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Rick, peyote is legal if you are at least 3/4 Native American, and a member of the Native American Church (unless you are in the Military, where zero tolerance means zero tolerance). Eating the flesh of Christ, and drinking His blood, is a symbolic thing, every Christian denomination (not just Catholics) practice communion, and everyone knows it's wine and unleavend bread, not cannibalism. Finally, the Jews have been circumsizing boys since Old Testimate times, and modern science has shown that it is actually a better practice than not hygenically speaking. I still can't answer your question why polygamy is illegal, except that the Mormons were persecuted for it until they "officially" recognized the illegality and "officially" abandoned the practice a hundred years ago, except that it was in a much less "politically correct" time. So while we're on the subject of religeon and banned practices, can anyone explain why the bulk of the Muslim clerics allowed to proseletize in the correctional system are Wahabi Islamics? These are the ones who practice the same bracnch of Isam as the 911 hijackers, and Osama Bin Laden! and we're letting them preach to a segment of our population that already has shown disdain and disrespect for our society and way of life. WTF?

A lot of things are done in the name of religion. Although I can't quote a source I believe the practice of plural marriage was outlawed simply because it upset traditional values.

There has to be a limit as to what a religion can claim as a basic right of their faith. I know that some religions still practice animal sacrifice and the US courts have upheld their right to do so. On the other hand, if a religious cult decided that beastiality was a major part of their faith, I doubt our government would go along with the practice.

There is no requirement to have a degree or any special training to be a religious leader. Anyone can proclaim themselves self-ordained priest, minister, or grand poobah. Therefore a person could set whatever rules they wish for their religion. The law of the land still has to take presedence over such things.

pabloescobar, needed what???

good point )), but lately it seems that simply practicing the CChristian faith is considered to be imposing something on someone. food for thought

CWFoster

damn, you are smart!

if the jews were mormons, we would have a number of wives as long as only one were jewish,(put two jewish women together and you have defined yentas), in spite of the law, and, i guess if mormans were jews, the covenant abraham made with god, would have been broken.

i don't know how anyone or group can stop any church or lay person from proselytizing. how many crusades were there? how many knocks on the door on a sunday.

a very wise young girl i met once, who was a member of the aimee semple mcpherson, four square church, responded when i asked how she could believe her religion was right and all the other's were wrong,
"for me to believe in my church, i must believe it is the only way. if i accepted someone else's religious views, mine would not be the only way and i must believe it is."

as far as native americans, i've been to 2 "indian" casinos and they don't let you smoke cigars inside, so they can stick there peyote wherever they want.

Rick, the Casino's on the Indian Reservations in Tucson allowed me to smoke Cigars while playing Poker??

I don't play slots so I wouldn't know about that area of play?? but the poker tables and craps were all lit up...

as far as religion and beliefs... Well it doesn't matter what faith you are or weather you go to church or not... it does matter however your obidience to god...

Rick, you've been posting allot on religion lately.. and a few posts back you posted on some books you've been reading... here's another book that will interest you I'm sure.... the Bait of Satan by John Bever... very interesting reading and makes one think...

I'd send it to you but my Daughter wants to read it next.. but when she completes it your more then welcome??

Hog

RICKAMAVEN,

If nobody objects is anybody harmed?

CWFoster

i am not being sarcastic, i am in agreement with you.

were you confused by my little jew and morman reference? it's a little convoluted like most parables, but it will hold up to scrutiny.

Rick, I confess that that was where I got a bit lost! :-)

First you don't smoke Peyote, you chew it or ingest it as a brewed tea. Second you don't have to be 3/4 Indian to be a member of the church.

Hell the Joya de Nics Antanos were as strong as Thai stick until someone changed the blend! Still got a couple of the ones from last year//they are treasures!

Charlie

All of the above!

Charlie

RICKAMAVEN,
You missed the point of my question. I wasn't talking about you. If NOBODY objects - not even the people who are contrary just for the sake of being contrary - then is anybody harmed?

Rickamaven wrote: "i don't like my time wasted by someone elses beliefs"

Which is EXACTLY why I don't read most of your posts.

428cj,

No, by no means am I saying that you or anyone else are wrong for following your choice of religion. Nor am I stating that I am above or better than anyone for my beliefs. I'm just saying that alot of times people forget that it is just that, a choice. And tend to place their pastor or preist on some type of pedestal. I beleive that this is a modern form of idoloterism. "In the last days there will be many false prophets". As I stated it is so often believed blindly that one who does not follow the same religion is the enemy. And nothing outside of their own churches book of choice holds any merit. But all of these books are written by man, no doubt at times under the influence of God, but by man all the same. There are many studies on religious text, where many similarities were found in all of them. Sometimes even down to naming the same people or place in time. Now in anceint times when kings wanted to keep information secret, they often broke down the information and had it dispatched to different parts of the kingdom by couriers. Do you think that perhaps this was Gods plan as well? Maybe that is why bibles are such a coded mystery and all religions I have crossed are based more on faith than on written text.

clive: i assure you, you don't have to be 3/4 native american to partake; you just have to be on native land and either be a member of a native denomination or be their guest in order to take peyote (tea form is most common). also, not all native american tribes, nations or spiritual collectives include taking peyote. :)

as for communion, aka "the eucharist," there is among catholics (at least hardcore roman catholics) the belief called "transubstiation." what that means is that, so it is believed, at the time when the priest gives the eucharist, it IS actually transformed into the literal body and blood of christ.

in most if not all protestant denominations, the eucharist/communion is, indeed, symbolic. not so for the holy roman catholic church and eastern orthodox church, which both teach transubstiation.