Philo,

I do apologise.....re-readuing my post I see that I come across as somewhat condescending....that wasn't my intention (must have been late at night when I responded.......at least may I use that as an excuse?)

Arjay,

I know how you feel.....I was flogged mercilessly by my Grade 3 teacher....and that was in a state school As well, we used to get the cane for the simplest of misbehaviours (I blew in the teachers flute once.....fool: he did leave it on the desk right in front of me.

Shalom.

Dear Rex,
I suggest you read the original post I was responding to before posting comments it rather makes what you have said look foolish.

I was responding to Bigmal's point posted Friday, 24 March 2006 4:40:15 PM; "3.A Palestinian Imam praising Allah for inflicting bird flu on the Jews." The Muslim Imam might be praising his God today but if the flu is only a few miles away perhaps what he calls the Judgment of God will soon be flying his way.

I do not see natural diseases as they spread as judgments of God. However that they exist can be attributed to a creative factor designed in the gene pool.

Francis,
With regard to St Paul's use of the cross in Galatians 6: 14 "God forbid that I should glory.....except in the cross." It certainly does not refer in any form or implication to a symbolic representation of a cross. It refers to the actual event of Christ's atoning death releasing us from the curse of the law because of our violations. The cross represented a gallows upon which those cursed to death were hung by Roman soldiers. Paul is talking about a historical reality, not a pendant or article of worship

"The Immams ought to-be fearing the judgment of God as the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu has spread to Gaza. If it's that close it will also spread through all Palestine."

That's what you said, Philo. The report that Muslim spokesmen allegedly wished the same fate on the Jews doesn't alter what you said. They "ought to be fearing the judgement of God". You make so many pronouncements regarding the ways of God [without offering any proof other than ancient stories], that if, on occasion, you don't expect us to take you literally, then you need to say so to avoid the possibility of being misunderstood.

Francis ,I'm deeply suspicious.In your previous posts you have defended the catholic philosophy,yet you say your abusive schooling experiences were at the hands of a secular state system?Also you seem to trivalise being beaten for using the teachers flute.

You won't deflate my observations of some in that Catholic era of being nothing more than sadistic power mongers.

The Christian Church has been dogged by hypocracy for centuries.It is only now with the revelation of institionalised paedophila have they become more use friendly.

While the Catholic Church has achieved much in the name of education,there is still a lot past injustices that they need to address.To still offically ban all forms of contraception other than abstinence,is the Middle Ages revisited.

Formal religions have little to do with personal spirituality,but more to do with personal power.

I condemn the thoughts and actions of the hirarchy whoo only bother with notions of some god for their own personal gain.

I wa ssurfing the net for info on the trinity for JWS to hear wht is the trinity and found that Muslims don't believe it either (the trinity) and Muhmmad says that there is a curse on allChristians for believeing it,also they have to be killed if they believe in the trinity. Great stuff eh?
To chehttp://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/trinity_brief.htmck

To check it out read the website above that I found it on.

Numbat, I'm not as thick you you seem to think. I'm just sick of the "holier-than-thou" self-righteous opinions and hypocrisy in these forums.
What do two World Wars, the violent overthrow of democratically elected governments, the killing 6 million Jews, 8000 Muslim men and boys and the 800,000 killed in Rwanda all have in common? Who used nuclear weapons against civilians (twice) and is using White Phosphorous and radioactive weapons on civilians now? Who is also using torture and imprisonment without trial?
All done between, on behalf of, or by Christians - the gold medal winners in the killing stakes.

"Apostates?" Remember the Spanish Inquistion? Anyway I thought we won the war in Afghanistan.
Quotes? I can find as many equally offensive and provocative quotes from rabid "learned" Christian representatives. Some crackpot saying something doen't make it so, unless you want it to be true (as you apparently do). I suppose "there can be no peace in the world until the last Muslim is killed" as a prominent Christian said in the US.

Like many others, you are confusing religion with culture. I despise many aspects of what is happening in Middle Eastern countries at the moment but I'm not going to condemn an entire belief system (of which the Middle East is just a part) on that basis.

This has always been a political conflict that is trying to use religion to justify itself (like all other wars) and obscure the facts.
They hate us because of our freedom? Come on! Who would give their life in order that their own children would have a worse life than their own.
One side is trying to avenge "the great betrayal" of Afghanistan by the US after the conflict with the USSR, as well as other ongoing political issues. The other side is simply trying to secure it's energy needs and also trying to make the world safer for Halibuton.

There are forces at work on both sides of this debate trying to force a wedge between two cultures for their respective political ends.