Thanks for your cordial reply. God doesn’t tempt people; the Bible is clear on that point. The Lord’s Prayer simply asks God to protect us from the temptations thrown at us by the Accuser.
The Bible holds the answers if you’re willing to see them, but a lengthy dissertation on the Divine Council, sin and salvation is not appropriate here, and we’ve covered those topics to some extent in interviews with Michael Heiser.
I do see where you’re coming from, because I’m from there, too. A careful consideration of the evidence for the truth claims of Christianity moved me from there to here.
Do not misunderstand me, I emphatically do not wish things were different. My point was simply that with my limited, finite, flawed human understanding, I would have created a different universe. But that wasn’t my call.
With all due respect, Anthony, it seems to me that your objection to God is that He doesn’t live up to your standards.
]]>One aspect mostly glossed over is that Gabriel was one of the Democrats voting against Pelosi for Speaker of the House…and that a website visited frequently by the shooter called The Daily KOS featured “Blue Boy” blogger who repeatedly ranted that having voted against Pelosi, his Congresswoman Giffords whom he HAD supported was now “DEAD” (sic) to him… the site has since been scrubbed ~
]]>Giffords was shot in the back of the head. Was Roll shot first and Giffords shot attempting to flee? It does make a difference because the Glock fired multiple rounds. If Loughner shot first at Roll, the subsequent shots could have been in “spray” mode, firing wildly. He could have easily just shot Giffords in the shoulder. There’s been nothing released on whether Loughner had any firearms training.
It’s easy to explain how Loughner could get Giffords schedule, but what about Rolls? That would suggests confederate(s) in the attack. Both Rolls and Giffords had enemies. Was Loughner a “lone gunman” actually acting at their behest?
Just putting this out there as food for thought. What better way to cover up a conspiracy to assassinate a federal judge than by making it seem like he was a collateral target?
]]>Although the skull shrine in his yard, if it’s his, certainly bears consideration.
As for the Tea Party comments: we didn’t invent that stuff. Bill Maher linked Loughner to Bill O’Reilly. Sarah Palin was named as responsible for the attack by the sheriff in Tucson. A columnist at Slate, among others, explicitly linked the shooting to the Tea Party.
But we’re not buying the right-wing argument that socialism is to blame, either, and we’ve said so.
As for the “lead us not into temptation” line: that was Jesus showing the disciples how to pray.
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