-> -
-> -> This assumption is getting to be rarely held. 
-> -> 
-> 
-> I think you live in a bubble if you really believe that.
Perhsps so. I merely speak from personal experience and interviews I've had
with a LOT of clergy...

 I invite you to
-> come stay with me for a few days and hear for yourself the majority view
-> that the bible is absolutely accurate in every word and anything that
-> contradicts that book is WRONG, EVIL, AND WILL CAUSE YOU TO BURN IN HELL
-> FOR ETERNITY if you accept it.

Wow. THAT bubble is certainly not the same as MY bubble :-)

-> -> 
-> 
-> -> If by 'bible' is meant holy books...and THEIR various
-> -> interpretations...there's a crazy-big numbers of choices...atheism is
an
-> -> easy one mentally, a poor one socially, a third rail
politically...being
-> -> agnostic is even easier 
 
-> 
-> I don't see how you can say atheism is easy mentally. I would think it
-> would be easier to have an invisible friend to relieve you of
-> responsibility for anything ever.

If THAT is what I get...I'm IN! :-)I always thought that accepting a
religion is taking on a TON of responsible behavior...
-> It gets kind of old hearing people say
-> 'well, I just turned it over to god and he'll fix it' without ever
-> admitting to any personal responsibility.

That would get tiring...I've never heard that...


 As to socially, yes you would
-> think that. We aren't ones to form associations, although we DO join
others
-> for social things.

Isn't that a trifle contradictory?
 
 Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry sponsor a lot of
-> things from educational seminars to a section of roadway to keep clean
to
-> working with Habitat for Humanity. Not specifically atheist in nature
but
-> certainly non-religious.

Good!
 Some of us work with the Quakers on various
-> concerns. Unlike most christians, though (at least the ones who come
-> through here) we don't have to be bragging about our 'good works'.

Which your above is not? :-)

-> 
-> Politically? Until people can accept that there are those who just don't
-> believe, and that is the only difference in them, I guess we'll be
excluded
-> from the political arena and demonized by politicians who want a sound
-> bite.

Unfortunately true. Proclaiming belief and living in accord with it are two
different breeds of cat. :-) Fortunately, being flawless and pure in every
way, I am free from such  

 Read up sometime on Herb Silverman and his 7 YEAR fight to become a
-> notary public.
I'll pass. I was made a Notary Public In North Carolina in the 40's...
Simple. Quick. No problem. Can't get interested in a 'ferinstance'...
 
->  
->  
-> -> Don't forget planting those old bones in them mountains...most people
-> -> say that those contradictions and inaccuracies are contradictions and
-> -> errancies. As are all science books printed more than 70 years ago...
-> 
-> True. But in those 70 years, corrections and updates have been made to
the
-> science books but not to the bible.

...and a LOT has been going on in Christian Theology...in both lower
textual criticism and in hermeneutic evaluation(s) :-)...
 
-> -> I still enjoy readin' that book...for some 65 years now...I'm NOT a
-> -> dispensationalst, but it's a interesting conjecture: That evolution
is not
-> -> restricted to man but God develops as He goes along..
-> -
-> Of course he/she/it does. People create gods in their own image. As
people
-> develop, so do their gods. Even while a large segment of believers want
to
-> keep that from happening.

Resistance to the new...is always present: In politics, science, Art AND
religion...:-)
Every thing is in a state of flux... (Buddha)
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