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That sounds like an excuse to do whatever the hell you want, and damn the consequences. I don't think that's how it's supposed to be. Sin has perverted what God made us to be. As a Christian, one has to constantly battle the tendency to wander from God. But yeah, we'll probably disagree in the end, but hey, I tried, right? I'd still PnP with you any day.

And I'll double-post because I forgot Gromnir and J.E. Sawyer, the posts of both are usually thought out well and it's always worth reading their opinions.

4. I forgot more honorable mentions, like Bok, Julianw, Drabek, Amentep, Volo, CoF, Hell Kitty, Gfted1, Darque, Gabs, Pidesco, Rosbj, LadyCrimson, Fio, Laozi, Stevethaibinh, Pop, Role-player, Meshugger, alanschu, Deraldin, Meta, Numbers, KQD, Draken, Moth, Nartwak, Taks, Kiro, Tale, and the list goes on. If you are feeling left out, just post your feelings and I'll write another addendum to answer 4. Internet drama ftw. Oh, and Tigranes.

That is like saying that being black or asian is a sin. Punk. I mean to say that homosexual actions are characterized as sinful in the Bible. If one has a homosexual desire, I would call that temptation, just as if someone had lustful desires for a woman. It's whether the person gives in or not that says if they are sinning (or if they dwell on the thoughts, as Jesus says,"I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.") Moreover, I am a sinner. I sin. Black people and Asian people sin. I am not insulting people when I say they sin. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I am not debasing people when I say they have sinful tendencies, because everyone has them. It's just a different sinful tendency for a "homosexual" person. But we all need salvation. So what I am saying is that certain actions are considered sinful, and I would recommend to the person not to do them, but it is up to them if they want to do what the Bible says is sin or not. I know I still sin, but I'm working on it. I have desires that are wrong, but I try to change. These desires are as "natural" as you guys claim homosexuality to be, but because I have faith in God and His commands, I try to suppress the desires he tells me to suppress, and I try to have the desires He wants me to have. I try to love everyone, because Jesus has loved me. Here's why you guys don't have to be bothered by me saying homosexuality is a sin: I was walking downtown last weekend and there was a gay parade going on. They had their rainbow buttons on their shirts, but I didn't treat them any differently than I treat any other person. I didn't judge them as horrible people or as stupid or anything other than what I consider any other stranger to be. I smiled as much as I smile at any stranger, and when I entered the restaurant I held the door open for people. I didn't treat anyone as any less of a person. Sure, my heart was a bit distraught that they'd openly rebel against God's commands, but I tried my best to love them as I try to love any other person. There's a gay guy at my work. I don't treat him as weird or persecute him. I talk with him as when I talk to anyone else. He's a nice guy. There are other people at my work, and they are nice people. But I'm pretty sure that each of them has sin in their lives, including me, and including the "gay" man. That doesn't mean I stop loving them or treat them differently. I hope I have shed light on what I mean when I say "homosexuality" is a sin.

I'm actually surprised he said something that I can so easily disprove. I do believe homosexuality is a sin, but I don't believe it's okay to kill children for being disobedient. God told those Hebrews specifically to do that, not Christians of nowadays. Christians are primarily called to love others, so is one loving one's child by killing them instead of trying to teach them the right way? Sleeping with ones father was not said to be okay. In fact, the Bible doesn't really mention the moral aspects of it, as it is just a story where Lot's children feel the need to reproduce and they do so by getting their father drunk and you know the rest. People do a lot of bad and good things in the Bible, but just because there's a story where Lot's children do something doesn't mean it is authorized. Krauss' reasoning is thus flawed in that paragraph. That's not to say he didn't debate well otherwise, but it hurts the rest of his argument when he makes weak points like that.

Sorry Ommy, we obviously don't get many of your kind around these parts.

Thanks Xard, helpful, tactful, and intelligent posting as always.

But without most of those biozone factors, we wouldn't be, right? If the probability of it happening is 1/googolplex, we must be that one? Of course, I would subscribe to the "not a coincidence" idea. And as for evolution, I believe it as far as I have seen it happen in recorded history, and from what I can tell it is just mild adaptation, if even that. I don't know if something, no matter how much time you give it, could go gradually from a nonliving rock with water hitting on top of it, to a human. It's also unnecessary to believe in for my faith in God and what he wants me to do, which is love Him by loving others and not sinning. I suppose knowing the truth would be good, but since I am having a hard time being convinced to believe something corollary to the important truths I do know, I won't worry too much. Let's put the belief in evolution or not into perspective. If it is true, how is the world going to change? If it is false? I don't think I'd see people change just because evolution is proven or disproved. Science textbooks and scientists already proceed as though it is undoubtedly true. If it was somehow proven, I'd still love God and obey Him. I don't want to sound like I am conducive to ignorance or that I don't value knowledge, but truly is there undeniable proof for evolution? I think there will always be a leap of faith, unless someone could go back in time and record it happen over the millenia it supposedly did. I think I'll always have reasonable doubt for evolution. Finding fossils and carbon dating doesn't convince me, sorry. I will contend for the undisputed knowledge of reality. In my given office, I will contend for the liberty of man, fearing the reality as portrayed in dystopian novels like George Orwell's. I will not hinder the pursuit of discovering where we are truly from, but I will not go out of my way to prove something I already think is unprovable, nor will I try to convince myself of these things I do not believe are important. I cannot see how it is important. If you can prove to me its importance, then I may consider pursuing the facts about evolution.

I believe someone tried stating this earlier, but what about how morality and ethical codes can help a species along their evolutionary walk by not killing themselves and caring for each other? So regarding physical devices which have evolved, why can not devices invented by the mind not be evolutionary? On the other hand, when a species helps itself like ours, it is helping the weaker parts, which then mingle with the stronger ones, and physical evolution would seem to come to a slower pace than if only the strongest were surviving. Of course, these are humans and we care about them, but from an evolutionary perspective, ethical codes seem to be good and bad. I speak as though a believer in evolution, though I am not.

