[shunyadragon]

Originally posted by PhanthomOps, Wow, excuse me for getting in on this one late. All the responses have thusfar been pointed and direct. I'll only respond to a couple directly, and give my personal intrerpretation. To: Duane: What does Bush and/or Blair have to do with the subject of religion? They are just people like you and me with all the problems, and judgements that humanity likes to heap on each other.

Bush and Blair, particularly Bush, represent the most powerful Christian religious voice in politics. The war in Iraq has a strong Holy War element to it by the witness of many of the statements by Bush and the other leaders in the the military and government. The British have been involved throughout the last century in the religious conflict of the Middle East.

I am a Pentacostal, and believe in the laying on of hands, and speaking with tongues - any takers?? Putting aside the common misconceptions about the Native American Indians, no matter what tribe, their's was one of the most pure forms of what we call organized religion. Most important, it was ingrained into their daily lives. Which for all accounts and purposes is what all religions basically teach today. It is not a 60 minute exercise, but a daily walk 24/7/365. For Judeo/Christians - God has believe it or not two Wills. A Divine Will and a Permisive Will. His Divine Will is that we follow His Rules, and the teachings of Christ in the New Testament. In-as-much as we were not born robots and have free will, this is His Permisive Will. This is where the rubber hits the road. We as infividuals have the power in our lives to either do that which is right, or F--k Up. It is up to each one of us every day of our lives to either be a part of the problem or part of the solution.

I have no problem with laying on of hands as long as it is not on the TV (According to Billy Graham in the 50s) without a safety ground. Many different religions faiths have similar practices. It shoud not be done at the exclusion of medical treatments.

Speaking in tongues is okay, but I do not agree with the Biblical interpretation behind this practice.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. So damn simple, but yet so very profound. However, not impossible.

This profound principle of course exists in all religions, but there are far more profound simple principles that are ignored that make this one more complicated than it appears. If this was so simple and easy there would not be so many religious wars and conflicts, and so many different churches.