There is a right wing conservative anti-gay Christian group in Hong Kong that causes some controversy. Here is my response to my friend.
Most of the bad publicity is a result of their anti-gay position. I can understand the gay community oppose to such a group. I did go to their web site and read their material. It seems that they model their strategy of the religious Right Wing Conservatives in the US. They mix religion and politics. Bad news!
It is just my opinion. However, the experience I have with such groups is mostly bad. They may have the best intentions, but it is not the best way to transform society. Their stand of “human rights” seems problematic. They stressed on piety and society responsibility before one can gain “human right”. We do not need to bow down to our parents before they let us eat. We do not need to give money to the police before they protect our property. As I understand, we are born with inherited rights – right to free speech, freedom of expression, free from harassment from government… People may abuse their freedom, but it is still better to have those rights then have them taken away.
Christians may not agree with homosexual lifestyle, we cannot deny their right to co-exist in the mainstream society. If those rights are taken away, the government then have the right to take away our freedom to choose being a Christian as a lifestyle. You may think that it is extreme. It happened under Nazism. Also, those fundamentalist groups in the US have influence government to make unreasonable laws. In the US, one such group have themselves elected on the school board in Dover, Co. This happened as recently as 2007. They forced all the science teachers to teach God created the universe in 6 exact days. The universe is only six thousand years old. The case went to the Supreme Court and the decision of the school board was ruled unconstitutional.
Now that long ago, those Christian groups deemed mixed race marriages immoral. They used the Bible as the root of their argument. Mixed race marriages were outlawed in the US because of these Christian fundamentalist groups until late 1960’s. In some fundamentalist churches today, mixed race marriages are still frowned upon.
In Nova Scotia where I live, some fundamentalist churches, including Baptists, the Catholic Church, etc., tried to force the government to pass a law to stop all retail shops from opening on Sundays. It was then called “The Lord’s Day Act”. They claimed Sunday is the Lord’s Day. We should all rest and do nothing. Therefore Sunday shopping should be banned. Actually, the government bowed to these groups and tried to gain votes from church goers and small food stores that can take advantage of the loopholes of that Act. The law did passed. However, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that law unconstitutional. This just happened a few years ago. It is dangerous if we let government to dictate our practice and behaviour.
Despite our Christian beliefs, we should be careful on forcing our own morals to the whole society. This type of “Social Engineering” on morality is extremely dangerous. Just look at Islamic countries, couples cannot even hold hands in public. “Holding hands” is deemed immoral behaviour, never mind kissing. If we let our government to take away our basic right to choose, they will have no problem doing that. They will definitely take away more then we let them.
“Be careful of what you wish for, you may get it!”
August 25th, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
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As I am watching the Summer Olympics, the success of China is difficult to ignore. When a backward country prospers, some get jealous. Some protest for Tibet. Some complain about the lack of democracy. No matter what their causes, I believe those who complain about China mainly out of racism.
The “Free Tibet” or “human rights” protestors protest because they cannot tolerate a non-Caucasian country dares to yield to their demand. They use grand package euphuisms like “democracy”, “Free Tibet”… to disguise their hatred against the rise of any non-Caucasian country.
I can prove my point by a simple comparison by their reaction of Russian invasion of Georgia. Where are “Free Georgia” protestors in Beijing? Are the Russians going into Georgia to protect the “human rights” of Georgians? Georgia gained independence from the Soviet Union in the 1990’s. Good for Georgia. Now, Russia sends in the tanks to get it back. Where are the Western professional (sorry, I should say student) protest groups? Is there a group “Students for a Free Georgia” somewhere waving Georgian flags? We do not see such groups because Russia is a Caucasian country and is suppose to be strong. Since Russian is a strong Caucasian country, those “freedom fighters” or “democracy groups” dare not to offend them.
Also, those groups will never organize any protest in Islamic nations because they respect the Muslim religion. They practise diversity and tolerance. Strange, they cannot tolerate China being strong!
August 16th, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Social |
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I received this from a friend. It gives a different prospective of China. I love it.
A POEM FOR THE WEST => Published by the Washington Post:
When we were called “Sick Man of Asia”, we were called “The Yellow Peril”.
When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called “The Threat”.
When we were closed our doors, you smuggled Drugs to Open Markets.
When we embrace Free Trade, you blame us for taking away your jobs.
