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Get a job, Ted... 2007-08-28 04:14:21 Disgraced minister Ted Haggard is asking that donations to support him and his family be sent to a Monument group run by a twice-convicted sex offender.Haggard, who has moved with his family to Phoenix, could not be reached for comment today.The head of a four-member panel of ministers overseeing the fallen preacher's spiritual restoration said he will fly to Arizona Tuesday to meet with Haggard for a face-to-face explanation."I'm just now discovering some of that information," Mike Ware, a senior pastor at Westminster's Victory Church, said of allegations that Haggard was urging supporters to make tax-deductible donations through Families with a Mission, based in Monument."I can't really make any comment on that until after I've investigated ... and talked with the other overseers," Ware said.He called Haggard's fund-raising solicitation without the overseers' approval "premature."The revelation is the latest in the bizarre saga of Haggard, 50, who last year quit as president o ...

The Null Hypothesis 2007-08-28 03:44:00 A defense of atheism using the null hypothesis. When used, the null hypothesis is presumed true until statistical evidence in the form of a hypothesis test indicates otherwise. In classical science, the null hypothesis is used to test differences in treatment and control groups, and the assumption at the outset of the experiment is that no difference exists between the two groups for the variable being compared.To monitor comments posted to this topic, use . ...

The Infinite Psychopath 2007-08-27 06:03:58 Sent in by Chris AAlthough the Biblical concept of the human experience had always seemed somewhat unfair, my doubts really began with the issue of homosexuality; specifically, why did the Christian god despise it so much?"Why," I asked myself, "Would God kill everyone in those cities for following the urges that He created them with in the first place?" It was shortly thereafter that I realized that this irrational act on god's part was just a microcosm of an even greater injustice: "Wait..." I thought, "If God is all-powerful, why must He persist in creating sinners instead of saints? And why must He then damn people for following the sinful natures that He gives them?"You'd think, wouldn't you, that such impious ruminations would herald a formal conversion to atheism?You would, however, be mistaken. Rather than having the courage and mental fortitude to pursue my inquisitions, I resolved to deal with my growing uncertainties by becoming profoundly religious. For me, this entailed ...

A letter to my concerned friend and pastor at church: 2007-08-27 05:07:00 Sent in by JeffDear friend, thanks so much for your note of concern regarding my absence from the church community of late. I’m sorry I’m just replying to it! Grab hold, I’m going to share what I think. I share this with you in confidence, as I’m in the wrong community (a small Texas town) for this to be general knowledge.In all honesty, you and I have shared some of the questions of faith that I’ve encountered over the last couple of years, and I have appreciated having an “ear” for that limited dialogue. I think it would be fair to you and Pastor to let you know that my “faith journey” has changed fairly significantly and dramatically since my return to Texas, and perhaps had the seeds of change much earlier, prior to our move from Utah.I find at present that it is very difficult for me to be honest with myself (and therefore others) during our worship, and I somehow feel that I’m not entirely being genuine as I pray the prayers and recite the creeds, because ...

Preacher charged with child molestation 2007-08-24 11:57:09 A Webb City preacher has been charged with three counts of child molestation, according to documents filed in Jasper County Circuit Court. Roy Curtis Huling, 58, a preacher at United Pentecostal Church in Webb City was charged Tuesday by Jasper County prosecutor Dean Dankelson.According to a probable cause statement, Huling had multiple encounters of sexual contact with a female who was under the age of 12 at his house in Duquesne, between August of 2003 and February of 2006.Huling was arrested Tuesday by Duquesne police. He was released on $10,000 bond Wednesday.Story Link ...

