SOG

The laws of physics as we currently understand them work fine until we enter the realm of quantum physics.

The "void" before the "big bang" is a hypothesis, not proven like, say evolution, which has mega evidence. Our universe could've been created out of a big bang from an "absorbed" universe - the science is not 100% sure on this.

You are free to ponder away, but at least try a bit of lateral pondering, instead of assuming that the science is closed on the beginning of our universe. In fact you just stated that "there is more than we know".

All of which is beside the point.

There is still no excuse for any religion to discriminate against women. Religion of whatever stripe is meant to be of benefit to human beings (aka people, humanity), there may be a goldfish religion, it would probably only accept other goldfish of any gender, or the great philosophies of the lesser chicken-hawk gospel would only apply to all lesser chicken-hawks irrespective of gender.

And just in case:

You have been arguing "because its traditional", a very weak argument indeed, it used to be "traditional" for Chinese women to have their feet bound, such a practice causes physical harm and probably mental anguish given that women would be completely helpless if in danger. Keeping women in a secondary status in religion is harm against an entire gender's entitlement to respect and equality.

Severin,

This may still your beating heart....lol

"EVOLUTION PROVED" oh no...no...no...It is still the "Theory of Evolution" and by dropping the "Theory of",...just calling it Evolution is a major flaw in our understanding.

Of course it should possibly also be the theory of the Bible...OOps Philo/Runner&co.....just had coronaries...lol

Here is another very interesting theory to watch, if you have the time...http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1285345463618889531#

Like Evolution, the Big Bang is theory...Dropping the word Theory allows theory to be misrepresented as fact, for the unwary...

It's like this...about 400 years ago there was a study called "apokalupsis eschaton" - "lifting the veil on the end times" and that through poor teaching the "eschaton" was dropped and from then on Apocolypse was continually misrepresented as "end times or end of days".

"Eschatology" comes from two Greek words last, and discourse or study

"The study of the end times" be it an era, an age, a life etc.

Words can be very important, and deleting just one can change things dramatically.

Philo,

Should a Christian call people names?...OUCH!

Jesus said "A tree shall be known by it's fruit"....Matthew 7:15-20....http://tinyurl.com/32ku5qs

Is a nut, a fruit?...lol

What don’t you understand about Jesus’ teachings that makes you choose to call people Troll?

If you can’t defend your position that’s fine…GOD works in mysterious ways!...lol

With that one word what biblical teachings might you be breaking?

Do not judge others(Matthew 7:1-5....http://tinyurl.com/28ht3vo FAIL?

Anger...Matthew 5:21-24...http://tinyurl.com/2ectd2a FAIL?

Are you working for peace with your words?...Matthew 5:9...http://tinyurl.com/2882exg FAIL?

Are you merciful to others?...Matthew 5:7...http://tinyurl.com/24fl98n FAIL?

Turn the other cheek...Matthew 5:39....http://tinyurl.com/24yk2z3 FAIL?

"Do unto others...."...Matthew 7:12...http://tinyurl.com/28ht3vo FAIL?

Do not bear false witness"...Exodus 20:16....http://tinyurl.com/2fty23u FAIL?

Philo do you represent GOD well?

In answer to your question..."how many women around the World are affected by this ruling"...EVERY WOMAN & EVERY MAN

and with these few words..."but do they want equality or power and image"...Aren't you illustrating your lack of understanding on all things biblical?

Back to Bible 101 Philo...lol

Here I'll help you on your way

Fist remove the log from your own eye Philo...Matthew 7:4-5...http://tinyurl.com/2ahcbp5

I'm a Bible bashing non-Christian,...lol

For those who never attend Church you haven't got a clue about the kingdom of God. What your campaign is about is absolute nonsense. If you want to carry on a campaign start attending Church and study (research) what is actually happening. There are a lot of things I disagree with in many churches and Women seeking priests positions is not one of them.

Philo... we done yers wrong..."There are a lot of things I disagree with in many churches and Women seeking priests positions is not one of them"... but it has sure seemed that way.

Good on yers, getting with the strength now, eh?

But... there is only one church, and the man acknowledged this when he said , 'In my Fathers house, there are many rooms'.

Sadly, some are in good knick, others look like brothels.

The Vatican one is more brothel like, but the Hillsong one is just an empty vessel, from which spurts white noise, not altogether too hospitable either.

In fact, in the way that brothels are (reputed to be) hospitable places, I imagine the Vatican sucks people in and disarms them in a more pleasing way, than all that shrieking, swaying, and bucket-giving ever could.

No smoking handbags, no cries of 'Nominee, nominee Dobson', or 'My Father plays dominoes better than, yours does' in a Protestant stainless steel Chapel to the Bland.

Dear Blue Cross,

I never liked that translation. I prefer the King James:

John 14:2-3 (King James Version)

2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I think that something is lost in changing 'mansions' to 'rooms'.

This is an example where human interpretation may alter the meaning.
For example, in our understanding a mansion is much bigger than a house. If the KJ is an accurate translation, maybe we were provided with a symbolic image and we are meant to ponder it. It could be a symbol of liberating space beyond the basic (Christian) house.

Just something I have often wondered about. One day I need to take the trouble to check out which translation is closest to the original.

Dear Severin and BC and others,

I read the link about God playing hide and seek. I can only ask how much evidence we need. If God appeared in every generation there would still be people denying the reality. As follows:

I've said that it's Jesus that ties me to my religion.

Just a couple of things I want to add.

1. The matter of how information carried by largely illiterate masses was transferred into writing over time needs to be appreciated; as I've mentioned before - the use of symbols and imagery etc helped ensure vivid recollection of various lessons and maybe helped avoid some political consequences - but the consistency, years after the crucifixion, when the stories were finally recorded in different places by different writers, is still astonishing:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/oral.html

2. The people who were closest to Jesus spread out, preaching and telling about what they'd seen and done. Look at those who experienced awful treatment and torturous deaths; all most of them needed to do was renounce Jesus, but even years later, none did:

http://www.ichthus.info/Disciples/intro.html

Their deaths are not recorded in the Bible (except for Judas who did himself in out of self disgust for denying Jesus); but some are known from other documents and writings by ancient historians and others who had nothing to gain by lamenting that those who had seen Jesus couldn't be persuaded to change their accounts of what they'd seen and experienced:

As an example:

Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.

(A letter from Pliny to Trajan)

Full communication:
http://www.ichthus.info/CaseForChrist/02/pliny.html