Here’s Why Secular Morality Is Better for the Country | Hemant Mehta | Friendly Atheist | Patheos

RussRAB comments on Dec 14, 2021:

I wonder how this law would be enforced for temple endowed Mormons who are supposed to wear special undergarments after going through the Mormon temple ceremony. They would be as obvious as some religious symbols, but the outline of it can be detected under certain clothing. This has been particularly true for men who wear white shirts.

A world without religion?

RussRAB comments on Jul 21, 2019:

I found it very intersting to discover more about certain social animals. Jane Goodall's research with chimp was the first, followed her research of wild African dogs. The most recent was a program from a number of years ago about meerkats. In each species, violence was a regular aspect of their lives. With chimps and meerkats, these creatures have regular violent clashes with neighboring clans (tribes, groups, or however their social groups are identified). These clashes have resulted in the deaths of some members of either group. In the case of chimps, the conflict appeared to be over territory. One group wanted to expand their territory to include a partular food source, so they moved in an attacked and killed any chimps from the rival group. Meerkats clashes also appear to be about territory and maintaining boundaries between them. Internal struggles can also be violent. Chimp violently display for hierarchy and dominance. Those that don't submit to the hierarchy can be attacked to re-establish the current order. With meerkats, the matriarch may physicslly punish a daughter who covorts with a male from a rival clan. If she has a litter, the matriarch may adopt them or may kill them if they compete too much with her own pups. African dogs are similar. If a subordinate female has a litter, she is likely to be shunned from the pack by the dominant female. In the case Goodall studied, the dominant female would sneak over to the litter of the subordinant female when she was away hunting, and kill one of the pups. She did this until one pup was left and that one she brought back to her own litter. The point is that these animal behaviors sound very much like human behaviors at various times in history. Neighboring kingdoms would periodically raid one another during the dark ages, and coups were regular events where someone would attempt to surplant one monarch with another - until they tried to get rid of them altogether. Violence was a means of expanding one's territory or establishing a hierarchy. Religion played its role as well, but it was another kind of hierarchy which was molded by changes in its power structure and its attempt to exert some kind of control over people and/or territory. Even today, we witnessed Russia expanding its territory by annexing Crimea and their attempts to do the same with the eastern provinces of Ukraine. We believe we have progressed so far from our animal nature, but we can find examples over and over where it just isn't the case. Only our need for justifications are more sophisticated and our means can be so much more deadly.

Cute video of beagle covering up i in blanket

RussRAB comments on Sep 8, 2019:

I love how the little guy pokes his nose out from under the blanket at the end. Complete success but that sniffer needs to be out in tne air. 😊

Why people fall for bullshit, according to a scientist [vox.com]

RussRAB comments on Jan 3, 2022:

I believe a factor that undermines one's BS detector has to do with self esteem. Wanting to be likeable to others may make someone subconsciously willing to accept rather than reject another's BS.

According to US media, sex = love = marriage.

RussRAB comments on Jun 12, 2019:

It would seem that the idea of romantic love is much older than Hollywood. Shakespeare's play about Romeo and Juliet as star crossed lovers who marry secretly in defiance of their families predates any Hollywood notion of romantic love, but is even fairly recent to the story of Helen who leaves her husband the king of Sparta to be with her lover Prince Paris of Troy sparking the subsequent Trojan War. It would appear to me that the dynamic and conflict between marriage as a means of improving the status of one's family (their duty) and as an expression of romantic infatuaton (their desire) is very old indeed. I don't disagree with several of the points you make and can think of certain personal observations from my own experiences in line with the dynamics you describe between the sexes. I also recognize it as a gross over simplification since role reversals between the sexes is more than possible. My son who is currently going through a divorce is a personal example. He begged his wife of 16 years and mother of their 4 children to go to counseling but she decided she wanted to sleep with other men and refused (admittedly my own oversimplifcaton of their situation, but essentially the truth).

