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  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Morality without Absolute Morality

Why is torturing babies wrong?

"Reason says, because of evolutionary grease".

Well I guess that's a view.
That's not how evolution works. And hey, I thought you were a fan of Kant. He used reason to determine morality. Now it's a bad idea?

Are you empathetic? Yeah, me too. Comes in handy, doesn't it. You a parent? Yeah, me too. That emotional bond, eh? Now those are evolved concepts. They are evolutionary beneficial. Rather obviously. So if you see a child being harmed you can imagine their pain. And you can envisage your child feeling that pain. And you most definitely don't want that to happen. It's entirely natural. So harming children is a bad idea on those two levels at least. And if you actually feel that it's a bad idea, rather than sitting down with a pen and some paper and sketching a logic diagram to work out the possible outcomes of allowing it then you'll reject it automatically.

Those people who did that, those people who felt that it was somehow wrong, rather than have to reason it out, well their kids outlived those of people who were a bit slow on the uptake.

It's like love. An evolutionary development that allows pair bonding to survive. What? It's just part of our genetic make up? No way! Well, yes. That's exactly what it is. But knowing what it is doesn't make it feel any less than it does. Doesn't make it feel any less real. So feeling that it's wrong to harm children is likewise an evolutionary development. But it still feels entirely natural.

It's like Feynman (say hi to my avatar) when he said that knowing the molecular and biological structure of a rose and knowing how the light reflect off the petals at a certain wavelength and how the molecules trigger sense organs in the nose and transmit that to certain parts of the brain...all of that adds to the wonder of a rose. How it looks and smells. It doesn't detract from it.

Same with evolution.
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Trump Calls For Ilhan Omar’s Removal From Congress

Dearborn has a long history of "Christians" harassing the Muslim population. Frequent Qur'an burnings, terrorist attacks and threats, and even "Christian" missionaries showing up with a pig's head on a stake and calling Muslim children wicked, heathens, and dirtbags, among other things, during an Arab festival. So, while it was wrong for the mayor to tell someone they were not welcome in the city, it's understandable how that could happen when someone starts talking about a member of the community supporting terrorism. If you watch the video of the exchange, you will notice that it was a Christian member of the city council, Robert Abraham, that first interrupted Mr. Barham and told him that Osama Siblani didn't support violence and that they were not going to allow attacks on people in the community during the meeting.

Osama Siblani isn't a known terrorist, and the street in question wasn't renamed. There were honorary signs erected at a couple of street corners; that’s it. It was also Wayne County, and not the city of Dearborn, that approved the signs. Wayne County has less than a 20% Muslim population.



Here's the response from the man who was told to leave the city:

Dearborn resident told he wasn't welcome hopes to see something positive come out of exchange

Addressing the mayor's remarks that he was unwelcome in the city, Barham called Dearborn the 'most hospitable, kind city' he's ever been in, drawing from his experiences living in the diverse, majority-Arab American community and his global travels, including a year in Lebanon and visits to Israel and Palestinian territories.

He also disagreed that Christian people are at risk of facing oppression in the U.S., pushing back against narratives amplified by some conservative commentators who framed the incident as evidence of anti-Christian sentiment in Dearborn...

He said the mayor has 'done a terrific job in many ways', specifically praising Hammoud’s leadership on community initiatives like funding playgrounds, despite their disagreement. Barham added that he wants to encourage love for Muslim people, consistent with his missionary work...

He expressed no intention of leaving Dearborn, stating he hoped the controversy would lead to positive outcomes, such as greater religious freedom and understanding between Christians and Muslims.
Well I did watch the exchange and found it to be utterly incomprehensible. Like I said, if a white mayor had done that to a Muslim, I cant imagine the backlash he would have received for it.

Christians in Muslim countries have suffered FAR worse than any Muslim.in Dearborn has. Can you imagine what would have happened to one if they had burned a Quaran in some Muslim countries?

Now I certainly don't agree with anyone doing that, or threatening them or anything of rhe sort. Its wrong for anyone to do it.