I realized I was an atheist 2007-08-24 11:19:40 Sent in by L.S.Some people think I'm lying when I tell them that I just woke up one morning and realized that I was an atheist, but that's what really happened.My parents are Christian but they don't go to church. We stopped going to church when I was about 6 because they disagreed with how that particular church treated a family with 3 young daughters who couldn't always make it to Sunday worship. Because of the hypocrisy, they rejected the idea of organized religion but maintained their beliefs. They pray at dinner and do the whole Christmas thing and occasionally will talk about god, but they aren't zealots.It was because of their attitude that I grew up thinking of god/Jesus as that distant relative that you know you're related to, people talk about and you're supposed to love them but you don't really know exactly why. God wasn't a being to me. God was an idea that I never really understood.I was a really sheltered child. I (mostly) did what I was told, thought what I was ...

Preacher Wife Attacked By Preacher Husband 2007-08-24 04:12:16 Television Evangelist Juanita Bynum, the hair stylist turned preacher, known for her inspiring and candid sermons about sexuality and marital responsibility, is recovering after allegedly being attacked by her estranged husband.Atlanta Police say Bishop Thomas Weeks III, founder of Global Destiny churches, will be charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats, WXIA-TV in Atlanta reports.Around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the couple got together for dinner at Concorde Grill in the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta to talk about making their marriage work, Bynum's sister, Tina Culpepper told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.But that conversation,which led into the early morning hours, turned into a heated argument, and things got ugly, an eye witness told police."They were talking about a reconciliation. They got into an argument. In the process of the argument, her husband walked out to the parking lot area, turned back around and started to choke Miss Bynum," Atlanta Police Of ...

Bathwater and the Baby 2007-08-23 17:24:00 Sent in by KW In all senses of the word, I am a "Christian". (Yipes!)I am a respected man in my church, I have a thriving buisness, I have a wonderful "Christian" family.But I don't like what being a Christian has become. So I have a bit of empathy for your site. I find it interesting and insightful.I think you all are a bit angry, but you have a right to be. Somewhere along the line, you became bitter and agnostic because these "Christians" continue to do the things that pissed you off in the first place. Well, they piss me off too. But human nature is what it is.There is a huge gulf between Christianity (as we know it), and having a personal connection with the Main Man. That's a personal issue.But there IS something to it, and I think it would be unwise to completely throw out the baby with the bathwater.To monitor comments posted to this topic, use . ...

My doomed fate to hell 2007-08-23 17:22:48 Sent in by MarieI don't know how to summarize my story. I was raised Lutheran, and then moved into being a Baptist. I went to a Lutheran private school for several years of grade school, and then went to a private Lutheran High school for the entire 4 years.The first time I started having doubts about my faith can be pinned on the first religion class I had of my freshman year. The teacher thought he would be really clever and came in talking like a neo-paganist, talking about how we can worship the trees, and don't take the Bible too literally. He was messing with our minds to, I suppose, open our minds and prepare us for the future. Someone I had trusted had exposed to me ideas that weren't Christian. From that point on, I struggled between labeling myself a Christian and an atheist.All of my friends were greatly concerned for me, and I became a source of a lot of drama. Everyone wanted to save my soul. I was so frustrated and cried at night about my doomed fate to hell. I had my ...

I realized the Bible God is fictitious 2007-08-23 17:16:52 Sent in by DannyHi to everyone here. I will try to keep it short...well, as much as I can. My name is Danny, the youngest of a family of 10. I am Filipino. My family is of Catholic background. Most Filipinos are. I grew up spoiled (I am the youngest). My family is well to do. That's really sad knowing most Filipinos live below the poverty line. My brothers sisters and I went to private Catholic schools and to good universities. We were all indoctrinated (brainwashed) to the Catholic way of thinking. Every Sunday (Mithra's Day...hehehe!) we as a family went to Catholic Church. After church, my parents always treated us somewhere usually good. That lasted until I was a teenager. After that, my parents let us go to church on our own time. My father (a businessman...he owns several apartments) was a good mathematician and finished first honorable mention in his school. My mother is also a good mathematician. She graduated salutotorian in the same school. My brothers, siste ...

