09-05-2005 09:37									#61
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quote: While the Pastor is backtracking now and claiming he never said this, (curiously enough not issuing the denial until well over a day after the initial story broke and talking to a lawyer) the original news reports and the claims of the 9 kicked out members were that they were expelled explicitly because they didn't vote for George Bush and refused to recant their "sin" and vote Republican in the future.

well, that's what they said. How did the pastor know they voted for Mr. Bush?

	09-05-2005 09:51									#62
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quote: I often wonder that myself. Why do Canadians pay your salary?

Because I free people from the God squad.

	09-05-2005 10:13									#63
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quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi well, that's what they said. How did the pastor know they voted for Mr. Bush?

Presumably they were not willing to lie to the pastor. (That would be actually sinful behavoir after all.) I also think that they, and apparently at least 49% percent of the church membership feels its innapropriate for a pastor to put that kind of religious pressure on people to vote for a specific candidate. (Apparently 49 out of the church's 100 members have been kicked out or dediced to quit over this incident.)

	09-05-2005 11:24									#64
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quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi Boris: First of all, a church is allowed to take a stance on issues, without endorsing candidates. Without being able to see the story, it is difficult for me to say whether the pastor is endorsing a candidate or a position.

Not an issue I raised. I have no problems with churches taking a stance on a political issue. That's not the same as excommunicating people.

quote: Secondly, those who do vote for a politician who has an avowed pro-abortion stance, are complicit in the pro abortion policies passed by the politician, regardless of the party to whom the candidates belong.

So I guess Bush voters are complicit in Bush's warmongering, huh? Which is worse in the eyes of the church, warfare or abortion? And if it's the latter, I'm boggled by their senseless priorities.

quote: The fact is that the democrats are avowedly pro abortion, and as long as they are, should discourage Christians from voting for them.

Not all Democrats are pro-abortion, so this is doesn't mean much. People adhere to parties that more closely fit their ideals. That doesn't mean they have to agree with them 100%. Unless, as said above, had you voted for Bush, would you say that was an endorsement on your part for war?

Political beliefs are just that, and by and large people have the respect for one another to keep that separate from the other aspects of their lives, be it personal relationships, church, work, etc. Expelling people over their political beliefs in the church realm crosses the line into the kind of stupid, thoughtless prejudice that is to be shunned at all costs. It escalates the tactics of personal destruction to a new level.

I'm wondering when you'll realize your stance would make it okay for people to be fired over their political beliefs...

Again, I'm astounded you could defend this. It's simply atrocious.

	09-05-2005 11:26									#65
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quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi Which is meaningless. What matters is not your seniority, seniority can often conflict with devotion to God.

Utterly irrelevant to the point being made. Man, you have a knack for replying to arguments with nonsequiters.

	09-05-2005 19:43									#66
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quote: Originally posted by Boris Godunov I have no idea what you're trying to say here. It's not like this was Church Survivor, and somebody HAD to be voted out of the congregation. Honestly, I can't believe anyone would defend this pastor's actions. They're reprehensible.

Now there's an idea for Mark Burnett...



Obi Gyn is used to defending reprehensible actions- when they're religiously inspired, or sanctioned.

	09-05-2005 20:11									#67
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Aggie, my family is quite far to the left BECAUSE they are religious, you can't lump all devout Christians as evil conservatives; which is why I, unlike you, am tolerant toward religion (even though I am an athiest) as long as it is not used as a tool for hate (and the phenominon of religious lefties pwns the Marxist assertion that religion is a tool of social control by capitalists).

	09-05-2005 20:19									#68
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quote: Originally posted by Agathon quote: I often wonder that myself. Why do Canadians pay your salary? Because I free people from the God squad.

They subsidize your own brand of lunacy.

	09-05-2005 20:26									#69
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Fundamentalists are quite welcome to excommunicate anyone the wish, for two reasons:

1) No-one with an shred of sanity cares for their ravings.

2) A real devotionist/spiritualist should not take their orders from a human.

.

	09-05-2005 20:29									#70
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quote: Originally posted by curtsibling Fundamentalists are quite welcome to excommunicate anyone the wish, for two reasons: 1) No-one with an shred of sanity cares for their ravings. 2) A real devotionist/spiritualist should not take their orders from a human. .

Who was excommucated here?

	09-05-2005 20:36									#71
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Perhaps my command of my native English language escapes me, but what is the thread title, sir?