http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKmwj29zH_8

“While all in America were watching the the Chicago riots at the Democratic Convention, or viewing live war zone broadcasts from Vietnam or were being mesmerized by the Watergate hearings on television, and the 6 day war just ended with Israel killing thousands of Egyptian youth and losing all of Sinai, the country was in a dissastrious depresssion. A year after the war the Mother of God was appearing for tens of thousands to see in the land of the pyramids at a Coptic Orthodox church constructed to commemorate the area in Egypt where she had come with Saint Joseph and Christ when they all fled from Herod. Starting in April, 1968, her apparitions of light changed the lives of thousands. Her appearances at Zeitun were astounding. She was seen by more than a million people. The apparitions were broadcast by Egyptian TV, photographed by hundreds of professional photographers and personally witnessed by Egyptian President Abdul Nasser. The apparitions lasted for three years with numerous unaccountable healings recorded by various medical professionals. The local police, who initially thought the apparitions were an elaborate hoax, searched a 15-mile radius surrounding the site to uncover any type of device that could be used to project such images. They were completely unsuccessful. This short film shows the amazing pictures taken by professional photographers during her Apparitions. “

I’m pretty sure there’s a passage in the Bible somewhere that condemns child molesting. Can you find it for me? Thanks.

Dave Rywall on March 30, 2009 at 8:00 AM

Yes, here it is:

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a child over, placed it in their midst,

and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,

you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

This particular sin is individual, and, according to Church law, accrues also to those who wittingly aid and abet sin, or, through wilful inaction, allow it to occur.

It’s why I still pay into the collection for the Archdiocese here, although it pains me to do so. Even though my inaction was not wilful, still do I feel stained.

But I’d rather be a stained Catholic, Mr. Rywall, than be you, for you are in the class of persecutors mentioned in the verse above.

I have no problem whatsoever with people enjoying their faith (in whichever ludicrous pick and choose what to obey salad bar way they choose).
But keep it out of schools and the government. Religion lowers the bar on civilization.

Dave Rywall on March 30, 2009 at 9:58 AM

Glad to see you agree with us about Obama speaking at Notre Dame. Great to have you on board…

You make a good point about that. I’m sure that she would have been much more rigorous about other religions’ views and traditions in a similar visit (such as Muslims, etc).

threeCents on March 30, 2009 at 11:24 AM

Wait, I forgot about the button translation into Russian where they “worked very hard to get it right” but failed to do so. Either they don’t do research or they need more careful researchers.

Considering she is considered an educated woman she should have known or at aleast her staff should have provided her that information before she visited there. Part of diplomacy is being sensitive and aware of the beliefs of those she is dealing with.

katiejane on March 29, 2009 at 12:12 PM

You make a good point about that. I’m sure that she would have been much more rigorous about other religions’ views and traditions in a similar visit (such as Muslims, etc).

Why does it matter to non-believers whether someone believes Mary was “full of grace” or even if someone believes the world was literally made in 7 days? How does someone else’s faith hurt you? If you don’t believe in hell – why do you care if I believe you are “going to hell for your sins?

If believers are such an insignificant group their ability to force their religion down your throat is minimal. So if believers are such fools, why do you and the other people here put so much effort into trashing their beliefs? Why do you care if their faith gives them comfort or satisfaction?

katiejane on March 30, 2009 at 9:50 AM
———-
It matters that the church has committed appalling crimes.

It matters that churches enjoy tax free status.

It matters that churches are messing with educational curriculums.

I have no problem whatsoever with people enjoying their faith (in whichever ludicrous pick and choose what to obey salad bar way they choose).
But keep it out of schools and the government. Religion lowers the bar on civilization.

If your faith isn’t strong enough to withstand some skepticism and criticism from a complete stranger on an anonymous web board, then you’ve got some pretty weak faith there.

Dave Rywall on March 30, 2009 at 12:45 AM

And I have to wonder why your LACK of faith is so challenged by those who do believe in something.