When we were falling apart, you marched in your troops and wanted your “fair share”.
When we were putting the broken pieces together again, “Free Tibet” you screamed, “it was an invasion!”
So, we Tried Communism, you hated us for being Communists
When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
When we are tried limited our numbers, you said it was human rights abuse.
When we were poor, you think we are dogs.
When we loan you cash, you blame us for your debts.
When we build our industries, you called us Polluters.
When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
When we buy oil, you called that exploitation and genocide.
When you fight for oil, you called that Liberation.
When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you wanted “Rules of Law” for us.
When we uphold law and order against violence, you called that “Violating Human Rights”.
When we were silent, you said you want us to have “Free Speech”.
When we were silent no more, you say we were “Brainwashed-Xenophobic”.
“Why do you hate us so much?” we asked.
“No,” you answered, “We don’t hate you.”
We don’t hate you either, but do you understand us?
“Of course we do,” you said, “We have AFP, CNN and BBCs…”
What do you really want from us?
Think hard first, then answer…
Because you only get so many chances,
Enough is enough, enough hypocrisy for this one world.
We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.
This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.
By Duo-Liang Lin, Ph.D. —
Professor Emeritus of Physics University at Buffalo State University of New York
Professor Lin’s poetry is also made into a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07zmehXVlsY
當我們被稱爲東亞病夫時，我們被稱爲黃禍。
當我們被宣傳爲下一個超級大國時，我們被稱爲威脅。
當我們關上我們的大門時，你們走私毒品來打開市場。
當我們信奉自由貿易時，你們責駡我們奪走了你們的工作。
當我們被碎成幾片時，你們的軍隊闖進來要求公平分贓。
但我們把碎片重拼接好時，你們有叫囂解放被入侵的西藏。
好，那麽我們嘗試共産主義，你們恨我們是共産分子。
當我們容納了資本主義時，你們又恨我們是資本家。
當我們有十億人民時，你們說我們正在摧毀這個星球。
當我們實行計劃生育時，你們說這是違反人權。
當我們貧窮時，你們認爲我們是狗。
當我們借給你們現金時，你們罵我們使你們負了債。
當我們建設我們的工業時，你們稱我們是污染者。
當我們賣給你們商品時，你們責備我們助長了溫室效應。
當我們購買石油時，你們稱是剝削和種族大屠殺。
而當你們爲石油而發起戰爭時，你們稱爲解放。
當我們在動亂時，你們要替我們制定律法。
當我們依法鎮治暴亂時，你們稱違反了人權。
當我們沈默時，你們要我們言論自由。
當我們不再沈默時，你們稱我們是洗腦式的仇外。
你們爲什麽那麽恨我們？我們不禁要問。
不，我們不恨你們，你們說。
我們也不恨你們，但是你們理解我們嗎？我們問。
當然了，你們說，我們有媒體AFP，CNN和,BBCs.
但是 你們有誰能真正瞭解我們？
思考一下 然後回答
你們 只是想找尋一切機會
永無休止地讓世界變得僞善。
爲世界 我們祈禱 讓這個地球到處充滿和平
――藍色的星球 我們共同的家園。
May 21st, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Social |
2 comments
I was talking a friend living in the US. The US government is sending out cheques of $600 per person to “save the economy”. The Americans are encouraged to spend the way out of recession. “Buy, buy, buy” means patriotic. American is an indebted nation. Foreclosure is everywhere. The US foreclosure rate doubled in the last quarter. Instead of paying down the debt, the government is urging people to spend more money so that they may feel good. I am no economist, but I know more debt means more restraints for growth. Increase consumer spending is a result of a sound economy, not the cause.
A few hundred years ago, the Spaniards had the highest gold reserve in the world because they conquered South America. Instead of saving and building their industry and economy, they wasted all their wealth on luxury palaces, lavish buildings and war. They thought the party would never end. The Americans are doing the same thing. The different this time is they borrow money from the international market (the Chinese and the Japanese) to spend. Hillary Clinton and the media like CNN’s Lou Dobbs and Cafferty call for the end of “unfair” trade practices and currency manipulation from China. They forgot that it is the Americans who buy all the stuff from China and Japan. No one force them to spend money on foreign goods. They buy foreign goods and services because they are cheaper and better quality. The Japanese and German cars actually cost more than the American made. However, the Americans buy foreign cars because of their better quality.
