I think you think you know enough about every religion to be able to say that there is not a rational one. But that’s a bit presumptuous. I wouldn't believe in God if it wasn't rational. God would cease to be God (Not that He would wink out of existence, but He would lose all the power He has, His honor is His only power,) if He violated any of the universal principles which exist. As C. S. Lewis said “You must have wondered why [God] does not make more use of His power to be sensibly present to human souls in any degree He chooses and at any moment. But now you see that the Irresistible and the Indisputable are the two weapons which the very nature of His scheme forbids Him to use. Merely to over-ride a human will (as His felt presence in any but the faintest and most mitigated degree would certainly do) would be for Him useless. He cannot ravish. He can only woo.” He will not force the mind. I do not see the contradiction in being an Objectivist and religious too. And I most certainly do not worship a God that promotes bigotry. As has been said, there are no contradictions, question your assumptions.
I'm with you on not pandering to the Moore/Penn crowd, those low lifes should try living is one of their beloved socialist paradises for a while. I wouldn't mind too much if Michael Moore got hit by a bus. Speaking of Moore, did you see An American Carol? It isn't too high quality, but it is funny, and it makes a very clear point.
Every single election, until 3rd parties have enough power to do so.I pray for the day the donkey and the elephant are extinct.
PART TWO. And God does not use force. If he did, he would cease to be God. The thing you have to know is that we wanted to come here to earth, we chose it, and we chose to accept the conditions of this test. God didn’t make the rules, they are eternal principles, He simply lives by them. And because He is our loving Father, He DESPERATELY wants us to be able to enjoy the happiness He has by virtue of His conformity to universal law. We may choose to obey and be happy, here and hereafter, or disregard the rules and reap the natural consequences of violating the laws. And that whole mainstream idea of a vengeful god and an eternal hell is a false notion. So I can totally see your point of view if you look at the cliff notes of corrupt religion through history, but I’m saying there is a third option which doesn’t fit any of the former arguments, from either side for that matter.
Come on Klash, I think your negativity towards religion is giving your thinking bias. Tons of evil and corruption has been the responsibility of false religion from the beginning of man. People do terrible things in the name of God. But true religion denies its hypocritical followers who twist and distort it under the guise of righteousness....
Shame on the 26 people who gave Klash's first comment a negative rating. What about it was incorrect? It IS all about individual liberty. What a brain-off thing to do! Argue on principles if you disagree. Open your minds and think! He said he is not here to confront but to provoke thought. Prove him wrong if you disagree, but use logic, wisdom and a non judgmental level head!
I am as religiously zealous as they come, I’m even one of those “crazy” Mormons like Glenn, and I think sin is bringing on massive destruction our way. But if we at least could agree on the idea of the sovereignty of man and the sacredness of individual liberty, we could save ourselves from the utter desolation of socialism we are marching towards with open arms.
As kthoughts has said, it is the love of money, not money it's self that is the problem. We have to be careful not to demonize an object. Just like it is not the gun that pulls the trigger, but the person, so money is simply a tool.
"So you think that money is the root of all evil? Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?" -Atlas Shrugged
I apologize for not being clearer, this enforced brevity makes for imprecision. Yes the government is a collection of laws, but they are created and administered by people. That is what I mean by a collection of people. What I meant about collective action having no unique moral authority is that just because a mob votes, doesn't make their decisions moral or right. Your neighborhood may vote that they want your house and all your money, but that is the tyranny of the majority, it is wrong. That is the flaw of democracy. Government must recognize the right of the individual. The individual is the smallest minority, and that in which all rights originate and reside. The only authority government has is derived from the consent of the governed: individuals. A sheriff has no more right than a citizen because it was the citizen that hired the sheriff and delegated his natural rights to defend his life, liberty, and property. Government is the creation of man, and the created cannot exceed the creator.
Ditto on veering away from the Constitution. Allow me to clarify, the Constitution is the greatest document every created by man, it was inspired by God, and the reason this country is the greatest in the world. But it has some short comings to it, which is precisely why dirty politicians were able to get the ship off course in the first place. Politicians always claim to be defending it, even as they wrest it. They say from the bow, all is well, we are on course. But awake and aware among us see that we are drifting. From 1789 on, the document was under attack and our freedoms with it. I think we've now hit critical mass. I can't stand anymore of it.
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Invention