superozman

Hi. GL. Hope people who are making the trip to Philly have fun, and have safe rides. Food is great there! Alright, leaving before Riggo picks me up and throws me out of the front window! 🤣

I'll have to do some research on the microwave radiation. However, I know you might think my view is too simple but right now it still is my view. If the big bang was how it started, I just think it would be crazy that the earth ended up the exact distance it needed to be from the sun, and then all this life on earth came to be. So that's why I choose a God. The God i chose is simply the one I grew up knowing, and then in high schools did a lot of research, and the God I believe in is the one I think exists. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. Do I think I am at this moment, no. For the cultish nature, I would argue it's not cultish. Again, from my perspective it's open doors, come as you are, etc. I think if you take a direct view, in the one you wrote, you can scare people (Believe or go to hell!!!), but that definately isn't the view. Churches try to get people in the right direction in life mostly, and yes, that plays a part. Its a rewarding afterlife that we believe in. For me, I would tell anyone to focus on the New Testament of the Bible when you look at "rules", but also understand it depicts a certain time and not everyone believed at that time either. As a gay friend of mine states "Jesus says nothing about the gays!", which is true. A lot of rules the Old Testament tells us to live by are not rules we need to. Slavery was a way of life when the Bible was written. Not everyone believed, so this was recounting the time's activities. And yes, at the time women also were treated differently. The 10 commandments, while in the Old Testament are referenced in the New. They are pretty darn good morals to live by. I can't defend the stories recounted in the Bible. However, I can help the little bit i can today. I hope all people are treated equally, I hope churches are welcoming to all equally. As far as evidence, I'm sure God could. However, he states in the Bible (I understand you don't look equally at it as i do) that he will not "show himself" for lack of a better term, and that us believers, we just have faith. Completely understand there are counterpoints to that.

So many people would state that Jerry Falwell is a hack that used religion as crutch in many ways, or maybe he started with good intentions but he obviously went amiss. How I remember him is his awful comments on 9/11 and that he's a megachurch guy. But i'm sure there are some politically charged MegaChurch people like him and his son. His son I only know as a pro Trump guy, but he's not the head of the church. But again, I go back to you are stemming this from politics. I'm not trying to convince you, nor did I enter in this to convince anyone.

Which churches? I'm not aware of a Protestant division called the American church. If you are talking as a whole in America, I'm still not sure I've ever been in contact with a church is telling me, or witnessing telling others "GO VOTE REPUBLICAN!" Furthermore, you keep stating catch phrases of far left leaning people, so unless your discussion is on religion directly correlating to the topic, the religion versus politics discussion might be worth its own thread if you'd like to start, unless there is one already.

I probably should have expected this question, good catch! I've struggled with this and have looked at it a few different ways. One i've stuck on is: Just for conversation purposes, you are someone who does not believe in God but you believe there was the big bang without God and from that point to now we are here. What was here that caused the big bang in the first place, and now by all this luck (big bang -> sun and earth in perfect distance -> life suddenly forms -> you and I having polite thoughtful convo on ES board!), we are here today? Both you and I search for these answers, and for me I come to the fact there has to be a God that somehow became and for lack of a better term is the cause of why we are here today.

By adding left and tax cuts, I guess you are adding politics? that was quick! Secular Collective Action - Yes, they do! this is great! But I would argue, in my experience and what I've seen, this is not as frequent as those who are religious. Those who are religious I'd argue more frequently and through various ways take part in giving back to society. THIS IS NOT saying a non-religious person does not do this. However, those who are religious are driven to this. It provides suggested actions that are inherently good, where living in the secular world you aren't required to add to social fabric. Christianity drives agenda - Could you expand on this, please? I'm really not sure how religion does this and I'd like to see your point of view.

For me (I believe in God, attend a protestant church 2-3x a month), I understand a lot of times things boil down to science vs God or give me evidence or i don't believe. Absolutely understand and think that is acceptable. So me telling you how I feel, isn't providing evidence, however, my reasoning - and where i agree or don't. :). Evidence - I'm not sure anyone can provide evidence, but for me, just an explanation of why I believe. I look around at how everything works, on this earth, with all beings (human, animal, etc) and just believe there has to be some form of intelligent design. You hear in scientific documentaries or read in articles, "If the earth was this many degrees off", "if we were x amount closer (farther) to (from the) sun we wouldn't be here". To me, there has to be something there that orchestrated that. Also, how everything works together on the earth, that wouldn't be here if we weren't in the perfect spot. That's my believe. Apologies in responding "to you", but I felt it answered OP and also engaged someone Religion good or bad - First, i'll limit to my religion Protestant (also include Catholic). Second, I will state out right that there are bad people that are within these religions, exemplified by the Catholic Priest issue. However, I think religions and religious people are key to our social fabric. Religious institutions not only provide citizens with a place to go to become better people on a frequent basis, but also it teaches people to abide by principals that are inherently good. A good example of this is from "Angels and Demons" movie where Commander Richter states to Langdon: "My church comforts the sick and dying. My church feeds the poor. What does your church do, Mr. Langdon? That's right. You don't have one." Now while it's a movie quote, I get the premise of the quote. I also know people do inherently good things without a church. However, I believe we are better off with those in our social hierarchy.

