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Depends on who's teaching it and for what purpose. Naturally, I doubt self-defense classes teach that, and I don't think most classes go too heavily into philosophy either way (leaving the use of the knowledge up to the student), but some sensei certainly advocate pacifism, teaching that martial...

I agree. I've always believed that God is understanding, as well as just and merciful. I hope, and believe, that Heaven is open to anyone who tries, honestly and truly, to do what is right and honour what they believe Him to be. It's never seemed fair to me for people to be condemned for that...

I think it's interesting how people only seem to notice their rights being violated; several people have argued that Christians should be allowed to refuse services to and otherwise discriminate against homosexuals, but I imagine most of them would be outraged were someone to refuse to allow a...

Haha, oh, sensationalism, how many papers I imagine you must have sold.

Hi Aspen, I just wanted to tell you that I really respect your first post in this thread. It was honest and I think it's the sort of thing that takes a lot of courage to say. To address the first post, taking it as a sort of thesis, I suppose I should say that, sadly, I think many people from...

Thanks, I've really enjoy reading your posts, as well. I'm actually thinking of the best ways to formulate a few questions for your thread on Catholicism. God bless!

I've personally never personally seen the two as connected. Or, at least, I've never seen my understanding of Christianity connected to patriotism. If anything, too much patriotism could come dangerously close to the worship of a false idol. Pragmatically, I think that you're right, and it did...

Known by whom? Plenty of places which didn't have historical taboos against homosexuality had intact family units. In fact, China and Japan had a stronger tradition of familial reverence and respect than contemporary Europe, yet did not demonize homosexuality. Similarly, Native American culture...

I've never taken that interpretation out of the scripture, personally, especially not out of the words of Christ. Support for a government seems necessarily to be idolatry, if you ask me. I don't believe in a violent revolution, but I also don't believe, whatever the law says, that any nation or...

I don't get how Muslims couldn't "stand" it, either. I mean, sure, there's probably a lot of it they wouldn't accept, but I really don't think it would cause most of them much duress.

What is not true, honest, just, pure, lovely, etc. about a tree, a sprig of plant, or any other tradition? In what way do they have the "appearance of evil?" I have never looked at a pine tree as malevolent, myself. Absent their former religious significance, which they are in Christian...

I would argue that "pure" communism is one of the only possible governments which could not be argued as idolatrous; any form of state is arguably a false idol, while "pure" communism is one of the few stateless systems of government around. While Marx may have been an atheist, there's nothing...

I do not believe it is the role of the state to advance any religion's, my own or another's, moral beliefs by coercive force onto its citizenry. At the end of the day, a government which does anything beyond organize and educate is necessarily oppressive.

To answer Selene's question, there are plenty of religions and interpretations of religions, which do not condemn pre-marital sex. There are even denominations, admittedly rather small ones, of Christianity which do not do so, or which at least would condemn it to the extent of advocating any...

There are times when matters seem hopeless, but do not give up. Often there is hope, obscured though it may be by misery and despair, and if you continue to try, doing what you can and asking God for his aid, doing the best you can and striving for the hope that may seem slim or entirely absent...