Republicans

[YugoRocketsFan]

Anyone find them more annoying now than ever?

[Guest Need4Sheed]

Are you a Democrat now?

[YugoRocketsFan]

Are you a Democrat now?

 

No. Im too left for them

[Flash]

Question.

 

Why are you a fan of communism? What about that system makes you think it'll be good for America and the people who live here?

 

Also, your stance on religion, why?

[La Bomba]

I can support your views at times, but I don't see how Ron Paul follows some of your beliefs considering you defend Communism all the time.

[YugoRocketsFan]

Question.

 

Why are you a fan of communism? What about that system makes you think it'll be good for America and the people who live here?

 

Also, your stance on religion, why?

 

Communism? For the US it wouldn't be perfect, the US has already done everything to make it a capitalist nation, communism would be great for many countries though.

 

My stance on religion? I dislike it, would rather people learn science than have beliefs that people are indoctrinating their kids, and its not like they find these beliefs themselves.

[Flash]

Communism? For the US it wouldn't be perfect, the US has already done everything to make it a capitalist nation, communism would be great for many countries though.

 

My stance on religion? I dislike it, would rather people learn science than have beliefs that people are indoctrinating their kids, and its not like they find these beliefs themselves.

 

Would you ban the practice of religion?

 

Being a Christian I obviously disagree but I respect your opinion on the subject nonetheless.

[YugoRocketsFan]

I can support your views at times, but I don't see how Ron Paul follows some of your beliefs considering you defend Communism all the time.

 

Its like this, just read carefully so I dont need to explain myself twice.

 

Where I come from, Yugoslavia, Balkan region etc. I think it would be a perfect place for communism, I think it would also help out many countries, like places with high unemployment, huge difference in wages, etc.

 

When it comes to the US, my opinions are different, Ron Paul would be a great president for America, hes smart, has more experience, his political views are very similar to mine, he wants at least government as possible, like when it comes to online gambling, (I want to bet in soccer games damnit) he isnt an idiotic republican like Bush, McCain or Guliani, and when it comes to stuff like drug prohibition, stem-cell research, gay marriage, etc. I have agreed with him the most times, and everytime he votes on a bill, it fits my views.

[YugoRocketsFan]

Would you ban the practice of religion?

 

Being a Christian I obviously disagree but I respect your opinion on the subject nonetheless.

 

No, lol.

 

You cant ban religion, but I believe that secularism would be the better thing, just pray on your own time in your own home, and dont teach kids religion in schools.when it comes to religious holidays, those people that are part of that religion can take the day off, simple.

[Poe]

Personally, I don't think religion should be banned. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to ban it anyway, you'd have to control people's minds. If someone wants to have "faith" that something is there when it's not, there's not a whole lot you can do about it. There's not a whole lot of reason to care as long as it's kept as something personal and people don't act upon their religion, which isn't possible unfortunately since as long as religion is still there, people are going to try to spread it, and even worse, use it as a reason to torture and kill.

 

 

One rule I think the US should make, though, is to ban naming a child into a religion until a certain age, preferably 18. Not banning parents from teaching Christianity - or whatever religion they have - to their kids, just banning the label until they are old enough to independently choose what religion they wish to be a part of, if any at all. The reason I say this rule should be made is many parents in the US will say their child is going to be a "Christian child", or whatever. Pretty much, many parents, if not most parents in the US and around the world, name their kids as a part of a certain religion before they are able to think for themselves. This is indoctrination.

 

Though I don't think it would be a good idea to make rules against allowing parents to raise their children however they want, I do think a rule like this should be made. Again, it's not restricting what parents can teach their kids, just banning the label. I think this rule can help give kids the perspective that Christianity is a choice and not a must. And hopefully as an indirect result, more people that become of age and choose to be committed to their religion of choice may even consider routinely going to church, or actually reading the Bible. I read a statistic that nearly 90% of Christians around the world have never read the Bible cover to cover. That actually doesn't surprise me.

 

 

 

As for all that government stuff, I don't have a particular stance yet. I honestly haven't put much thinking into it.