Truthfully I think you get a lot more crap than you deserve, and you are probably the most consistently tenacious on the boards at the moment, among other things. Ergo, honorable mention. I actually was writing my post before anyone had posted, so there.

Sounds interesting and socially divisive. I'll give it a try. 1. 1. Is it possible to have serious, workable internet romances that doesn't lead to have gay sex with a boy pretending to be a girl? In fact I think I have heard of people who get married after meeting on message boards. So in that case, yes, there are workable internet romances that don't end up with said consequences. I would never try it out though. Especially when there are great women all around in real life. 2. Who wants to see a really ugly picture? No. 3. Why is it we internet geeks spend way too much time on asinine forums such as Obsidian, etc.? I believe humans have a tendency to seek community and want to discuss things they are interested in, or otherwise affect other people. Message boards fulfill some of this desire. 4. For more Dramatics: Who are your 3 favorite posters of all time anywhere, and why? Onur the Courageous/The Illuminator, DonJags, Pixies 5. Who are your 3 least favorite posters of all time anywhere, and why? This is a tough one, since I am always entertained by people's antics no matter what they do on message boards. Since I cannot think of any of my least favorite, I will list three posters who should get honorable mention: Aimo, EnderAndrew, Hades But there are a lot of other honorable mentions. Just looking at the top 20 posters elicits enjoyable memories for me. Baley, ShadowPaladin, Kumpq, Commissar (whatever happened to him?), GhostofAnakin, Darth Launch, Llyranor, nick i am, Eldar/Cant, Schmarth, Mus?, Volo... the list goes on.

When sneezing, I think there is a sense of relief, like scratching ones nose when an itch forms... but on the inside.

religious threads ftw

When can the Donmeister grace our presence?

Sneezing feels strangely good at times.

I concede to your point. God will judge I suppose. I just would never want to lead a nation, since it comes with those impossible-to-win decisions.

You need to read the the Bible more then. There have been quite a number of instances in reach killing people was considered a "good thing" and ordained by God. Hell, you can use the Bible to justify slavery and bigotry. Its all open to interpretation, but then again the Old and New Testament have been translated, retranslated, interpreted and reinterpreted for over 2000 years so there is no way to accurately to know what the original meaning of the scriptures meant. Christians should emulate Jesus, not use the old testament as justification for killing people. Christianity is both Old and New Testament, and then some depending on which faction you are with. There is more to Christianity than just emulating Jesus, Blank. Sad, but true. Christianity shouldn't be more than emulating Christ. Perhaps you need to read the Bible more too (I agree I need to read the bible more), as He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, prophesies and laws*1. Jesus loved others and showed Christians how to love by dying for them. In the Old Testament, God had King David go to war with neighboring nations, but that doesn't mean God is telling all Christians that it's good for everyone to go to war. Don't get me wrong, I love the Old Testament part of the Bible. I really enjoy Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Malachi. There's so much one can learn about the character of God by reading the OT. God is serious when He says he hates sin. When asked what the most greatest commandment was, Jesus said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."*2 Moreover, I see in 1 Peter, where Peter, a very influential apostle who converted many and helped build churches all over after Christ's death, says, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth, and while being reviled, He did not revile in return while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."*3 I see all over the Bible a message to Christians of peace and turning of the cheek, not warring. There are stories in the OT about the wars, and in the NT, David is said to have been faithful in Hebrews 11, so he did what was right for him, but it wouldn't be right for me to go kill neighbors that are sinning. I just cannot see where a Christian would be justified to act like Bush or others who claim to be Christian. Bush as a Christian should've not wanted to send soldiers who would end up having to kill people who want to kill them. I mean, these are all actual people being killed, people who have the potential to be saved. Why would a Christian want that? To protect themselves? What about turning the other cheek and being persecuted? *1- Matthew 5:17-20 *2- Matthew 22:35-40 *3- 1 Peter 2:21-24

You need to read the the Bible more then. There have been quite a number of instances in reach killing people was considered a "good thing" and ordained by God. Hell, you can use the Bible to justify slavery and bigotry. Its all open to interpretation, but then again the Old and New Testament have been translated, retranslated, interpreted and reinterpreted for over 2000 years so there is no way to accurately to know what the original meaning of the scriptures meant. Christians should emulate Jesus, not use the old testament as justification for killing people.

I have a hard time reconciling "killing" people in war as opposed to offering them truth and love that I believe would save them. In that regard, I dispute Bush's perception of the Christian tenets.

If I cared and attended the school, I'd set up something the next year to cheer for a bunch of random people, children of the teachers if there are any, and get the administration to change that way. Alas, I don't care. They get their transcript minus a keepsake and move on with their lives.

AD&D 2e, with some modifications But I really have no experience, and I only chose that because I respect a certain man's opinion.

But if it was a good game and you agreed with the direction they took it, and it was a major milestone in CRPG's, wouldn't you consider supporting them? This is Bethesda. What are the chances of that happening? Next to nil I say. I just have to accept that the gaming industry has changed and there will no longer be any games that I consider fun released any more. Time to retire the keyboard and mouse, Blank. I guess it's a slim chance, and I guess you are making somewhat of a point by saying you will not buy the game, but in my eyes it's a needless ultimatum. Wouldn't it be nice to buy the game and play it and then rip on it after you know how much it sucks and can give examples as to why?

But if it was a good game and you agreed with the direction they took it, and it was a major milestone in CRPG's, wouldn't you consider supporting them?

Try telling something like that to the dude who mad at me for using his book as toilet paper.