The battle between the chipmunk tribe and the human continues: 😳🐱

RussRAB comments on May 2, 2020:

On no! They do make a mess. It's squirrels in my neighborhood. They don't dig much, but they do bury pecan nuts all over tne place. The sprouts have to be dug out and their tap root cut to get them out of tne garden. These pecans turn up in pots as well as all around the yard. None under the parent tree, but everywhere else,

What the fk?

RussRAB comments on Feb 6, 2022:

I think it more than I say it. Not certain exactly why that is. I guess I have a reputation because I find others often apologies when they swear around me. It doesn't bother me when they do and I often say, "It's OK, I know what that word means."

Edible flowers.

RussRAB comments on Jun 15, 2021:

A favorite Youtube channel discussed the edible Nasturtium. I can't grow it here during the summer months when the temperatures are high, but I had several plants bloom bright orange red and yellow this Spring. The plant is just a bit too peppery for my taste, so I just enjoy its in round leaves and bright colored flowers. https://youtu.be/7ozf-HqdaPg

CONTROL IS A "DELUSION" [youtu.be]

RussRAB comments on Jan 13, 2019:

The creation of God would be in the hope of an ultimate controller of our universe and prayer would be the hope of being able to access a bit of this ultimate control for our own benefit. The delusion of control isn't absolute since we do control a number of various aspects of our lives; but it is very limited. Ultimately, powers within the universe are much greater than the control we are able to exert.

Christian Radio Host: ‘Educated Women Don’t Make For Good Wives And Mothers’ | Michael Stone

RussRAB comments on Sep 15, 2019:

Isn't dopes like this radio host why the whole concept of Stepford wives came about? The truth is that as a TV commentator, Rachel Campos-Duffy most likely make a whole lot more $$$ than does her husband as a congressman. With 8 kids to support and #9 on the way with special needs, keeping the higher source of income makes sense. Women are capable individuals (even if they work for FOX) and every couple has the right to decide the terms of their marriage ..... without some interferring jerk who very likely doesn't know them criticizing their sensible decisions. We do live in the 21st century and not the 18th or 19th when women weren't considered bright enought even to vote. Even Jesus was supported by Mary Magdalene, so Mr. Christian Radio Host is even wrong about Christian history.

Guess which one i have a better crop of and is now my go to flower

RussRAB comments on Feb 7, 2021:

Well, no one I know makes wine from roses.

Got to love the holiday spirit

RussRAB comments on Dec 26, 2020:

Was that holiday spirit or spirits?

In case you missed it on the main page! Is this not just stunning? [google.com]

RussRAB comments on Mar 2, 2019:

Beautiful! Here in North Texas, someone would seed the sides along the freeways with the state flower, Blue Bonnetts. We would gave these spectacular blooms that turned these areas along the roadside a gorgeous blue color. They must have stopped seeding several years ago because it hasn't been like this for some time. We still get lots of Spring wildflowers that bloom, just not much of the Blue Bonnetts.

That would smart

RussRAB comments on May 6, 2021:

I honestly can't think of a time in the past I would rather live. I thought so at one time, but with greater consideration, I changed my mind.

I picked a lot of yummy tomatoes last night, and have identified the mystery volunteer vine as mini ...

RussRAB comments on Aug 25, 2019:

They look like specialty winter squash varieties. The oblong one in front looks like a delacota which is now one of my favorites. They are smaller than many squash varieties and have a milder flavor. The one behind it looks like a carnival squash, the dark green one an acorn squash, and the yellow/orange one in front is one I believe we tried last year or the year before, but I can't seem to recall the name. A couple years ago, I read an article about winter squash varieties and it inspired us to try some more than just the butternut and acorn squash almost always available. The delacota was a favorite for both of us and we have looked for them since then. It has been fun sampling different varieties, and for my wife, to try new recipes.

Garden tour anyone?

RussRAB comments on May 2, 2020:

I just love your garden. I'll tour any time you want.

One of my friends, Ezriel Wilson, currently has an art fellowship at UT-Arlington Tx.

RussRAB comments on Mar 14, 2022:

Will her show be open to the public? It would be fun to attend.

