"Pope Benedict XVI called Sunday for an end to all wars

So we're still waiting for your workable answer.

I don't know what point you're trying to make and I don't know what solution you mean.

Dan

reference to Ps 146:3 would lead us to ask if you thought the Israelites lived a war free existence.

Dan

You would not say that the Israelites were a people that put their trust in god and followed his guidance to a degree that has not been seen in any other people?

Dan

"war" in this post of yours so, as I said, no connection.
Jer 10:23 is the connection.

Stop calling me Shirley.

that no war in this post is mine?

I'm not sensing the flow of your argument. What does your citation have to do with anything?

Dan

"Third base!"
"That's right!"
"I don't even know what I'm talkin' about!"

Sorry, got sidetracked.

Jer 10:23:
"I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step."

War; peace; tying your own shoelaces; taking your next step. In all things we should go Jehovah's way and not our own. Yet the men who, the bible says, are not qualified to put one foot in front of the other in a constructive manner are making life and death decisions for others. (In this thread, it's primarily for the grunts doing the actual fighting.)

Question begged: How do we get Jehovah's direction? Glad you asked. Easy answer is "study the bible". You don't need particularly me for that, but you just may need some help. (This guy did, in spite of his many secular advantages: Acts 8:31)

That said, here's a suggested start:
Click on Advanced Search, above.
For Keyword, enter "bible"
For Author, enter "drpruner" or "dan mcc"
For Forum, enter "se"
Click Search.

Start studying; if you get stuck, stroll into your local KH and ask.

Further, deponent sayeth not.

but have only got to Psalm 21.

Dan

I think that some has been watching Airplane too many times
That was so funny to watch with Leslie Neilson as the pilot and the blow-up doll.

-Kevin

Did they end at some point?

Dan

Never stopped. Let the games begain again and again.
Dan, It is all so mindless.

-Kevin

Dan, It never stops. I wonder what China will do when the Alkeida terrorists attacks Bejjing. Probably happen the same as 911 in the US.
Unprepared as the US was. Hezbollah attacking the Israelies.
The KPP attacking the Turks.
Where will it end? Is this in the name of Allah?

-Kevin

name of one god or another. The details are not revelatory.

Dan

The pope is acting in his role as an apostle. As did the original 12, they did teach and "motivate". Visits and/or messages to churches experiencing "challenges" were frequent. The early Christian Church wasn't always received well and it was necessary to keep encouraging them to stick together against difficult odds. In China, churches are all state run. Therefore, teachings by the church that are contrary to the desires of the state leadership are not permitted and may be punished.

Remember that the pope isn't in the habit of calling press conferences for the media. He preaches to and teaches his "flock". What you get from the press are excerpts and extracts that may not be an accurate reflection of the whole address. The call to "unite" could sound like something from a union hall meeting in a labor dispute. Don't take it that way. It's not.

Steve, It has been going on for centuries. What else is new!?

How about all the idiots preaching a Holy War in the Middle East.
So dumb in this day and age.

Mohammed would be rolling in his grave today.
All these War Mongers may get their day in a grave also.

This began in the early '50s with the Communist takeover of the government. It wasn't centuries. In China, the government runs the religious entities and puts it's selected clergy in charge of the individual churches. These people report to no higher up other than the state. If you are talking about old history, you will find reports that similar existed in the middle ages. Kings could select their own bishops and canon lawyers. They didn't even have to be "certified" by the Roman church. They were responsible to the kings whose "divine right" made them leaders of the church in their own areas of authority. Look it up.

Who knows what China is about these days? I do not have a clue and many of the world leaders do not know either.
Some of my Taiwan friends have some insight.
Religion in China? Who knows?
How does China react to the Pope's message? The populace and the government? We do not hear much on what's going on in China.

-Kevin

Surely he realizes the complexity of the situation just as we are now learning the complexity of the issue with Muslim terrorists. We didn't know what it takes to set them off but we are getting hints of that more recently. There is a big difference between radical Muslims and Christian peoples. Christian peoples are supposed to be willing to accept death for their faith but radical Islam calls for it's people to seek it. The pope isn't going to do anything deliberately stupid that would cause the Chinese government to rain down hard on Christians. As well, his influence is limited. I equated this situation with that the early apostates probably faced in trying to keep the individual churches together and unified but without becoming deliberate martyrs.

Just to keep perspective, suicide was not determined to be a sin until early in the sixth century. Before that it was not uncommon.

Dan

I referred to the "early apostates". This should be "apostles", of course. Big difference and lucky certain folks didn't catch it first.

Steven?Who cares with typo's happening. Just post and let the word police put in ******** for your post from time to time.
Here on CNET no one really cares about typos. What is important is your post and the intent. I read the intent and your post first.

Who gives a crap about typos! Not anyone!
You are a great contributor to Speakeasy. That's what is important here.
I still say? "LET THE HOLY WARS BEGIN AGAIN"!!! :

considered as freudian. Some say Paul was an apostate.
I believe that's been argued here too. I truly wanted to avoid being drawn in here because I didn't have the full text of Benedict's speeches. He's been known to give these in Latin anyway so a good translation would be needed. I've never trusted media accounts of other people's presentations. As well, I've begun to look skeptically at much of what's recorded in the way of historical perspectives. The end result of this is I tend to look askance at all opinions....even my own.

Steven, I had to suffer through Latin classes in High School.
Latin is the basis for all languages.

When over in Rome, just speak as the Romans do. Use your hand language.
What could be simpler!?

-KEVIN

like in Rome. Does this mean most of the drivers I encounter on the roadways in the AM and PM are Romans? I took a couple years of Latin in High School and never figured it out. But, I understand the hand signals perfectly. I have read that Latin was more a stolen language than that of the Romans as we know them....that it was adopted from that of a conquered people. My sources could be wrong. Of course it's spread through Europe came about as the Caesars marched through...eventually with the Christian Churches setting up their monastery's and teaching institutions. I am thinking our English language is derived mostly from the Latin, Greek and Germanic. Some say Latin is dead but I think it's making a sneaky come back....being disguised as Spanish.

?Steven, All hand salutes came from the Romans.
One of my beautiful female co-workers told me one day that she was the lousiest driver in the word. When a driver gave her the three-fingered- salute, she would blow them a kiss. Neat! :

I can't respond to your post below...out of space. I did spend some time in Italy as a GI back in the early '70s. I didn't learn the language but picked up a few choice Italian phrases and expletives from dorm (barracks) talk. I tended not to use these but one day I did when I thought it safe. I was actually in Germany for some training or other temporary duty. We GIs were just messing around and I tossed out one of the common expressions I had heard back in Aviano. It turned out the the janitor mopping the room was Italian. He began railing on me but I could not understand what he was saying. I was quite taken aback. One of the other GIs who knew a little Italian informed me that the janitor was upset that I was using his language in that way....that he was working for the Americans at the German base so he could send money home to his family in Italy and I was insulting his country by using these words. I learned what it meant to be an "Ugly American" that day. I wished I knew Italian for "I'm sorry".