Voice: I could be mistaken, but I don't think Ryan ever said you weren't intelligent. He said you are "ignorant." Look up the definitions for both of those words; they are not synonymous.
You guys all know I'm a Christian. I also happen to be conservative. The two don't go hand in hand. One of my best friends, also a Christian, voted for Kerry. It is ignorant (again, look it up) to assume that everyone who voted for Bush was Christian, just like it's ignorant to assume that everyone who votes for what Bush believes in shares Bush's religious leanings.
I'm not really sure what you were trying to say about Bush not being a scientist because he's a Christian. Are you implying that Christians are incapable of scientific thought? I really hope you're not. I personally know several devout Christians who are have incredible scientific minds. And when I use the term "scientist," I'm speaking of someone who actually applies scientific principles. Not junk-scientists. Our society is trained to believe anyone in a white lab coat who holds a test tube or looks through a microscope must be a "scientist," and everything they say is automatically considered fact. But that's a whole 'nother discussion.
As for my stance on abortion:
I too have gone back and forth on the subject. Whoever said it all boils down to the issue when life actually begins is right. Well, sort of. Speaking from a political perspective, the beginning of life is the critical factor. For me personally (because of my faith), the issue is actually the point at which the human soul is assigned to the organism. There's no question, scientifically, that the fertalized egg is an organism. There is a question as to whether or not it is a HUMAN organism at that point. In my mind, the only difference between "life" and "human life" is the soul.
Anyhow, like I said, I've gone back and forth. I used to believe that it was the woman's right to choose. However, you have to accept that the woman is making choices for her and the life within her. There is absolutely no question that abortion terminates the life an organism separate from the woman. The question is whether it is a HUMAN life that is being terminated. Because I don't know, and I don't expect to know in this life, I will always prefer to err on the side of caution, so to speak.
You can talk about separating my "religious" beliefs from my politcal philosophy all you want, but that is such a ludicrous concept that I can't even begin to address it. Because of my faith, I can not condone abortion, and I will always speak to my beliefs and vote accordingly. To do otherwise would be to betray myself, and, worse, betray the One in whom I place my faith.
As for all the political discussions and arguments in this thread (and others): Ryan is right. If you don't have any actual, documented facts, then you really shouldn't speak as if your opinions are absolute truth. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course, but it's not appropriate to claim yours is universal, or even common, without some sort of credible backup.
I'm always amazed that Odin and Ryan are so well informed on political issues. I'd often like to respond, but I usually end up opting not to because I don't make the time to properly research what they're talking about (in other words, I am relatively ignorant on such topics as these). Everyone has to decide which topics thew will remain ignorant about, as nobody can be all knowing. However, only a fool would claim to be knowlegable about that which he is in fact ignorant.
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"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." -- Ephesians 4:2
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