The people who do the most harm to the cause are the ones that don't alter their opinions based on the most relevant and current facts.
I appreciate that.
The issue I see arising, however, is the problems this brings with the balance of pragmatism and ideology.
What lesson do you come away with from this? And I don't mean merely on this issue. I mean how do you reconcile between the points you hold to because ideological position and faith have bound you to it vs. those points and positions you take to effect the greatest good relative to the perceived do-ability of an endeavor?
Where and when do you draw that line? You, and the vast majority of those in your camp, long ago shifted to some degree of perceived pragmatism. Will this lead you completely away from it? And if such a divergence ends in the increased and escalated degradation of your stated over-arching goals will you then shift back or go on tilting at wind mills?
I'm not doing this to bash at all. I see a great deal of merit in pointing out, what I perceive to be, gross error and an utter atrocity in terms of what is permitted. But I often wonder what would happen (no matter how implausible you see such a scenario as ever being) if God came to you and your friends and told you to kill infants (born and unborn) in like manner as what took place in the Bible at the command of Moses, or Samuel--all in the name of the Lord. Dashing a baby to pieces isn't much different if it's done with a sword at the belly of the mother or through a medical instrument through the cervix--at least not in effect and overall deforming and desecration.
I hope I'm not upsetting anyone by bringing this up. I don't mean to at all. But I just have a hard time seeing how you keep going in a journey that seems to bounce aimlessly between Quixotic and issue specific alliances and efforts in the name of overall progress.
"For a man to be great, he must not dwell on small things, though he may enjoy them."
Thy mind, O Man, if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation must stretch as high as the utmost heaven, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss. Thou must commune with God.
i'm a idiot in these matters so let me see if i can dumb this down in terms a dummy like me can understand.
for sake of argument - let's say in performing a late term abortion an abortionist has two techniques at his disposal
technique-A
and
technique-B
now, let's say that the recent supreme court decision bans the use of technique-A but still allows the use of technique-B.
there are now (at least) two ways to spin this story
1) Good News - technique-A has now been banned by the supreme court
2) Bad News- late term abortions can still be performed using technique-B
in terms of actual accomplishments - the "bad news" christians are 100% correct - the evil act can still be performed
but can't the "good news" christians say that in terms of "perception" some good has been accomplished and that can provide momentum in an attempt accomplish something more substantively good down the road?
i'm a idiot in these matters so let me see if i can dumb this down in terms a dummy like me can understand.
for sake of argument - let's say in performing a late term abortion an abortionist has two techniques at his disposal
technique-A
and
technique-B
now, let's say that the recent supreme court decision bans the use of technique-A but still allows the use of technique-B.
there are now (at least) two ways to spin this story
1) Good News - technique-A has now been banned by the supreme court
2) Bad News- late term abortions can still be performed using technique-B
in terms of actual accomplishments - the "bad news" christians are 100% correct - the evil act can still be performed
but can't the "good news" christians say that in terms of "perception" some good has been accomplished and that can provide momentum in an attempt accomplish something more substantively good down the road?
just asking
Except that in the real world case, technique A wasn't actually banned.
"I believe in Christianity, as I believe the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C.S. Lewis
"Don't believe that there's nothing that's true, don't believe in this modern machine." Switchfoot
i'm a idiot in these matters so let me see if i can dumb this down in terms a dummy like me can understand.
for sake of argument - let's say in performing a late term abortion an abortionist has two techniques at his disposal
technique-A
and
technique-B
now, let's say that the recent supreme court decision bans the use of technique-A but still allows the use of technique-B.
there are now (at least) two ways to spin this story
1) Good News - technique-A has now been banned by the supreme court
2) Bad News- late term abortions can still be performed using technique-B
in terms of actual accomplishments - the "bad news" christians are 100% correct - the evil act can still be performed
but can't the "good news" christians say that in terms of "perception" some good has been accomplished and that can provide momentum in an attempt accomplish something more substantively good down the road?
just asking
Actually it goes something like this.....
Doctors currently use technique-A to perform abortions. Yet technique-A is distasteful to the masses. Therefore the supreme court altered technique-A, regulated it, renamed it, processed it, instructed doctors on how to perform technique-A slightly different so that they could claim to the masses that technique-A was banned.
Except that in the real world case, technique A wasn't actually banned.
And while in this ignorance, people are celebrating that now there's only one supposed "technique" available and don't even care or realize that it's the more torturous of the two.
I guess if a law is passed where it's ok to murder somebody as long as it's only by the technique of burning them at the stake, they'll look at this as a victory as well.
"The most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" - Ronald Reagan
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16
Steve, why won't you answer the question that's been posed to you so many times now in this thread? You've been asked by several here what kind of victory, even the small one that you claim has been won? What small battle in the war that you were referring to has been one? What kind of "bone" has actually been thrown as you said before? Will you once and for all be willing to address this?
"The most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" - Ronald Reagan
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16
Truth be told the Partial Birth Abortion ban appears to create several NEW WAYS to murder babies, some are far more awful than the normal PBA procedure that was in question.
Slogan/motto:
Trust in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to become conformed to His image.
Reputation:
Steve, you weren't born in 1775, but I suggest a more recent year... -
June 1st, 2007, 10:06 AM
Here's an example of moral relativism and legal positivism...
Originally Posted by Steve Wetzel: This case could not have over ruled Roe vs. Wade... As much as I would have loved to see Roe v. Wade over turned, that would have required judicial activism - the very thing we have been complaining... about...