The Americans export a lot to the world. Entertainment and war are the major exports. Hollywood export movies, TV shows, music, and American pop culture to the world. A kid from the rural Philippines, China, even Vietnam can watch CSI or 24 on the tube. The US also exports fighter jets to most of its “friendly” nations. If the Americans really want to compete with rest of the world, they should do what they do best – selling fantasies, propaganda and wars.
May 1st, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Social |
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The Economists had a good insight of the Chinese Olympics this week. Protesting against human rights in China (or anywhere) just does not work. Actions like yelling, blocking roads, burning cars and houses, waving banners yield anger and suppression. “Constructive engagement” and building a “harmonious society” gain the notice of all the political leaders of the world.
It is just strange to me that religious groups talk about peace. They seldom put their talk into practice.
Islam claims to be a peaceful religion. I see not peace in the Middle East, Pakistan, and Sudan…
Buddhism and Dali Lam talked about peace. The Tibetan monks started the world wide protest against China. Some even tried to grab the torch from Jin Jing, a wheelchair-bound athlete. It seems that the pro-Tibet protesters also picked on those who literally cannot stand up. The hatred of the Dali Lama followers against the Chinese are so intense that they see violence is their path to enlightenment and peace.
The Bible says “the love of money is the root is all evil” (1Timothy 6:10). If Paul were to rewrite the letter to Timothy today, he probably would add religion to his reasoning.
April 25th, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
4 comments
Hillary Clinton won Pennsylvania last night. It may be her last stance before she calls it quits. She can still save some face if she just walks out of the game.
She turns protectionist during this bitter fight. It is easier to woo votes as a protectionist and turn on the nationalistic, patriotic tone. She can claim all foreign imports as un-American or anti-American. She already lost the black votes. She may not get the Hispanic votes. Now, she has to focus on white middle working class. However, the white middle working class votes may go to John McCain. She now has no new ideas except her negative attack ads.
The editorial from The Chronicle Herald said it right, she is desperate to say anything to get any support.
April 23rd, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Social |
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The West denounces the Chinese suppress its media to report it news. CNN’s Jack Cafferty called the Chinese government “goons and thugs”. The West may have its freedom of speech to openly express its views, fair enough. However, Cafferty did not mention it was the Tibetan monks who burnt buildings and beat people up. Who were the thugs? According to Cafferty, the Chinese cannot do anything right. I doubt the US government will do anything less in stopping a riot in its own soil.
The US claimed Iraq had WMD but it turned out to be a lie. The US troops marched into Iraq without cause. Bush sent its young men and women to die based on a lie he and his goons fabricated. If you point your finger to another person, there are at least three of your own fingers pointing back at you. CNN should call Bush and his gang the number one goons and thugs before it named China. As far as I know, China has no troops outside its borders. The US is flexing it military muscle to secure its oil supply. Cafferty should talk more about the US troops out of Iraq before he called anyone “goons and thugs”.
While the Pope apologized numerous times on the sex abused cases of the Catholic Church, I never heard Dalai Lama apologize for the serfdom and the abuse of the Lama monks towards its own people. The Pope has the courage to admit the mistakes the church had done. Dalai Lama never admits the practice of serfdom and slavery of Lamaism is a violation of human rights. Neither do CNN and other media even talk about that. The western media calls the slave owners victims because they cannot practice their religion of enslavement.
April 21st, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
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Finally, The Globe and Mail published an editorial on Tibet today.
I supposed there will be a lot of opposition to this piece. The West should stop China bashing. I never read anything bashing from the media, either from the right or left, against the Opium War or the invasion of Peking. Where were the human rights groups when the British and the French grew and sold opium to the Chinese? The western countries are now suffering from drugs problems in their cities. The western powers introduced opium to enslave the Chinese. Now, opium, cocaine and other additive drugs are enslaving them. There is a God after all. In Buddhism, this is called 因果報應. It loosely translated, “you reap what you sowed” or “it is coming back to bite you”.
The US is selling arms to Saudi Arabia worth over 20 billions. I suppose the Saudi has a stellar record on human rights. The French and German governments are pushing the EU to sell arms to China. Actually, The French government sold the Mirage fighter jet to Taiwan and the US government is selling its F22 to China.
