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  1. G

    Does circumcision promote sexual purity?

    The obvious answer is that the Hebrew Bible prescribes circumcision because circumcision was a long established practice of Afroasiatic speaking cultures. The Biblical narrative serves to provide the practice with a mythic/religious justification; which has nothing to do with sexual morality, so...
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    What are some of your thoughts about Pacifists?

    The commitment to non-violence is a good one, but not to the point where a refusal to fight abets a profound evil. The obligation to do good (like protecting the innocent, or resisting unjust aggression) trumps any obligation to avoid violence. A total and absolute refusal to engage in violence...
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    Two Preachers in Indonesia Charged with Blasphemy

    You can't force secular humanism down a population's throat. You can't wave a wand and break the power religion has on a population deeply informed by it. Frankly, that Indonesia has maintained its moderate regime is an achievement. Perhaps as time goes on they'll adopt more westernized...
  4. G

    Porn Pastor

    They're absurd, but a microcosm of the culture. The culture at large has lost its sense of sin and while some in that culture may maintain pretensions of Christian religious commitment they're only deluding themselves. Matthew 7:21-23 Not that I deny genuine Christians exist. Those who make a...
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    Two Preachers in Indonesia Charged with Blasphemy

    If I recall correctly, Christianity is an officially recognized religion in Indonesia so in theory it enjoys the same legal backing as Islam does. By arresting the Muslim cleric they're actually maintaining their stated idea of secularism.
  6. G

    Christian oppression / persecution in the US

    It is not about law, but the cultural environment. I do see a possible (although not inevitable) future where Christians who fail to profess anything less than full endorsement of abortion, homosexuality and transgenderism (and soon polyamory I predict) will find themselves subject to an...
  7. G

    Christian oppression / persecution in the US

    You have missed the entire point. I'm not talking of 'inclusive laws' but of a social atmosphere where those who hold to traditional religious ethical stances will be increasingly stigmatized socially. This includes Jews who don't get on board with the prevailing sexual orthodoxy. That Jews...
  8. G

    Christian oppression / persecution in the US

    Claims of oppression or persecution are almost always exaggerated, but I do think the public square is becoming more hostile to Christians and traditional religious belief in general. The ascendant progressive orthodoxy current in the west right now is undoubtedly hostile to Christian belief (or...
  9. G

    How does sin create a virus?

    It's not about God striking us dead, that's a caricature of what my post said. It's about what God permits in his providence. As I said in post #6, one possible lesson to take away from this pandemic is the realization that we're not as in control of our destinies as we think we are. A mere...
  10. G

    How does sin create a virus?

    The wording of this question is awkward. Obviously God is the creator. From the biggest star to the smallest virus. But I don't think anyone is saying any one sin 'caused' the pandemic. But for a Christian, it must be accepted that God does permit evils to afflict the world. And one reason God...
  11. G

    How does sin create a virus?

    The virus itself is a natural agent, it did not manifest out of thin air as a result of sin. Nonetheless, traditional Christian belief does hold that God can and will permit natural evils to afflict nations as a chastisement for sin. The more the God is profaned and ignored the more his...
  12. G

    Singapore: no mask = prison sentence

    I've been to Singapore. It's a nice place and I felt very safe walking about even at night. You certainty want to behave yourself while there though.
  13. G

    Catholic Officials on Edge After Reports of Priests Using Grindr

    Secular clergy are clerics who are not members of any religious order. They live in the world (secular) and do not take religious vows. Your typical parish priest is a secular cleric. Regular clergy are clerics who are members of a religious order. (the Jesuits, the Benedictines, the...
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    Catholic Officials on Edge After Reports of Priests Using Grindr

    It is about the love of God and his commandments. About the universal gift of redemption won by Christ on the cross. The message of Christianity is the universal offer of good standing before God. Good standing that is won by faith, good works and the hard struggle against sin. Nuns, just like...
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    Catholic Officials on Edge After Reports of Priests Using Grindr

    I can support allowing married men to join the secular clergy, but nuns are monastics who have chosen a life of renunciation. Marriage is inimical to the very concept.
  16. G

    Pope Francis: "An Act of Love" - vaccination

    Since it has come up I'll talk about it in plain English. In Catholic thought there is a principle called cooperation in evil. In a nutshell, this principle states that it is impermissible to knowingly aid in or benefit from another person's sin. For instance, if a friend robs a store and then...
  17. G

    Pope Francis: "An Act of Love" - vaccination

    That was an aside to your original question.
  18. G

    Pope Francis: "An Act of Love" - vaccination

    I find western culture's emphasis on eros to get obnoxious at times, but in this case I just find the overuse of the word 'love' to be obnoxious. Not everything needs to be reduced to vacuous slogans of 'love'.
  19. G

    Pope Francis: "An Act of Love" - vaccination

    He's right in that getting vaccinated promotes the common good. The Church has been saying this for a while. (See link). But does everything have to be couched in this sentimental dross of 'love'? It's obnoxious. I'm not getting the vaccine (when I'm eligible) out of some vague sappy sentiment...
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    Taliban: serious, propaganda or both?

    I hope the Taliban are sincere about being (somewhat) more moderate this time around. Perhaps they calculate a need to be seen as a (at least) somewhat sane regime by the wider world. My suspicion is that they will start off more moderate and then gradually clamp down as time goes on. Only time...
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