1. Mount Vernon schools to hire investigator in Bible case

Comment #169864 by sfast57 on April 27, 2008 at 2:19 am

Comment #169447 by aquilacane on April 26, 2008 at 5:57 am: "I was probably my most verbally abusive with the religious in grade eight. My father had died a few years earlier. That really strengthened my atheism making me extremely sensitive to any religious influence...

I became this same way, though not quite as vehemently as you seem to have done, but more than twice as young as you. Mine was developed from "hands on" personal experiences with razor straps, prayer incarcerations, tree switches, perverse and demoralizing intimidations, and bible verses all combined together to terrify one tiny toddler into unquestioning faith and duty. Looking back on childhood often makes me unscrupulously angry at some of the things I see going on today. Things similar to the following:

Someone I subscribe to (can only be one of a limited few, and I keep thinking it was PZ Meyers) posted a link to a nut and a nuttress with so few scuples that whether their site is a parody (as some commentors expressed their hopes), or a true posit of biblical faith (my bet), they are promoting "closeted" child abuse. It is so frighteningly close to the viewpoint that so many of the true fundamental christians I personally know seem to uphold without question, and do truly believe. This is the address where the nut and nuttress, Paul and Linda Bucknell spew their antiquated bullshit:

http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/index.html

Worse, this nut and nuttress have published a book that is for sale on Amazon for 18 plus American dollars and is titled: Principles and Practices of Biblical Parenting: Raising Godly Children. Here is a bad taste of what "raising godly children consists of:

God does not let His children wander away. He provides special care to keep them on the right track. Just as God disciplines his children, so a father is expected to chastise his chidren. God uses correction to properly care for His people. "For whom the Lord loves he disciplines." "Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me" (Psalms 23:4).

The love of a father comples him to use the rod on his child. Chastisement is rigorous work. We need to stay on top of things, be alert and attentive to what the child is doing. The faithful father does this because of his love for his child. It is very sad to see a child without discipline.

Pause for reflection:
What comes to mind when you hear the word discipline? How do your thoughts agree with the Bible's teaching?

*Pain's Reward (12:6)

If it does not hurt, it is not effective.

"And He (God) scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:6).

Temporary pain is an essential part to correction. The word used here, 'scourge,' is very strong and indicates that, at times, chastisement needs to be very painful to accomplish its goals.

"Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you beat him with the rod, he will not die" (Proverbs 23:13).

I was under the impression that it was illegal in America to publish anything, whether by video, audio, or press, that exploits, or promotes the exploitation of children in any way. According to what I read, and in my not-so-humble opinion of their site, they are clearly promoting "closeted" child abuse. I hate closets. I had to pray in them, in the dark, out loud, for the Lord (my parents' god) to have mercy on my itty-bitty three-four-five-six-etc-year-old soul. My childhood was tormented by vicious nightmares that were filled with hosts from hells beyond imagination. Why do churches get away with promoting shit like this? Take a look at this page and see if you too don't think they are promoting "closeted" child abuse...

This is the front page of their online parenting seminar:

http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/Topics/Parenting/Parenting00_Overview.html

The following link is the page with the notorious christian attitude of Don't spare the rod! Here's how to avoid CPS! About halfway down the page is "C. The Practical side of Chastisement", which is instructions on how to, among other things, "soundproof" your screaming child so the neighbors don't call the COPS or CPS.

http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/Topics/Parenting/Parenting07_Discipline.html

I particularly revile the little chart near the bottom of this last page titled: Comparison Chart of Modern Mindset with Biblical Instruction on Chastistement.

2. Darwin's original theory of evolution goes online

Comment #168383 by sfast57 on April 25, 2008 at 5:25 am

I think it is beautiful. It is refreshing to be able to hear the voices of the past, to read their works without another's interpretation. It is just beautiful to see Darwin's life and his works open to all who are interested.

3. Sexpelled: No Intercourse Allowed

Comment #163745 by sfast57 on April 19, 2008 at 12:49 am

I hate to impose on this totally reasonable and much needed debate, but I was found in a Cabbage Patch - there are no doubts. My mother has black and white photos of this event, which took place in my very own grandmother's garden! Are you folks cabbage patch tolerant?

4. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #162782 by sfast57 on April 17, 2008 at 12:52 pm

"I agree that love is very subjective. Do you love your wife in the same way, and for the same reasons, that you love your parents? Have you ever loved someone and then changed your mind - love depends on many factors. It is also not necessarily unconditional or forever."

This is a concept our society seriously needs to realize. Not so much the beginning, but the last statement particularly.

In the late 1500s, a dominican priest/philosopher Giordano Bruno wrote an unparallelled philosophical viewpoint on bonding, titled, as should be, A General Account On Bonding. He was extremely prolific in communicating his ideas, meticulous, and abundant in the use of particulars with which to posit his philosophies. The English translation is in the following book:

Giordano Bruno: Cause, Principle, and Unity, and Essays on Magic, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy Series, 1998. ISBN: 0-521-59658. Amazon carries it.