As long as it provides jobs at home, human rights is only a bargaining chip for the West. The major weapons producing countries do not care who they are selling the weapons to, as long as the sales providing jobs and money for their own constituents. The West love a chaotic world. It can provide more profit for their defense industries. The defense industry is the major contributors to their election campaigns. Those election campaigns are the foundation of western democracy.
In conclusion, without arms dealing and violation of human rights, the West cannot fund their style of democracy. What an irony!
April 21st, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Social |
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“Why do I have to learn this? I’ll never use this again!” This is the common complain students give me. My answer, “You may never use this exact topic, but you will use the skill of problem solving and logical thinking.”
The area of statistics and probability is sometimes not easy to grasp. I can find at least one application. When I show the students the chance of winning in a 649 is one in 14 million, it demonstrates we might as well throw the money away. Of course, people still play the lottery because the cost is minimal and the return is huge. Losing a dollar is not a big deal to most people. However, there are other things in life not worth gambling for. People still take the chance even they know the odds are against them.
For example, statistics shows the chance having lung cancer for smokers is much higher than non-smokers. Numerous independent researches verified that smoking causes lung cancer. I am not going to name individual papers. One can type “smoking, lung cancer, statistics” in Google or any search engines and read the research papers from various cancer societies to ones heart content. People still place their lives as bets against the odds. In this case, one can quit smoking and hope that the damage will be reversed.
Another example is more serious and the damage is more far reaching. It is marriage. I know choosing a spouse is mostly an emotional matter. It is impossible to keep rational when hormones are pumping. It is difficult to take into account of faith, family background, habits, interest…
Faith is a determining factor in marriage. The Bible is correct in saying,
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2Corinthians 6:14.
If the two do not have the same belief system, it will bring friction in raising children, finance, family… Conclusion: Do not consider anyone who do not share your faith. However, most people do not investigate deeper before they enter this life blinding “contract” before they say “I do”. It is too late to say “I don’t” when it is too late.
Love is only one of the many factors in a happy marriage. There are plenty other variables to make a marriage work. All the factors have to be considered logically before marriage. Otherwise, pain and suffering will follow. It would be too late for all parties including the children. Marriage is the most important decision in ones lifetime. In making such decision, we need solid problem solving skills. Who says analytical skills in mathematics and statistics are useless?
April 20th, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Religion, Social |
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The pro-Tibetan protestors do not want peace. They want chaos. I just do not understand. No one, French, British, or American protested against the Sudan government despite years of killings in Darfur. However, they all rise up because the Chinese government stopped a riot in Tibet, which is a part of China.
The pro-Tibet protestors did not care that the Tibetan monks burnt buildings and beat people up in the street. They want their revenge and their form of justice. As for the pro-Tibetan protestor, violence is justified as long as it is against the Chinese.
Dalai Lama remains silence on the violence. He may claim to be a peace loving monk. The reality is far from the truth.
April 9th, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
2 comments
I just want to ask a simple question. The protestors against the Olympic torch are most young twenty-year-old. Do those people have to work for a living? Where do they come from? It seems that they have a lot of time on their hands. Why don’t they do some productive work? Instead, their goal is to destroy, disrupt, and create social unrest. It seems that they are very organized. Who is funding their operation? Who is paying them to go to various cities to protest? Who is paying for all the banners?
It does not matter what the occasion is. There are always a similar group of protestors with similar tactics protesting for causes such as WTO, G8, Free Trade, Free Tibet, environment… etc. Is there a training school for professional protestors? I just wonder how much they get pay for each demonstration.
April 8th, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Social |
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Dalai Lama wants the world to know, China should give Tibet independence. The message is spoken with violence, disruption and chaos. His tactics seems to work. The torch relay did not go as planned. Protestors won the day. The message seems to switch from free Tibet to human rights in China.
It is so easy to judge others by our standard. “Our standard” is always better than those who do not behave like us, look like us and talk like us. The protestors in the West is trying to impose their moral to China. To make matter worse, China is getting richer and the West cannot tolerate it. The French used to occupy part of Shanghai. They used to be the master of the Chinese. A century latter, the French lost its leading role in the world stage. It has high unemployment because of its generous social welfare policy. Last year, the French had to fight with the Islamic rioters in the street. The mayor of Paris talked about human rights but does not see the cultural separation of Islamic youth in his own city.