I hear many right wing outlets invite people on but many don't. My assumption is the debates get heated or people expect their ideas will be ridiculed or something.

The left goes to the right to preach what they believe as well, through various outlets. Or am I missing your point?

She has numerous times been invited to discuss/debate/etc with right wing outlets but has turned them down. The most famous one was telling Shapiro it was similar to cat-calling, which was odd.

Whelp. A split! Nats earned that one, but there was some sloppy baseball by both teams at times. Nats played better. Soto's was a bomb!

Do you think the ownership will have him signed by end of year? I don't think they can let him walk at all, you can't expose Soto in a line up without some sort of protection (My assumption is it wouldn't be Turney/Soto 1-2 or 3-4. On paper it looks solid. Relievers can be very quirky, and just can't put my finger on it. The reverse jinx FTW!

Well you'll find out in 4 hours, or next Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday. The Phillies can't win every game.

How is that not good conversation? Riggo: Point - "Your'e not that important" Me: Point - "Nats ownership has never done anything to curb phillies fans" ES Nats fans: SEE YOU AREN'T HERE FOR GOOD CONVERSATION!!! Sorry, I didnt know making a counterpoint wasn't good conversation. Point/counterpoint is crucial to good conversation! But it's fairgame for Riggo to take constant jabs at me. I get it. I'm catching on. One day i'll have a conversation here outside the stadium

Were not? Nats ownership has never done anything to curb phillies fans? http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/ticketing/take_back_park.jsp

Braves/Nats/Cubs/Reds/Rockies I think are the best teams not performing right now. Assuming Trea is out for a long period, the Nats might struggle during that as I would assume, he's the catalyst so far until Soto shows up in full force. Looking at the names in the bullpen, they should be ok too. I want everyone to be right on this board, LOL but it is early. Baseball is a long season. As far as no philly zip code tix, people will find a way. People will have their friend in DC buy group tix or something and us phils fans will get tix. And if this boards sentiments are right (as Riggo alluded to finishing 4th), the ownership will want to sell as many tix as possible when they can, which means an influx of phillies fans in June, and September. I did notice though, that the Nats/Phils don't play in DC on the weekend, which typically they do. I wonder if the Nats team pushed for that to have less phillies fans show?

Following the Nats fans through 1) being at Nats park a decent amount and 2) this board and facebook you can clearly see Bryce is a type of person who wants to make no waves in the media. And by all of the stuff he's doing for the Phillies fans I could see it as fake, but I also see it as just making sure he does the right things up front. Wears a gritty/phanatic shirt, bow/pump fist in the first few games to the crowd, phanatic spikes, etc. But as far as tonight goes. If I was a Nats fan I'd definitely understand the booing. You signed withe a rival. We booed Werth for the same reason. Some people cheered Werth, and some will cheer Harper. I'm just glad there is a rivalry in these two cities again, as they are so close. I feel the teams are always opposite - 1 not good, one good.

*Hoagies

Actually I've shown up in the past, and been told "This isn't really a rivalry, the nats suck" and "This isn't really a rivalry, the phillies suck". So, i'll just let this slide and wait for some good discussion

Most likely no. Nats were better and there wasn't really a rivalry. Back to the fun. Just as when the Phillies were good, and the Nats weren't no one really spoke to me in the Nats thread either, so goes both ways. I've done nothing but constructive/fun convo, and that's all i'm here for.

Agree on Padres. Also, super excited they bucked the rule and Tatis is on the roster opening day. $1 friendly bet Warhead that the Phils finish better than the Nats?

This is what I gathered from his post - him wanting Dems to control all power. IMO, this is a radical approach, and continues/creates the divide to be even larger. But not sure that is any different than what Dems are upset with over Trump currently? So is that the answer, for people to flip to what they want and be radical in that manner?

I do respect the Nationals attendance numbers, but I would question tickets sold vs actual people showing up. Not sure if those numbers are anywhere. You can say the same for Phils, i know. But, since 2012 when the Phillies started their downfall (finished 3rd, 4th, or 5th including 3 5ths in 4 years), Phils averaged 29,650 in attendance. In that same span, the Nationals averaged 31,321 with 4 1st place finishes and 3 2nd place. And you keep going back to last year, just want you to put in correct perspective: 1. It's an average of the whole year, so the beginning of the year averaged much less and the middle/towards the end. 2. A new coach, who a lot of people didn't/still won't believe in unless changes, and a roster that didn't expect to succeed. 3. With the success of the Sixers, and a playoff appearance by the flyers, money can only go so far for peeps!

1. Every team is as fair-weather as they come. I don't know a team that isn't fair-weather, yes, including the Nats, except Red Sox or Yankees - but they perennially put out a contender. 2. 27K was over the whole year, not the span you gave. That span you mentioned, people cared. Numerous games in that span were sold out. 3. Friday night vs the Cubs, the August 31st one where it rained all night and they squeezed the game in? Ok. I could very well nitpick the Nats fans and attendance, but I haven't yet, I came in providing information, but if you want to attack, I'm here :). They are part of a package, which numerous companies do. So I'm assuming they are protected by some law. If not, i'm sure they can simply break out the price and state they don't make anything on the ticket, they make the money on the food/bev/bus/etc.