1) Recently an ardent Catholic very adamantly informed me that unlike some forms of Protestantism, Catholicism isn't a religion of the book, but of the community of Catholics. There's some truth in that, I think, regardless of what the church fathers were up to in the early days, when the chaos of a wrecked Roman Empire forced it to become something much more malevolent than a community of the faithful.

My best friend is Catholic and I work with several Catholics. They believe the Nicene Creed, which calls for a literal, historic god-man named Jesus. The mythology of the gnostic was turned into "literal history" via horrendous methods, and one could make the case that the church of Rome is the church of the Demiurge. Regardless, one could never sell the idea that Roman Catholics are not 'of the book' in this community; certainly the Catholics I know would disagree with your friend.

2) Bloody deeds and the often misplaced human hunger for order and stability have always been close relatives. This isn't something which you can blame on monstrous individuals, but on human beings as a whole. To the extent that we want order, and feel powerless to secure it, we are tempted to be complicit. This is why demagogues and radical populists prosper, and why civilization has to be defended against fear, and the allegiances of simpletons deconstructed. It's as true in our own age as it ever was, and inventing a demonology to explain it, as it was or as it is, is rarely helpful.

The flawed nature of this life is apparent to all that look around them, I'll agree with you there. The dogma of the dominate three 'religions' gives a world view that allows demagogues and radical populists to work their magic. They claim that they know the only way to avoid eternal torture by god; anything on earth that helps anyone avoid that (I am killing you to help people!) is therefore justified. It was (and still is) the fear that held the empire together for a millennium or two.

The early Christians (now labeled 'heretics') believed all would ultimately be redeemed and re-joined with the divine; so there was no reason to go kill people over dogma; hell there was no dogma. They told us to look inside for the divine.

We're way off topic at this point, ...

Are we not always off topic? :-)

The great thing about my belief system is that I feel no need to 'convert' you or your Catholic friend. Or mine, for that matter. Your punishment for not awakening to the truth is that you will reincarnate here in this material world to try again. Although, it may not be earth and you may not be human, but you will do it over until you get it right. (just think, puberty all over again!)

I could never imagine how some people buy the idea that the divine ineffable one would find a man guilty and due torture throughout all eternity simply because he was born and some long ago ancestor pissed 'god' off. But, then again, I can not imagine how we humans come up with half the fallacies we believe.

Have a good week.

http://icestationtango.blogspot.com/

"From now until the end of his term the Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives should impeach the President every day before starting their regular schedule. He may never be removed, but he'll damn sure be noted in history as the President who was impeached hundreds of times."

"...but he met this aspect of his time in office with courage and fortitude. Qualities notably lacking in Democrats.

So, console yourself with "sour grapes". Maybe it will give you comfort as you watch history pass you by." shooter242

You paint with a pretty 'broad brush' when you mention qualities lacking in Democrats. All Democrats?

However, on to the main point. How exactly did President Bush II act with 'courage and fortitude' by keeping a crony out of jail. That escapes me; it seems that letting Libby go to jail and risk his talking about what he knows would have taken real courage.

I had to look up fortitude since your use of it seemed odd:

fortitude: mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously: Never once did her fortitude waver during that long illness.

What danger did the President face? I was attacked with scorn and invective here for saying that the Democrats had to impeach the man. Do you think he risked impeachment to free the fellow who could finger the criminal gang? At most he risked a nasty footnote in history over the affair.

... of some importance.

Can Bush II issue a pardon for all of his cronies in the government on his last day in office? Well yes, we all know that. The big one is -- can he pardon himself for all crimes he has ever committed up till that day?

Remember that the 2008 elections will already be history by then so there is no 'party loyalty' to prevent such an act, as if he were loyal to anything but his criminal gang.