Bittick Cemetery | Liberty Hill

My ancestors are buried here: Bittick Cemetery | Liberty Hill

Liberal Republicans and Conservative Democrats?

Yes, there was a time when there were Liberal Republicans and Conservative Democrats. See: The Middle Majority: I Remember Liberal Republicans.

I also remember a time when conservatives wanted good government, as did liberals. They differed about the roll of the national government and state/local governments in making and implementing public policies. Conservatives emphasized the roll of local governments, while liberals favored an increased roll by the national government.

Today, conservative politicians and talk show hosts are anti-government, while liberal politicians and talk show hosts are pro-government, but few argue for good government. And, the US is the worse for it.

Palin vs. Christie: GOP rock-star feud - The Hill's Ballot Box

Not all Republicans are in awe of Sarah Palin: Palin vs. Christie: GOP rock-star feud - The Hill's Ballot Box .

Pakistan's Christians Mourn, and Fear for Their Future

This is a good article from Time magazine: Pakistan's Christians Mourn, and Fear for Their Future .

Religious tolerance between humans is best understood in light of human conscience. That is, religious tolerance means that each person must be free to exercise their conscience concerning matters of faith. The political philosopher John Locke wrote an excellent work, A Letter Concerning Toleration, where he said, "...I esteem that toleration to be the chief characteristical mark of the true church." He further argues that toleration of other religions is necessary because true faith occurs when an individual is inwardly persuaded about the truth of a religion.

In my view, the human conscience is a creation of God. He knows how to reach people, and He sovereignly works with individuals according to His good will. Humans would not have a conscience if God had not created it. His great command to us is to love God with all of our heart, soul, and might, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22: 36-40). He also commissions Christians to go into all creation and proclaim the good news about Jesus (Mark 16:15-16). These commands are not distinct, but are intertwined. As such, individuals must not attempt to force people to convert to a faith, and also must not harm other people who do not adhere to a faith. Thus, human force must not be used to attempt to persuade someone of the truth of Christianity, nor should it be used against those who reject God. Locke agreed and said, "If the Gospel and the apostles may be credited, no man can be a Christian without charity, and without that faith which works, not by force, but by love."

Indeed, Locke argued that human force is appropriate against those who harm people's lives, liberties, and possessions. Likewise, the Apostle Paul discusses this in Romans 16:1-7. In A Letter Concerning Toleration, Locke argued that certain religions should not be tolerated when they threaten the peace of civil societies. These religions are those that (in my interpretation of Locke):

- claim government is restricted to those adherents of a religious sect, thus, depriving people of full participation in civil society;

- claim allegiance to a foreign power, thus, breaking the civil laws of a civil society (they see themselves are being outside of civil law in violation of Paul's assertion, above);

- encourage for lawlessness (i.e. promote chaos), thus threatening the peace of civil societies ; and,

- claim there is no higher law which people must obey (Locke claimed these were atheists. However, atheists can and do attest to the existence of a higher law based on reason).

Therefore, civil society is characterized by the fair and impartial administration of justice, not based on religious membership or adherence.

As long as people in Pakistan adhering to minority religions such as Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc., are not protected, it is hard to view this nation as a civil society. And that is very sad for everyone.

There's more at Popular Science about the claim that extraterrestrial life has been found in a meteorite. This article is worth reading. I like the comment by biologist PZ Myers :

“I'm looking forward to the publication next year of the discovery of an extraterrestrial rabbit in a meteor. While they're at it, they might as well throw in a bigfoot print on the surface and chupacabra coprolite from space. All will be about as convincing as this story.”

In other words, it is much ado about nothing (Yes, that's also from Shakespeare).

Evidense of Extraterrestrial Life found?

I do not have the expertise to determine the validity that a NASA scientist has found evidence of extraterrestrial life in a meteorite: see "NASA scientist finds evidence of alien life," in Yahoo News. However, Christian clergy need to be prepared for the day in which scientists undisputedly find such life.

Indeed, I once heard a particular minister on the radio (I do not remember his name) claim there is no biological life in the universe other than on earth. However, this is not supported in the Bible, and such statements lend fuel to those who think such a find will strike a blow against Christianity.

I think not. Rather, not only does the Bible NOT say there is no other biological life in the universe, other Christians have written about such a possibility. For example, C S Lewis wrote a fictional work, a trilogy in which other sentient biological lifeforms exist throughout the universe (see, The Space Trilogy).

From my perspective, God has indicated in several passages in the Bible that other life forms exist in the universe. The four living creatures in the book of Revelation is one example. The Bible also speaks of messengers from God, which we call angels. Therefore, it would not shake my faith to also find that He has created other biological life forms in the universe.

Indeed, because God is the God of the universe, I expect we will find other biological life forms throughout the universe. Whether or not these lifeforms are sentient, I have no idea (the NASA find concerns non-sentient bacteria). Still, whether sentient life exists outside earth or not, my faith in an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God helps me understand how such life can exist.

So, how will ministers handle such facts should they be indisputably verified? Denial? Claims of conspiracy? Passive indifference? Rejection of orthodox Christianity? I hope none of the above, but this is the range of possible reactions I expect from many: a denial of fact, passive indifference, or a loss of faith.

In contrast, to handle such a scientific fact, clergy must expand their conception of God beyond the confines of earth, and see Him as the God of the universe; the God of all existence (Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-3).

To paraphrase Shakespeare in Hamlet: there are greater things in heaven and earth than are contained in many clergy's theology.