Santa's in for a rough ride

RussRAB comments on Dec 26, 2020:

So that's what it takes to make raindeer fly! 👍👍👍 Got it!

Atheist take marriage seriously.

RussRAB comments on Sep 4, 2022:

When I was leaving Mormonism, I found a board for exMormons for support. A repeated theme amoung quite a few former member was that the temple marriage ceremony felt to them more like they were marrying the cgurch more than each other, and they felt that the church was constantly in the middle of their marriage between them and their spouse. I don't recall the ceremony all that well to be able to say that this was how I felt about it, but I did experience feeling that I needed to be more authentic after leaving religion. I no longer needed to have my thoughts and actions filtered through for imagined church approval. The bulltin board also had posted an article or two of studied which found that the more strict a religion was corresponded with higher divorce rates.

I keep hearing now that caffeine is now cool among Mormons, ur, I mean among the Church of Jesus ...

RussRAB comments on Oct 31, 2018:

A long time ago, I sat in a priesthood meeting in California wdhen we had a visiter from Utah. Someone memtioned the ban on cola drinks and the visiter just about lost it. In a very loud voice, he claimed there was no problem with caffienated soft drinks. He said Pres. Kimball was asked about coke and pepsi and Kimball responded by saying something like he didn't know why anyone would consume these drinks; they took all the bad things in coffee and tea and put them in cola drinks. The Mormon (sorry, everyone knows who Mormons are and it's a lot shorter to write) faithful took that comment and added it to their list of Word of Wisdom banned substances. I prefer Dr Pepper or Ginger Ale myself, and I could care less what anyone thinks about it.

Some changes are coming

RussRAB comments on Aug 9, 2022:

Hmmm ... Was that the Lady taking Liberties, or someone else?

Why do the faithful fear coronavirus?

RussRAB comments on Mar 13, 2020:

The other side of this story are those who are trusting God to protect them. I've repeated the situation in South Korea several times here. Over half the cases in this country are among one religious cult which told its followers they would be protected from disease and to continue proselytizing for new convert. They also were instructed to attend their church meetings which are intentionally crowded. Another conservative South Korean preacher has told Christians they should be honored to die from the virus and that it was patriotic. Worse still, an US organization dedicated to freedom of religion is urging the South Korean government to protect the religious freedoms of these religious cults in light of the epidemic/pandemic. We might be able to tolerate some of this nonsense if it only effected those who chose to believe, but these religious fanatics urged to disregard warnings and precautions put everyone at risk because of their beliefs.

My job involves sitting outside on a beautiful fall day with a papillon on my lap.

RussRAB comments on Sep 22, 2019:

What a cute little pup.

All this talk about Phil, but no one is talking about Pete

RussRAB comments on Feb 6, 2022:

Pete appears to be perched atop a pillar of ice.

Kentucky judge slams 'theocratic' laws in ruling protecting abortion rights

RussRAB comments on Jul 24, 2022:

The Satanic Temple is advancing the notion of a religious exemption for having an abortion, but not everyone believes their efforts are helpful. https://jezebel.com/satanic-temple-abortion-rights-religious-exemption-real-1849073332

If all religion ended tomorrow, what do you think would happen to all the churches,etc.?

RussRAB comments on Sep 22, 2019:

Here in Texas, churches have turned up by converting strip malls - sometimes just a store front and sometimes the all thing. So, I have no doubt that even the traditional structured churches can be repurposed as something else.

Take the U.

RussRAB comments on Oct 15, 2019:

I completed it.

TST has created a secular answer to AA with "Sober Faction"

RussRAB comments on Apr 26, 2021:

Years ago, I recall seeing a report about an alternate 12 step program called Rational Recovery (if I remeber correctly). They apparently followed the same basic process as a 12 step program but without the religious underpinnings. Is this program related at all?

New Year's Resolution (I know it's early)

RussRAB comments on Nov 23, 2020:

That's the resolution I'll keep in reserve for the year after I have died.

Even if they are transplants.

