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Well, then. Someone is using my tumblr's ask box to hit on me anonymously. But first they had to ask if I'm gay. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this situation.
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Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:12:18 UTC from web
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@pony I'm not even sure what I'll do. I think it would be easier for me to deal with if it wasn't an Anon that asked. And the whole asking if I'm gay before hitting on me sort of threw me.
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@missloki Maybe you could invite them to chat with you on FB or Ponysquare. Anonymous isn't a good way to establish any real connection.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:25:25 UTC from web-
@pony Yeah, not so much. I don't know. I haven't heard anything back from them yet, so I'll have to see what tomorrow brings. Or, rather, today, since it's 0230
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@missloki Yeah. Time will tell. @ceruleanspark I'm thinking, if all I knew about somepony were what's on their tumblr (depending on the tumblr) I'd want to know them better before considering hitting on them.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:33:36 UTC from web-
@pony Assuming this isn't someone else who already knows you and wants to find out if you reciprocate before revealing their identity.
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@ceruleanspark Anypony that actually knows me knows my orientation, though. It's not something I'm shy about.
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@missloki Hmm. How strange then.
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@ceruleanspark Sí. Yo no sé /shrugs
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Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:27:18 UTC from web
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@pony I dunno. Sometimes you wanna get that stuff out of the way before you make it awkward for everyone.
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@pony A little. And I'm the kind of person who never thinks of that straight up. I'm more interested in establishing a connection and if a romantic relationship happens, that's awesome.
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@missloki that's a common difference between mares and stallions, though something I think a well-mannered gentlecolt would temper.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:36:48 UTC from web-
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:37:30 UTC from web
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@pony My irl stallion friends aren't typical stallions, so I'm not sure how the latter tend to act. I have known typical mares, though, and you're right. Also, my bio on tumblr has the word "dykey" in it, so if they were fem, I don't think they'd ask if I'm gay.
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@missloki Ah Ok I'm looking at your tumblr finally. I'm also pansexual (and married to a woman). Anywho it seems interesting.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:48:49 UTC from web-
@pony Wait, what? I thought you hated gay people?
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@ceruleanspark lol. That's quite the conclusion to jump to, but I understand why you think that I guess. I simply advocate for no other sex except between a married man and woman.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 09:54:43 UTC from web-
@pony Surely there's some cognitive dissonance there though? You don't hate them, you just don't think they should...be happy? Experience sex? Exist at all? I'm not even being judgemental at this point, I'm genuinely interested in seeing how this all fits together.
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@ceruleanspark I'm glad to answer any questions about my beliefs. When omni and I discussed my views I probably came across as extreme because of my understanding of what constitutes right and wrong behavior, but I believe God loves everybody regardless of their personality, sexuality, or even their sins. When I spoke of condemnation with Omni, my faith's concept of condemnation and hell are very different from that of most of the rest of Christianity. I won't go into it unless you're curious. (I'd be happy to address it on my tumblr actually.) So in short, I believe people with homosexual attractions can live happy lives (and righteous lives) without acting on their attractions.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:05:40 UTC from web-
@pony As someone who grew up in an entirely secular environment I find all faiths and their adherents fascinating, so I would be interested to hear about your own set of beliefs at whatever venue you chose.
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@ceruleanspark Great! Here is good. I can address the topic on my tumblr later when I'm at my desktop computer. Ask anything.. As for condemnation, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called Mormons) believe that this life is a time to experience trials and prepare to meet God. When we die we enter the spirit world where, if we accepted the gospel and repented of our sins in life we will find ourselves in a state of paradise. Otherwise, whether because we were ignorant or rejected Christ, we will be in a state called prison. In spirit prison, missionary work occurs just as it does in life and we can accept the gospel if we didn't have the chance before we died. The living can perform religious ordinances as our proxies in the temples of my church. This is why my faith emphasizes family history and genealogy...