I.just thi k it was wrong for the Mayor to treat that man in that way in his own town and country. I also give kudos to the man for not responding in kind.
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Hell doesn't exist and there is no eternal suffering, instead bad peolle just cease to exist

God’s “will” will always prevail.
Except when His will is that all be saved.

1 Timothy 3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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The Ten Commandments are the Covenant, did you know?

I personally would not want to remove something God's covers with His mercy Exo20:6 but God gives us free will.

(Adding to your point)

1. Both the Old and New Testaments tell us not to add to or take away from the commandments.

Old Testament:​
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
New Testament:​
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

2. Both the Old and New Testaments prophesy the adding to or taking away from the commandments.

Daniel:​
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Paul:​
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Strong's G646 a falling away (apostasia): defection from truth (properly, the state) ("apostasy"):—falling away, forsake.
What then is the truth?​
3. The commandments are the truth.

Psalm 119:151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.
2 John 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
4. Breaking the commandments is untruth.
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Conclusion: The commandments stand as eternal truth.
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Pray for England

Gracious Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus,
I pray for healing and comfort for those affected by the synagogue incident. Please help those in England to turn back to their history, to remember the time that You were their primary hope. Help them to turn away from modern idolatry and the sinful appeal of violence, and to lay down their arms.

The temporary relief of death is not worth long term self-destruction, both individually and as a nation. I pray that you would press this truth in the mind of their leaders, and allow them to communicate it with dignity and honor.
In Christ's Name,
Amen
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Trump admin. concedes Maryland man from El Salvador was mistakenly deported/sent to mega prison - shrugs 'nothing can be done' [ETA: oh but it can!]

Kilmar Abrego Garcia back in US to face charges of helping traffic 'thousands' of migrants

A two-count indictment, which was filed under seal in federal court in Tennessee last month and unsealed Friday, alleges Abrego Garcia, 29, participated in a yearslong conspiracy to haul undocumented migrants from Texas to the interior of the country.

Abrego-Garcia is the only member of the alleged conspiracy charged in the new indictment. A conspiracy of one, eh?

Slate Opinion

The Criminal Case Against Kilmar Abrego Garcia Is Highly Suspect

The charges against him may be valid. They may be exaggerated. Or they may be fabricated.

During the hearing Friday, one DHS agent revealed that he was only asked to look into Abrego Garcia’s case on April 28 of this year, according to Tennessee Lookout’s Anita Wadhwani.

That was also a full week after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed, seemingly out of nowhere and without providing any evidence, that Abrego Garcia had “engaged in human trafficking.”

Judge Says DOJ May Be Vindictively Punishing Abrego Garcia for Challenging Removal to El Salvador

A federal judge in Nashville ruled that the Department of Justice’s criminal case against Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia may be a form of punishment against him for legally challenging his abrupt removal to an El Salvador megaprison earlier this year.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw found that comments from senior Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, raised a “realistic likelihood” that the department sought immigrant smuggling charges against Abrego Garcia for vindictive reasons.

The judge said Abrego Garcia was entitled to discovery against the Trump administration and a hearing in which he can present evidence on why his case should be tossed for vindictive and selective prosecution.

“Deputy Attorney General Blanche’s remarkable statements could directly establish that the motivations for Abrego’s criminal charges stem from his exercise of his constitutional and statutory rights to bring suit against the Executive Official Defendants, rather than a genuine desire to prosecute him for alleged criminal misconduct,” Crenshaw said.

Crenshaw said several comments from Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other executive branch officials the day of Abrego Garcia’s return were also concerning.
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Israel and the New Covenant.

No, Jesus is saying it's more righteous to not even get angry because someone messed up dinner, than murdering them because they messed up dinner.
Jesus didn't say this, you did.

I'm not sure why you came to the conclusion you arrived at.
Because you said, "God's righteousness is not subject to the law," which doesn't make any sense when righteousness is literally following the law. That's the definition.

There is no law against GOD"S LOVE. Those who walk in His Love do not need the law to be righteous
You're conflating two concepts, the fruit of the spirit which grows with love, and the requirement by God that says we are supposed to act righteously which is following his moral law. Again, righteousness is following the law.