Why does it matter to non-believers whether someone believes Mary was “full of grace” or even if someone believes the world was literally made in 7 days? How does someone else’s faith hurt you? If you don’t believe in hell – why do you care if I believe you are “going to hell for your sins?

If believers are such an insignificant group their ability to force their religion down your throat is minimal. So if believers are such fools, why do you and the other people here put so much effort into trashing their beliefs? Why do you care if their faith gives them comfort or satisfaction?

This thread is chronicled here: Hot Air Bigotry – second thread for the day!

Sydney Carton on March 30, 2009 at 2:07 AM
———-
No, I don’t remember what it says in your Bible, because I don’t need to waste time reading a bunch of he said she said campfire stories and mythology passed down from generation to generation by people who needed (or in your case, need) magic to explain the natural order of things to make them (you) less afraid of the dark because, well, science is just too darned hard.

Lies and slanders? When it comes to the subhuman behaviour – wait, let’s call it sin so you can wrap your head around it – of officially sanctioned/supported/employed people of the church, the only lying going on has been committed by the church.

I’m pretty sure there’s a passage in the Bible somewhere that condemns child molesting. Can you find it for me? Thanks.

Criticizing the appalling (and as yet unreconciled) behaviour of a number of churches is bigoted? Righttttt.

But keep up the good work copying and pasting things that upset you, Jimmy Olsen.

Dave Rywall on March 30, 2009 at 1:26 AM

Behavior? Think again. If it’s behavior you want to condemn, how about condemning the lies and slanders that I’ve shown to the world. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness, remember? One day, Michelle Malkin will clean house of the bigots here. Until then, I’ll make them famous.

This thread is chronicled here: Hot Air Bigotry – second thread for the day!

Sydney Carton on March 30, 2009 at 1:16 AM
——–

“You are soooo right. The Church protects the unborn while covered up for years the rape of childern by priests. I guess you are procted while the in mother’s womb; but once you leave it: watch out for the priests!!!!!!
Chekote on March 29, 2009 at 11:34 AM”

Criticizing the appalling (and as yet unreconciled) behaviour of a number of churches is bigoted? Righttttt.

But keep up the good work copying and pasting things that upset you, Jimmy Olsen.

Was that the wind blowing through just now…?

It’s nice to know that your empathic wit extends into Mexico as well.

unclesmrgol on March 30, 2009 at 12:40 AM
———
People who actually believe that centuries ago, churches were these shining beacons of morality? Those people are bozos.

I’ll scan this thread for the examples of bigots and post them on my blog later. Eventually, this will prove to be a big embarrassment for Hot Air. Someone bigger than me in the media will notice it eventually.

If your faith isn’t strong enough to withstand some skepticism and criticism from a complete stranger on an anonymous web board, then you’ve got some pretty weak faith there.

Dave Rywall on March 30, 2009 at 12:45 AM

So this was just a drive-by, eh?

TTheoLogan on March 29, 2009 at 10:05 AM

I’m not going into all the scriptural support for the Pope being the steward here on earth of the Church, as set up by Jesus. Too long. Not to mention quotes from the early Church fathers from the first 3 centuries of the Church.

But I will quickly repost something about the sign of the cross that I have already previously written to you. Perhaps you have forgotten.

Actually the earliest Christians made the sign of the cross all the time. The full body one wasn’t until about the 4th century. But by the second century Christians marked the sign of the cross on their foreheads. Like we do today before we hear the Gospel reading.

The sign of the cross is a beautiful prayer and witness to both the Cross and to the Holy Trinity. (“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”)

Around 200 AD Tertullian wrote:

“We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross” and

“In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupies us, we mark our forehead with the sign of the cross.”

God bless you.

tigerlily on March 30, 2009 at 12:23 AM
——-
The story of the apparitions and the image on the cloak are as much a clown show fraud as the Shroud of Turin or any other weeping statue or Jesus on a tortilla shell.