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:17:25 UTC from web-
@pony So you guys don't have a hell-concept?
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@ceruleanspark prison, though temporary is probably the closest thing to hell for us. The people who openly defy God, turn entirely away from Christ, and commit heinous sins in life will still be saved by Christ after they've realized and felt the full and indescribably pain of their transgressions. They'll have brought that pain on themselves. Afterward they will be made clean and be resurrected (after the righteous have been resurrected) and they will dwell in what we call the Telestial kingdom.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:25:50 UTC from web-
@pony I have no idea how offensive this comparison is, but this form of atonement strongly reminds me of what I've learned about buddhist enlightenment. Am I in the right area?
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@ceruleanspark I was raised Buddhist (Sokkagakkai (sp?) to be specific) and I joined my church alone at age 10. Yes, I think there are many similarities.. I still hold many Buddhist beliefs actually
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:32:22 UTC from web-
@pony Interesting combitation. Are mormons the guys who hate blood transfusions or is that someone else?
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@ceruleanspark I believe that's Jehova's Witnesses (again, not sure if true)
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@ceruleanspark You're thinking of Jehova's Witnesses.. they don't do blood transfusions. We like modern medicine.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:45:10 UTC from web
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@pony I mean I understand if you'd prefer to discuss this in private for fear of further confusion in which case my PM inbox is open.
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@ceruleanspark nah.. I don't mind responding in public. As long as it doesn't create a frackus I actually prefer it.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:06:25 UTC from web
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@pony Yeah. I can't remember if my tumblr says what area I'm from, so I wonder if they're local or were linked from an area where it says my location since it was evening when they were asking me
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@comradescootaloo No, I never actually said. I'm not gay, I'm pansexual. Gender identity and biological sex aren't something I care about; they're not even a consideration when I'm deciding on a partner.
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@comradescootaloo Yeah, I like to have a connection with a person first. If they're not interested in women or me, then I have a friend. If they're interested in me, and a romantic relationship develops, that's awesome. Who they are matters, but what they are doesn't.
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@comradescootaloo Yeah, I think it's the anon ask that's got me most weirded out. Why tell me you find me attractive without telling me who you are?
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@comradescootaloo Yeah, that's probably a good idea.
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@ponydude If you tie law to honor and justice, then you don't really need a god to have a working society.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:33:04 UTC from web -
@ponydude Mormons use the KJV and believe it to be correct inasmuch as it has been translated correctly. There are errors that have been corrected by our prophets
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:34:23 UTC from web -
@comradescootaloo Why is islam everyone's go-to "bad" religious example? I do not understand.
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@comradescootaloo Meh. There is only one mountain, but there are many paths to the top.
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@comradescootaloo sorry I'm not ignoring you. I get what you're saying, but I'm trying to stay on topic. I'm not really talking politics here at the moment.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:35:53 UTC from web -
@ponydude Defining them could cause a bit of commotion, but I'll try to do so. Both are tied with eachother, since without one the other cannot exist, honor it's mostly behaving in a way your dignity and pride is not harmed but neither the ones of other people. In case of someone defiling the honor of others, then justice enters th show, for it is the way in wich someone can ask for compensation and a chance to restore the damaged honor, be it by punishing the offender or by the offender compensating the offended in a way he/she sees fit. Acting by these two concepts, people can live without almost any conflict.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:37:55 UTC from web -
@comradescootaloo I believe God's mercy + God's justice = God's love. God will not force anyone to heaven who doesn't want to be there. All he can do is give us what we'll accept.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:38:20 UTC from web-
Last thing I'll add before I have to do some work (then I'll be back).. God is our spiritual progenitor, the actual father of our souls. As his children, we have the potential to become like Him. We belive that, if we accept the gospel by exercising faith, repenting, being baptised by those holding authority from God, and living valiantly, we will have the opportunity, with our spouse, to raise spiritual progeny of our own and create worlds without number like God.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:43:54 UTC from web-
@pony That's why I like that religion.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:48:08 UTC from web
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@ponydude I have heard the argument that morality cannot exist in a vacuum before. I would argue that I turned out pretty good.
