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2. What is a "solid biblical intepretation"? Mainstream interpretation? I'm a son of a Lutheran pastor and a Catholic mother...I know that voids of interpretation exist even between the mainstream religons. Voids like the one's that I've seen are what help people to evolve and birth a religous identity. For some, that identity is what helps them turn the other cheek, give to those that need, and who practice peace. For others, it is a source of religous vanity.
3. You understand a great deal about the path to faith. Kudos! Frankly, I envy you a bit.
5. Here are the relevant quotes from Bush, the one requested is in bold:
"I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can't explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me. Something is going to happen... I know it won't be easy on me or my family, but God wants me to do it."
--George W. Bush commenting to Texas evangelist James Robinson in the run-up to his presidential campaign
"God told me to strike at al Qaeda and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam [Hussein], which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act, and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them."
--Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Abu Mazen quoting Bush when they met in Aqaba; reported in The Haaretz Reporter by Arnon Regular
"President Bush said to all of us: 'I am driven with a mission from God'. God would tell me, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did. And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'. And I did."
--Nabil Shaath, former Palestinian foreign minister
6. They are the same place as a lot of liberal Christian leaders are right now, who are living under the shadows of the Dobsons and the Robbertsons. The most extreeme voice is often the easiest to hear if for no other fact but the amount of madness in their words. That's how extreemism gets a foothold. The problem is that the constant state of fear there, fear from things like bullets or missles or bombs, can work to distract while the extreemists come to power. In that way the western powers seeking oil are partially responsible for the instability in the region, and thus the resulting terrorism. Scary stuff.
Getting back to the subject at hand for a moment, the peaceful Islamic leaders are everywhere. I swear to you that I can go into any mosque in my town and find a religous leader that does not condone terrorism or extreemism; men who embrace peace and understanding. I know because I've been to a lot of the mosques in the area. I have a lot of muslim friends who want to convert me. Heh. As for the "stink" thing: yes, I do believe that you're right. Moderates are not loud and obnoxious by nature. It's the right or left wingers that have big mouths because we have a lot of interesting things to say. The hope is that the liberals and conservatives can balance each other just enough so that society can evolve at a safe rate. If things were left to a liberal like me, the planet would change troo much too fast. I know that. If things were left to a conservative, nothing would ever change. When we, left and right, are in equilibrium, that is a good time to be alive.
BTW, thanks for the great debate.
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