Tpoppa

^^ Is it possible that your dad was playing a trick on you? Because I would totally mess with my kid like that. btw, a scared animal can make all sorts of loud noises when in a panic.

I never understood why abortion was such a hot button issue for Christians. I get that it's something unpleasant, but it's not like the bible spells is out as a sin or spells out when life begins. Also, calling young, scared teens "baby killers" isn't very love thy neighbor. Jumping on Turnone's post...homosexuality is pretty clearly spelled out as a sin in the bible. The new pope is about 1000 times more forward thinking than any previous pope and his message isn't exactly in favor of homosexuality (despite how his quotes are twisted in the media). His message is along lines of "love the sinner not the sin," or "let God judge not the church." He is inclined to include many that others would not. Being "anti gay" is an increasingingly unpopular sentiment today. Watching the church shift their position to stay relavant seems extremely hypocritical to me. I was raised that you need to believe the bible to be a Christian, all of it...not just the parts you happen to like. I don't, so I'm not.

My brother once thought my old house was haunted because "a bunch of stuff " was turning on and off. "A bunch of stuff" turned out to be the TV, which was on a timer when I was out of town.

The obvious explanation is you had had a small creature in the house that you weren't aware of. It was probably in the duct work that you took apart. This is even far more likely out in the country on land...and you were 12.

Can't expalin = for sure ghosts

I used to believe in ghosts...then I turned 6. Not a joke. True story.

Wrong button that was supposed to be +1

Casper believes in ghosts?

Its strange that the rules set forth by a timeless supreme being would change based on pressure from current civil rights issues.

The ride to the meet spot was cold as hell. There were still 3 brave souls. I rode about 400 miles for the day. Still need to figure out the vfr12, but it does pretty well in the twisties.

So far there are 4 riders for sure. Post up if you plan to meet and where. Be on time.

Ebay

This ride is on. It will be cold in the AM, but it'll warm up once the sun is up. Dress accordingly. Route: Millersburg>83>78>Mconnelsville>377>550>7>Marietta>26>800>Woodsfield>800>home. I'd be up for a longer route but I have to be on a plane tomorrow evening.

I happen to have a huge problem with this. I don't think you should teach kids about religion until they are old enough to posses the critical thinking skills to process what they are being told. Religion is taught to kids like it's math. They are told what to believe before they old enough to be able to form their own opinions. That is FUCKING BULLSHIT. I love my kids too much to try to prevent them from making their own informed decisions. "Religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind - that its modest and greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage it has done to clear and honest thinking." - Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956)

200 miles, pffft

I think if I was going to get anything High Vis it would be a Helmet.

I always thought tire changing during a motorcycle race was sort of wierd.

This is the opposite of what my church taught. Only those that believe is Christ would be saved. The rest...well sorry about your luck. That seems to be the most accepted interpretation. I think the bigger point is that the Bible makes no account for the scenario of civilizations that wouldn't hear the word of Christ (American Indians, Chinese, Inca, Australian aborigines, etc, etc). These cultures existed for thousands of years before Christianity ever reached them. The reason that the Bible doesn't account for that scenario is that Bronze Age man in Europe or the Middle East had no idea they existed. Bronze Age men weren't explorers because the technology needed to travel great distances had not yet been developed. Why would the "Word of God" be limited by the current understanding of man?

This surprises me, and I mean that in a good way. I've not met many that share this point of view.

This is a great perspective. I'd say the same thing if your search did result a particular religion that worked for you. My path is somewhat similar. It's taken me 30 years to arrive at the beleifs I have today (for the first 12 years I believed what I was told).

I can quote dozens of bible verses that refer to God as just, fair, or impartial. There is no basis for "slack" in Christianity.

What happens to them after they die? Most would disagree with that comment.

Conversion is not a frequent occurrence. However, that is something I can respect because it takes conviction and can be quite difficult in some scenarios. My point is this. Let's say Christianity is the one true religion, but I happened to be born in India for example. There is literally less than a 3% chance I will believe in any form of Christianity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_India I've done nothing wrong, but there is very little chance of me having any meaningful exposure to Christianity. I may even have had a life altering experience that led me to search for spiritual answers, but all the local answers pointed me toward becoming a Hindu or perhaps a Muslim. Did the Christian God doom me with 97% certainty by allowing me to be born in India? Why was I not given the same chance to find the truth as someone born in a Christian country? I've never heard an answer to this that was consistent with Christian beliefs. (btw, not picking on Christians specifically, this is the same with most major religions).

Can someone, anyone who considers them self to be a believer give me a counter point on this one? I've honestly never heard a good response to this line of thinking. I'd be an exception. There are many others

So, should the basis of belief be a reward instead of a penalty?