If your faith isn’t strong enough to withstand some skepticism and criticism from a complete stranger on an anonymous web board, then you’ve got some pretty weak faith there.

Countless churches have miraculously come up with bullsh1t artifacts like this one to amaze, terrify and enrapture the townsfolk.

That bozos actually still believe it is an embarrassment to the human race.

Dave Rywall on March 29, 2009 at 11:34 PM

Dave, everybody here is a bozo in your estimation, regardless of whether or not we believe in watery tarts handing out flaming swords.

It’s nice to know that your empathic wit extends into Mexico as well.

Hello, Send Me,

Sorry I was away from here today.

I thought all Christians believed that Jesus is our brother and that God the Father is our Father also. I’m pretty sure most believe this. You must also believe it, no? I hope I am misunderstanding you.

Also because we, the Church, are the Body of Christ spiritually, then spiritually Mary is our Mother. Christians have believed that Mary is our spiritual mother and that Jesus gave her to us on the cross (and have honored her accordingly) since the earliest days of the Church.

Revelation 12:17: “Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.”

Her other children are all of us, all Christians.

I disagree that heirs does not imply that we are God’s sons and Jesus’ brothers. But here is some other scripture, as you asked for. Not sure if there are other passages.

Romans 8:29: “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Hebrew 2:11-17:

He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” saying: “I will proclaim your name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you”; and again: “I will put my trust in him”; and again: “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.

You said, “Yes, she is blessed for “hear[ing] the word of God and observ[ing] it,” nothing more.” I’m glad you agree that Jesus was agreeing with the woman in the crowd and saying she was blessed, but I wonder why you feel compelled to belittle that by adding “nothing more.” Nothing more? I can’t think of anything better than that. She was “blessed amongst woman,” as the Word of God says.

I am familiar with all the various popular English translations. Like I said, I heard that “rather and on the contrary” are poor translations. Maybe someone else here knows more about this than you and I do, since we are not Greek experts.

But it is clear from what Jesus says afterwards and from Luke’s Gospel (which is the Word of God, so God would not contradict it) that Jesus was not disagreeing with the woman in the crowd and saying that Mary was not “blessed amongst women.” So I would think our discussion on this is exhausted.

Good night and God bless you.

Countless churches have miraculously come up with bullsh1t artifacts like this one to amaze, terrify and enrapture the townsfolk.

That bozos actually still believe it is an embarrassment to the human race.

Dave Rywall on March 29, 2009 at 11:34 PM

1. Ever heard of Pascal’s Wager???

2. To call Jews, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus who practice their faith bozo’s shows how low you are. I suppose that it’s OK for the left to show hatred predudice and ignorance though.

3. When People leave Judiasm, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, they have to fill it with something.. What the IDOT left and THE BOZOS on the left have filled it with is

a fawning idolatry of an empty suit jugeared jackass. The messainic devotion is scary as hell to watch..

b. The church of global warming.. I am getting so sick of this glowbull warming garbage. The ice sheets in North america have been receeding for the LAST 90000 years. Hey plasterboard, get a clue. Humans have only existed for 30k years or so. The industrial age is only 200 years old. The great lakes didn’t even EXIST 5000 years ago, they were under 2 freaking miles of ICE.

So, go back to PAscals wager. You can laugh at religious people all you want. If you are right, you get a laugh. If you are wrong you end up spending eternity with Old Set sticking his barbed thing up your posterior.

BTW – I am NOT that religious. I believe in God but usually quietly. BUT, I do have respect for those who truly live their faith.. Something you wouldn’t be able to comprehend.,

So, Go suck mother Geeas teet (or gias or however they spell that)

g’day mate

You need to keep your mouth shut about MY mother. All you have to offer is base and vulgar profanity. You are worse than a troll.

That bozos actually still believe it is an embarrassment to the human race.

I guess the Left and the media don’t mind an award named after a woman who was an advocate of eugenics as a good thing, because she was one of their own.

INC on March 29, 2009 at 6:46 PM

She probably thinks Mary should have aborted.