Troops in Iraq allowed beer for Super Bowl

[aquarius]

"All the troops found in Iraq was pornography".

Yeah, if you're looking for WMD's but only find porn magazines (probably US made, because that's where most of the stuff is made)
the High Brass - not the soldiers- will be very disappointed !

[aquarius]

However, I would question the merits of a religion that in all its arcane rules and nature has clearly double-standards.

You probably question the merits of ALL religions?
Or is our Christian religion the only one without arcane rules and clear double-standards?
If someone rely beliefs that, he is beyond repair.

[jfko6]

"You probably question the merits of ALL religions?"
Actually, I do not question the merit of all religions because all religions are not the same.
Even the three major religions - Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are completely different.
But I am required to accept them as we expect them to accept us. But radicalism is not acceptable
when harm is at is root.

"Or is our Christian religion the only one without arcane rules and clear double-standards?"
Here you are very very vague. This statement of yours does not mean much. However, I'll give
you more information. The Vatican has launched an exciting new channel on You Tube. There you can view
many videos and commentaries. After you viewed them come back and let us know where the error
is. After all, I am a Catholic.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

If someone rely [the word is 'really'] beliefs [actually the word is 'believes'] that, he is beyond repair.
Again, if Christianity is false please let me know where the "error" is?
If, J.C. is not the son of God please let us know how you came to that conclusion.

Otherwise, I'll be looking for that "repair" bill -- but not mine.

[DangerousDave]

Everything has changed. For HOPE and CHANGE. Looks like we are going to exit, stage left, from IRAQ. Everything is changing around us, Louie.(Last scene from the movie, Ghost Dog)

[aquarius]

jfko6, as far as I have understood you are the one who is questioning "the merits of a religion that in all its arcane rules and nature has clearly double-standards." As I read your line, you mean Islam.

I don't like to discuss religions, however to me Christianity also has arcane rules and double-standards. Just like all other religions have. Or maybe better, the people who believe in these religions have different intepretations on how to live their lifes according to their Book(s).
If I am wrong, I just wonder why there are so many different churches & mosks with different rules and standards. Even the concept of JC as a son of God was not obvious to many of the first Christian believers, the gnostics.
So again, IMHO opinion we as Christians have the also strange rules and double-standards, as Muslims have. It's the people/believers who are responsible, not the Books.

I find the Bible (better: The New Testament) a book which stresses more on subjects as caring for eachother, loving thi neighbour and forgiving your enemies, then other holy books do. So I am more attracted to the Bible. But I have to say I did not read the other books as well.

If someone thinks his own religion has no arcane rules or double-standards, I think he is not realy open-minded, to say the least.

Thanks for correcting my bad english. I have to take more time to read my text more carefully. I will try to. Please continue to correct me!

BTW: The main reason why Islamics rejects Christianity is the fact that they have the opinion that in our belief there are 3 gods, or god-like creatures: God, JC and the Holy Spirit. They see it as worshipping three gods instead of one. And according to Islam there is only one god, which concept is being expressed in the words "La ilaha illa Allah" (Only Allah shall be worshipped).

[jfko6]

I read your response. But it is an opinion piece, nothing more.
Your entitled to it. However, I'll make it clear. The New Testament, the book which you like
does not speak conceptually.

Jesus Christ when asked "are you the son of God." He replied, yes. That is not a concept but a theologically truth.
Actually, Christianity begins and ends there.

Christianity came before Islam and Gnostics have nothing to do with modern day Christianity or the early church. They were, in fact a sect who wrote their own books based on the Gospels which amounted to heresy.

In my previous response however you left out an essential fact. I made a comparison of those (which does not apply to all) as there are good Muslims, Christians, and Jews. And I truly believe that.

I don't like soldiers finding tons of lewd material, fighting for a cause and Islam say w/o being a Muslim you can't get to Heaven. That's heretic. That is not a modern teaching of the Catholic Church. Nor is it scriptural. How many times have we heard the story about the Panamanian jungle man who never heard the Gospel and people say he's not going to Heaven because he has not accepted J.C. as his personal savior. It's ludicrous.

You, I know, like this sort of thing. You can't wait to jump in with your dog long opinion piece, mix things up and get slammed for it and later say lets all have a beer when you come to the Netherlands.

That's all for me. I have better things to do with my life, brother. If you can find some facts I'll read them.

An English Oxford dictionary might help you out. I'm serious.

I actually have a life and a career even in this dog-gone economy. So it's back to work for me.

[aquarius]

Well, your english is getting hard for me to understand. But I'll try. (I also speak/write Dutch, German, a little bit French and some Surinam, so I find it difficult to outshine on one language).

When in 1985 the Pope visited my country, I was member of the Amsterdam Police Dpt IED search team, and we had to do a security bomb check in the monastery where the Pope stayed for 1 or 2 nights. The monks had to leave their quarters for this short time, so we could search it without being disturbed. Guess what we found in large quantities in the dust bins? Yep, loads of porn!
Sorry, I am not kidding on this one.
Speaking of double standards...
It may be a comforting thought that I also have double standards. Continuously! Or else I would be dead, insane, or more than a saint.

BTW. Here is a little mind bender told to me by an extremist: According the the Islam we all are Muslims. But because there is not space enough in the Muslim heaven, there have got to be infidels and believers of other religions. They won't make it to heaven, only the true believers of Islam. (He also was convinced he had The Truth on his side.)

And for sure I like to jump on views that are in my opinion rather narrow minded. Especially people who think they are entitled to the truth (by their religion) have the right to receive my cynism.

Please don't feel obliged to visit me whenever you're around.

[jfko6]

Your secular view of Christianity I do not share. And I'm not agreeing with
Muslim policy as I would with any errant Priest or Monk.

Sure we have had many Priests publicly denounced in the U.S. and excommunicated
and jailed for abuse. Tell us something we don't know.

However the Evil One operates, it doesn't change the revealed truth of Scripture.
In the end we all die and it will be one of two things: Heaven or Hell.

When it comes to Catholic dogma and policy, I'll get my teaching from those who are qualified
to teach on faith and morals.

Your credentials as an ex-police officer seems to qualify you as an outspoken Cynic, nothing more.

Yeah, stay home, brother.

[aquarius]

Nope, not an EX police officer.

The truth is, I am looking for it.
My simple minded, privat filosophy is to search for the truth and never stop searching. I know I am not an intellectual, and I will never be one, simply because I lack the necessary brains. Nevertheless I keep on searching, questioning, listening, reading, adding and disregarding the facts of life as I encounter them. I also pose many questions to true believers. Sometimes they have answers, sometimes not.
It doesn't make me insecure, the contrary.
.
It also means a little travelling so now and then. Yes, also to your country! Especially the ultimate sin city Las Vegas. I like it very much, although I do not gamble, go early to bed and drink very rarely alcoholic beverages. I won't stay away! Maybe when nobody wants to sell me MRE's anymore, I quit

[Bypah]

Christianity came before Islam and Gnostics have nothing to do with modern day Christianity or the early church. They were, in fact a sect who wrote their own books based on the Gospels which amounted to heresy.

My fellow brother in the faith....Greetings in this lenten season!!
The gnostics came before even Jesus was born ( 1st century BCE or BC),before the Christian era. It means "knowledge" in ancient greek and their origins goes as far back to Plato,one of the famous greek philosophers.they simply questioned everything and that was one of the reasons the early fathers of the paleo-christian church considered them heretics amongst other things because they questioned the newly organized religion (CHRISTIANITY),their power base and its teachings.
This is as simple as I can put it....simple gooogle it!!

Dominus vobiscum
ICTUS

To both of you....
PEACE!!!!!