Where was Jesus before?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Adam

" I don't believe in guns..."

In what way? Do you just prefer not to handle them yourself? (I'm ok with that.) Or, do you oppose the right of others who wish to possess guns for self-defense, sport shooting, hunting, etc? Just curious...

Well I mean for myself personally. However a majority of my friends own guns for the rifle range,hunting and I believe some carry them secretly on their person I don't want to know. If a man lives in the wilderness of Alaska absolutely does he need a gun for food and protection. Hunting bambi a guy I greatly admire who owns his own company takes his young son hunting and the kid bagged his first buck. That sounds like fun,I never got into hunting but this is in my opinon and excellent spot and even an necessity.
I guess what I'm saying is I don't want a gun in my home for protection. Some of the guys I know that have guns in there homes seem well hate to say it less manly. They are only as tough as their gun. I don't want to ever hide behind a gun. Anyway there are people that can handle guns and it's their hobby and it's their freedom. It's just not for me.

I think we're on the same page.

I strongly support the right to self-defense so naturally I support gun rights. Guns are the great equalizer. A woman, for example, can successfully defend herself against a large male - if she's armed. If not, she's helpless. And even a strong man is out of luck against an assailant who is armed (unless he is a well-trained fighter and is also very lucky).

But I also believe strongly that with that right comes responsibility. I support the idea of extreme punishment for the misuse of firearms, especially criminal misuse. If it were up to me, any person who is even in possession of a firearm during an act of criminal violence such as robbery or assault (even if the gun is never used or displayed) would be subject to a mandatory minimum 20 years in prison - in addition to whatever punishment would come into play for the robbery, assault or whatever.

Such a policy would end the problem of "gun crime" overnight.

Most people who carry firearms (especially those with concealed carry permits) are among the most responsible and least likely to be involved in criminal violence people you'll ever meet. They are not the problem.

The problem we have is a relative handful of violent repeat offenders who continue to get turned loose and recycled through the system. Often, they have to commit several violent crimes before they're put away for any length of time.

My attitude is there's no excuse - ever - for gratuitous (unprovoked) violence. Those who do cross that line should be put away for a long, long time - the first time.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Adam

Eric;
Being a believer of God does not make me more righteous,stronger morally or more accepted. I don't want to hide behind my religion and remotely think that I'm in a better position then someone else. I think if Christians,Muslims,Hindus,Jews and Atheist would try to accept each other or better yet leave each other alone and try to work on one own faults and not impose our beliefs on others would make this world a better place. I have a moral obligation to my kids even thou they are old they still need my guidance. If my kids turn out to be good regardless of who or what they believe in then I did my job right. This is all that matters to me,everything else is out of my control. Once someone brings a new life into this world that is your responsibility. Heck my son and I work out at the gym and then go for some good Mexican afterwords,life doesn't get much better then that for me. We work out together,talk and have a good meal,that's better then going to Church at least for me.

That's pretty much my policy also.

I think it's important to be decent, civil and fair - irrespective of religious belief (or its lack). Good people can be found among the religious and non-religious, just as bad people can be found among both camps, too.

[pearly8]

Didn't you see 2001?

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

To everything there is a season.

[Adam]

Adam my friend, you are getting there. Your ideas on what makes a good person are right on the nail. Religion does not make one 'good' although the ideology may lead one in the right direction. What makes a good person is their behaviour and interaction with their neighbours and society in general. As I have said before - many people say they are Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, etc, purely because that is how they were brought up. To truly believe you have to question every tenet of your professed faith and determine whether or not it satisfies your sense of logic. If it does then you are, rightly or wrongly, a true believer and no-one can denigrate you for that. If it does not satisfy your sense of logic then you can no longer believe and still be true to yourself.

Ken. __________________

Well said as usual Ken. You know sometimes I hope there is a heaven and hell. I'd like to see the good people end up in heaven and all the chiseler,weasels,murder and thugs in hell or somewhere were they can think of all the misery they caused. I don't know Ken life is a battle but the older I get the more I try to make it less complicated. I still go to Church every Sunday but I am not a zombie and I will never think that whoever goes to church is better then someone who doesn't because it's what somebody does when not in church that really matters.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Adam

Adam my friend, you are getting there. Your ideas on what makes a good person are right on the nail. Religion does not make one 'good' although the ideology may lead one in the right direction. What makes a good person is their behaviour and interaction with their neighbours and society in general. As I have said before - many people say they are Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, etc, purely because that is how they were brought up. To truly believe you have to question every tenet of your professed faith and determine whether or not it satisfies your sense of logic. If it does then you are, rightly or wrongly, a true believer and no-one can denigrate you for that. If it does not satisfy your sense of logic then you can no longer believe and still be true to yourself.

Ken. __________________

Well said as usual Ken. You know sometimes I hope there is a heaven and hell. I'd like to see the good people end up in heaven and all the chiseler,weasels,murder and thugs in hell or somewhere were they can think of all the misery they caused. I don't know Ken life is a battle but the older I get the more I try to make it less complicated. I still go to Church every Sunday but I am not a zombie and I will never think that whoever goes to church is better then someone who doesn't because it's what somebody does when not in church that really matters.

The notion of a benevolent God, of life continuing after death, etc., - all nice. I just see no evidence for either and so am doubtful of either being more than humanity's wishful thinking...