RussRAB comments on Feb 7, 2022:

50 years ago as boy scouts, my brother and I had a subscription to Boys Life magazine. The magazine had a feature page of jokes scouts had mailed in. The joke we still quote today was a definition of a sweater: Something you wear when your mother gets cold.

Japanese Truck Gardening Competition [odditycentral.com]

RussRAB comments on Mar 24, 2020:

What an incredible display! It's just beautiful.

It seems like with so many different beliefs and religions in the world it would be impractical if ...

RussRAB comments on Apr 18, 2020:

I found it extremely refrustrating to relate dissatisfying experiences (my own or of others) with a form of Christianity only to be be told that the form of Christianity was not the right one and I needed to conform to their version to receive the proper inspiration/blessings from God. It is particularly frustrating because all these versions say essentially the same thing - they have the correct belief to conform to in order to receive the full blessings of the Christian God and total dedication to their version allows you revelations from God about yourself and potentially about others. It is a way to blame personal dissatisfaction with certain concepts of a religion on someone who is not happy with the belief and to absolve the belief system of any responsibility for its failings.

My next attempt for my gardens, a Sturt's Desert Rose.

RussRAB comments on Apr 27, 2021:

The flower looks kind of like a Hibiscus, although the leaves certainly don't. Beautiful flower.

This is Beo ( let's see if anyone gets his name.

RussRAB comments on Nov 5, 2019:

Beowolf was my first thought, but now that I've read through replies .....

I picked a peck of peppers!

RussRAB comments on Sep 5, 2020:

Now they just need to be pickled! 😄

My loquat tree surpassed itself this year.

RussRAB comments on Mar 24, 2020:

I guess I'm not as creative. Loquat jam is all that came to mind.

Last week we had 4" of rain on wet ground followed by 3" 3 days later , lost my onions , squash and...

RussRAB comments on Jun 8, 2020:

The flowers are beautiful. They liked the rain.

Oops wrong one

RussRAB comments on Mar 9, 2020:

His owner must have read the sign wrong - is instead of does.

Happy Birthday @Glennlab. Hope your day is grand! 🎂🎉🎊🌈💕

RussRAB comments on Sep 10, 2020:

Happy Birthday, Glen! I hope your special day has everything you wanted. 🎂🍧🍻

I'm sure that some people will find validity in this argument

RussRAB comments on Oct 24, 2021:

Careful, you're going to give Alex Jones material to stay on the air.

Actually more than 3 frozen

RussRAB comments on Jan 21, 2022:

Yep! Sometimes I just need a reboot to start it all over again.

So I'm bummed out.

RussRAB comments on Mar 26, 2020:

Is there evidence that pets can carry the virus?

Just because a person is agnostic doesn't mean that they have to believe in evolution and the same ...

RussRAB comments on Dec 6, 2020:

The theory of evolution is too well supported with facts. Those who do deny it must rely on comments from well known biologists which are taken out of context and outright lies. It isn't as much a belief as it is an acceptance of the facts and understanding what these facts indicate in the context of the theory. New facts can adler the understanding of the theory and could (though doubtful, imo) discredit it entirely.

There are no others. No they. No them. .

RussRAB comments on Jan 6, 2022:

I dunno. I am having trouble including those who want to celebrate the events of Jan 6 last year - to make it a holiday like the 4th of July. More generally, I like that concept of "no they", but at the same time ....

We can only hope, I'll even spring for some one way tickets.

RussRAB comments on Feb 7, 2022:

I would just LOVE to see them go.

How to reply when someone says 'have a blessed day'

RussRAB comments on Oct 24, 2018:

I've found the "Have a blessed day" comment to be annoying, but I try to keep it in context of just a form of wishing someone well in a different way. I've thought of saying something like "Thanks, may your day keep evolving" or something along that line, but I typically just say "Thanks" or nod and smile.

The smallest Book in the World... "The Military Heroes Of The trump Family".

RussRAB comments on Nov 12, 2019:

Appears to be oversized.

God always wants and even encourages wars- Christian wars,Muslim wars, Jewish wars, Hindu wars, even...

RussRAB comments on Sep 5, 2021:

In the case of Christians, it is quite a puzzlement for the "Prince of Peace."

