Elton John, one of pop world’s most iconic singers and musicians – and who now includes a “Sir” before his name, due to the knighthood he received from the British queen in 1998 – tore into North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory in a published op-ed post about the state’s transgender law, calling it both “discriminatory” and “traumatic” to those in the LGBT community. “McCrory has doubled down on his support for H.B. 2, the discriminatory bill requiring public school students to use restrooms for the gender they were assigned at birth,”
John wrote, referencing the state’s suit against the Department of Justice to fight the feds’ demand to North Carolina to stop engaging in a “pattern or practice of employment discrimination on the basis of sex,” the Hill reported. John then decried the “millions in taxpayer dollars” McCrory would need to win the suit, and said the governor’s “ignorance” at legislating on the matter without ever meeting with a transgender in person was a prime example of what’s wrong in politics. READ MORE
He needs prayers.
THE GAY/ LESBIAN AGENDA FREQUENTLY POSES AS A TRANSGENDERED AGENDA (and… the Gay/ Lesbian Agenda, and the Transgendered Agenda, not to be confused with the “Gay/ Lesbian Transexual Agenda”, and the “Gay/ Lesbian Transexual Gender Re-assignment Surgery Agenda”!… which are other matters, altogether!)!
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ALL GAYS/ LESBIANS WERE NOT SIMPLY “BORN THAT WAY”!… AND!… JUST AS ALL TRANSEXUALS WERE NOT “BORN THAT WAY”!
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Such thinking, would suggest that there’s no such thing as “FREE WILL”/ “CHOICE” when it comes to sexual orientation (the TRULY TRANSGENDERED, being the exception to this!)! And again!… not to be confused with those who are transexual!… or!… transexuals who have “CHOSEN” “Gender Re-assignment Surgery (AND!… DESPITE EVIDENCE OF ANY PROVEN BIOLOGICAL/ GENETIC PREDISPOSITION TO BEING “BORN THAT WAY”!… AND POSSESSING A TRULY “TRANSGENDERED BIO-SEXUAL ORIENTATION”!)”!
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THE RATIONALE FOR “TRANSGENDERED GENDER RE-ASSIGNMENT SURGERY” IS NOT SYNONYMOUS!… AND IS NOT TO BE MADE SYNONYMOUS!… WITH “GAY/ LESBIAN TRANSEXUAL GENDER RE-ASSIGNMENT SURGERY”!
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For!… it’s one thing for a six year old boy to want to cut off his genitals due to an overwhelming biological (hormonal) tendency to femininity!… but!… it’s quite another issue, to do so, based on a series of “familially-based, peer-based, or socially-based behavioral influences (and!… on many occasions!… due to incidents of ‘incest-based, peer-based, or stranger-based SEXUAL ABUSE’!– whether as children, and/ or, as adults!)”!
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So… the question, is:… are you “coming out” to reveal your gay/ lesbian “CHOICE” OF ORIENTATION (i.e., a “CHOICE” based on whatever “NURTURE-BASED/ non-biological” circumstances may have led you to your resolve!)!… or!… are you anxious to end the REAL MENTAL/ EMOTIONAL PAIN of hiding a TRULY “BIOLOGICALLY-BASED CONDITION” THAT YOU HAVE HAD– HAVE!– NO CONTROL OVER (AND WHICH MAY HAVE LED YOU– IS LEADING YOU!– TO THE POINT OF SELF-HARM!… OR!– WORSE!… SUICIDE!)?
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If it’s the former… fine!… THAT’S YOUR “CHOICE”!… BUT (and… if it was your “FREE CHOICE”!), DON’T THEN, HAVE YOURSELF– AND/ OR US!– BELIEVE, THAT YOUR DECISION TO COME FORWARD WAS BASED ON SOME BIOLOGICAL/ GENETIC PRECONDITION THAT “PREEMPTED” YOUR “TRUE DECISIONMAKING (I.E., THAT YOU WERE ‘BORN THAT WAY’!… OR HAD NO ‘FREE CHOICE’ IN THE MATTER!)”! AND!… IF YOUR “WOULD-BE CHOICE” WAS “PREEMPTED” BY WAY OF SOMEONE ELSE’S MANIPULATION OF YOUR “FREE WILL (E.G., BY WAY OF AN ABUSER!)”!… AND, YOU’VE SUFFERED– AND/ OR ARE SUFFERING!– MENTAL/ EMOTIONAL PAIN AS A RESULT OF SOMEONE ELSE’S PAST– AND/ OR PRESENT!– MANIPULATION OF YOUR OTHERWISE “FREE WILL”!… THAT MANIPULATION DOES NOT EQUATE TO BEING “BORN THAT WAY”! AND SO!… AND AS SUCH!… YOU MUST BEGIN TO SORT OUT– HONESTLY!– WHAT HAS HAPPENED (AND/ OR IS HAPPENING!) TO YOU!… AND TO SEEK TO EITHER ACCEPT A TRULY “TRANSGENDERED STATE”!… OR!… SEEK TO ESTABLISH WHETHER YOUR “WILL” IN YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, WAS “PREEMPTED”– AND/ OR IS BEING “PREEMPTED”!– BY ANOTHER, OR OTHERS!… OR NOT!
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As for “BATHROOM LAWS”!… a “THIRD BATHROOM”!– AND DESPITE THE COSTS, AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS!– would be a wiser solution, than pitting hetero males and females (adults, or children!) against the transgendered, and/ or gays, or lesbians! And to offset the costs for “The Third Bathroom (an excellent title for a movie… starring whoever! And wherein!… a gay, and lesbian meet– and fall in love!)”, I’d suggest, Crowdfunding campaigns!… and/ or!… the proceeds, from a movie!
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Please!… no emails!