Is the supreme being confused? 2007-08-23 17:12:13 By WittuI reexamined some notes I made last year on Bible oddities and contradictions. Here are a few thoughts -- nothing scholarly, but perhaps a few members will still dig it (although so many of you are very savvy and have likely seen these).(1) Is God, the supreme being, who spoke matter into being, concerned with hair?“Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?”- I Corinthians 11:14Which contradicts:[Those who take the vow of a Nazarite] All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.”- Numbers 6:5“Then she [Hannah] made a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forge your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the da ...

Pastor praised for abusing teen 2007-08-21 20:29:42 SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The San Antonio pastor charged with assaulting a teenage girl at a Christian boot camp returned to his church Monday.The story captured national headlines after Pastor Charles Flowers and an employee were charged with dragging a 15-year-old girl behind a van.Flowers and his wife, however, told his congregation that they would get through the difficult time with faith -- but no fear.The church was filled to standing-room-only capacity by supporters rallying behind Flowers and camp trainer Stephanie Bassitt.Flowers' attorneys said they would build a strong case around Flowers' honorable reputation, showing that they're representing a man who is known for helping the community.They also explained how problems are bound to develop for a pastor who faces lots of resistance from troubled teens at camp."They're difficult people to deal with, they're on a path to destruction," Jimmy Parks, an attorney representing Flowers, said. "They're going to end up in prison, y ...

Christians Condemn Time Warner Film starring Nicole Kidman 2007-08-21 05:33:33 WM comment: Christians are all in an uproar over a new movie that is coming out in December.(From LifeSiteNews.com) - The best selling novels of atheist author Philip Pullman which were written specifically to indoctrinate children with anti-Christian values, have sparked the creation of a controversial new fantasy film to be released this December 7 by New Line Cinema - a Time Warner Company.Starring Nicole Kidman, "The Golden Compass," is based on Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, which includes "Northern Lights" (re-titled "The Golden Spyglass" in the United States), "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass." Pullman wrote these books with the intention of indoctrinating children with atheistic values. While the full interpretation and presentation of the movie has not yet been seen, the books' underlying message promotes antagonism towards Christianity.According to UK's Daily Mail, Pullman has repeatedly stated his belief that God is dead, and the author incorporates thi ... Film

Pastor arrested for embezzlement 2007-08-21 05:01:25 The senior pastor at a Round Rock church who resigned amid a criminal investigation is now in police custody.Click here to view the news video.Officals say Donald Roger "Roddy" Clyde, 48, the former pastor of the Fellowship at Forest Creek Church, was in the process of being booked into the Williamson County Jail Wednesday night on embezzlement charges. He is accused of taking money from the Fellowship at Forest Creek Church. According to the church, their accounting department found questionable activity in their books, which they described as a possible misuse of church funds by the pastor. Deeming it suspicious, they turned that information over to the Round Rock Police Department.Clyde resigned from his position as Senior Pastor on Monday. He is cooperating with police in their investigation.Long-time church member Denise Rucker says the congregation learned about the allegations from church leaders. "Maybe he wasn't practicing everything he was preaching, but his message was g ...

Church hires preaching pedophile, on purpose 2007-08-21 04:39:40 A southwest suburban Southern Baptist congregation allowed a convicted child sex offender to preach for the last few years -- despite his past, and a warning from his previous church that he might still be dangerous, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.In 1996, Jeff Hannah was sentenced to nine years in prison for having sexual relations with four underage girls -- ages 15 to 17 -- while a married youth minister at Crossroads Church in Libertyville.Hannah was paroled in 2001 and joined the First Baptist Church of Romeoville, where his new wife was a member. Soon after, the pastor moved on, and church members -- aware of Hannah's crimes -- asked him to step into the pulpit until a replacement was hired, according to church members, Hannah and others.Hannah served in that role for three years and ever since has been a fill-in preacher, teacher and music minister at the church.'We believe in forgiveness'Authorities say there's no evidence that Hannah has re-offended -- and Hannah insist ...