How cold is it?

RussRAB comments on Feb 17, 2021:

And it wasn't even submerged in the water?

Lol doggy wants his treat

RussRAB comments on Mar 9, 2020:

That's one way of getting them in the tub.

World Naked Gardening Day is May 1st in it’s 16 year!!! [thefreethoughtproject.com]

RussRAB comments on May 1, 2021:

Not a good day to work in the Rose garden or the Blackberry patch - unless you grow one of those thornless varieties. But even then ....

I had suspected this for some time. Finally validation.

RussRAB comments on Jan 26, 2021:

They have to be working here in Texas - somewhere in NORTH Texas.

I just need to find someone that will keep me in the manner I would like to become accustomed to.

RussRAB comments on Feb 17, 2021:

Sounds like a sister-in-law I know. She can't be out of money because she still has checks in her checkbook.

From 7 adopted dogs I am down to 2.

RussRAB comments on Jul 20, 2020:

Losing a beloved pet is difficult enough, but 5 and your spouse? My sincere condolences to you. We lost 3 over a year and a half and that was difficult enough. We knew it was coming because they were all within about a year and a half in age. Isolating besides, cyberhugs to you and hang in there.

The Southern Baptist Convention Expelled Two Churches for Being LGBTQ-Friendly | Hemant Mehta | ...

RussRAB comments on Feb 24, 2021:

There will be plenty of other church organizations willing to take them in. Before restrictions prohibiting gay marriage were removed by the court, churches of all sorts - even the Southern Baptists - had divisions with some congrations supporting marriage equality and others against it. Several national church organizations faced schisms and divisions over the issue.

So, Ive had two family members share their testimony about recieving prophecy.

RussRAB comments on Sep 2, 2019:

James Randi exposed televangelist Peter Popoff who was using an earpiece to receive information about audience members from his wife. The information was gathered while people waited in line including their seat number, their ailments, and other facts about them. The information was turned over to Mrs. Popoff who would transmit the information to Popoff's earpiece who would make it appear that he was getting information from God about who to heal and all sorts of i fo about the individual. Randi had equipment to scan radio frequencies until he picked up the one the Popoff's were using to scam their audience.

I couldn’t let the frost kill the basil in my mother’s garden, so I cut the plants and have them...

RussRAB comments on Sep 16, 2020:

I just planted some basil about 3 weeks ago. They are coming up nicely and growing well. My gardening references say we can plant Basil this late in Texas and get a decent return in late Oct early Nov.

Atheist read the Bible, Christians go to church to have the Bible read to them...

RussRAB comments on Sep 17, 2020:

Of course! As important to Christians as knowing what tne Bible says is how to interpret it. Otherwise, Christians wouldn't be consistent in their group think misconceptions of what the Bible says, and prosperity preacher couldn't keep the cash rolling in.

I really stuck my feet in my mooth

RussRAB comments on Mar 7, 2022:

I find that saying "Oops! Let's try that again" (as I turn bright red in the face) works wonders so I can return to a favorite place. You may have other reasons not to return to Subway, but if you really want to, turn over in places like Subway tends to be rather high. New staff won't know who you are.

The Huntsman family fall out with the church accusing Mormon Church of fraud for 'spending member ...

RussRAB comments on Mar 24, 2021:

Hasn't the Salt Lake City mall been an issue for a long time - like 15+ years?

What he said

RussRAB comments on Oct 24, 2021:

Well said! Now, if I could find a little ....

This afternoon, I was playing games on my computer while overhearing programs about serial killers ...

RussRAB comments on Aug 25, 2019:

While Googling to confirm details in my comments, I ran across a list of notorious murders who converted to Christianity while in jail. It more than underscores the sentiment initially expressed. https://atheistpapers.com/2014/01/29/these-murderers-are-now-in-heaven-many-of-their-victims-are-in-hell-2/comment-page-1/ Reading some of the comments to this article makes clear that not all Christians are comfortable with the notion of complete redemption from these heinous crimes of serial killers, but as pointed out by subsequent comments, the biblical principle is clear and the conclusion is sound.