[Real Deal]

One rule I think the US should make, though, is to ban naming a child into a religion until a certain age, preferably 18. Not banning parents from teaching Christianity - or whatever religion they have - to their kids, just banning the label until they are old enough to independently choose what religion they wish to be a part of, if any at all. The reason I say this rule should be made is many parents in the US will say their child is going to be a "Christian child", or whatever. Pretty much, many parents, if not most parents in the US and around the world, name their kids as a part of a certain religion before they are able to think for themselves. This is indoctrination.

 

Though I don't think it would be a good idea to make rules against allowing parents to raise their children however they want, I do think a rule like this should be made. Again, it's not restricting what parents can teach their kids, just banning the label. I think this rule can help give kids the perspective that Christianity is a choice and not a must. And hopefully as an indirect result, more people that become of age and choose to be committed to their religion of choice may even consider routinely going to church, or actually reading the Bible. I read a statistic that nearly 90% of Christians around the world have never read the Bible cover to cover. That actually doesn't surprise me.

So you're telling me that a child can't go to church anymore? Anyone under 18 isn't allowed in church? Basically, the parents make that decision, and you're taking that away. That would be one of the worst ideas ever. No 10 year old is going to drive themselves to church, so you're putting a ban on them going.

 

And even at that, nobody would be baptized until they were adults, and that would be insane.

 

That's a fantastic idea for an atheist, though. It would be the ultimate attempt to knock religion off the map, because kids wouldn't be introduced to it, and wouldn't be able to learn anything about it from a church until they were in school and working so much, they would have little time for it (and probably wouldn't care, since they'd be less interested and curious to know).

 

Maybe we can decline to teach them any science, because of how inaccurate (and ever-changing) it can be. Let them turn 18, then ask them if they want to learn about the Earth and take basic K-6 science in college.

[Poe]

So you're telling me that a child can't go to church anymore? Anyone under 18 isn't allowed in church? Basically, the parents make that decision, and you're taking that away. That would be one of the worst ideas ever. No 10 year old is going to drive themselves to church, so you're putting a ban on them going.

 

And even at that, nobody would be baptized until they were adults, and that would be insane.

 

I never said a word about a child not being allowed in church, and I said specifically I don't want restrictions on parenting. A parent can take their kids to church and teach them all they want about Christian beliefs. The only rule I'm suggesting is that someone can't be named to a belief system until they are old enough to decide themselves.

 

They can do whatever they want with the religion. Go to church, read the Bible, even pray to God if they want to. Just simply not officially named a Christian. I'm sure plenty of parents will influence their kids into saying "when I grow up, I wanna be a good Christian". Difference is, by the time they come of age, there's a little more pressure into deciding if they truly found the right religion. And that is what I'm aiming for.

 

On a side note, I would also encourage schools to teach all the major religions in this world, including mythology. It would need to be taught in an unbiased perspective, of course.

 

That's a fantastic idea for an atheist, though. It would be the ultimate attempt to knock religion off the map, because kids wouldn't be introduced to it, and wouldn't be able to learn anything about it from a church until they were in school and working so much, they would have little time for it (and probably wouldn't care, since they'd be less interested and curious to know).

 

Well again, kids can be taught about Christianity (or Islam, etc) if their parents choose to teach it. There is no reason to ban that.

 

And besides, if religion isn't important enough for people "to have time for it", then I guess there isn't really a need for it to be there in the first place. I'm glad you agree that if children actually aren't taught religion, then it probably wouldn't exist anymore.

 

Maybe we can decline to teach them any science, because of how inaccurate (and ever-changing) it can be. Let them turn 18, then ask them if they want to learn about the Earth and take basic K-6 science in college.

Science and religion are two completely different things. There is no reason not to teach something that is supported by evidence.

Edited April 13, 2010 by Poe

[Real Deal]

If kids weren't taught religion, or weren't exposed to it, there would be much less of it. Same with sex. Same with alcohol, until they were adults. Same with science, same with math. I don't see the point.

