I've gotten another jury summons

[The Mad Monk]

Your curiousity is less important than someone right to privacy. Since when did any of this crap become more important than someones right to not be harassed?

This really should be Rule 01 of the forum, If you find yourself alone in agreement with Ben, you're probably having a moment of temporary insanity.

I find myself in agreement with Imran.

[kentonio]

I find myself in agreement with Imran.

You, Imram and Ben. Strange bedfellows indeed.

[Ben Kenobi]

I dunno, could it possibly be that you are... wrong?

[rah]

Why do you believe it is worth staying?

I think it falls under the Democracy is not a good form of government but it's better than any of the other forms tried type of thing.
Not that I'm saying that being a Catholic because it's the best religion. But I grew up a Catholic. I believe every religion is flawed in their own different way. I took religious studies and all so it's not like I'm TOTALLY ignorant of other religions. I don't agree 100% with any of them. None of them have seemed SO much better that it was worth the effort to officially convert. I have stated many times that I'm not the best Catholic, and I don't agree 100% with them, but I personally don't believe that is necessary. I still consider myself a Catholic. The church happily takes my money so I don't see a problem with that. I do have a problem when people like ben claim to know everything about me and claim that I'm not really a Catholic, when he really knows zip. That's my main issue with ben, besides that he's a dishonest jerk, is that he judges. I don't care if he thinks I'm a jerk, but he personally gets no say on whether I'm a Catholic.

[The Mad Monk]

Care for foursome?

[rah]

No, threesome was my limit and that was before I was married. So no thank you.

[Imran Siddiqui]

There really is very little effort to convert to, say, Lutheranism

[rah]

Yeah, but the fallout from my entire CATHOLIC family (read mother) wouldn't be worth the grief for such a small upgrade.
Despite contrary belief, overall they not really THAT different. And certainly not that important to me. Religion is just another morality system and in that regard the minor details are not that critical.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I may think that my gay former pastor (now at a bigger church) would beg to differ that the ELCA isn't that different from the Catholic Church .

And saying religion is "just another morality system" is like saying Republicans & Democrats are "just another political party" and the minor details about them aren't that critical - just pick one .

[rah]

actually I don't think that parties are that different. There are conservatives moderates and liberals in both parties. Not in the same proportion but there are.
Both parties suck and a lot of their position are opposite of the other at the time just so they can pretend they're different. There are many things the Repugs object to that they used to support when they were in power. Think of all the things Obama cracked on GW for but didn't change then once getting into office. Both parties are more interested in staying in power than anything else, So really not that different.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Everyone is the same

Like all those Republican politicians who are for universal health care .

[rah]

and

I may think that my gay former pastor (now at a bigger church) would beg to differ that the ELCA isn't that different from the Catholic Church .

I'm not gay so that's not critical. And I don't really have a problem with the church not allowing them in their church. I do object when they try to force that opinion on the general public though.
I do like that the new pope is not focusing on that as much. That's a positive sign.

[rah]

Everyone is the same

Like all those Republican politicians who are for universal health care .

Like Romney, oh, wait not when it someone else's idea.

Many Republicans supported some type of universal health care before Obama took it up

[Imran Siddiqui]

and


I'm not gay so that's not critical. And I don't really have a problem with the church not allowing them in their church. I do object when they try to force that opinion on the general public though.
I do like that the new pope is not focusing on that as much. That's a positive sign.

What about when the Church tries to force the opinion on the general public that the poor should be taken care of? Or that unfettered capitalism is wrong? Or that war is wrong? Isn't the Church's job to focus on things that it feels are harmful in society? It's not the Rotary Club, after all.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Many Republicans supported some type of universal health care before Obama took it up

Did they now? You mean like Clinton's Health Care Plan? Oh wait... what bills did they introduce in Congress? What did they do when George W. Bush was President to expand health coverage?