OneWoman, I totally agree with you. What a nice way to put things.

Hi Thomas, concerning your question to ThisHow...I think that by "lie" he means belief in a god. Since god does not exist, if you tell others they have to believe in god in order to help out or receive help in their life, you would be cheating them. Because you could still help out or receive help without believing in god.

Thishow,

No need to get so aggressive about people finding shelter in religion. If it works for some people, good for them.

I’m as atheist as they come, a true, hardcore atheist, I used to be angry at religion, and sometimes I still am, but at the end of the day, we need to get over it and love each other. If you meet a good person, who cares what they believe in? If someone needs your help, are you going to hesitate if he’s a believer?

I do agree that some panelists sound like religious extremists and we should always reject their intents but definitely not this one.

Good for you, Albert! You’ve come a long way, awesome. I’m somewhat surprised that being openly gay you were accepted regardless. Well, it looks like you certainly found a good group of open religious people. We absolutely need more like these. I see so many religious groups full of intolerance, bad intentions, generating so much rejection and anger, it’s good to hear about the good ones.

About life’s ultimate questions...I share some of those you mention above, what’s life about...what happens next...and I would come a few notches below to the one’s I think about more often....can mankind make any progress leaving behind intolerance and hatred...can we get together in time before we destroy our beautiful planet..

For Dr. Albert Scariato: In you capacity as a doctor, i am sure you had to both be there for your patients and also talk to them and be sure they understood their health needs. You could not just "be there for them" or "with them". I have found that those who say people who are very sick or dying just want someone to be there with them, which may be so, but the also want to know the truth. In this case, Dr. Scariato, it would be your job as a Christian to gently and lovingly lead them to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Remember, Jesus believes in "death bed" conversion, i.e., the thief who said to the accusing thief, "...leave Him alone; he has done nothing to deserve this punishment..." then he turned to Jesus and said, "Lord, remember when you come into your Kingdom...". Jesus answered, " This day shall you be with me in paradise...". The thief did not just need Jesus to be with him; he needed Jesus te get into paradise...and so do we all!

"People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." Newsflash: We ALL live in glass houses.

The things we say and do in this life are what matters. The way we treat one another is what matters. Our good intentions and our best efforts do matter, whether or not we stumble along the way (and we do all stumble). Why bother exploring a site like this if not to find messages of inspiration from others who share in the struggle of making meaningful and positive use of the lives we have been given, despite whatever challenges or adversity we may face? We all have choices: We may simply (and powerfully) be present for one another along the journey, or we may even go so far as to actively comfort and cheer each other along the way.

But, surely, there must be plenty of other blogs to be found elsewhere for those who wish to spend the precious life they have been given spewing venom and wallowing in negativity.

THISHOWISEEIT

You wrote, "There is no excuse to tell a lie and you know which lie I'm talking about."

I know you directed this comment to Albert, but I would like to know what "lie" you are talking about, could you be specific?

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Thisishowiseeit:

I think you are attacking Albert for your own reasons. YOU may not find organized religion of any help; there are many of us, including in the clergy who do. As clergy we are called to lead a community--a community of those who DO find organized religion, and who have vountarily become part of this community--and the idea of a loving Supreme Being is of significant help and meaning in our lives. That being said, I do not see how we are in any sense violating the Golden Rule. If you want to find non-religious help, that's great, in fact, I'm happy to spend my time with anyone who needs, me, even if we never say a religious word. I believe I am called not only to a ministry of word, but of being present. If my sitting with someone, or bathing them, or helping them to a doctor, and by so doing, am helping them in some way, so be it. If you don't want to deal with religion, that's your choice. Don't attack those of us who choose a different way.

Pr Chris

Albert,
your post tell us that we should belong to organized Religion to help or get help in difficult times. This imply a belief in a loving Supreme Being. This is fine if you keep for yourself, but telling others a lie goes against The Golden Rule. Family members, friends, neighbours, city agencies of well organized and compassionate democracy help people in need without breaking The Golden Rule. There is no excuse to tell a lie and you know which lie I'm talking about.