 

And if you're going to take a kid to church, he's going to wonder why. The parents would need to tell him that it's because he should believe in God, which is practically declaring a religion for him. Saying you can't declare a religion for your own kid, you'd have to keep them from religion, period. Otherwise, it's useless to even use a restriction of that kind.

[Real Deal]

And besides, if religion isn't important enough for people "to have time for it", then I guess there isn't really a need for it to be there in the first place.

Some people don't have time for college, either, so maybe we should just remove all colleges throughout the country.

[Poe]

If kids weren't taught religion, or weren't exposed to it, there would be much less of it. Same with sex. Same with alcohol, until they were adults. Same with science, same with math. I don't see the point.

Sex is natural, alcohol is a drink not a teaching, science is all around you, and math.. well, I'm sure a caveman can figure out if a rock plus a rock equals two rocks.

 

Point is, if someone was never taught that a god existed, or had any idea about religion whatsoever, and had him grow up in a normal environment. Chances are, he won't even have a clue what a god is. When introduced to it as an adult, he will probably be more questioning about it, and may even demand evidence.

 

This is not related to my original idea, btw. I'm not suggesting that children should be kept completely away from religion by law.

 

And if you're going to take a kid to church, he's going to wonder why. The parents would need to tell him that it's because he should believe in God, which is practically declaring a religion for him. Saying you can't declare a religion for your own kid, you'd have to keep them from religion, period. Otherwise, it's useless to even use a restriction of that kind.

Can you learn about Islam, and perhaps read the Qur'an and such, without becoming Muslim? If you can, then I'm sure parents can expose their kids to their religion without officially naming them a Christian.

 

 

Also, telling a child that he absolutely must be Christian only because his parents are is extremely unfair to the child, especially in his early developmental stages of his life when a child is basically programmed to believe anything that's told to him. A child should only be taught about religion, not unquestionably forced into believing it. This is why I want a rule like this in place, so children will learn religion is a choice not a must, hopefully giving them a more open minded point of view.

[Poe]

Some people don't have time for college, either, so maybe we should just remove all colleges throughout the country.

Sorry, but... huh?

 

The only reason you don't have time for college is if you already have a job.

 

Religion is way different from education. Christians believe that you need to practice the belief in order to go to Heaven when you die, which is eternal while life on earth is supposedly just a temporary part of your life. A test as a lot of Christians say. If part of this test is to be loyal to your religion, attend church, read the bible, pray to God, etc. There is no way you can't find time for it, since eternal life after death is a lot more important than anything else that would be in the way of your time. At least I would think so.

 

Seriously, though. It's one book and one hour each week, while college obviously takes a much bigger chunk of your time and effort.

Edited April 13, 2010 by Poe

[Real Deal]

You do realize you're suggesting something that sort of finds itself similar to a demanding Christian telling you that you better believe in God, right? I mean, non-believers go nuts over super-religious people, but what you're saying is pretty much on that same level, telling two Christian parents that they shouldn't declare their own flesh and blood Christian.

 

Jesus is a historical figure, proven by historical writings. Science is written. Asking your kids to believe in God, or asking them to believe in nothing...really doesn't matter. When your children ask you how the world just happened, out of nowhere, and why things just don't appear while we live in this world (due to particles clashing), I hope you have answers.

 

Atheism is a belief as well. Some die-hard Christians won't even accept it as such, but it is. However, it's in the same boat as any religion in that regard. Scientific findings...what scientists can really, truly tell the age of the Earth? It's always "believed" to be so many years old, but we all know that will change over and over again. Any ideas as to how old a particular galaxy is? Any reason why planets don't just create themselves in our galaxy anymore?

 

Kids have questions. Whether or not you teach them is up to you, but there should never be a restriction on that. It's ridiculous. Leave it alone.

[Real Deal]

Sorry, but... huh?

 

The only reason you don't have time for college is if you already have a job.

Maybe a female has a kid and has to stay home with it. Maybe I have sick parents, who I have to take care of.

 

You took what I said the wrong way. As an adult, if you feel as if you don't have time for it, you'll make that judgment and really don't need to think twice. "This stuff called religion doesn't have anything to do with my career? Fine...no need for it."

 

Some don't have time for college just because they don't want to go, simple as that. They don't make time, and they don't care. Apply it to anything, even work. Some don't work...they choose to live off the government as long as they can.

 

But that's all beside the point.

[Real Deal]

I'm done talking religion. It's disrespect saying a Christian family can't raise their kids as Christians. Maybe I should slap atheists in the face for not teaching their kids about God...same thing, really. But on a personal level, I don't care what they do, and I'll mind my own business.

 

I guess that's the difference between you and I. I'm accepting two angles, and you'd be dead set on eliminating one. Not my problem.

[GamerGuy]

I had a whole reply typed out and I accidentally closed the tab. Damn it.

 

Anyways, there's a couple of problems with your idea Poe. First off, it would go against the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment says:

 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

 

The "free exercise thereof" would include parents teaching their children about it, and the children making the decision to practice it. No way you can put a ban on that.

 

When I was growing up, I was taught about various religions in the world. I even took a class on it in high school. Just because you're learning about another religion, doesn't make you a follower of it.

 

Also, the idea that children should wait until their older to label themselves as something is ridiculous. When I was 5/6 years old, I was certainly old enough to decide to become a Christian. If I was old enough to obey and disobey my parents, I was sure old enough to make the decision to become a Christian.

[Poe]

You do realize you're suggesting something that sort of finds itself similar to a demanding Christian telling you that you better believe in God, right? I mean, non-believers go nuts over super-religious people, but what you're saying is pretty much on that same level, telling two Christian parents that they shouldn't declare their own flesh and blood Christian.

 

I don't know how many times I have to repeat myself, but I never suggested any restrictions on teaching kids about religion, nor am I telling anyone to drop their religion. Actually, I encourage all Christians, including you, to read the Bible and attend Church. It astounds me that so many people say they put their beliefs into a book they've never read. So please, if you haven't, read the Bible.

 

Jesus is a historical figure, proven by historical writings. Science is written. Asking your kids to believe in God, or asking them to believe in nothing...really doesn't matter. When your children ask you how the world just happened, out of nowhere, and why things just don't appear while we live in this world (due to particles clashing), I hope you have answers.

 

I don't think too many atheists will deny the existence of Jesus. They will deny that he was the son of a god.

 

When a child asks, in an unbiased way, present the Christian view of how things started and the scientific view. Then let them decide. If Christianity is truly the correct view, then you should have no problems.

 

Atheism is a belief as well. Some die-hard Christians won't even accept it as such, but it is. However, it's in the same boat as any religion in that regard. Scientific findings...what scientists can really, truly tell the age of the Earth? It's always "believed" to be so many years old, but we all know that will change over and over again. Any ideas as to how old a particular galaxy is? Any reason why planets don't just create themselves in our galaxy anymore?

 

Atheism is a lack of a belief by definition. Actually, it's Chrisitians that normally make the claim that atheists have a belief, as if not believing in God somehow means that they have faith that there is no God. Atheists aren't the ones making any claims. We just choose to deny religious claims, and refuse to believe until presented with proof, just like anything else.

 

Also, about how old the Earth is, your asking me questions about things that I simply don't know, and I accept that I don't know. No answer is better than a made up answer. Christians claim that the Earth is about 6 or so thousand years old. Do you have any proof of this? The fact that it's written in a book written a long time ago does not count as proof.

Edited April 13, 2010 by Poe

[Poe]

I had a whole reply typed out and I accidentally closed the tab. Damn it.

 

Anyways, there's a couple of problems with your idea Poe. First off, it would go against the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment says:

 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

 

The "free exercise thereof" would include parents teaching their children about it, and the children making the decision to practice it. No way you can put a ban on that.

 

I didn't say parents can't teach their children about it (how many times do I have to repeat this?), and I'm not suggesting that children should be prohibited from practicing it. I'm suggesting that a child can't be labeled a Christian officially until a certain age. There's a difference.

 

 

When I was growing up, I was taught about various religions in the world. I even took a class on it in high school. Just because you're learning about another religion, doesn't make you a follower of it.

 

Also, the idea that children should wait until their older to label themselves as something is ridiculous. When I was 5/6 years old, I was certainly old enough to decide to become a Christian. If I was old enough to obey and disobey my parents, I was sure old enough to make the decision to become a Christian.

I'm sure many kids are capable of driving cars before they are 16, just like many kids may develop independent thinking skills before others. If a law is to be made, then the age restriction should be universal where all kids will be ready to decide by then. Perhaps 18 is a bit old.

 

Really, this supposed law would have little to no affect on any child's life. He might even call himself Christian. It just wouldn't be made official until he's older.

Edited April 13, 2010 by Poe

[Real Deal]

I didn't say parents can't teach their children about it (how many times do I have to repeat this?), and I'm not suggesting that children should be prohibited from practicing it. I'm suggesting that a child can't be labeled a Christian officially until a certain age. There's a difference.

Then your restriction has no point, as I said earlier. What's the difference if it's made "official" or not? I don't have "Christian papers" or a tattoo saying I'm a Christian. You don't go report it to the government.

 

Saying parents can't make their kids "official Christians" yet they can teach them the Bible and take them to church...doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

 

Do you have an atheist card to prove you're officially an atheist, or do you just say you are?

 

How does one become an official Christian?

[GamerGuy]

Then your restriction has no point, as I said earlier. What's the difference if it's made "official" or not? I don't have "Christian papers" or a tattoo saying I'm a Christian. You don't go report it to the government.

 

Saying parents can't make their kids "official Christians" yet they can teach them the Bible and take them to church...doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

 

Do you have an atheist card to prove you're officially an atheist, or do you just say you are?

 

How does one become an official Christian?

Yeah, I don't understand his point either. Why is it such a big deal to have this restriction? There's plenty of people out there that grow up in a certain religion, then either denounce it later or follow a different religion.

 

You also have to take in the cultural ramifications here. Do you know what kind outrage there would be if you told a Islamic, or Jewish family that they can't label their children a Muslim or a Jew? What about Catholics who baptize their babies, believing if they don't that their child will go to hell? I can see where you're coming from an ideal standpoint, but it just wouldn't work. One ideal doesn't fit everyone.

[YugoRocketsFan]

Personally, I don't think religion should be banned. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to ban it anyway, you'd have to control people's minds. If someone wants to have "faith" that something is there when it's not, there's not a whole lot you can do about it. There's not a whole lot of reason to care as long as it's kept as something personal and people don't act upon their religion, which isn't possible unfortunately since as long as religion is still there, people are going to try to spread it, and even worse, use it as a reason to torture and kill.

 

 

One rule I think the US should make, though, is to ban naming a child into a religion until a certain age, preferably 18. Not banning parents from teaching Christianity - or whatever religion they have - to their kids, just banning the label until they are old enough to independently choose what religion they wish to be a part of, if any at all. The reason I say this rule should be made is many parents in the US will say their child is going to be a "Christian child", or whatever. Pretty much, many parents, if not most parents in the US and around the world, name their kids as a part of a certain religion before they are able to think for themselves. This is indoctrination.

 

Though I don't think it would be a good idea to make rules against allowing parents to raise their children however they want, I do think a rule like this should be made. Again, it's not restricting what parents can teach their kids, just banning the label. I think this rule can help give kids the perspective that Christianity is a choice and not a must. And hopefully as an indirect result, more people that become of age and choose to be committed to their religion of choice may even consider routinely going to church, or actually reading the Bible. I read a statistic that nearly 90% of Christians around the world have never read the Bible cover to cover. That actually doesn't surprise me.

 

 

 

As for all that government stuff, I don't have a particular stance yet. I honestly haven't put much thinking into it.

 

You cant really do that, parents have their own decisions to do with their own kids.