Oh, I agree. Preaching to them about witchcraft and ferreting out witches is certainly not a good thing. For religion (especially missionary work) to be a positive influence, it should be about alleviating suffering and teaching a universally acceptable ethical code. It should not simply slap a new label on an existing, barbaric practice.

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

And, for good measure, let's not forget that a Christian minister, an African Christian minister, who also happened to be Sarah Palin's minister, preached out against (and acted on) "witchcraft" and actively boasted how he had chased witches out of villages.

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All things serve The Beam

I would argue that any missionary work that seeks anything but helping people with the basic necessities of life is not a good thing. When a missionary has an agenda that goes beyond this into the realm of trying to 'change' a people it invariably does more harm than good.

Andrew

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“...corporations and those who run them cannot stop exploiting resources and amassing wealth until they have... .I cannot finish this sentence, because the truth is that can never stop; like cancer, they can only continue to expand until they kill the host.”

-- Derrick Jensen

A federal UN with a Bill of Rights similar to that of the US could provide a secular solution that includes due process before any denial and disparagement of individual liberty becomes common practice. A republican form of government could ensure sufficient infrastructure to accomplish that moral and ethic.

Other than vaccinations and possibly putting out a decent Christmas card, I don't see that as something the UN would ever be up to.

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All things serve The Beam

It wasn't anything the US under the Articles of Confederation was up to either; that is why we have a federal US.

As it was written, by Moses, to the Israelis wandering around in Sinai, certainly. Through the millenia, language and cultural meanings change, and thus, so does the exact application of scripture. The image conjured, pun intended, will be slightly different, more so as time goes on. The responsibility lay with each generation to decide how a commandment is applied.

The Hebrew Bible has been translated from Hebrew, to Greek, Latin, English, and probably several in between. It pays to take a look at the original Hebrew.

Witchcraft in the Hebrew Bible - Wikipedia
So, what to the Ancient Israelis was a commandment to execute anyone passing out poisonous herbs with the intent to cause harm for personal gain in camp, today, could be interpreted to not tolerate... um... anyone passing out poisonous herbs with the intent to cause harm for personal gain. Of course theres no one around that does that anymore.

I'm quite certain even the accusing pastors don't know where what they are preaching came from, the Africans don't know that, and the folks of early Salem didn't know that.

And I'm quite certain these kids weren't doing that.

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January 21, 2013: The End of an ERROR.

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
---Benjamin Franklin

When you come up with one, let us know.

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January 21, 2013: The End of an ERROR.

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
---Benjamin Franklin

What is wrong with our Ten Amendments?

They've never been fully and honestly applied, i.e., the 9th and 10th.

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All things serve The Beam

it tends to get trumped by survival of the fittest out there in the 3rd world

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Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

Most anarchies are third world. It requires the socialism of Statism to develop a first world or more developed economy. A hypothetical federal UN could simply ensure a republican form of government anywhere there is a poverty of Statism.

That power could be delegated to the current UN.

A republican form of government in modern times requires infrastructure (e.g. post roads).

Having recourse to a public sector could ensure that due process requirements are met.

Agreed, they're the key ones. The old testiment blows, but I like the new testiment a lot. Unfortuntly these guys focus on the old...

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What particular Christian ideas do you detest? Loving your enemies? Showing mercy on the downtrodden and rejected? Being charitable? Which ones are you talking about?

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A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw

Which Christian doctrine did they fall prey to? I'd like you to please point this out to me.

Except hasn't been something that has been going on hundreds of years ago. This has been a constant and uninterrupted thing up to present day.

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A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw