[Newsbot]

Title: New book suggests Tories pushing Christian agenda
Topic: Canadian Politics
Written By: NAUWATCH
Date: Monday, May 17 at 09:06
CTV.ca News Staff
The top echelons of power in Ottawa have come under the influence of a growing right-wing religious movement, according to a controversial new book.
"The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada," was released this week. In it, journalist Marci McDonald writes that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is catering to Christian conservative groups in an effort to bolster his party's political base.
And that relationship could shape federal policy in Canada for years to come, she argues.

read more

[RickW]

"Suggests" is far too mild a term.

[NAUWATCH]

Who's influencing policy decisions in Stephen Harper's government?

In the wake Marci McDonald's newly released book The Armageddon Factor: The Rise Of Christian Nationalism In Canada, a political firestorm has erupted on Parliament Hill, igniting debate about just who's influencing the policy decisions made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

full article http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/api ... government

[Dave Ruston]

Religion holds us humans back as a species. Think about it- It doesn't matter, if you're christian, muslim, jewish, buddhist,hindu, sikh, or whatever, all religions are man made creations used to control people. Ultimately, we don't know what happens when you die. None of our human made religious texts can describe what the universe is all about. I'm tired of " you don't belong to my club, so you're inferior" or "We're right, you're wrong, and if you don't believe in my God, you're going to hell." we don't even know who or what God is, or if there's more than one God, assuming there is any kind of God. We just don't know! And if this God that the bible speaks of loves us just oh so much, then this God would not let the pain and misery run amok on this planet like it does. So the conservatives in Canada and the Republicans in the US and the orthodox Jews and the muslim freaks, etc. all need to start some REAL thinking and get a life!

[Dr Caleb]

Dave Ruston Dave Ruston:

Religion holds us humans back as a species. Think about it- It doesn't matter, if you're christian, muslim, jewish, buddhist,hindu, sikh, or whatever, all religions are man made creations used to control people. Ultimately, we don't know what happens when you die.

Most religions are concerned that you act morally while here on this plane of existence, and a couple you mention are interested in your rebirth until you achieve enlightenment. Is it not preferable that people follow some sort of moral code, so that society is a civilized place to be?

Dave Ruston Dave Ruston:

None of our human made religious texts can describe what the universe is all about. I'm tired of " you don't belong to my club, so you're inferior" or "We're right, you're wrong, and if you don't believe in my God, you're going to hell." we don't even know who or what God is, or if there's more than one God, assuming there is any kind of God. We just don't know! And if this God that the bible speaks of loves us just oh so much, then this God would not let the pain and misery run amok on this planet like it does.

You speak here of 'radical' religious sects, not any mainstream religion I am aware of. Most are inclusive of other faiths, and even are compatible with other faiths. They are not exclusionary.

Dave Ruston Dave Ruston:

So the conservatives in Canada and the Republicans in the US and the orthodox Jews and the muslim freaks, etc. all need to start some REAL thinking and get a life!

So political parties are now religions? Way to equate 'freaks' with Muslims and orthodox Jews! Did you mean for that to come out as bigoted as it did?

[RickW]

$1:

Most religions are concerned that you act morally while here on this plane of existence, and a couple you mention are interested in your rebirth until you achieve enlightenment. Is it not preferable that people follow some sort of moral code, so that society is a civilized place to be?

Are you saying that a code of morality cannot be achieved, except within the framework of what we call "religion"?

[Dr Caleb]

RickW RickW:

$1:

Most religions are concerned that you act morally while here on this plane of existence, and a couple you mention are interested in your rebirth until you achieve enlightenment. Is it not preferable that people follow some sort of moral code, so that society is a civilized place to be?

Are you saying that a code of morality cannot be achieved, except within the framework of what we call "religion"?

Did you hurt your knees jumping to that conclusion? If I didn't write it, then I didn't say it.

[RickW]

$1:

Most religions are concerned that you act morally.......Is it not preferable that people follow some sort of moral code, so that society is a civilized place to be?

Then it looks as though you wrote it. Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck.........

[Dr Caleb]

RickW RickW:

$1:

Most religions are concerned that you act morally.......Is it not preferable that people follow some sort of moral code, so that society is a civilized place to be?

Are you saying that a code of morality cannot be achieved, except within the framework of what we call "religion"?

Then it looks as though you wrote it. Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck.........

Nope. Only the things you think I am saying are saying that. You must have some interesting interpretations of 'duck'. Does your 'duck' look anything like



You know me far better than that. I say exactly what I mean. If you choose to misinterpret my meanings in order to provoke some sort of argument that isn't there, you won't get very far.

[RickW]

Well, you said it Doc! Perhaps you would like to take a moment to revise your word order. Wouldn't want some errant 'mistinterpretation'. I've heard wars have been started over a hasty declaration..........

PS I suppose, given your notion of a duck, I should throw in "swims like one"

[Dave Ruston]

Hey, Doc! Good to hear from ya again! Sorry to jump on a nerve, but sometimes, I can't help myself. Anyway, yeah, political parties do so closely resemble religions, and quite often, political leaders do often sound like clergy. And quite often both are full of bovine excrement. And to reiterate what Rick says, yeah, I'm sure that we are quite capable of adhering to some sort of altruistic moral code without having to believe in some mother goose fairytale! I mean, I'm not religious (obviously) but I too, look for some sort of meaning to this all, and I try to evolve not only physically and mentally, but spiritually- maybe spiritually is the wrong word- perhaps it is metaphysically, I don't know. But that's just the point! We don't know. I' ve seen some strange things, if you want to call them supernatural. But I don't really know what these things are. But really, if there was only one God, looking out for us all, then there'd only be one religion, or one explanation, for how the universe operates. But nope! These stories are all man made stories- created to keep people in line. And again, look at the world. SOMETHING'S REALLY SCREWED UP! God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, can do anything, but refuses to fix the problems we have here. If this is the best a so-called God can do, then I'm not only disappointed, but I'm worried! Kind of comes back to that one explanation- if God can't eliminate our suffering, he (or she or it) is not omnipotent. If God won't eliminate our suffering, he (or she or it) is malevolent. Again, i don't profess to know what's going on in the universe, but I justget the feeling that it sort of works like this, but I might be wrong!- You know how you or I might walk by a rabbit caught in a trap. We may feel sorry for it that day, and let it loose. Some people won't even do that! Other times, we walk by a bunch of ants, carrying away a fly for dinner. Wec likely don't stop, we just look and say, "cool." I think this is how these powerful entities work. Sometimes, on a good day, one kind hearted entity might intervene, explaining some miracles that do indeed happen. Most times though, these entities don't really care. They're too busy on some other plain to even care about us. Again, it's just a feeling I get, but I don't really know.

[Dr Caleb]

RickW RickW:

Well, you said it Doc! Perhaps you would like to take a moment to revise your word order. Wouldn't want some errant 'mistinterpretation'. I've heard wars have been started over a hasty declaration..........

PS I suppose, given your notion of a duck, I should throw in "swims like one"

No Rick, I did not say it, nor did I imply it. You can now remove your foot from your mouth and deal with the discussion at hand, instead of the rant you wanted to go on.

[Dr Caleb]

Dave Ruston Dave Ruston:

Hey, Doc! Good to hear from ya again!

You hear from me all the time. Most of the stories get edited and published by me, as they have for years. I just only comment when I have something to say.

Dave Ruston Dave Ruston:

Sorry to jump on a nerve, but sometimes, I can't help myself. Anyway, yeah, political parties do so closely resemble religions, and quite often, political leaders do often sound like clergy. And quite often both are full of bovine excrement.

I'm not disagreeing with you there.