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@comradescootaloo Oh actually! When I was in NY before, I saw elevators designated as "Jewish" on certain days of the week. What's up with that?
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@ceruleanspark You can't carry pork in them! xD
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 10:41:34 UTC from web
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@ponydude Good enough for what?
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@comradescootaloo Oh, it wasn't an inconvenience. I was just curious as to why my hotel had a designated jewish elevator every saturday. It's not a religious thing?
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@ponydude OK now it's your turn to educate me. Who's your god?
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@ponydude What about babies and other innocents?
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@ponydude You have to understand that I have only a very high level understanding of the bible. I have had functionally 0 religious education. Explain it to me like I'm an idiot.
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@ponydude At what age does a person take responsibility for their sin? what makes it kick in?
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@ponydude What about mentally capable people who've never heard of jesus? An isolated island tribe, for instance?
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@comradescootaloo Can we avoid stereotyping?
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@ponydude Forever? That seems...unfair? Are there checks and balances for this sort of thing?
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@ponydude It seems unfair for huge swathes of people to be automatically consigned to suffer forever because they didn't happen to meet a christian before they died. Do they at least only get light suffering or something?
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@comradescootaloo Dante's inferno isn't a religious text though, is it? I thought it was just something some guy wrote. (first person to say "SO was the bible" gets banned and then punched in the junk. )
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@ceruleanspark As I understand the Catholic church used to hold Dante's Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise) in high regard as sort of a personal witness reinforcing their dogma, but never canon. I think that since that time they've done changed how they view the afterlife quite a bit so it doesn't hold as much wieght.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:32:49 UTC from web
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@ponydude Why? I don't see anything offensive in it, how he wrote it is simply hilarious.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:26:08 UTC from web -
@comradescootaloo I don't know how to answer your question. Are you angry? If so why? If not, why would you assume that I believe that God doesn't love those whose souls wind up in spirit prison? You know Jews and the members of my church have some interesting history with respect to temple work and the saving ordinances for our ancestors.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:27:05 UTC from web -
@ponydude Would I be correct to ask what "sect" of christian you are? I know there are several.
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@ponydude If you're interested, "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlen has some very interesting views on religion. It uses proxy-groups to avoid controversy with mainstream beliefs, but it's pretty easy to see who's who.
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@ponydude Is "Sect" the correct term? It seems to have negative connotations for some people
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@ceruleanspark Christians usually use the word "current" for it.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:35:17 UTC from web -
@ceruleanspark I believe the term you're looking for is probably "denomination". "Sect" certainly works, but I've seen it more often applied to a group the speaker disagrees with than to one they agree with, so I could see how it might come across as negative.
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@ceruleanspark Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sheesh that's a lot to type!) prefer to distinguish themselves from sects because the origin of our religion is not a reformation of another church nor a splinter group like many others. We consider ourselves restorationists rather than reformationists in that we received the restored truth from God through the modern prophet Joseph Smith Jr. The reformationists, we believe, were good people inspired by God to set the stage so that his true church could be re-established like it was in the days of the apostles.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:44:02 UTC from web-
@pony you could just say Mormon... is that politically correct?
