Ok.... Jess.... how about the scenario I presented earlier?


We develop a way to successfully implant an animal heart in a human
body. Taking the heart out of the animal, obviously, is fatal. But it is
a certainty that the person would die without the heart.


Now which option do you take- the animal dies or the human does.

Four parties that aren't just local fringe parties. We have democrats
and republicans. Then we have the "Green" party- which isn't too bad as
far as groups go. Plus the American Socialist Part- which makes the term
"raving liberal" look polite.


Beyond that, there are at least a dozen micro-parties that don't really
count. Having have like 30 or 40 members each and being limited to a
single state.

You know, I'm curious on the zepp connection, too. Up until you
mentioned it, I hadn't heard anything to that nature. And I can't find
any mention of it. Mention of Zarathustra in any western music is in one
new-age song, and in the title for the them in 2001, A Space Odessey.

Ok, I can do Zaostrism.


Historically- no one's completely sure when it's started.


Anyways, it's widely accepted as the first known monotheism on earth.
Beating out Judaism by at least a few hundred years.


Zaostrism believes that there's a "God" that is the personification of
good. And something resembling "Satan"- although I'd compare the evil
more to the concept of Shiva.


They had some conflict with another religion in the area.... I forget
the name.... a paganistic religion that was big on the human sacrifice
thing.


Anyways, zaostristic philosophy includes leading a good life, helping
the poor and elderly, charity, good will towards men- the first religion
on earth to preach these concepts (unless there was an earlier one that
was completely destroyed and thus is not on record).

They hold that good people will one day in the afterlife go to war
against the forces of evil- although it's arguable as to whether "war"
is the word you'd use. In some interpretations, it's almost like the
entire species has a shared karma- and that if the good people and acts
outweigh the bad, then humanity will be judged positively. Their version
of the apocolypse.


If good wins, then even evil people will be raised up to live in
heavenly bliss. If evil wins, then all humanity is damned to hell.


Anyways, Neichtze (probably the most famously atheistic philosopher of
all time) came up with a mostly satirical book- Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
And that's where most references to Zarathustra in the western world
originate from.

And, of course, the call me "close minded" the entire time.

Heh, don't bother Fit. I've used the same points on these guy since
this thread started, and they just refuse to listen.

Yep. We kicked the crap out of mexico and ended up with most of the
desert territory we actually posses. You coulda just said that.


And I meant a modern-day expansionist war. We haven't seen one of those
in a very long time.

For those who don't know- Dubai is a teensy little country along the
Persian Gulf. A muslim nation, like all the others in the area.


It's a resource-poor area.... so their government, about 20 years ago,
took on an attitude that could only be compared to Las Vegas in America.
Big tourist-drawing malls. Nightclubs. A liberal attitude that is about
unique in the Muslim world.


They were doing a display of it on the news. A European-style models in
fashion garb walking cheerfully along runways. Wearing outfits that,
although designed by local women, would hardly be out of place in France
or America or any of the other favored fashioned locals in the world.


Appearantly Islam's core is not as incompatible with western beliefs as
it was once thought.

Yeah. That'd be fun. I wanna hear about Area 51, too. And whilst you're
toking up, legalize the stuff. Give them something to *seethe* about.

Don't trust wiki. Or myspace. In fact, in general, don't trust anything
you find online. Anyone can make up anything.

Annexing mexico.... would be helpful, yes. Somehow, I doubt they'll go
along with it.... and we really don't need to open the "imperialist" can
of worms again. Usually people who say that are idiots who don't
understand world politics. But a military anex of an existing nation
would make them right. Oh well.

I'm not the one insulting people just for disagreeing with them.

Note to self. Get a woman who knits.

Somehow, I don't believe you. Oh well. I'll take it at face value.

If you haven't noticed- the constant barrage of insulting and
condescending remarks from those who disagree with me is starting to
grate on the nerves a little.

And your box is any better, abra? You refuse to see my points because I
make a presumptions of absolutes in my religious beliefs. For all you
know, we're right. What then, eh? You're not leaving your zone, and at
least I walked with you on your road, even if deciding it wasn't right.
You took one look at mine and turned your back.


Don't forget, I made a duel function point. First- that we are special
by status of a divinity that we're connected to. And second- that if
there is no "divine" truth, then we're superior by virtue of our many
advantages over the rest of life.


I am open, moreso than you at least. Before accusing me of anything
else, take a long look in the mirror. Or does the "subjective"
philosophy disallow that, too?

I wasn't comparing Jefferson to Hitler. I was making the point that
brilliance doesn't always mean a good thing.

Heh. Jefferson was a vain, conniving, power-hungry *politician* (I put
as much contempt into that word as possible). He used and then ignored
religion in whatever fassion seemed to best play for the public. He was
also quite fond of breaking treaties for the purpose of land-grabbing.
Although he was certainly brilliant, and great with words. Then again,
same could be said of Hitler and Stalin.


The founding fathers were good at fighting amongst themselves.
Washington was about the only one they all got along with to any degree.
So don't think "majority" meant much amongst them.


And don't forget how many founding fathers we had. They certainly
restrained their christian provoclivities in the creation of the
constitution and its laws. Mostly to make clear we wouldn't be
controlled, as england often was, by outside religious politics.


But we can't deny the christian heritage. Much as I, as my lovely
Goddess worshipping self, might like to.

Beyond that, it gets more complicated. But that's what I'd want a
stranger to understand first.

Oh well, my faith, in a nutshell.


We believe in a Goddess. As the Creator is pretty much going to have to
sacrifice a piece of itself in order to create something NEW. Which
would make said Creator most closely related to females.


We hold that this reality is a work of art. The ultimate work of art.
Complex beyond imagining, beautiful, perfect. Our "mission" as a
species, our best way to serve, is to learn all we can about it. The
more you understand about the Art, the better you understand the Artist.
Understanding yourself, of course, is part of this.