Dave Ruston Dave Ruston:

And to reiterate what Rick says, yeah, I'm sure that we are quite capable of adhering to some sort of altruistic moral code without having to believe in some mother goose fairytale!

Rick didn't say that, he thought I was implying exactly the opposite - but it was what I was implying. Religions are set up with moral codes on how to deal with other people and how to treat one another - which is what we've based our societies on. But they aren't the only source of morality. That doesn't make religion the bad guy here. Perhaps if the Harper government actually followed religion people attribute to them, there wouldn't be all the lies, backstabbing and bovine excrement.

Dave Ruston Dave Ruston:

I mean, I'm not religious (obviously) but I too, look for some sort of meaning to this all, and I try to evolve not only physically and mentally, but spiritually- maybe spiritually is the wrong word- perhaps it is metaphysically, I don't know. But that's just the point! We don't know. I' ve seen some strange things, if you want to call them supernatural. But I don't really know what these things are. But really, if there was only one God, looking out for us all, then there'd only be one religion, or one explanation, for how the universe operates. But nope! These stories are all man made stories- created to keep people in line. And again, look at the world. SOMETHING'S REALLY SCREWED UP! God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, can do anything, but refuses to fix the problems we have here. If this is the best a so-called God can do, then I'm not only disappointed, but I'm worried! Kind of comes back to that one explanation- if God can't eliminate our suffering, he (or she or it) is not omnipotent. If God won't eliminate our suffering, he (or she or it) is malevolent. Again, i don't profess to know what's going on in the universe, but I justget the feeling that it sort of works like this, but I might be wrong!- You know how you or I might walk by a rabbit caught in a trap. We may feel sorry for it that day, and let it loose. Some people won't even do that! Other times, we walk by a bunch of ants, carrying away a fly for dinner. Wec likely don't stop, we just look and say, "cool." I think this is how these powerful entities work. Sometimes, on a good day, one kind hearted entity might intervene, explaining some miracles that do indeed happen. Most times though, these entities don't really care. They're too busy on some other plain to even care about us. Again, it's just a feeling I get, but I don't really know.

I wish you well on your journey. Mine is still progressing too, but I'm more at the 'your outlook determines your reality' stage.

Perhaps suffering is part of $deities plan. Who knows? That's also the point of $deity - any attempt to understand it's intent or know it's thought process simply reduces it to our limited and narrow understanding of the universe. I stopped truing to understand any 'plan' and am just along for the ride.

"I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides."
— Carl Sagan, "In the Valley of the Shadow," Parade, March 10, 1996

[CanadianFawkes]

Wow. Who would have thought there'd be so many atheists on this site. It's amazing to me how closed minded you are. When you look around and see the complexity of a single cell, the world, the universe, how can you not feel the presence of a grand design? You don't have children, do you? As for the topic of afterlife, the principles of entropy applies - energy cannot be created or destroyed. Something must become of the energy that drove your mind, your body, your thoughts. Think of it this way... your eyes can only detect something like 5% of the spectrum of light. Our other senses are equally limited. What do you think makes up the other 95% of the universe around us? To assume that there is nothing beyond our limited human experience is pure absurdity.

The reason that suffering exists is because God gave us free will. You can do what you want with that free will. Isn't it obvious that the world is getting more corrupt and more evil as it becomes more secular and people lose their moral grounding?

One thing is for certain. Think and believe what you want about God, and Good and Evil, but the New World Order believes in their god, their "Light-Bringer." And no matter how you rationalize your belief system or lack there-of, their's is one of evil and "do as though whilst." They have conditioned you to oppose His will and even question His existence because they know that in the midst of all the spiritual confusion they sow, "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

[RickW]

$1:

When you look around and see the complexity of a single cell, the world, the universe, how can you not feel the presence of a grand design?

Nope!
Ever heard of the Infinite Monkey Theorem?
The infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type a given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare.
Likewise with life in all it's complexity.......complex that is, because we peons don't understand it.

And Dr. C - my apologies for misinterpreting your intent.