The iris are out in full force.

RussRAB comments on May 21, 2019:

Wow! Those are beautiful. My irises were terribly disappointing this year. Only a few blooms and tne wind and rain were particularly hard on them.

The words are hard to find.

RussRAB comments on Feb 9, 2021:

My condolences. It is so difficult to lose a beloved pet. Cyber hugs to you.

THE OTHER SIDE.

RussRAB comments on Sep 11, 2022:

No one knows exactly what happens when someone dies. Lots of conceptions and beliefs have developed in difference places and at various times. My mother's death was my first accute experience of someone dying. It felt at first as if she had gone away similar to when my parents went on a vacation or when I lived in a different city. I can understand how someone with different perspectives or different views of reality might decide this means the dead individual is still present somewhere. I have also experience "hearing" my parents voices in my head after they had died. I interpreted it as my internalized experiences from my past and the natural processes all humans (and possibly other animals) experience in learning, but another could interpret this as the dead person actually speaking to them and perhaps protecting (or torturing) them from somewhere beyond the other side of death. It is a matter of perception, interpretation, instruction, and belief. No one knows what happens when someone dies. Plenty people pretend to know, but it is belief only. Death is the end of life. During life, we experience the end of phases of our lives followed in its continuity with a new phase. To apply this experience to death, we might expect that something comes after the end of life.

Every time I see a kid in my outfit, I have this feeling

RussRAB comments on Mar 24, 2021:

Was this your golfing outfit?

I'm thinking of spring and these came up while browsing my photos.

RussRAB comments on Nov 23, 2018:

I am partial to the hyacinth, although, I would have both in my garden except the tulips don't get enough cold in Texas to bloom more than 1 year. The hyacinths also seem to dwindle over time but they return for a good long time. The heat here is very hard on most garden plants.

Let me know when the Chucky jokes get old.

RussRAB comments on Sep 15, 2022:

Now that Mama is to be laid to rest, Charles is free (for the first time in a long time) to express his true feelings.

Religions vs Cult

RussRAB comments on Oct 31, 2018:

I did a bit of reading on cults since I seem to have had a bit of an affinity for controlling groups. Steven Hassan and others have said that there are a number of characteristics of cults. A controlling cult does not need to posses all of these characteristics but rather just a combinaton of 3 or 4 of them minimum. My interpretation is that each characteristic a group has is one greater degree of being cult-like the groip is. So an organization that has only 1 characteristic is probably OK for the most part but those that have 4, 5, or 6 are best to stay away from.

It really looks like Manchin is getting played by the Republican minority in the senate

RussRAB comments on Jun 24, 2021:

And apparently Manchin likes to play with Billionaire donors as well. https://www.salon.com/2021/06/10/joe-manchins-highly-suspicious-reversal-on-voting-bill-follows-donation-from-corporate-lobby/

I don't think the sausage is in the mood. lol

RussRAB comments on Nov 21, 2021:

Didn't someone know they can't store sausages in ice cold water??

‘World’s Worst Invasive Weed’ Sold at Many U.

RussRAB comments on Aug 25, 2021:

Chinese Wisteria is something I was surprised to find on an invasive species list. I think of that now when I see them for sale at the Home and Garden store. http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/chinese-wisteria.html

This is true for a lot of men's sports

RussRAB comments on Oct 10, 2021:

Didn't I once hear someone say that most men behave as if the testicular guard DID protect where men think?? Especially when they we were of an age to play most sports. 🙄😉🙄

Who messes their year book with sharpies, when you can just pot it over them?

RussRAB comments on Mar 19, 2022:

If I had hair like that in my High School picture in my year book ... Of course, it wouldn't be quite the same since I am a guy ...

Within the last 3 weeks or so a lifelong friend of mine died suddenly (my religious friend) and now ...

RussRAB comments on Jan 26, 2022:

When my mother died, I planted a tree in her honor. It wasn't anything she asked for but a tribute I decided to do on my own. I kind of understand the desire to have the elements of my remains recycled. I have always enjoyed plants and animals, and the thought of "pushing up daisies" appeals to me.

