en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1456734 Comments by edcmf http://bigjournalism.com/jsexton/2010/07/30/journolist-shame-of-a-nation-the-people-make-the-party/#IDComment89886953 Unbeatable Rule of Debate #1:Tell opponent you are right and to shut up. I always forget that one. I did agree with you I was just saying its naive and ignorant to act like Communists are the sole-proprietors of propaganda. I think Joseph Goebbels would take a lot of offense at your statement. Simply mentioning that Russia had a a state-controlled news organization does not really add to the debate. Also -way to inflate the stature of the Journolist to a world super-power. Beware the Journolist invasion of Canada! Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:32:39 +0000 http://bigjournalism.com/jsexton/2010/07/30/journolist-shame-of-a-nation-the-people-make-the-party/#IDComment89886953 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89883374 You laughed at me when I gave you the perfectly reasonable example of different denominations of Christianity as why you cant say "the Bible tells us". Your points have in no way addressed that. Unless you are willing to say every denomination but your own is a false cult-right now, right here before all your peers-you yourself believe that the Bible is open to interpretation. I hate to even acknowledge you with another response after your childish attacks on my earlier comments, but I would love to hear your answer. Do not the different Christian sects prove that their is interpretation of the Bible? How are there different denominations of Christianity but only one interpretation of the Bible? If you can answer that- you are a genius beyond compare and I will flee to the safety of my Athiest Cave-or whatever place it makes you happy to imagine I plot my war against Christian Republicans. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:05:09 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89883374 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89881993 I agree 100% that what you have stated is the the theological/logical explanation for why homosexuality or any sexuality that does not result in families/babies is a sin. However, i genuinely wonder, if there was a gay celibate couple that worked to spread the word of the lord, would that be acceptable? To me that sounds very much like the idea of a priest or missionary. If they are abstaining yet in love and working for Christ would they be considered role-models in the same way a priest or hetero missionary would? Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:55:04 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89881993 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89881233 Only because people are super-reactionary he has created more conservatives. Everyone was hedging their bets and protecting their butts right up to the election saying "whoever wins this is going to be a nightmare for years to come", "I wouldn't want this job now I know that much". Obama becomes president and a day later...BOOM...."the sky is falling", "America died Nov. 8th, 2008", "Stalin has risen from the grave!" Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:49:31 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89881233 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89880155 Thanks Mo. Before just now I thought I was Christian, had read the Bible, the Apocrypha and large chunks of most of the other important religious texts in the world. You have helped me realize facts have no place in my mind, yours, or discussion and religion in general. Congrats and thanks again Mohamed. LOL?!! Get what I did there?!!! HA!? ....sigh Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:41:07 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89880155 http://tv.breitbart.com/dell-tech-support-grabs-nude-photos-from-customers-computer-publishes-on-web/#IDComment89879410 I should have realized your brain power was depleted with that amazing Obama-Nudie pic "joke". I'll give you another 24 hours to recharge your comedy cell. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:35:46 +0000 http://tv.breitbart.com/dell-tech-support-grabs-nude-photos-from-customers-computer-publishes-on-web/#IDComment89879410 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89879059 I really wish I could buy into deregulation, I do. But the evidence is just not there. Somethings can not be decided by an accountant and trickle-down turned out to be trickle-out. The whole point of society was to put an end to only the strong survive. One of the things that made America what is today is the National Park system. Today people would throw it away for a fifty cent reduction in deficit. Ask Gov. Christie in NJ. He'll privatize the roads and the state parks and in three years when they're bankrupt he'll be telling us we need to approve an emergency bond to bail them out. If profiteers run everything they're the only ones who win. I think the gov should encourage more private schools but there should be some sort of guidelines most American's can agree on for what a basic education consists of. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:33:09 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89879059 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89876771 A very close friend of mine-and probably my most educated- was in training to be a priest. His father is a pastor and his family lived on a reservation for many years spreading Christianity to Native Americans in N. America. Unfortunately he started to realize that certain questions were considered very big no-no's and not appreciated. Sadly, he has decided to not pursue becoming a priest because he thought much of the dogma and bureaucracy actually hurt his relationship with God as opposed to helped it. He has since converted to Eastern Orthodox and has continued his studies. I bring this up for you Krystyna, because one of his main examples of disillusionment was that no one could ever provide a solution to this "Cain contradiction" without admitting to a non-literal interpretation of the Bible. Something the leaders of his church were not willing or able to do. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:21:14 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89876771 http://tv.breitbart.com/dell-tech-support-grabs-nude-photos-from-customers-computer-publishes-on-web/#IDComment89873883 Yawwwn!? Ha! Boo I say! I think I deserved a wittier retort than that. No clever explanation on why bringing Obama into a story about outsourcing and exhibitionist moms isn't totally out of "right-field" or revealing of your obsession with Big Baby Bama? Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:02:57 +0000 http://tv.breitbart.com/dell-tech-support-grabs-nude-photos-from-customers-computer-publishes-on-web/#IDComment89873883 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89873041 So engaging in dialogue with people in a forum where my opinions are clearly in the minority and asking for an explanation means "too busy trying hard not to get it"? Its very hard to not get frustrated with or even give credence to a statement like that, but I really am trying my best. Also I like being distracted from my real job. On that note: ...Thank you to all the people on here actually making points and discussing with me and not the Ostriches with their heads in the ground clawing up mud. Debate is the heart of our country and if people are going to get heated and call names lets really make it worth our while with a spirited argument based on facts and logic and convictions first. THEN WE ALL GO TO THE PITCHFORK STORE TOGETHER!! USA!!USA!! Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:56:50 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89873041 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89871627 Cool, get the Bible on the phone for me please. I have a few questions for it. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:46:26 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89871627 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89871573 I'm sorry I thought I lived in a world with Protestants, Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox, the King James Bible, the Edict of Worms and several other indisputable examples of Christians not believing the exact same interpretation of the Bible. The Bible is a book that everyone must accept was edited by humans (I allow the possibility that the initial words came directly from the "mouth of God"). But how can you pretend there have not been countless revisions and reinterpretations of the Bible over history? Why aren't Lutherans and Protestants slaughtering each other in holy war? Because it is commonly accepted-even by the Church(es)-that the Bible is up to interpretation. That is why. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:45:59 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89871573 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89870438 I like history Ed and I like you. I think the school system did a fine job with you if you ask me. And honestly I think the public education system is a huge failure. But, it was started with great intentions -to help bring the masses of our nation up to a level on intelligence where they would not be forced to work as indentured servants or stay on the farm their whole life. I think if we had a good education system we'd be much better off today, but how can we hope to have a good education system when no one wants to pay for it? Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:37:50 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89870438 http://bigjournalism.com/jsexton/2010/07/30/journolist-shame-of-a-nation-the-people-make-the-party/#IDComment89869296 Please just strike "communist" from that line and I will agree with you almost 100%. All people in power try to control the media to keep things tipped in their favor. To say only communists have tried to control the media is naive -and I really don't mean to be insulting. Why would the Bush administration partner up with FOX news and refuse to show other channels on Air Force One or in the White House? Because that was the channel that was delivering/working with them on their message. Were they communists? Nope, but they were doing an even more extreme version of this "collusion" I keep hearing about in regards to a bunch of-I almost hate to say it-whiny liberals' e-mails....They are not the New World Order my friends... They are journalists -who are happy to admit to their point of view -sharing their opinions and gripes on "the other half" of the country and politics. The problem is with short-term memories and with people pointing fingers at each other when we mostly agree on the same stuff. The media stinks and the government stinks, but if we work hard we should be able to hope for a certain level of comfort and happiness. Let the politicians, marketers, lobbyists and pundits have five minutes with that sentence and you'll have a beautiful country tearing itself to shreds in no time. And unfortunately that's where we are today. Well- says me at least. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:29:06 +0000 http://bigjournalism.com/jsexton/2010/07/30/journolist-shame-of-a-nation-the-people-make-the-party/#IDComment89869296 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89865663 I would appreciate you clarifying your logic. Thank you. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:04:09 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89865663 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89865542 Well I'm not in love with the anchor metaphor; but lets call this an agreement. I don't like the Robertson version of Christianity, but I certainly don't think anyone should be turning to Anne Rice for their moral or religious compass either. Again, I simply took offense to a person claiming Rice was not a "real Christian" as if they had the right, ability or necessity to do so. Afterward, I used an example of a hugely popular Christian leader who I think is a poor example of the religion to make the point that there are many different takes on Christianity in the modern world and no one has a monopoly on it. I am not trying to say Robertson (or worse people like Haggard) are not Christians- just that they are at least no better than Rice. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:03:28 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89865542 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89830705 I appreciate the dialogue, but why pick on that aspect of what I am saying? Are you honestly trying to claim that the most vocal and influential Christians in this country come out in defense of science on a regular basis? I think its safe to say the opposite. Certain people become "voices" of certain groups-I did not create this concept. I am sorry I can't interview every single Christian before posting, but to hold that against me is silly. Should we have to interview every person in the nation before we are allowed to make a comment on a certain group or demographic? I wish we did honestly, then we wouldn't see so many "Nazi-Cons" or "Commie-Dems" comments on sites like this or kos. I think most people would agree Christianity and Science are not viewed as best-of-friends (in the public sphere/MSM at least) and its a shame considering Christianity opened the flood-gates of the Renaissance the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. The only people that can gain by separating God and science are those who are afraid of the truth or its repercussions. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:30:35 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89830705 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89827703 Your pockets will be lighter, but your soul might not be. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:14:26 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89827703 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89827008 If you are trying to say that changes the meaning of the expression I am lost, though I do think it gives the verse even more meaning and texture. Also in regards to your public school comment above...are you insulting yourself or your intelligence? You don't seem very ignorant or ashamed to speak your mind to me, so how poorly could the public school system have treated you? Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:10:14 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89827008 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89825954 No my point is exactly that: worship is a very personal thing even if you belong to an organized religion. A claim like "he or she is not a real Christian" reveals that person does not believe in freedom of religion so I was highlighting the other end of the dogmatic/evangelical spectrum to make a point. But let your question stand-which would you rather be a part of? Pat Robertson's or Ann Rice's? Sure, those are two of many, but I could easily choose between them. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:04:13 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/07/30/anne-rice-follower-of-christ-quits-christianity-on-facebook/#IDComment89825954