> > The most important stuff in the Bible are the things Christ said, not who he his, not the miracles or the ressurection, just the things he said. this came to me from two places, one from a question my father asked, "If Jesus was just a man, would what he said be any less important" and the other was the Gosple of Tomas, which has no story, it is just a list of things Christ said. I realized reading that Gospel was that all the other stuff was the dog and pony show, Chirst was here to tell us to be nice to each other, the Beuatituds are more important than the ressurection, the ressurection was intended to get people to pay attedtion to the things he was saying.
> I still belive this, I also think there is wisdom, spiritual wisdom, to be found in other books and from other people. Taoism, Buddism, Native belifes (any Natives, American, Austrailian, African, etc) and other religions all have some connection to the Sacred. The devout of each describe the same feeling of peace and contentment with thier faith that Minamoon described. I don't belive that only the Christians experiance the real epiphany and the others are haveing some how false. This has lead me to the conclusions that they must have a real connection to God.

Being among the less religious people on Rinkworks, I haven't read the bible or seen the Gosple of Tomas, therefore it's difficult for me to relate to your first paragraph because I don't know what God said nor do I know about all the 'fluff'. Your second paragraph, however, I do understand and am in agreement with, except I have to wonder if these devote people truely have a connection to the Sacred or simple have a deep understanding of themselves.

> > No object, word, book, local, or person is more sacred than any other. Only the concepts that they represent are sacred. The cross is just a great big wooded 'T', the shroud of Turin is a very old sheet, the Bible is just words, Jerulsim is a very old city in a Desert county. The Pope is a wise old Polish man. What is sacred are the ideas people, places, and things are invesed with by belivers. Only Ideas are trully sacred.
> This I do belive, this world will pass away. Even Christ left, but his words live on.

This, too, I belive. It is the ideas that are important -- the object that carries those ideas are just that - objects.

> > Some Sacred Ideas
> > Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. (they most important)
> > To thyn own self be true. (Balances with the first one, a person should't loss themselves completly in the service of others)
> > There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are drempt of in your philosphy (we don't know everything)
> I trust science, but only so far (quatum physics sets off my skeptisim as well). I belive it is proper to science to seek all the anweres, but I doubt they will ever find them all, I don't think it is possible.

Agreed. I believe that science is a tool that can help us to understand this world, but with greater understanding comes greater confusion as well. There are no answers about the world that do not bring up more questions. Therefore, I belive that it is impossible to know everything, but we should still attempt to gain as much knowledge as we can.

> > Some Ideas that arn't really sacred but I live by
> > With Great Power Comes Great Responibility (from Spider-Man, if you can fight you shoud defend those who can't, if your are intelegnt you shoud teach the ignorant, if you are rich you should look after the needy)
> Definitly still belive this.

As do I. After all, I'd feel pretty lousy if I knew I had the power to help someone in need and I just sat around and did nothing.

> > The Prime Directive is Non-Interfearance (Balanced with above, know when you shoudln't help, even if you can. This is tricky)
> Also this, but I still have trouble telling the diffrence.

Yeah, I agree that can be tricky. How can you tell when you should or should not help? I doubt that there's a simple formula for that.

> > Violence is the last refuge of the incompetant (there is always another way)
> But sometimes trying to find it will cost lives as well. Some things should be fought. WWII was, in my mind, the single most justified war in history.

Some battles are worth fighting. Some aren't. Fighting a war for freedom or equal rights I find to be quite justified. Fighting because you just don't like the other guy is not. Also, if the opposing force turns to violence, a strong defense should definatly be ready.

> > Imagination is more important than logic (never get to serious for your own good)
> Very important, I suggest everyone who isn't offended by foul language watch Dogma.

I agree. I believe that logic applies what is already known. Imagination allows new ideas to be born. As for Dogma, I haven't seen it but I might consider it sometime.

> > There, I needed to say that.
>
> There I needed to re-examin that
>

There, I needed to...err...answer that?

> > Spider-anymaythedebatbegin-Boy
>
> Speed'and may the debate restart, if any one checks the recent message page instead of the regular page'ball

-Ka"I don't really make a good debater if I agree with practically everything you said, do I?"z!