Christians are the only philosophically aligned and driven group that is attempting to influence society, consider this. John Dewey (the Dewey Decimal System used in libraries) was given lifetime status as honorary president of the NEA (i.e. public schools). John Dewey was also an ardent humanist, who signed the humanist manifesto. Have you ever read the humanist manifesto. If you don't like religion, you better be careful what you wish for. Humanism replaces God with man. I'll take my chances with God any day. From the humanist manifesto:

SEVENTH: Religion consists of those actions, purposes, and experiences which are humanly significant. Nothing human is alien to the religious. It includes labor, art, science, philosophy, love, friendship, recreation -- all that is in its degree expressive of intelligently satisfying human living. The distinction between the sacred and the secular can no longer be maintained.

Sounds like religious governance to me. Religious governance where some guy says he is your god. How "tolerant" do you think he will be. Eugenics and humanism are allies. Are you a hippie, freeloader, learning disabled, or any form of "social undesirable"? If so, good luck with the humanists.

Also, John J. Dunphy, A New Religion For A New Age, in The Humanist, January/February 1983 edition:

"I am convinced that the battle for humankind's future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly view their role as the proselytizers of a new faith... The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new; the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of Humanism..."

Want to remove the Christian influence on society? Nature abhors a vacuum. Something else will always come in to fill the void. Be careful what you wish for.

Poco

A toy that costs two grand, makes funny pictures, and burns you. Why do you people buy this crap? Are Americans stupid or what? Thank god Birkenstock doesn't make computers.

-Poco

P.S. Wintel runs Photoshop far faster than any fruit PC.

"Bartlet's greatest transgression was lying about his medical condition (multiple sclerosis) during a campaign."

Yeah, he didn't lie about where he was stickin' his thang, and he didn't sell us to the Chinese. Sorkin, get a grip.

Poco

The sooner the current version of the republican party self destructs, the better. It's pretty clear that our current electoral environment will not support three parties in any meaningful way. However, if the republican party does implode (which, I'm afraid won't happen soon enough or completetly enough), the sooner a more conservative, less collaborative group can take its place. If you don't see the obvious links between the two groups currently running the show, its just because you are blazingly stupid.

You libs better hope it doesn't "implode".

Poco

Since the rejection of traditional moral values by many (and the subsequent return to the same by some), the desire for some framework or definition of human pursuits has given rise to humanism. You might say it is church with man as the vaulted god-figure (if you think I am making this up, read the Humanist Manifesto I-II). Without an immovable reference not subject to any one opinion for validation, humanity will seek some anchor, something not dependent on its own self-recognized flawed intellect. But, since humanity eschews the very anchor it desperately needs and secretly wants, having not found one, it will vascillate continually, tearing at itself, guilty and feeling foul. The answer, Humanism? It's already outdated, corny, and pompous. Feminism? Please...

One of my all-time favorite lines from a movie is this, from the Devil's Advocate (Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron):

"I'm here on the ground with my nose in it since the whole thing began! I've nurtured every sensation man has been inspired to have! I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him! Why? Because I never rejected him, in spite of all his imperfections! I'm a fan of man! I'm a humanist. Maybe the last humanist. Who, in their right mind... Kevin, could possibly deny... the 20th century was entirely mine? All of it, Kevin! All of it. Mine. I'm peaking, Kevin. It's my time now. It's our time. Anybody want a drink? I'm having a drink."

Guess who's line this is?

Keep on rejecting God. The price you pay is measured in the currency of your soul, and the souls of your children, figuratively and literally.

Poco

"Poco, keep your insane ramblings to your self..."

Why don't you just tell Salon to censor me?

Poco

Nothing more, nothing less.

Oh, he is also remote controlled by Gladys Oppenheimer.

Alan_S wrote:

"I suggest a qualified editor rewrite and correct this article. Take out any suppositions, like the writer's belief with no basis in fact that Al Gore's lifelong southern accent is a "put-on", and do it again and do it right."

Alan, Al Gore's "accent", infact his speech as a whole, is actually the result of a small defect in his text-to-speech processor chip. Read Gladys Oppenheimer's technical evaluation of AL's component pieces for more information.

Another interesting factiod: Did you know that Al Gore cannot vocalize the word ARGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!? (again, due to the chip problem). It comes out as EEEEAAAAGGHHHHRPRPRPRPRPplibplib.

Poco