Dalai Lama always portrays himself as an underdog. If he is sincere about leading Tibet into an independence state, he should order his followers to stop the protest. Riots and chaos never bring prosperity to any nation. Only stability can bring wealth to a nation. Creating chaos can never convince China. Peace will.
April 7th, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
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There is no such thing as a “peaceful protest”. When the protestors try to disrupt and grab the Olympic torch, it is violence against the athlete, NOT peaceful. If Dalai Lama is promoting peace, he should not allow violence to happen. On the surface, Dalai Lama is denouncing violent protest. Either he has lost his influence on his people, or the protestors know he is not sincere about his order. Either way, violence is acceptable according to the independence seeker of Tibet.
Olympics is supposed to be a non-political event. It is never the case. The West boycotted the Olympics in Moscow because of the invasion of Afghanistan. The US then funded the Taliban to fight the Soviet. We all know what happen now.
April 7th, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
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I have no objection to any peaceful movement or religion. However, mixing religion and politics is always dangerous.
Many in the West do not realize that the “Tibet Independence” movement is mostly funded by the CIA. It is a covert operation since the 1960’s. (Conboy, K. and J.Morrison. The CIA’s Secret War in Tibet. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2002.) CIA gave 1.7 million per year for the operation and $180,000 to Dalai Lama himself. (Mann, J. “CIA Funded Covert Tibet Exile Campaign in 1960s.” The Age (Melbourne), 16 Sept. 1998. 21 Jun. 2007.)
Dalai Lama may talk peace. Is he the mastermind behind all the violence? It was the monks who started the violence protest. The US helped the Taliban to overthrow the Soviet in Afghanistan. Also, the CIA funded Saddam Hussein to oppose Iran. Both places are now in a mess. Does the US learn anything from these covert operations? Funding an opposition group to defeat an unfriendly government may not yield the the desire objective.
Dalai Lama is very smart. He talks peace and kindness in front of the Western media. It suits the Western appetite for non-violence. He may say he is not involved. Ultimately, Dalai Lama is their supreme leader. He is responsible for the violence in Tibet. It does not matter they are Hans of Tibetans, people died in the riots. He let his followers do the dirty work and he can wash his holy hands and be the king of Tibet. Dalai Lama is 72 years old now. He knows his time is close to another reincarnation. He uses the Olympic Games as the perfect opportunity to embarrass the Chinese government. He has succeed by letting the blood flow.
How come the Western media only broadcast an one sided story?
April 3rd, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
2 comments
I was reminded a few things about “the fear of words” in Hong Kong. A friend told me never asks the taxi drive to drive to the funeral home. Instead of saying, ‘Take me to the Hong Kong Funeral Home”, you should say, “Take me to the Hong Kong BIG Hotel.” Chinese are superstitious about death. No one wants to live on the “fourth” floor. “Four”, or “fourth” sounds like death in Chinese. Many buildings have no fourth floor.
Superstition can lead to many misguided behaviour. Take the case of Dalai Lama. He puts on a face of a peace loving monk. Buddhist beliefs are filled with superstitious rituals. Can someone ready believe spinning a wheel will give one a good life and reincarnate to a better life? How about not eating meat because the cow that we killed could be the reincarnation of our ancestors? How about if we do evil in this life, we could reincarnate into cockroaches in our next life? This may scare some uneducated, naïve folks not to do evil. I doubt it will make anybody with logical mind not to commit any crime.
Talk about Dalai Lama, can someone really believe he is the reincarnation of some dead Buddha? He talks about peace, but provoke violence on the street of Tibet. He has to put on the face of peace to attack western media and Hollywood. He uses the Olympics in Beijing to stir up riots in Tibet. If he really believes in reincarnation, he may reincarnate into a cockroach in his next life.
March 26th, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Religion, Social |
3 comments
Everyone seems to be rushing in Hong Kong. I was entering the subway this afternoon. A middle age man rushed passes me to get in. Actually, the subway was not that busy. There were still a few seats left. People here just got used to hurry up and wait.
Hong Kong is in the middle of the flu season. The education department announced that all kindergartens and primary schools would be closed for two weeks because three children died from various types of flu. The kids are happy. I saw many of them are in the malls. I suppose it is better for the flu to spread in the mall than in the schools.
Housing is getting insanely expansive. Some condos are selling over HK$10,000 (about CAN$1,250.00) per square foot. There is no melt down in real estate here. How can people survive? No wonder people rush all day!
I love food. The food is great here! A few of us went for hot pot last night. I can never have this type of meal in Halifax.
March 14th, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Social |
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I went to the hospital with my mother for physiotherapy. The department just moved to a new wing. The appointment was about 15 minutes late before a Catholic priest came to bless the new building and pray for the workers working in that wing.
I think it is a good thing. There is more than a physical side in the healing process. However, an old lady complained that her appointment was late for a few minutes. I just do not understand. She seemed well advanced in age. What’s the rush? Why not enjoy a few more minutes of quite time?
It is just the Hong Kong culture. Everybody is in a rush for something. The temper is short. Blood pressure is high. That lady should also check her heart and blood pressure after her treatment.
March 11th, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Social |
no comments
I just read that the Harper government is going to extend the Canadian troops in Afghanistan until 2011. How unfortunate! It means there will be more Canadian died in a war that has nothing to do with defending Canadian soil.
Why should Canadian died for a country that does not even what us there. If the Afghans want Canadians to be there, they would not set up bombs to get rid of them. It is someone else land and someone else war. The money that spent in that was would be better used in building a better health care system for Canadians.
February 21st, 2008
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Dragonfinger |
General, Politics, Social |
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A friend wrote me an email for the Wall Street Journal article.
Conflict resolution and church discipline are always good topics! I believe in both and both are upheld Scripturally. For example, Scripture directs us to get things right with our brother before taking our gift to the alter; our Lord wants us to be peacemakers and reconcilers. In today’s world, public opinion is against any sort of church discipline because in general public opinion is against many of the church’s definitions of sin. Any discipline should be done after first seeking the direction of the Holy Spirit. The Bible (in the NT) has many practical methods to help us administer this, such as warning a brother and going with one or two witnesses; if all fails we have the option of having nothing to do with the person.
In my experience there are occasions where this action is both desirable and necessary but it is best accomplished by “quiet” confrontation, not public exposure. The church is made of a group of people in relationship, with God and with each other. Scripture warns us, I believe, of wolves in sheep’s clothing, who attend either to prey on members of the body or are there to disrupt and cause strife. In cases like this they need to be confronted and called to account. If the conduct persists and the person is unrepentant, then they need to be asked to leave.
It is worthwhile to state one additional point: Often we get a very one-sided view which may not be fair to those in leadership. The “wronged” are free to discuss their affairs at will, describing how they have been hurt, etc. Those administering the discipline have their hands bound, they are not free to discuss the situation in the same way we are not free to discuss a student’s marks. Thus they must stand mute while the other party is free to tell their side.
I was not edified by reading the Wall Street Journal article since it is not written from a Scriptural perspective, it is written to be controversial. It is not written in a tone sympathetic to the church and I found my own opinion to be against the described churches and the leaders. If the discipline was administered as described then I do not agree with how it was done. However the reporting seemed one-sided to me.
Christians should act accordingly to the mercy and justice. Is it just for a pastor od a church act without any accountability of any board? Does the pastor of a church have absolute authority over the congregation? Does the pastor “speak for God”? I see the risk of abuse of power is the real problem of fundamentalist churches.
January 29th, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Religion |
no comments
I took a look at the argument of literal interpretation of Flood in Genesis.
Assuming the diameter of the earth is 7901 miles, the surface area of the earth is 1.96 X 10^8 sq. miles or 5.4674 X 10^15 sq. feet.
Assuming the world wide flood covered the earth with a height of 16900 feet, which is the approximate height of Mount Ararat where the Ark is believed to be located, the volume of water to cover the whole earth to that depth is 9.24 X 10^19 cu. feet.
It rained for forty days and forty nights. The volume of water fell at a rate of 9.625 X 10^16 cu. feet per hour.
That means the rainfall would have fallen at a rate of 17.6 feet per hour or 211.2 inches per hour or 3.52 inches per minute for forty days and nights on the surface of the entire earth.
Does the earth even have 9.24 X 10^19 cu. feet of water? Where have all the water gone? Can the Ark sustain that rate of rainfall? If I put it in modern day context, can an aircraft carrier sustain that rate of rainfall?
January 29th, 2008
Posted by
Dragonfinger |
General, Religion |
6 comments