Definition: RIGHTEOUS, a. ri'chus.

1. Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man. Applied to things, it denotes consonant to the divine will or to justice; as a righteous act. It is used chiefly in theology, and applied to God, to his testimonies and to his saints.

The righteous, in Scripture, denote the servants of God, the saints.

2. Just; equitable; merited.

I can tell from your posts that you are misconstruing what I mean. As I said, I don't think the devil wants us to communicate.
I literally keep asking what you mean because you don't explain yourself very well and based off of what you say, is how I respond.

You've misconstrued what I say. All of scripture testifies to the righteousness that came apart from the law, including the law.

Romans 3
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
You literally just highlighted my point in bold "being witnessed by the law". Put the concept of that verse together. You're singling out 1 part of the verse by pointing to the word righteousness and highlighting "without the law" while you aren't understanding the point of the verse and then ignoring other parts of scripture. You can't single out verses like this because there are points and concepts that group verses together to get the big picture which include these verses:

James 2:21-24 "Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected... You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

Matthew 25:31-46 (Parable of the Sheep and Goats) “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you... for I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat...’”

Romans 2:6-7 "Who will repay each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life."
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$1 Trump coin: Treasury shares draft design for America's 250th birthday

Federal law generally prohibits depictions of living presidents on U.S. currency, but it's unclear if the design evades or violates those rules.

During Friday's White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if Trump had seen the first draft of the coin.
  • "I'm not sure if he's seen it, but I'm sure he'll love it," she said.

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Boyfriend’s mum has cancer

Gracious Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus,
I pray for healing for catz' boyfriend's mom, by either divine or human means. Help her to recover from cancer, and please guide her and the doctors to the right treatment for it, so that she may be fully healed with no recurrence. I pray for strength and comfort during this process of treatment and recovery for all of her family members involved.
In Christ's Name,
Amen
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Three ICE detainees shot, 2 dead, at ICE facility in Dallas; suspected shooter committed suicide.

You seem to be forgetting the posts after that.
Help the conversation by referring to the most recent posts you've made.
Whatever I've posted that you want to talk about just quote it and state your problem with it.
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The Desperate Mullahs of Iran

keras, back in the days of bows and arrows, archers could wrap their arrow tips with and set them on fire and shot the arrows into wooden structures to catch them on fire... i.e. deadly shafts tipped with fire.
There were all sorts of clever and very nasty means of warfare developed quite early, including forms of chemical and biological warfare.
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Trump tells Israel to stop bombing Gaza as Hamas agrees to release hostages

Hamas says it has agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages, but is seeking further negotiations on a number of points outlined in the US Gaza peace plan

It made no mention of one of the key demands of the plan – that Hamas agrees to its disarmament and to playing no further role in the governance of Gaza

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Brick-n-Mortar Demons

Im
Thanks Maria! I had no idea after the assault, I might need a record of the slow build of occerences

As a Virginia Baptist Pastor, Rev Dr Howard John-Wesley put it, ''I'm overwhelmed by folks who call themselves Christian, simply because they invoked the name of Jesus and quote scripture from the Old Testament," he said.

Source

Not an especially progressive wing. Ignorance is such a bad state to fixate on. But, I'll add to the list, as I come across this damaging trend.
I'm Confused, the first thing he says is he does not celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk or did he deserve it. Just because he disagrees with Charlie Kirk's views does not mean this Pastor's church is packed with evil spirits. Next.....
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The Schumer Shutdown

Who decides whether the demands are unreasonable?
In the end, I think it's kind of a combo, leaning more toward rhe employer. Employers offer a dollar amount and worker decides if its reasonable for the labor. If not, they can go find another job. They are not locked in. And if no one want to work for the employer they only have two choices. Go out of business or raise the offering.

We saw that where I live. Businesses couldn't get workers so they HAD to raise their wages. Competition for workers drove up the wages. It also drove up the cost of goods.

But we also had businesses that went out of business because of it also.

So basically I do think its kind of a combo. With employers making offers and employees accepting or rejecting.
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