Well, Capt. I think this really boils down to different viewpoints on a lot of the same things. I don't think in the cases that I've mentioned, that the good does outweigh the bad and in many others that we could continue discussinf for eons. If two people look at the exact same information, they can often derive two entirely different assumptions from it.
I think there are too many unfortunate assumptions made about the opposition on both sides of this discussion. People are so quick to label. One the one side there are tree huggin, fruit bats, on the other Religious zealots and bigots. Unfortunately for those of in the middle of that spectrum, we have to deal with insults, in order to have a stance.
I wouldn't have participated in this discussion for this long if it were simply my intention to tell everyone how wrong they are, I really do want to to hear the justifications from both sides on this issue. Both Capt and Rogue have offerd up legitimate challenges to my position that will leave me thinking for some time, however at present I still beleive in my position on this.
I don't judge everything to be right or wrong because it's written in some book, or because that's just the way it is. But I don't automatically accept everything that is a challenge to "just the way it is" either. There is plenty to be said for convetional wisdom, and at times it does need to be challenged. My kids, in fact, challenge me all the time. It makes me sit back and think about why I feel a certain way.
Thanks to all that have discussed this with me respectfully. It's often very difficult to debate with someone respectfully, and my hat is off to both Rogue and Capt. I don't feel this is progressing, so I'm going to bow out of the thread.
My parting shot thoug
is that I feel we all to some extent or the other, selectively choose the information we use to support and otherwise ignore the information that doesn't support our positions. Me included.