VicesAreNotCrimes Vices Are Not Crimes A Vindication Of Moral Liberty Vices are those acts by which a man harms himself or his property. Crimes are those acts by which one man harms the person or property of another. Vices are simply the errors which a man makes in his search after his own happiness. In vices, the very essence of crime --- that is, the design to injure the person or property of another --- is wanting. It is a maxim of the law that there can be no crime without a criminal intent; that is, without the intent to invade the person or property of another. Unless this clear distinction between vices and crimes be made and recognized by the laws, there can be on earth no such thing as individual right, liberty, or property; no such things as the right of one man to the control of his own person and property, and the corresponding and coequal rights of another man to the control of his own person and property. Every voluntary act of a man’s life is either virtuous or vicious.
Atheist's Wager One formulation of the Atheist's Wager suggests that one should live a good life without religion, since Martin writes that a loving and kind god would reward good deeds, and if no gods exist, a good person will leave behind a positive legacy.[1][2] The second formulation suggests that, instead of rewarding belief as in Pascal's wager, a god may reward disbelief, in which case one would risk losing infinite happiness by believing in a god unjustly, rather than disbelieving justly.[3] Explanation[edit] The Wager states that if you were to analyze your options in regard to how to live your life, you would come out with the following possibilities:[1][4][5] The following table shows the values assigned to each possible outcome: A benevolent god exists No benevolent god exists References[edit]
Translations and interpretations of Leviticus 18:22; all views Homosexuality in Leviticus 18:22 Sponsored link. Which is the correct translation? Obviously, it is important for a student of the Bible to resolve exactly what behavior is forbidden: is it: Also, is the behavior forbidden to ancient Israelites, or modern-day Jews, or all males regardless of their religion, or all males and females, or some combination of the preceding. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on the meaning of this verse. English translations of this verse: These are not a great deal of help. Some translations are: The LB and NLT translations use the term "homosexuality" That is unusually deceptive for three reasons: Sponsored link: Various groups' interpretations of this verse: Waskow cites two alternative meanings to the passage: He concludes that if this passage condemns some forms of homosexual behavior, it may refer only to the ancient Israelites, not to North America today. Sponsored links: References: Net Bible® is a new translation by The Biblical Studies Foundation.
25 Beautifully Illustrated Thought-Provoking Questions A question that makes you think is worth asking… At the cusp of a new day, week, month, or year, most of us take a little time to reflect on our lives by looking back over the past and ahead into the future. We ponder the successes, failures and standout events that are slowly scripting our life’s story. This process of self reflection helps us maintain a conscious awareness of where we’ve been and where we intend to go. If you would like to maximize the benefits of self reflection, our new sister site, Thought Questions, is for you. Remember, these questions have no right or wrong answers. Here’s a sample of 25 recent thought questions posted on the site: Thought Questions is updated daily. Title photo by: Oberazzi For all other photo credits please refer to ThoughtQuestions.com Related 6 Questions that Will Save Your Relationships When you don't ask sincere questions and talk it out, there's a lot of important stuff that ends up never getting said. May 21, 2014 In "Life" July 24, 2008
4 Things Both Atheists and Believers Need to Stop Saying #2. Devout: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves Getty Although probably not as immediately infuriating as "God Hates X," I really don't need to hear about who the devout think God helps. While God's existence might be an open question, there is no shortage of people doing every damn thing they can to help themselves and still failing. GettyKisses, JC! Indeed, even the omnipresent and useless "God works in mysterious ways" is preferable. #1. There have been atheists of significant intellect: Bertrand Russell, Richard Dawkins, and the aforementioned Christopher Hitchens. In support of this intellectual elitism, some atheists will say that skepticism is the sign of an active and curious mind -- traits consistent with learning. Getty"Who did this to me?" The perversion of the Spaghetti Monster meme is a good example of how some, particularly on the Internet, have destroyed the distinction between thoughtful protest and mere mockery.
The Enneagram is a model of nine worldviews and motivations Worldview and Motivation - What the Enneagram looks at: The Enneagram brings the way we view the world into sharp, clear focus. Our particular worldview impacts the unique way each of us brings our own thoughts, feelings and motivations to any situation. The Enneagram is like the perceptual glasses that we wear. It is also about our patterns of thinking and the places where we “hang out” more – our patterns of belief and our inner motivations. The Enneagram provides a clear map for us to see who we are, how we fit into the scheme of things and how we interact with others. How it is used: It is important that each of us self-identify our Enneagram type. Originally these teachings were used for spiritual growth and personal transformation. About the model: The Enneagram consists of a circle and nine lines and is therefore named ennea for nine and gramma for model. There are three types in each of three triads: head heart and gut. The Nine Types: Worldview, Motivation and Focus of Attention
Is Religion Inherently Oppressive? April 9, 2014 | Like this article? Join our email list: Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email. There’s little doubt, outside circles filled with self-delusional reactionaries, that religion is probably the most important force in continuing the oppression of women worldwide. Former president Jimmy Carter, who is probably the country’s most prominent liberal Christian, is willing to set aside his enthusiasm for faith to admit this. This isn’t because atheists and secularists have fewer people in their ranks that have ugly and backwards attitudes toward women. It’s hard not to suggest that what you need is more religious people making full-throated religious arguments for women’s equality, to counter the inevitable reactionaries that use religion to oppress women. It’s certainly a breath of fresh air having Carter explain, in his patient and comforting way, that there is no reason whatsoever to believe that religion mandates sexism.
A father's day wish: Dads, wake the hell up! Jeff Pearlman says a mom acquaintance is bereft that her husband shirked child carePearlman says he's a stay-at-home-dad fully involved in care of his two young childrenHe says dads need to get involved, childhood is short, tiredness from work no excusePearlman: Here are 10 rules for righteous dadhood Editor's note: Jeff Pearlman is a columnist for SI.com. He blogs at jeffpearlman.com. (CNN) -- The woman started crying. I didn't expect this, because, well, why would I? "My husband," she said, "doesn't care." "Uh, about what?" The floodgates now open, she told me her husband works from home. Two days later, by mere coincidence, a different mother cornered me. "Do what?" "Be out alone with both of the kids at once," she said. In case you are wondering, I am that dad. President Obama talks about fatherhood CNN Comedy: Father's Day Along with my wife (who, until recently, also worked from home), I wipe snot, clean poop, order time outs and say no -- Really, no! Really, wake the hell up. 1. 2.
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