I was only asking because I hear it so often here, people saying that it
is their duty as Christians.
So I was wondering, is that wrong?

Respect for all Man Kind

Yes, I do and will continue to do all I can do better
my community and the will for Man Kind,

I am a single Parent and have spent the last 12 years
of my life Volunteering at the Center for Abused Women and Children in
my Area, It is my Dream and wish in
life to see an end to Violence against Women and Children, a cause I
hold deep and Dear to my heart, for
I was one of those women and if not for a kind stranger who saw the pain
and hurt in me, I would not be here today,,,

Invisible writes:

" I was only asking because I hear it so often here, people saying that
it
is their duty as Christians.
So I was wondering, is that wrong?"

Knocked that curve ball right out of the park, din't ya? :)

No, quite the contrary, I feel duty can keep one from seeing society and
people's contributions and mobility within it as a zero sum game. Oh,
some people will do the work, but want compensated for it in some
manner. And will decry it out of the other side of their mouths as being
socialism so they can get out of doing the work while keeping up the
happytalk.

I tend to see the whole issue as being essentially in the same vein as
other Prisoner's Dilemmas. By playing the cooperation card and realizing
that society works best when everyone is looked after and provided with
at least a nominal level of subsistence, one more readily accepts the
burden. I think most people would gladly make this investment in society
if they could think of it as safety-net-as-birthright.

I guess I just get a bit miffed when folks like Secular Humanists, who
also 'do the work' are seated at the back of the bus because they don't
believe the 'right' things.

-Kerry O.

Adventure Begins writes:

"Another way to 'Judge' someone based on how you already feel about
them.

Enter with a preconcived notion, learn nothing. "

Ad hominem attack (and not answering even one of the questions is
stonewalling). Swing and a miss, sir. :)

Besides, Adventure, I don't think it's lost on anyone that yourself and
Spider are engaged in a pissing contest to see who will be the Alpha
Christian on this group. What's to be learned from that? Other than to
infer that you both are Authoritarians who want nothing more than to
dominate through 'teaching' and will brook no opposition you can't twist
into a straw man?

Wanna try again?


-Kerry O.

Huh?

Ain't even a christian dude. Just don't like being told how to believe
when I can read for myself.

How did I attack you? Wasn't directed at you just added something to
what you posted.

I am neither Alpha nor Omega. I am alive at this moment which is
neither.

Care to try again? You have good posts why cloud them with one
upmanship?

Adventure Begins writes:

"Ain't even a christian dude. Just don't like being told how to believe
when I can read for myself.

How did I attack you? Wasn't directed at you just added something to
what you posted.

I am neither Alpha nor Omega. I am alive at this moment which is
neither.

Care to try again? You have good posts why cloud them with one
upmanship? "

Because I suspect my head is just as hard as yours. :) (Ask my
neurosurgeon, I've dulled enough of his implements, lol.)

But you're *not* answering questions in any really meaningful way when
you effectively say, "Oh, your mind is closed and you don't want to
learn anything" as you did in your rebuttal to my objections to what I
felt was a rather provocative statement inferring that only Christianity
can provide the moral impetus for helping our fellow beings. If
anything, I would think the tale of the Good Samaritan would waylay any
leanings toward that theory.

At best, what you're doing is more akin to word lawyering, clever
arguments that sidestep the messier parts of determining merits or lack
of in making one's case for one's premises. At worst, a left-handed ad
hominem which puts no data on the carrier.

So as to be more direct, I put this question to you: Do *you* think
Secular Humanists can be just as instrumental in allieviating the pain
of those who fall thru the cracks of society as Christians?

-Kerry O.

Cripes Kerry, I'm not a Christian either. You must have got it totally
from the wrong angle.
That's why I had a problem with your answer.

I do think that I'm sitting in a similar boat as you.

I have no idea what the label 'Secular Huminist' means.

Any one can show the so called 'Christ like' qualities, to help with out
thought of compensation, pride in helpin or boast in diety. Just help
as needed for the sake of helping, because it is needed.

(by the way my post was not a rebuttle of your post it was an attempt to
add something to your post I thought your post was good so I wanted to
add my 2 cents.)

Adventure Begins writes:

" I have no idea what the label 'Secular Huminist' means."

Google is your friend. :) I think it's a more accurate label for what I
believe, and the terms agnostic/atheist have been made too toxic over
the years by zealots who listen with their mouths.


"Any one can show the so called 'Christ like' qualities, to help with
out
thought of compensation, pride in helpin or boast in diety. Just help
as needed for the sake of helping, because it is needed."

I guess I feel so strongly that each other are all we have, so I prefer
the way that Kahlil Gibran said it in "The Prophet":

'For in truth, it is life that gives unto life-- while you, who deem
yourself a giver, are but a witness.'

-Kerry O.

Invisible writes:

" Cripes Kerry, I'm not a Christian either. You must have got it totally
from the wrong angle.
That's why I had a problem with your answer.

I do think that I'm sitting in a similar boat as you."

Mea culpa. I did indeed think you were answering as a Christian. And I
thought it was a great answer to my somewhat thorny question.

BTW, seeing as you hail from the Emerald Isle, do you think the lastest
political solution will finally spell a lasting end to The Troubles?


-Kerry O.