high church." Roman Catholics are still very removed from God, going through a priest for absolution, contrition, pennance, et cetera. Much the Catholics believe is from tradition, not from Scriptures. Perg

Reply to Kerry in a bunny suit or sperm? in Democrat JoeUser Forums

Libertarian? The defintion I've stolen and found works well for libertarians is "A republican on pot." I don't think Brad comes across that way one smidgeon. He's very sound, with practical experience and history lessons behind his ideas rather than starstruck idealism. Brad -- excellent job on the pic -- been hearing of it on the radio, but not seen the photo yet. I think Kerry is the pawn of too many people right now because actually allowi

Reply to The Great Moral Teacher in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Whether he was charismatic or not (not intended in the modern religious sense, obviously) I merely pointed out I don't think it was his charisma that drew people to him. I don't know if he was charismatic. Isaiah prophesies that there was nothing about him that drew us to him in his beauty... that is obviously not charisma, but I don't see Jesus as slick. Shrewd, yes. So perhaps that is where the Charisma can be found. The concept of forgivin

Reply to Our Favorite Regionalisms in Misc JoeUser Forums

Oh my heck! I left out a really great regionalism. My associate pastor has said this more than once: " y'all are lookin' at me like a calf lookin' at a new gate. " I love that one. What a word picture, eh?

Reply to Plain ol' Southern Pronuciations in Misc JoeUser Forums

Oh yeah, I was going to mention the crayon thing! I heard an Ohio friend say "Crown" but she was saying crayon. Wild.

Reply to Get back in that closet! in Politics JoeUser Forums

Great replies... however, why is it that the party feels it needs to be conservative to win, only to go ultra-lib when once in control? Do they really believe the people want that? If the people wanted that, wouldn't they vote for it straight up? Is this borderline lying? I think it's a little beyond spin, myself. It's the wolf dressing as grandmother. My, grandmother, what big teeth you have...

Reply to What's your hobby? in Misc JoeUser Forums

I used to scrapbook... been two years though. : ( No time! I write letters, do calligraphy. I read voraciously, mostly non-fiction and quite widely. I read two or three books at a time. I enjoy blogging, but it's so blasted addicting. Politics are a hobby, as is history, philosophy, and theology. I dabble in anthropology, linguistics, et cetera. I guess my hobby is: I'm a nerd. There. I said. Happy now?!!! : )

Reply to The Wonder That is Y'all in Misc JoeUser Forums

The catfish was most certainly fried... extra crispy! With Hush Puppies!

Get back in that closet! in Politics JoeUser Forums

A talking head was being interviewed on the PBS coverage of the convention. I wish I had gotten the guy’s name, though if I listen to talk radio tomorrow, I’m sure it will be covered. He was asked about what issues democrats are covering. He said they were staying away from certain issues, naming three in particular. Two of the three he named were “gay marri

Reply to Our Favorite Regionalisms in Misc JoeUser Forums

Oh the angst!

Reply to Our Favorite Regionalisms in Misc JoeUser Forums

Thank God for Texas' German country -- we get bratwursts I think the same way. We say water fountain, or often, wadder fountain. Gideon, I'm with you on the noodles in the chili. As the Texas state dish, it's exactly what you call it: heresy. CS -- I rarely hear lunch here except for at restaurants. I think, though, "lunch" is becomming an increasingly modern thing for the South. Here, in East Texas, we still commonly call it dinner. Maybe I

Plain ol' Southern Pronuciations in Misc JoeUser Forums

I thought about including this in the last article, but then I thought it would get out of hand. I researched for ideas I'd not thought of and some help in explaining pronunciation. I found people are as confused as I am. However, I did find some gold. I'm taking some Southern pronunciations form "The Southern Word" <a href="http://netsquirrel.com/

Reply to The Wonder That is Y'all in Misc JoeUser Forums

Born, bred, and collard-green fed? Very interesting!

Reply to The Great Moral Teacher in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Web poet! You've made an illuminous distinction I was hoping (praying?) someone would eventually make! Indeed! This is the exact reason I put such articles under philosophy. Religion simply means habit. Doing some prescribed behavior. You can, for instance, brush your teeth religiously. Philosophical discussions regarding spirituality, faith, and the like do not belong there. Discussions over religious practices, such as the Lord's Supper or

Our Favorite Regionalisms in Misc JoeUser Forums

It's a fact. We all use phrases that are peculiar to our region and dialect. Amazing how even within the Amercian South, myriad dialects betray a speakers geography, quite like our UK neighbor's might. My article on proper "y'all" usage sparked a new idea. I take great joy in learning new phrases and clever ways of saying things. No, not for shock value, <

Reply to The Wonder That is Y'all in Misc JoeUser Forums

For this reason, I absolutely adore the phonetic alphabet. But it's a fat lot of good without the verbal explanation to go with it, eh? Maybe I'll find it online, set up a nice link, and we can write such beautiful treasures using the phonetic alphabet to more accurately explain how to say something! For instance, here in this part of Texas, we have a grocery chain called "Brookshire's." We all know to pronounce it "Brook-shur's" as in the s

Reply to Why can't we enjoy the HERE and NOW! in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Odd. The present was tomorrow and will be the past. Our humanity is the very thing that allows us to see this and work in it. Consequently, I think to enjoy the present, one must have a gracious point of view regarding the past and an optimistic one for the future.

Reply to Defining virtue in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Bad is not relative.

Reply to The Wonder That is Y'all in Misc JoeUser Forums

oh. Sorry. "Ya-Ont-to?" would be my guess, unless Little Whip has another suggestion. Were I writing it in a novel or such, I'd write, "Ya wont to?" or "Ya 'ont to?" perhaps.