WV Current Events Forum

"The right to criticize: the right to hold unpopular beliefs; the right to protest; the right of independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood... Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own." Margaret Chase Smith Biography -United States Senator from Maine 1897-1995

Zig,

I would not call my soul "my own," for I was bought with a great price.

However, I would agree with the sentiment that one's faith should not determine one's reputation or opportunities. I must say that I know and like a great many people who are not Christians, and I enjoy their company more than I do many professing Christians.

SheikBen wrote:Zig,

I would not call my soul "my own," for I was bought with a great price.

However, I would agree with the sentiment that one's faith should not determine one's reputation or opportunities. I must say that I know and like a great many people who are not Christians, and I enjoy their company more than I do many professing Christians.

Mikey, careful there now.

One's faith ........ is one thing.

One's overtly exercising of the precepts of their faith (beliefs) is something else. And their actions resulting from said must be considered in determining one's reputation or opportunities within the society they have chosen to live within.

One can only call "their soul ......... their own" ......... as long as they choose to "live alone" without any benefits or assistance whatsoever from others or another.

Like Johnny Cash use to sing, ...... "I owe my soul to the Company Store."

Thus, anyone that chooses to live within a society and enjoy the benefits of living within said, ....... then they "owe their being, ..... their soul" to that society.

Mike, relative to "oweing or owning" their soul, ........ I believe the world would be a far better place to live in/on if more people considered their "line of credit" that permits them to exist.

Without a "job" ....... one could not get "credit" at a Company Store.

Without a Company there would be no "jobs" to get ..... or "Company Stores" to get "credit" at.

Etc., etc., ....... and without a Country that permits companies to exist and prosper, ........ it is every individual for them self ....... and their religious beliefs will do more to degrade their "standard of living" and cause their demise ..... than to improve their "standard of living" and guarantee their survival.

What is one's best interest, ....... a "credit rating" for the here and now, ........ or a "credit rating" for the hereafter?

"Give unto Caesar the credit due to Caesar, ...... give unto .........."


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Sam,

Surely one needs to be pragmatic. I would not advise someone to give to the Church (even a great one) money that is needed for a mortgage payment. Of course Christians (and other religious people) have to live in secular society and if their faith prevents them from effectively dealing with everyday life, the effects can be as you said.

But "systematic theology" (what I believe) can influence "practical theology" (how that matters in everyday life) in a way that would boost your "credit rating" as far as Caesar goes. My Christian faith informs me that I try to avoid debt where possible, that I be honest at work, that I pay taxes to those who are due them, etc. I can "play nice" while knowing that I do not owe my soul to the company store or to Caesar, even though I have to give both more attention than I care to.

I would agree that no one's soul is really their own. When the communists precluded God from the picture people ended up being forced to worship the state (complete with parades and shrines) no less fervently than I worship Christ. People show similar affection for their jobs, personal reputation, and physical fitness today. I think that Ziggy's devotion to his naturalism is every bit as fervent as a Catholic on Good Friday.

If I may quote the great prophet Bob Dylan "you're going to have to serve somebody."

SheikBen wrote: I think that Ziggy's devotion to his naturalism is every bit as fervent as a Catholic on Good Friday.

Duh, yeah. It's only natural, you know.

I believe my soul is my own.

I believe my soul is my own.

I sold mine for a bottle of bourbon and a hooker my first year of college.

I have never missed it.

lol

Someday you may miss it. Ya never know.

TerryRC wrote:I believe my soul is my own.

I sold mine for a bottle of bourbon and a hooker my first year of college.

I have never missed it.

Satan the moonshiner? And you didn't notice a problem with this? I just hope that John McCain does not have to explain your "ringing" endorsement of him:)

I can just see the Gazette headline now "Satanic, bourbon gulping philanderer will 'hold his nose' and vote for McCain."

I can just see the Gazette headline now "Satanic, bourbon gulping philanderer will 'hold his nose' and vote for McCain."

Libel, slander - I wasn't married at the time.

Do you really think you can be prove the Gazette "knew" you weren't married at the time? Wouldn't that be proving the Gazette actually knows something? Are you up to THAT task?

Do you really think you can be prove the Gazette "knew" you weren't married at the time? Wouldn't that be proving the Gazette actually knows something? Are you up to THAT task?

They had better get their facts straight. The burden of proof is on the entity making the assertion. Anything else is easy money for this soulless one.

I'm pretty sure the burden of proof falls on the accuser in libel cases, which is why they can be so hard to win.

About 30 years ago a lawyer friend of mine told me that about all libel cases do is further disseminate the alleged false allegations.

To claim ones soulis ones own one has to first believe they have a soul. What of those of us who do not?