Anyone out there who can point me to a website that discusses the whole stem cell issue without terribly too much spin. I am so confused by the conflicting positions out there that I really have no clue what would be the most ethical position.

Not surprisingly, those who think it might help them or those suffering from their disease are for it. Of course, conservative Christians have their agenda as well. I can't trust many of them because they are still trying to convince me that the world is 4000 years old and calling that science!

I really would appreciate your help here!

Why do I Blog? You know, I really don’t have the time to do it and I should be doing something else. However, as a Christian I feel obligated to speak out against what I feel is wrong with my own theological tradition, the broader church family, and society as a whole. When I see something that bothers me, I have a responsibility to attempt to speak the truth in love.

On the other hand, I’m (most times) not so arrogant as to believe that my own position is always right. Thus, I seek input from others. A couple of things in American Christianity that bothers me so much is that it is so individualistic and “me-centered” rather than communal and that persons seem to feel that there are really no right or wrong answers because religion is subjective (more on the second belief later). I simply cannot go to the Bible without bringing my perspective and biases (and neither can you!) so I must also listen to the voices of others whom God has called into the community of faith.

It’s not surprising when I get nasty responses from my brothers and sisters in Christ. I’m just so disappointed that I’m not surprised.

1. JESUS IS A REPUBLICAN-I doubt you'll hear a republican saying this!-Luke 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

2. AMERICA IS A CHRISTIAN NATION-- By most standards, Deists aren't really Christians. Besides, when were we Christian? When Baptists were being persecuted and had to flee to Rhode Island? When Africans were being enslaved? When Native Americans were being killed and forced from THEIR land? When African-Americans were being denied the right to vote (see below)? When Japanese-Americans were being rounded up and led off to camps? Need I go on?

3. PEOPLE ARE POOR BECAUSE THEY ARE LAZY--see below

4. CHRISTIANS ARE MORE MORAL THAN OTHER PEOPLE--What about the murder of thousands of Anabaptists during the Reformation? What about how Christians have treated Muslims and Jews throughout history? THANK GOD FOR GRACE!

5. WE BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE ALONE--ever try this? "Matt.5.29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell." The truth is, NOBODY goes to the Bible without some hermeneutic! This is just an easy way to write off folks you don't agree with.

6. ANYBODY WHO DOESN’T AGREE WITH YOU DOESN’T BELIEVE IN JESUS OR THE BIBLE--This is just plain ignunce!

7. THE WORLD IS GETTING MORE SINFUL, THE GOOD OLD DAYS WERE MORE MORAL--I know Rob and Laura Petrie weren't sleeping in the same bed in the 60's. But African-Americans were being denied the right to eat at certain restaraunts, not being allowed to vote, and having attack dogs unleashed upon them for protesting. Different sins, but just as horrible as those we have now don't you think?

8. THE WORLD IS ABOUT 4000 YEARS OLD

9. WOMEN AREN’T FULLY HUMAN

10. CHRISTIANS ARE BEING PERSECUTED IN AMERICA--I bet if the Christians in our nations high schools chose to love everyone in the schools (even the freaks) there might be less acts of violence from the outcasts.

I'll expand later, but tell me what you think...