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:45:24 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny It's fine to use 'Mormon.' I would use it, but our leaders have encouraged us to use the full name of the church.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:48:48 UTC from web
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@pony There's a few things that bother me about Joseph Smith... for instance, when he was receiving his prophecies, he was the only one who got to look inside the hat. In other words, the only proof he was not a false prophet is backed soley by his own claims.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:49:12 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny It certainly seems far-fetched to believe what he witnessed. He admits it himself.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:53:24 UTC from web-
@pony Which proves...? That's usually what you hear before someone kidnaps you... "this is hard to believe, but your mom is in the hospital and you need to come with me"
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:56:15 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny The dash you replied to proves nothing. I'm just saying I understand your skepticism. You can test Joseph Smith Jr.'s validity as a prophet of God by reading the Book of Mormon which Joseph Smith translated and praying with an open heart and real intent to know whether it's true.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:00:57 UTC from web-
@pony You're right. I should at least reply to individual passages instead of your faith in general.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:08:10 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny The main thing is to seek God's reason, his will. The rest falls into place with that, and his Spirit helps those who pray for it to discern truth from folly. That's what I mean by read and pray about the Book of Mormon.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:12:18 UTC from web
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@ponydude Well as a general rule I think "sect" has a more negative connotation than "denomination"... I'm more Nondenominational than Reformed Protestant myself.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:38:25 UTC from web -
@comradescootaloo That makes me curious what exactly you mean... for instance, who else claimed to be the Son of God and was crucified during that time? As for not truly rising again, I believe he did. For one thing, the guards of the tomb were never executed themselves, as they would have been if they didn't make sure Jesus was really dead.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:42:04 UTC from web -
@comradescootaloo I don't want to tread on anypony's beliefs. I'm glad if I manage not to offend or frustrate you. I believe every religion has elements of truth and wisdom and the power to bring people together in good ways.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:47:23 UTC from web -
@comradescootaloo Makes sense. I grew up with a Christian background (my beliefs now would probably be best summed up in one word as "agnostic", but as with most things, it's more nuanced than just that one word), so a lot of my vocabulary around religion is based in that.
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@ponydude So getting past hell for a moment, what does your church specifically teach? How does one get into heaven.
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@ponydude yes. I believe that the church was re-established on this Earth through the prophet I keep mentioning, Joseph Smith Jr. And if anybody wants to test the validity of the church they can do so by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon which we believe is a book of scripture like the Bible that testifies of Christ. "By their fruits ye shall know them" sort of thing...
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:51:45 UTC from web -
@comradescootaloo True there were Zealots during that time who said that they were chosen to lead Israel out of oppression. But Jesus claimed to be God- why would he do that, which was blasphemy under the law of Moses, unless he actually was God? There are only three options. either Jesus was crazy, which he certainly doesn't appear to be from the wisdom of his teachings; he was lying, in which he couldn't be called "good" at all, or he was who he claimed to be: the Son of God.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:54:24 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny agreed
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 11:55:15 UTC from web
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@ponydude I mean what does "letting jesus into my heart" actually entail? I am pretty certain it is not a ritual
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@ceruleanspark No, it's definitely not a ritual. "For by grace we have been saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of GOD, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:06:21 UTC from web
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@ponydude this I follow, but not a fan of specific religions. In the end they all have the same beliefs. Just don't think when Jesus was dying on the cross he told us not to eat meat on Fridays.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:11:00 UTC from StatusNet iPhone -
@ponydude That's the problem with christianity, and why I rejected what my family believes. We're supposed to believe our very existence is wrong from scratch, and no matter how good we are, we still have to ask for redemption to some guy who died 2000 years ago. I think is better and more productive for me and for the entire species to work towards enlightment by contributing with work and technology to the world.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:15:31 UTC from web-
@nerthos Well the only thing I can tell you right now is I told you so. When you die, I told you so. Have I ever seen God? Have you ever seen a headache, brua? You know it's there by it's impact.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:19:24 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny Even if it sounds offensive, I'll say it. I intend to avoid dying as long as I can. To institute justice, not faith. To help the worl through facts. If a god is aganist it, then I will directly fight him, even if it's blasphemy. If he thinks what I'm doing is wrong, he will obliterate me. But if I need to, I have the resolution to try and kill god, as long a my body enables me to do so. An absent and uncaring lord is no lord at all.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:22:25 UTC from web-
@nerthos Well, how would you like to live forever?
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:23:51 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny If I were able to live forever, then I could gather all the knowledge and offer it to the rest of the species easily. To guide by education the whole of humanity to a higher status.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:25:06 UTC from web-
@nerthos Well on the flipside, how does eternal death sound? I'm afraid there's more to it than just obliteration.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:27:27 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny Heh, I don't fear eternal oblivion. Not acting and letting someone do evil by fear of consequences upon myself is worse than suffering the consequences.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:28:48 UTC from web-
@nerthos What about eternal punishment? That's 4 evers. Like forever.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:29:42 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny And then again, I answer exactly the same. It's better to suffer consequences than to not act by fear.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:30:31 UTC from web
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@ponydude I see what you mean. I believe in God, Jesus and the whole shebang, but I don't believe with following a certain "religion". Just curious, what does food that has been offered to idols mean?
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:18:34 UTC from StatusNet iPhone-
@renovatedkitchen Just what it says- food, meat, whatever- that has been sacrificed to idols. Although in this part of the world we generally have different kinds of idols- popularity, wealth, sex. What we sacrifice to these idols is anything we take from God by devoting ourselves to them instead. This could mean our time, our energy, or our love.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:22:54 UTC from web
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@ponydude But what things am I doing wrong? What if it's something like "Being a homosexual", which is something I wouldn't regret at all?
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@ponydude Obiously. You can have faith and work at the same time, I just don't see the point in believing we have to suffer for sins we haven't comitted.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:23:17 UTC from web-
@nerthos So, I'm going to go with Ray Comfort's questions. 1st- would you consider yourself a good person?
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:25:06 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny I do not without reason harm others or their property, and I help whenever I can a just cause, so yes.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:26:13 UTC from web-
@nerthos OK, do you think you've kept the 10 commandments? This is just the basics of God's law.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:28:37 UTC from web-
@2ndmanliestbrny The ones that are justice based, yes. The ones that are faith based, I don't care enough to know.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:29:51 UTC from web
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@ponydude I don't believe humans are corrupted. they may be corruptible but not corrupted. but you are entitled to your own beliefs. But i also believe there can not be good without bad, and there can not be bad without good.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:23:20 UTC from web -
@ponydude That's true, brua. I mean, think about it. Even if- IF God were not loving, He would still have the right to make the rules.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:33:33 UTC from web -
@ponydude I do not see the logic in the homosexuality thing. You are exempted from going to hell if you're born brain damaged, but not if you're born gay? God likes some neurological structures more than others?
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@ceruleanspark Hate to risk offending you, but no one is born gay.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 12:44:04 UTC from web
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@ponydude @2ndmanliestbrny OK, let's rein this particular segment of the discussion in here before it goes to places that are going to upset people.
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@ponydude Yeah. That part. It goes badly wrong every time, and everyone ends up so mad.
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@ponydude Similarly, you're one of the most reasonable "Christians" (I put that in quotes not to disparage you being a Christian, but because by my understanding, those who act unreasonable about it are hardly being very Christian by doing so) I've seen debating anything.
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@ponydude Really, this whole attitude is one of the reasons I like RDN so much; there are very few other places I'm cognuzant of on the internet where that would have proceeded as calmly and reasonably as it did here.
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Oops, cognizant* #spelling.error
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@spectrumscramble I'm with you on that. If I didn't know better, I'd say that RDN accepts me more than anyone.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 13:07:12 UTC from StatusNet iPhone
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@spectrumscramble Aren't you glad you came to public?
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 13:11:19 UTC from web-
@ceruleanspark Yes, definitely. It's a good thing I did, because I don't think I could've realized how much of a difference it makes in usage, without actually trying it.
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@ponydude Thank you for responding so patiently and politely. It is always fascinating to learn more about peoples beliefs
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 13:13:00 UTC from web
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![[redacted]](http://av.rdn.io/avatar/10757-48-20121112180516.png){kind=small}
