THOUGHT FOR THIS (OR ANY) DAY

What does it mean to say you have "faith" in Jesus, when by your actions you repudiate everything he said about living with others?

Jesus said the two "great commandments" are "Love God with all your strength..." and "Love your neighbor as yourself," and that these encompass "all of the Law and the prophets."

When asked who was our "neighbor" he told the story of the good Samaritan, choosing a member of a despised, heretical people. He also said it's no big deal if you're nice to your friends, family, and co-religionists: everybody does that.

When asked how many times one should forgive, he replied "Seventy times seven" (hint for Biblical literalists: he probably meant as many times as you are offended, not that your obligation ends with offense number 491). He also said "turn the other cheek" when struck, and "Don't resist evil," love and do good to those who would hurt you.

When asked how to pray, he said, "Don't be like the hypocrites" who pray in public and make a show of their piety, but pray in privacy, even secrecy. He often spoke harshly of those who condemned others, especially the religious functionaries of his age, saying they should work on their own faults before attacking others.

He said "you cannot serve both God and mammon." He told the rich young man, "If you would be perfect, go and sell all that you have and give to the poor and follow me, for you shall have treasure in Heaven." He said it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He said the poor widow who gave a tiny sum of money to the temple gave more than the "generous" (and ostentatious) wealthy because it was all she had.

Finally, he said "IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."

So just how much is the "faith" of America's fervent "Christians" worth?

Response to League of Conservation Voters NJ Endorsements

I notice you haven't endorsed anyone in my congressional district. Perhaps this is because Republican Mike Ferguson somehow managed to get a pretty high rating from some environmental groups. I see you also endorsed Republican Chris Smith, the anti-choice zealot and general right-wing nut case.

What a myopic view of environmental issues! The right-wing Republican agenda is self-destructive in itself, and especially favors the greatest of all man-made environmental disasters: WAR using modern weapons.

You might also consider that the probable number-one cause of environmental destruction worldwide is or will soon become overpopulation, Mr. Smith's choice for our future.

Finally, no matter how a specific candidate stands, destructive environmental legislation is FAR more likely to come up or be seriously considered in a Republican-controlled Congress.

It will be a cold day in HELL (a lot less likely than a HOT day in the Arctic under Republican policies) before I vote for ANY Republican any time soon!