Cerek, I'm afraid I might have used the term 'nutcase' at one point or another, myself, but 'extremist' works just as well. [img]smile.gif[/img] The point I'd make is that anyone can take bible verse and shift/maneuver it to mean things it was never intended to mean, so when someone purports to be 'bible based' in their extremism, I don't credit them with any more 'veracity' or reliability than the guy waving leaflets in the street and telling me my dog wants to take over the world. ;)

I've dealt with so-called Christians who were actually a cult and they sure used this 'end signs' stuff (and other 'bible' readings) to death over the years in order to drag good people away from family and friends and demand money or other material gains. In fact, my own mother got hooked up with one of those groups when I was a teen. Believe me, I've seen literalist-chaos rein and families torn assunder by such drivel and I have no intention of just accepting things as Christian if they ignore basic precepts of Christianity, in this case, Christ's own words when asked when he and the Kingdom of God would return. He told of the thief in the night and I for one, simply pray every day that I'm worthy when that time comes, whenever it is.

[img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Sorry for the diatribe, but this is a soap box issue of mine. Guess I should learn to just ignore these things some day!

Cloudy

PS, I have stayed out of that last series of religious debates, as I'd been in my fair share over the last few months and I agree with you, sometimes it seems that bashing Christians is sport with renewed interest. Doesn't make me stop believing one whit, nor lessen my faith, but it does get my blood pressure up sometimes!

edit: Also, I feel I should point out that Sazerac is a very faithful Christian, so I doubt his goal was ever to get others to poke fun at Christianity, merely to note his dislike of such things as this thread brought up- extremist stuff with little or no validity.

[ 05-16-2002, 02:19 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

I stand duly corrected.

<font color="yellow">Sazerac</font> has made statements in the past that led me to believe he was either agnostic or followed a pagan religion. Not that it matters, I wouldn't think less of his opinion if that were the case.

I guess I just over-reacted to someone I thought was a non-Christian calling the lady a "nutcase". Don't really know why, but it just hit me the wrong way when I saw it.

Anyway, I apologize in advance to <font color="yellow">Sazerac</font>. (who hasn't been Online to see this thread yet). I over-reacted to his statement and I was wrong to do so.

[img]graemlins/kissy2.gif[/img] You're a good and honest man, Cerek. We could use more like you in this world. :D

I'd have to say it's good that Saz's beliefs weren't readily apparent, it means he's been a neutral and good mod, then. ;) I won't go further because it is most assuredly NOT my place to discuss someone elses beliefs when they aren't even present, but he's a friend and I thought maybe you'd misconstrued that one point. [img]smile.gif[/img]