Sunday Thoughts

So... normally I write more about what things mean to me on this day, and maybe that's where this'll end up... but my topic today is not a verse or idea from the Bible, but rather, the actual whole Bible. To be specific, it's about the project to rewrite the Bible that some of my non-existent readers may've heard about lately, spearheaded by Conservapedia. I say "rewrite" rather than the word they use, "retranslate", because, frankly, they're planning on putting some stuff in I don't remember from any version of the Bible I've ever read, including the KJV.

Is Proselytizing a Sin? (Part 3/Final)

So, let's wrap this up, and go back to my basic question: Is proselytizing a sin?

I think I've shown how it can be, whether one defines sin as "harm against other people" or "offenses against God". Anything that drives people away from God (and, if you think Christianity is the One True Way, Christ) pretty much would have to be a sin, and generally speaking, things that harm people are sinful.

But is it always a sin?

Sunday Thoughts

We don't all agree on the nature of God or what He wants from us. Some people don't believe He even exists; others simply differ in the details. But that doesn't matter. It doesn't have to.

We, as people, probably all want something similar: peace, prosperity, health, happiness. We can work together for those things.

For those of us who believe, it may be because we're doing what we believe God (or whoever) wants us to do. For those who don't, it may be because they believe this is the only chance we have to experience those things.

It doesn't matter why we act, as long as we do act.

If people focus on what people do and what they're working for, then it doesn't matter if you're working with someone who does not share your faith. And I find it heartening that there are others out there who agree, who put aside the differences to focus on the similarities. I do wish there were more, but as long as there are some, we can continue to try to make the world a better place.

Faith does not stand alone

Last year, a Wisconsin couple was charged with reckless homicide in the death of their daughter. The girl, who was 11, died from complications from untreated diabetes. The parents had not sought medical care, instead relying on prayer to heal their daughter.

Today they were sentenced to 10 years probation and 30 days a year in jail for the next six years. They plan to appeal. They don't think they did anything wrong.

Belated Thoughts and Other Things

I didn't do a "Sunday Thoughts" yesterday because my sleep schedule was rather inverted due to illness followed by a bout of insomnia... eh, it doesn't matter why. I didn't do it.

I've wanted to keep doing at least that one post a week in lieu of church-going, but I'm not sure I have quite that much to talk about without repeating myself. I might open up the focus of this blog a bit to encompass current events and various religious responses to them and what I think of those things. I don't want to debate these things, but seeing things through the filter of my religious and moral beliefs is both inevitable and important, and I might as well talk about them here.

You may, if you've read the last few posts, have noticed that I did two Sunday posts in a row talking at least in part about charity. If I do more current events posts, there will be some more of that, and I'm afraid it might get repetitive, but... it's very important to me, and very mind-boggling to me how a country with a large Christian majority doesn't seem to act charitable very often. Still, I'll try to keep it at least vaguely interesting.

The last few posts have been more about the negative side of religion, so I want to say something positive... unfortunately I can't seem to think of anything tonight. I'll try to come up with something positive this week.