[darstar]

Originally Posted by ErikU19

U.S. most armed country with 90 guns per 100 people | Reuters

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States has 90 guns for every 100 citizens, making it the most heavily armed society in the world, a report released on Tuesday said.
U.S. citizens own 270 million of the world's 875 million known firearms, according to the Small Arms Survey 2007 by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies


France, Canada, Sweden, Austria and Germany...with about 30 guns per 100 people

I wonder how many of those GUNS are handguns ? I'll bet a lot !

[MI-IRISH]

Originally Posted by darstar

I wonder how many of those GUNS are handguns ? I'll bet a lot !

Thank you second ammendment

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

You are being silly. There are many ways to try to convert someone. The best is by example. I am not talking about shoving my views down somones throat or forcing anyone to do anything. That accomplishes nothing. However if I know that they can have eternal life one way, shouldn't I want everyone to have that opportuniy?

When has a war been started by someon helping someone else?

Why are you so afraid of faith?

I appreciate your post, coldjensens. While this is convo is woefully off topic, I think you're taking the brunt of a lot of pent of anger and frustration over the role a certain sect of Christianity played in the extremist direction our nation took over the past 8 years. That should pass soon enough as we balance out again.

I think, however, the larger point being made in response to your defense of Christianity is that, by approaching individuals from a perspective of "trying to convert" them, you are automatically assuming you have the answers and they do not. Many wars have been started from that assumption. It belies a humbleness that must be at the heart of all spiritual exploration.

I have had several devout Christians "pray for me" and try to convert me in the nicest of ways. They don't realize how condescending it is, and is perhaps why you are taking so much flack on this board. While they assume they have all the answers to life's great mysteries wrapped up in their faith, they have no interest in hearing why my spirituality transcends the boundaries of any one religion. They have no interest in exploring the mythologies of Horace, Mithra, and Krishna, all gods who walked on earth before Christ yet have the exact same life story - from virgin birth to crucifixion and rising 3 days later. They have no interest in learning about my direct interactions with the one we know as Christ.

Instead, they just assume they are right and I am wrong without ever asking why. Their goal is simply to convert me so that I, too, will be "saved" in the very simplistic way that they believe themselves to be.

You should know how difficult it is to be around people trying to convert me, passively or aggressively. They dismiss my spiritual path as irrelevant and wrong, and by proxy dismiss me. Whether it's the guy at the gas station checkout with a huge cross around his neck and an overly exaggerated pleasant disposition (essentially saying "Look how happy I am! Ask me why!") or the leader of a Bible study who was far more interested in being worshipped himself.

Christ never established a religion. He brought deep spiritual wisdoms that transcended worship and were accessible to all. Only shreds remain in the his namesake religion. Finding the rest requires deep humbleness, not efforts to convert those who walk a different path based on an assumption that you've already got it figured out.

[Yac]

We have a separate forum for all your religion issues, please take them there.
Back on topic folks!
Yac.

[MI-IRISH]

[quote=Bluefly;6273559.



Christ never established a religion. He brought deep spiritual wisdoms quote]


so did marajuana

[STLCardsBlues1989]

If the automakers don't get a bailout, will Michigan secede?

[Zel Ya]

Originally Posted by fragraf

Given the shabby treatment that Michigan gets at the federal level, the folks in my neighborhood are now interested in secession. If the federal government, does not aid the automakers, after aiding financial institutions and the hurricane battered gulf coast states, what benefit is it for Michigan to remain?

I totally agree.

Congress has the nerve to tell automakers that their companies have been MISMANAGED. Unreal!

Look what's been happening in Washington for the past eight-years. Talk about mismanagement! PROBE this. PROBE that.

The private jet issue. Oh! Oh! Oh! Lawmakers almost never have to buy a meal. Lobbyists take them out to $300 dinners. Golf in MALIBU. EXPEDITIONS to the far corners of the world. EXCURSIONS to luxury hotels and spas in TAHOE.

After all, what's $25 billion. I think the stock and housing markets have lost something like $14 trillion dollars in value.

[darstar]

a Russian economist TODAY reported on the US depression status. The word is , that the US will break up into regions...soon ,very soon.. The story was on the news this evening. MSNBC. Even had a map of the " new republics " , that will be formed. The UP is in the Northern group , and , lower Michigan is part of lower Midwest. No explanation was given for WHY these divisions boundries were where they were.....

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I don't think the U.S. will break up into regions.

Honestly, sounds like you were watching a TV version of the Onion.

I guess the U.S. technically could break up into regions, but I don't see it happening. With the economy in the dump, all states need each other. What happens when Arizona runs out of water? Can Michigan grow enough food year-round to support itself? Will baseball players need visas to play in different states? I give this "breaking up into regions" about 1/1000 of a change of happening, if the chance is that great.

[MI-IRISH]

That was tried once before,it ended in a civil war about the 1860's,might have heard of it,contrary to popular belief,the war was fought over states right's,the slavery issue didn't come into play until almost the end of the war.