What do YOU advocate?

We need to study the bible and stop making up high-sounding philosophies, pretending to know something when we don't.

You may have missed it since you advocated skipping over the gospels but loving one another is in there several times over.

That is not what you asked. I never advocated skipping over gospels. You seem to be babbling.

And this is me being loving and turning the other cheek.

Sometimes I just don't understand you.

I know the feeling!

Well then that makes you the first person ever to agree with me!

Jewels Vern wrote -- "We need to study the bible and stop making up high-sounding philosophies, pretending to know something when we don't." Some may write that is exactly what religion is -- a believe system attempting to rationalize what we don't know and can not prove. Is that not the very essence of "faith."

faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of Things Not Seen. A substance is a tangible thing once you exercise faith you are rewarded. Then it's no longer Faith but a sure knowledge. It's only those who haven't had their faith proven that could possibly doubt.

I've agreed with you before.

Dumdum, the bible says religion is men telling each other what to do, and God has a low opinion of it.

Where? "the bible says religion is men telling each other what to do,"

Any time you wonder what the bible means by a word, you can go to a concordance and look up every use of that word. Greek threskeia, "religion", is used four times. [Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.] "our religion", not God's. [James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.] "this man's religion", not God's. [James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.] [Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping (threskeia) of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?] ("Jews' religion" is translated from "Judaism". Still not God's religion.)

"We need to study the bible" - no we don't. The Bible is a horrible, fictional piece of garbage. Grow up!

So why do you waste your time fighting it? VEHEMENTLY?

Who said he's fighting? One person stated a childish opinion about an arcane cult book, and then, he provided a counterpoint. Why are you so full of hate for so many people, Linda?

Even when it's your child?

Why not? Showing your kids love and making them respect you doesn't mean either one are true, does it? Just because my daughter might say "Yes, sir" when I tell her to do something, does that really mean that she respects me? Or is she just doing it because I told her to?

I'm saying a baby deserves to be loved without having to earn it. And on the same token a child who obeys and says yes sir is not necessarily acting out of respect. It could be fear of an abuser that elicits this response.

"Showing your kids love and making them respect you doesn't mean either one are true" Wow. Some people really are empty, vacant pieces of crap... just amazing. "Hey, newborn infant! Earn my respect and love FIRST!!" Wow what a lowlife.

Well! That's easy for you to say!

I agree. My sister and I are too much crazy for one house!

I think there are limitations as well.

There are just some who are struggling to earn a like let alone love.

Then someone sees you reacting and thinks you're the bad guy for starting it all because they didn't see what that person did to you! Or also you may have slighted someone unawares and now they're out to get you? My opinion which isn't worth much, is that I'd just rather choose to be nice. And usually when I'm not its because someone else slighted me. I was beat by an ex once he went to sleep and I thought about beating the hell out of him with a tire tool, but in the end I just decided I didn't want to be like him. Yeah, I'd rather be the better person, but I still got a lot of fight in me that comes out when I get pissed regardless if I try to do right.

I have no problem with any of those scenarios. Anyone can think anything he likes of me, as I think what I like of them. Difference being I usually don't give voice to those thoughts. I do have a major problem with bullies, thugs, and I don't suffer fools gladly. I do not enable nor encourage bad behavior by letting it slide. I'm not an xtian that turns the other cheek, nor am I any sort of pacifist. I do not (nor have I ever) craved a position of moral or ethical superiority. There are predators and there are prey. In a fight, one walks away, and one crawls away. I have never had a problem playing the role of apex predator when called on to do so. To each his own.

Like babies! Those selfish little milk suckers! All they do is take and cry! Those little assholes should earn any love they get, right? (eye roll)

Your condescension does not approve you, nor is it appropriate.

Many disagree on this point. I don't think children need to earn love. I think it should be given. And I think children also deserve to be treated with respect even while they are earning respect. How else will they learn to be respectful if they don't see it modeled for them?

There's a difference between "love" and "respect". And I agree with children needing to be treated with respect - it's called "mutual respect". That's not the kind of respect I was talking about anyway. The kind of respect children should have is taught to them and it involves positive reinforcements like mutual respect.

Especially when we're being hypocritical telling others to do what we don't do. I've done that too. I think we should both work on that as well as treating others with love and respect.