I'd call him princess, just to fuck with everyone

RussRAB comments on Feb 22, 2022:

Or perhaps because he just ate the princess?

Not a diet drug, at all

RussRAB comments on Jun 24, 2021:

Hmmm, a BLT Eclair?

Good point

RussRAB comments on Jun 29, 2020:

There are SO many things wrong with having Trump as POTUS. Goverment officials are civil servants especially those elected to their positions. Trump isn't able to be either a servant or civil. He loses on both counts for his office.

Minnesota pastor says on video to be ready to 'arm up' as a citizen militia force - StarTribune.com

RussRAB comments on Jan 15, 2021:

I recall a history class - I believe it was in college - discussing the fallout of the Salem Witch Trials. Because the church was so involved in condemning and executing people, it broke the strong hold the church had on the people and on the social order. I have to wonder if this incident with the trump insurrection and churches providing such strong support for trump as the example of this article provides won't backfire in the long run and push people away from churches. All indications are that they backed the wrong horse.

From the mouth of babes

RussRAB comments on Sep 16, 2022:

Well, he didn't hear it from the new baby ....

Angry Young Preacher: The Bible Says Gay People Should Be Executed (Humanely) | Hemant Mehta | ...

RussRAB comments on Jun 4, 2020:

Christians are duplicitous. On the one hand, they quote and advocate for punishments from Leviticus in the Old Testament and on the other they claim Jesus did away with all the old rules and old laws of fhe Old Testament. They don't want to give up shellfish or pork, they don't want to have to burn a bull to create a pleasing oder to their God, but they insist on implementing Old Testament sentences for gays and adulterers. Note that in the latter half of the article, Mr. Powell is reported as saying that adulters should also be killed (there goes a majority of TV evangelists) even though Jesus saved the life of the woman caught in the act of adultery by saying that whoever was without sin should cast the first stone. Powell obviously believes his sins should be forgiven based on what he reads from the New Testament, but also believes that the sins of others either can't or shouldn't be forgiven based on what he reads from the Old Testament. How convenient the the "perfect" word of God contains both sets of conflicting rules so Mr. Powell can extricate himself from punishment with one and condemn others with a death penalty using the other.

It is Time!!! trump 2020. 20 years for Treason, 20 years for Obstruction.

RussRAB comments on Mar 5, 2020:

I love it! I never dreamed I would feel this way about anyone, but what comes to mind with Trump is "LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!"

She's going to have her hands full with this .

RussRAB comments on Mar 19, 2022:

Anyone see the movie 'Role Models' with Paul Ruud and Sean William Scott?

The toys are cheaper and better constructed

RussRAB comments on Oct 10, 2021:

Looks painful (even for a dog).

Documentary : Pet food that kills

RussRAB comments on Mar 14, 2020:

I was told by our vet that the jerky treats seemed to be on the recall/warning list 9 times out of ten as compared to othe pet foods and treats. A few years ago, there was a warning of dogs being poisoned from tainted food/treats.

Your grossly incompetent president called Obama's presidency "grossly incompetent"...

RussRAB comments on May 17, 2020:

The one thing Trump can do very, very well - Projection. https://youtu.be/hrmAZlVXIb0

What a difference just 4 days can make when it comes to Flowers and such in the Gardens, etc.

RussRAB comments on Oct 1, 2021:

If that's what it takes, Henry, I'm off to the store to buy all sorts of signs. 👍

Seems like all the loud mouthed ones fit this.

RussRAB comments on Mar 17, 2022:

Actually, These two elements would appear to be common companions - almost as if they belong together.

It is getting chilly

RussRAB comments on Apr 12, 2022:

Did you believe no one could discern your gender without getting naked?? Hopefully, they can tell now that you are .... 😉😉😉

What are your hobbies? I think I know theirs.

RussRAB comments on Oct 6, 2020:

Keeping up with the Duggars? I wonder which one of these kids will end up on the Ashley Madison website?

Who was Jesus ?

