While I agree that it can be hard to get rid of PS teachers that suck, the overall "problem with our schools" is not the teachers, it's the students/parent. Throwing money at it ("hire better teachers" or "encourage people to teach") is not the answer. It's cultural.

Move most PS teachers to an affluent, CT suburb, and watch their scoring rise.

Still trying to determine what the maximum size a group has to be for you not feel guilty about being rude? Well unlike you I don't look for reasons to denigrate people. I've lived long enough to realize that such things have a tendency to bite you in the butt.

No, I personally don't care, to me cult and religion are one and the same (the former having fewer members, I suppose, being the only distinction).

I can only assume that religious people talk about cults (or other religions) the way I always heard them called (growing up among church-going people as the vast majority of us have). Heck, I know religious people that talk about Mormons that way.

The point is that if you think of any other religion as lesser to your own, you are guilty of this. If you ever have said it out loud, ditto the rude part. I have no problem denigrating literalists since they are self-evidently wrong (the granite in my kitchen is older than they claim the universe is). I made no comment about non-literalist beliefs. The latter largely because they don't tend to try and add their religion to the schools, etc.

Well thank you for the information but your point is invalid seeing as I don't hold that belief.

You're not a monotheist?

You cannot think that Zeus is just as valid as Jesus and still be Christian, can you? So you believe in every god that anyone believes in on earth?

If Christianity is "true," then by definition other beliefs that don't have the same "true" god must be less true (or outright untrue). That means they are "lesser."

Doesn't mean that you don't nod and smile and treat them as if they are the same, but privately you'd have to think they were wrong, otherwise why would you hold the religion you believe to be true instead of theirs?

Is Shiva real? Did god really give Muhammad his direct words that supersede the Bible? Is the Flying Spaghetti Monster real?

Creationism—the nonsensical attempt to present biblical literalism as science—is fantasy. If you are going to pretend that something is science, then having it called fantasy should not be offensive—global warming proponents shouldn't be offended if someone calls their pet hypothesis "fantasy," either. Instead, they should try and demonstrate that their model is correct.

It has exactly nothing to do with the meat of your religion (salvation via god's son sent to earth, assuming you are christian) unless you are a literalist.

If someone is going to be a literalist, they should be prepared to be constantly offended by the modern world. Muslims certainly are constantly offended.

I don't think you'll ever understand what I have been trying to get across to you and i'm sick and tired of trying to explain it, so go back to insulting and belittling anyone that has different beliefs than you do and i'll continue thinking the less of you for it.

I have no problem with literalists not liking me. Irrationally dispensing with a good idea—separation of church and state—because it is defended by someone with whom you disagree, is, well, irrational.

Reminds me of the morons who vote for 3d parties to teach the party closest to their own beliefs a lesson. It does no such thing, it just helps those farther from their views win by splitting the vote.

Separation benefits both non-believers, and the religious for the reasons I stated. Take it or leave it. I act pragmatically, and if my allies have disagreements with me, I can live with that. Heck, I vote Republican even though it's filled with religious types because I agree on other issues (though the dems pretend to be religious, too).

I find it interesting that I cannot get an answer, though. Being a literalist—I only insulted literalists—you pretty much can't think that other religious are just as likely as your own. I at least say what I think of them in the open.

Come on you two. This is just a last-word competition now.

No it's not! :O:

Yes it is. :stare:

No it's not. I could have replied to him last night but i've said all I wish to say on the subject. If he don't get it he don't get it.

See! :O:

Last word!

Final word :woot: