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Originally Posted by willravel
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.
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My perspective is that of a former Southern Baptist/former Charismatic Interdenominational/current 20 year veteran missionary in an interdenominational mission/current member of what is known as a "seeker" church. So in light of that mouthful, let me just say that my understanding of God and what he wants me to do and understand about the bible have changed quite a bit over the years. My viewpoint on interpretation of scripture is mostly mainstream, if you'll consider one bank is ultra conservative evangelicalism (or very conservative Catholic) and the other is, oh, I don't know, the most liberal viewpoint one can have and still be considered "christian". It's a lot deeper here in my place some times than others.
I agree with SirLance that God gave us a brain and it ought to get used and not ignored in the path of faith. St Paul felt so too, as he wrote "and we know we have the mind of Christ" (can't remember exact reference).
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Originally Posted by willravel
3. You understand a great deal about the path to faith. Kudos! Frankly, I envy you a bit.
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It's actually, I believe, the path of faith. It's not the getting there, it's the journey.
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Originally Posted by willravel
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
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I had seen the Robison interview, so that's not a surprise. Is there actual footage of him saying "God told be to go to Iraq"? I am a bit sceptical of your two other sources - not of you, Sir Will, but of the sources. Show me a tape (or rather, let me hear one) and I shall indeed make a meal of my Atlanta Braves cap.
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Originally Posted by willravel
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.
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There is a fundamental difference in what the adults in the Jesus Camp trailor were saying as opposed to what Mullahs/Imams/teachers are saying to young boys in Pakistani Madrassas: the Christian adults aren't telling the kids to actually kill anyone, they're not teaching them that it's a glorious thing to blow oneself up if it takes a couple of Americans or Israelis with them.
There is a lot I'd like to say about us being in any way responsible for terrorism, but that's for another thread, I reckon, and when I build up a little thicker skin, I might mosey on over and fire a salvo.
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Originally Posted by willravel
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.
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Great! One of my friends is the leader of our ministry in Indonesia and she lost a dear friend (16 year old boy) back in '98 in Ambon Province, Indonesia, during the attacks on Christians by Muslims (including police). He was at a church camp and when the mob attacked he was grabbed, had his limbs torn off one by one, as the attackers urged him to renounce Christianity and believe in Islam. He refused. Finally, they wacked off his head. This is a true story, his name is Roy, and his story with many other martyr's stories are detailed in a book called Jesus Freaks by Voice of the Martyrs and DC Talk.
During the attack, Roy kept telling his attackers he forgave them, and that God truly loved them. It enraged them further.
Army of God....... hmmmmm