RussRAB comments on May 21, 2019:

I listened to a talk on Youtube given by Bart Ehrman. His arbument was that the Gospel go to great length to get the Jesus story to fit the propgezy narrative (or something along this line). If Jesus wasn't a historical individual, there wouldn't need to be these extraordinary stories which most likely attempted to integrate history with fiction to make Jesus more divine. My thought on the su ject is that I'm willing to accept Jesus as a historical i dividual, and thzt fhe Jesus as depucted in the Bible never existed. Sine my most recent religious background is Mormonism, we have an excellent example in that church's founder Joseph Smith. The character of Smith has been sanitized over the last 175 years or so to make this charlatan con man into a larger than life individual who is just a bit lowerthan Jesus Christ. If the character of Smith can be altered so radically in this day with recent documents a historical records, then it is not at all surprising the same could occur with Jesus when word of mouth was more likely the mode of communication and written documents were scarce.

The garden is coming to its first full flush now, so I took a little walk round.

RussRAB comments on Jun 27, 2020:

What a beuaticully peaceful area you've created. It's wonderful.

How old are your dogs?

RussRAB comments on Feb 2, 2020:

My poms are 2 and a hslf and 2. 14 is the oldest any of ours dogs have lived, but they always looked a lot older than your huskies. Beautiful dogs.

What dissappoints me most when reading posts by many atheists/agnostics is the tendency to blame the...

RussRAB comments on Feb 24, 2020:

In recalling my own journey out of religion, I recall being the victim of any number of well meaning religionists acting out of their life long indoctrination/brainwashing. Their concern often manifested in a kind of ridicule intended or not and they often encouraged that I ignore or deny things I learned that made more sense to me than did their alternate inside-the-box explanations. The point here is that those who are still the victims of their lifelong indoctrination/brainwashing - I don't disagree with you on this point - they can also be perpetrators looking for victims to either spread their indoctrination/brainwashing, or victims who need to be reinforced in the indoctrination/brainwashing. The roles an individual can play are not static and can change with the individuals intent in relation to those around them

I've had a couple of these come into my life and never even saw it coming.

RussRAB comments on Oct 12, 2021:

Me too. We offered my wife's sister and her boyfriend a place to live for 8 to 10 weeks when they were kicked out of their living arrangement. I eventually had to evict them after two and a half years. He was supposed to be getting SSI Disability when they came and then they could find a place of their own. Turned out he was denied, and he should have expected it - I think he knew he would be denied but didn't care. He was like that.

Consent!! poor eel looks abused

RussRAB comments on Nov 1, 2021:

Anyone speculate that constipation was only an excuse?

A simple truth.

RussRAB comments on Nov 4, 2018:

My dogs have taken a sudden interest in my garden. I did spread a bit of fertilizer for spring bulbs which is low in nitrogen. Has anyone had their pooches interested in their soil ofter fertilizing? I thought perhaps a new smell may have attracted them, or something? Anyone know if fertilizer is particularly harmful to them? They want to dig and lick at the dirt.

I grew up believing that unborn babies and kids not old enough to understand the gospel would ...

RussRAB comments on Oct 21, 2019:

Didn't Andrea Yates have something akin to this line of thinking when she drowned her 5 kids? In her severe mental instability, she came to believe her children were influenced by Satan and she couldn't save them except to kill them. I'm more inclined to agree with Mofo1953 on tnis issue.

I love garden to kitchen stuff..... The cherries 🍒 are great... How about some cobbler....

RussRAB comments on Jun 24, 2020:

Looks delicious.

A little more on bird feeding, this one is thoughtful and in depth, with some great video footage ...

RussRAB comments on Feb 23, 2021:

I had a bird feeder outside a window and loved watching the birds attracted to it. The problem was that it created a food chain effect in that the increase in the birds attracked predatory birds - mostly hawks. After finding evidence of attacks and once witnessing an attack on the property, I decided to stop filling the feeder. I became afraid for my small dogs as well. Having a few good sized hawks around, they may decide they might want to try mammal instead of bird one day.