I asked a question that Steve replied to but didn't answer: Hello Steve! So, when did you become a moral relativist, and a legal positivist? Just wondering... the year that is. I'm curious. Thanks, -Bob
Steve's reply did not answer:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Wetzel
Errr ... that would be 10 November 1775 to be exact - the birth of the Marine Corps. Abortion didn't just happen in 1973... Steve
mttu.com
Steve, I have no idea what you're talking about, and I am really interested in your reply. Here are some suggestions as to how you could be responsive to my hope to understand:
* I know that moral relativism is wrong because...
* I believe moral relativism is acceptable because biblically...
* I am not a moral relativist because...
* I am a moral relativist, and that is biblically acceptable because...
* My statement above does not indicate moral relativism because...
* Bob, what do you mean by moral relativism, as you use it here...
These are some ways that might help us directly address my accusation, that you have become a moral relativist. I do not believe that you have held this position throughout your Christian life and from the beginning of your pro-life activism. I truly am interested to know, perhaps you can do some reflecting and recall for yourself, what year you became a moral relativist? I will give you my answer to this question about you: I think you were led down the path of moral relativism the year you first supported child-killing regulations.
In Christ,
Bob Enyart
The Bob Enyart Live talk show airs at KGOV.com. You can call weekdays at 5 pm E.T. at 1-800-8Enyart. And you can get BR VIIDoes God Exist?, and BR XThe Open Theism Debate in manuscript form!
Slogan/motto:
I have no loftier goal in life than to one day stand before my Savior and hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Reputation:
June 1st, 2007, 12:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Enyart
Here's an example of moral relativism and legal positivism...
Originally Posted by Steve Wetzel: This case could not have over ruled Roe vs. Wade... As much as I would have loved to see Roe v. Wade over turned, that would have required judicial activism - the very thing we have been complaining... about...
I asked a question that Steve replied to but didn't answer: Hello Steve! So, when did you become a moral relativist, and a legal positivist? Just wondering... the year that is. I'm curious. Thanks, -Bob
Steve's reply did not answer:
Steve, I have no idea what you're talking about, and I am really interested in your reply. Here are some suggestions as to how you could be responsive to my hope to understand:
* I know that moral relativism is wrong because...
* I believe moral relativism is acceptable because biblically...
* I am not a moral relativist because...
* I am a moral relativist, and that is biblically acceptable because...
* My statement above does not indicate moral relativism because...
* Bob, what do you mean by moral relativism, as you use it here...
These are some ways that might help us directly address my accusation, that you have become a moral relativist. I do not believe that you have held this position throughout your Christian life and from the beginning of your pro-life activism. I truly am interested to know, perhaps you can do some reflecting and recall for yourself, what year you became a moral relativist? I will give you my answer to this question about you: I think you were led down the path of moral relativism the year you first supported child-killing regulations.
Slogan/motto:
If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious.
Reputation:
June 2nd, 2007, 12:21 AM
I agree ... good post.
Quote:
As much as I would have loved to see Roe v. Wade over turned, that would have required judicial activism - the very thing we have been complaining... about...
That we were ever complaining about judicial activism in a country where it is legal to rip off the arm of a baby while it is sucking its thumb in the womb is insanity. That's like worrying about turning out all the lights before you flee a burning building. There are bigger problems than those that don't follow procedure and protocol.
Incidentally, a godly man would do what is right and be a judicial activist if it meant saving lives. By demanding that we don't want judicial activism, we guarantee that a godly man cannot make it to the Supreme Court.
This is the sort of leadership that will leave Christianity unprepared for the coming persecution.
A 'touchy-feely' CNN reporter, while interviewing an Army sniper asked, "What do you feel when you shoot a terrorist?" The Soldier shrugged and replied..... "Recoil."
Slogan/motto:
Honesty is my only excuse
Living on your knees, conformity
or dying on your feet for honesty
Crushing all deceivers, mashing non-believers
never ending potency
Reputation:
June 5th, 2007, 12:21 PM
(1 Samuel 8:7) And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Same old, same old.
All hail king Dobson.
We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated.
Looks like Steve Wetzel only fights battles that he can glory in. He likes getting arrested, as if it gets him another medal on his coat. He likes the conflict. He likes to scream and yell at very bad people.
But, the babies don't care. They don't care if he gets arrested or not. They don't care if he gets a rush from experiencing conflict. They don't care how many days a week he stands on the sidwalk.
The babies only care if he's working as smart and wise as he can, which he is not. He is approaching only one side of the issue, the activism side. He is disregarding the legal/policy/political side where damage to the dark side can also be done.
Slogan/motto:
I will sing to the Lord for He has dealt bountifully with me! Psalm 13:6
Reputation:
September 8th, 2007, 09:50 PM
somehow I think that we as Americans are so hardened by the terrible images
we have seen on television that when we hear of abortion and the various ways it is carried out , we hear a common and forgettible occurrence which does not affect us personally. Like when we are watching women crying and carrying thier bleeding children away from a terrorist bombsite screaming to the sky and the ground and all else of thier loss, yet most of us are able to change the channel and watch something else because somehow it is unreal to embrace the image as a real one.
If we were present however, in that scene many of us would brake down and never diminish the gravity of what had happened.
I wonder what impact would be had if every American found a bucket laden with
the torn remains of a small child in an alley. my guess is that in America enough
children have been aborted for each alley to share in the bloodshed! And I know
that not one person would walk away unaffected . It is impossible to dismiss responsibility when the death is on your doorstep.
we too easily hide our eyes from the facts of abortion.