<div> </div>
<div>Deb et. al.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I'm with Deb also, in general terms.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Earth and the biosphere is a reality. We evolved on Earth, it sustains us and we are absolutely dependent on it. If life on Earth ceases to exist, we do also. To deny any of this, while insisting we should believe in some super being floating out there somewhere that is the guarantor of our salvation, that offers us a greater reality than what life on Earth offers, is to be an agnostic towards what the facts of life on Earth have revealed, while suspending agnosticism towards certain spiritual beliefs that cannot be proved, that can easily be questioned just as well as evolution can be questioned.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Odd, isn't it? Many of the faithful in the USA will apply the full force of reason and skepticism towards the science of the evolution of life on Earth, but will not apply the full force of reason and skepticism towards their belief in a mythical super being, when by some mysterious process they insist they have a degree of absolute knowledge of said beings intentions and powers.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Ted Moffett<br><br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 6/4/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">deb</b> <<a href="mailto:debismith@moscow.com">debismith@moscow.com</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Or: Gaia, as the Earth, exists. She nurtures growth and change. Species arise from Her and evolve. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">I'm with Ted. We don't KNOW. We religious/spiritual/agnostic folk guess, we believe (or question), we create gods in our image (or deconstruct other beliefs), and, it is to be hoped, all of us try to live up to some sort of spiritual decency and kindness to others. When it is said and done, we each may KNOW, but not many come back to tell the tale.....
</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Debi R-S</font></div>
<blockquote style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><span class="q">
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial"><b>From:</b> <a title="editor@lataheagle.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:editor@lataheagle.com" target="_blank">Kai Eiselein, editor
</a> </div></span><span class="q">
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="starbliss@gmail.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:starbliss@gmail.com" target="_blank">Ted Moffett</a> ; <a title="donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" target="_blank">
Donovan Arnold</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Cc:</b> <a title="vision2020@moscow.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a> ; <a title="carlwestberg846@hotmail.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:carlwestberg846@hotmail.com" target="_blank">
Carl Westberg</a> </div></span>
<div><span class="e" id="q_112fa046b4c53a6a_3">
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, June 04, 2007 2:29 PM</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Follow up - Islam the religion of peace!</div>
<div><br> </div>
<div><font size="2">Christians: In the beginning, there was nothing, then God created the heavens and the Earth.</font></div>
<div><font size="2">(Some) Native Americans: Raven created the Earth.</font></div>
<div><font size="2">From China: Long, long ago, when heaven and earth were still one, the entire universe was contained in an egg-shaped cloud. All the matter of the universe swirled chaotically in that egg. Deep within the swirling matter was Pan Gu, a huge giant who grew in the chaos. For 18,000 years he developed and slept in the egg. Finally one day he awoke and stretched, and the egg broke to release the matter of the universe. The lighter purer elements drifted upwards to make the sky and heavens, and the heavier impure elements settled downwards to make the earth.
</font></div>
<div><font size="2">Mossi (Africa): </font><font size="3"> </font><font size="2">In the beginning there was no earth, no day or night, and not even time itself. All that existed was the Kingdom of Everlasting Truth, which was ruled by the Naba Zid-Wendé. The Naba Zid-Wendé made the earth, and then they made the day and the night.
</font></div>
<div><font size="2">From India: </font><font size="2">In the beginning there was absolutely nothing, and what existed was covered by death and hunger. He thought, "Let me have a self", and he created the mind. As he moved about in worship, water was generated. Froth formed on the water, and the froth eventually solidifed to become earth. He rested on the earth, and from his luminence came fire. After resting, he divided himself in three parts, and one is fire, one is the sun, and one is the air.
</font></div>
<div><font size="2">Science: There was nothing.... and then it exploded.</font></div>
<div><font size="2">Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, which is more rational?</font></div>
<blockquote style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial"><b>From:</b> <a title="starbliss@gmail.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:starbliss@gmail.com" target="_blank">Ted Moffett</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" target="_blank">Donovan Arnold</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Cc:</b> <a title="vision2020@moscow.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a> ; <a title="carlwestberg846@hotmail.com" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:carlwestberg846@hotmail.com" target="_blank">
Carl Westberg</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, June 04, 2007 2:50 PM</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Follow up - Islam the religion of peace!</div>
<div><br> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Donovan et. al.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I have heard your argument numerous times from various sources. It is specious.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Assuming we do not know for certain what God, the Goddess, Gods or Goddesses, or various other possible forms of supreme beings or powers, will regard as the correct way of thinking, it remains possible that being agnostic will be regarded by the supreme being, beings or powers in our universe, as the most laudable and rational response to the evidence based on reason. Therefore agnostics may turn out to be the chosen people, and the so called "faithful" will be viewed in a less than favorable light for their blind allegiance to dogmatic doctrines that are not supported sufficiently by evidence or reason.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Ted Moffett<br><br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 5/31/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Donovan Arnold</b> <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" target="_blank">donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com
</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div>Carl,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It is illogical to be agnostic. If you die, which you will, and there is in fact a God, you best have worshiped him. On the other, if there is no God, it won't count against you. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Donovan</div>
<div><span>
<div><br><br><b><i>keely emerinemix <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:kjajmix1@msn.com" target="_blank">kjajmix1@msn.com</a>></i></b> wrote:</div></span></div>
<blockquote style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">
<div><span>And, as one of your Christian friends, I love you for that, Carl.<br><br>No, wait -- I hate you. I think.<br><br>AAARRRRGGGHHHH! It's so confusing -- who to hate, who to love, who to pray against, who to call "brother" or "sister," who to make fun of. If only there were a guide . . .
<br><br>keely<br><br>> From: <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:carlwestberg846@hotmail.com" target="_blank">carlwestberg846@hotmail.com</a><br>> To: <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">
vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>> Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 17:13:26 -0700<br>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Follow up - Islam the religion of peace!<br>> <br>> The repeated attempts by certain Christian folk to convince me that by the
<br>> mere fact of being Muslim, one is evil, makes me all the more convinced that <br>> to remain an agnostic who has Muslims and Christians in his circle of <br>> friends is the right choice. Carl Westberg Jr.<br>
> <br>></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></div>
<p>
<hr>
<p></p>=======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br> <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.fsr.net/" target="_blank">
http://www.fsr.net</a> <br> mailto:<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>=======================================================
<p></p></p></blockquote>
<p>
<hr>
<p></p>=======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br> <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.fsr.net/" target="_blank">
http://www.fsr.net</a> <br> mailto:<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>=======================================================
<p></p></p></span></div></blockquote></div></blockquote></div><br>