Faith is a rational response to the world.  And applying the lessons of faith to the governing of our world is also equally rational.  Some of the comments expressed concern about the rights of minorities, and those should be protected, but not to the detriment of the majority.  Rather, all should be treated equally without bias. 

I'm delighted to know that this conversation is taking place.  Only with mutual understanding, and a breaking down of prejudices, can we be more than a party of laws.

Matusleo
Ut Prosim

Matusleo
Ut Prosim

Of course, my idea of perfection is as subject to debate as the next person's concept of the deity.  Still, your exposition explains wonderfully the problem (ie uncertainty and confusion) and the strategy to deal with it, (ie increasingly hierarchical bureaucracies) employed by organized religions, so as to better manage the dogma.

On the second point of course, we have some late experience in Virginia, from Revs Robertson and Falwell (rest his soul).

I think the problem with groups like Pat Robertson et al. is that they become in many ways, cults of personality.  The 700 Club doesn't exist without Pat Robertson.  While Pat isn't as nutty as say David Koresh, it is still all about him as the leader of the group. 

This is why I feel more comfortable in the hierarchy of Catholicism, because it is not a cult of personality; Popes come and go, some more quickly than others (poor Pope John Paul I lasted only 31 days!). 

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.  My point in making that statement was that several of the people commenting on his post said that religious people are not rational.  Quite frankly, it is talk like that that creates wedges between us.

Tom's post was a wonderful breath of fresh air.

Matusleo
Ut Prosim

For far too long we have allowed the Religious Wrong (aka arm of the Republican party) to be the face of Christianity. And when I say "we" I also mean we in the Democratic party. I think a major part of the reason I am a Democrat is because of my faith. Forget all the crap the religious right spews; fundamentally, Jesus was all about loving and helping your neighbor.