I’ll tell you this, religion is far more of a choice than homosexuality. And the protections we have for religion– we protect religion! And talk abut a lifestyle choice. That is absolutely a choice. Gay people don’t choose to be gay. At what age did you choose to not be gay? – Jon Stewart… to Presidential Hopeful, Mike Huckabee
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Dear, wonderful, precious Jon Stewart!… without whom– and along with Stephen Colbert!– Barack Obama might not have won the US Presidency!… at least!… as easily, as he did! Although… I must say!… Barack didn’t have much in the way of a contender! But!… what he faced… however!… was a confused, and frightened America! Thanks!… for the clarity!… and!… give my best!– our best!– to Stephen!
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Nevertheless!… let me respond to your offering to Mike Huckabee! And despite never having met him… or having been a part of his politics!
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Jon!… Dear Jon!… YES!… Mike– IN PART!– was genetically sexually oriented to be straight! However!… you’re missing part of the equation here!… and that is, the impact of NURTURE-BASED development!
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Jon!… if everything was merely based upon genetics, then YOUR REPLY to Mike!… and, MY REPLY to you!… here!… now!… is/ are nothing more than the manifestation of a biologically predetermined event, or series of events (i.e., “BIOLOGICAL FATE”!)! But!… this IS NOT the DEFINITIVE ANSWER to our respective sexual orientations! We are more than just a fateful epiphenomnon of molecular arrangements! We have CHOICE!… COGNITIVE PLASTICITY! And as the expression goes!… the “I” that is ME!… and YOU!… is/ are more than just the sum of the parts, of fateful genetic predetermination!
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Nonetheless!… both our genetics, and our nurture, are elements in our individual developments!… BY DEGREE! That is to say, are individually unique!… and weighted more so on the side of genetics for some!… and for others, more so on the side of nurture! BUT!… LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE!… BOTH GENETICS, AND NURTURE, PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN OUR RESPECTIVE DEVELOPMENTS!
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And our genetics and nurture are further impacted by our environments!… both informational environments, and physical environments! From natural physical perturbations, to man-made physical perturbations (e.g., and re the latter!… like lead in paint eaten by children from bedroom walls, and drunk from the water in the pipes in Minnesota!… to the BPA in the lining of cans used for storing food!)… from natural informational perturbations, to man-made informational perturbations (e.g., and re the latter!… like “advertising lead” eaten by children from bedroom TVs, and drunk from the cesspool within the “internet pipes” in Cyberspace!… to the BP stories lining the cans used for discarding food!)!
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And so… and to conclude… to be genetically programmed to be transgendered (i.e., physically predisposed to a hybrid sexual orientation!), is a REAL human biological manifestation! However!… and as you’ve NO DOUBT learned over the years!… natural and man-made physical perturbations, and natural and man-made informational perturbations, have added to our “genetic-wiring” to further compound our respective developments! And it is a composite arrangement of all of these features, that make up a YOU!… and a ME!
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And!… at the end of the day!… AND SURELY!… we would want to know– SHOULD, WANT TO KNOW!– what OTHER FACTORS have been at/ in play, that have made, and are making, who we are! And!… if certain of those factors– e.g., child abuse (an example of a man-made “informational perturbation!)!– has set the stage for our sexual orientation, then we would/ should want to effect the “information treatment” of the factor, or factors, that have PREEMPTED our NATURAL CHOICE!… AND COURSE!
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All the best!… to you, and yours!… and to our BELOVED transgendered communities!… and… to our BELOVED gays, lesbians, thesBIANS and thesGAYNS! I bet you thought this was going to end on a serious note!
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Dear Caitlyn Jenner!… wherever you are!… “O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!… How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!” “Who has known the mind of the Lord?… Or who has been His counselor?” [Romans 11: 33 and 34, Berean Literal Bible]
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Caitlyn!… Kim Howe’s death was not in vain!… as she miraculously took the evil, and the campaigns aimed at you, and the transgendered, into eternity!
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She… as you’ve you no doubt come to learn, was a caring soul!… and was a champion of the rights of God’s most vulnerable creatures! Please believe, that humanity… to her!… was of even greater importance, than the animals she so tirelessly defended!… and protected! Caitlyn!… whether she knew it, or not!… and whether you know it, or not!… she was to ease your transition!… and the transition of millions of transgendered souls! The debate!… YOUR debate!… and their debate!… was ended in her sudden parting! And a new one!– and a fruitful one!– had begun!… while the world was left tranfixed, on the enigma of Kim’s passing!
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You know!… I know!… that you will never forget her!… and that you will always cherish, and champion her cause!… her “pet love”!… and her love of pets! And you!… whether you knew it– know it!– or not!… were destined!– are destined!– to carry on her legacy!… and to continue to care for those, without a voice! Whether for the transgendered… humanity!… or, for those for whom humanity, must now entreat!! Jesus loves you Caitlyn!… he really does!
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The comments Goog’s result, Justice Department says (laughs) are– I believe– a helpful complement to some of the issues which have been raised in connection with the North Carolina Bathroom law!
The comments at Goog’s result, Justice Department says (laughs), are– I believe– a helpful complement to some of the issues which have been raised in connection with the North Carolina Bathroom law!
For those who may wonder about Islam… and its place in the world… I offer you the following…
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JESUS CHRIST, MUHAMMAD, AND THE GOP
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In an attempt to ascertain the Biblical Truth concerning the veracity of the “claims” attributed to the said prophet Muhammad (by whomever, and whenever), and afterupon my examination of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and the Quran, I happened upon a couple of remarkable verses in the Book of Luke, in the New Testament, of the Bible (although, found elsewhere, within the New Testament!).
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Under the Book of Luke, Chapter 16, Verse 16, we read, “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed UNTIL (my emphasis) John (i.e., John the Baptist!).”… and, within the Book of Luke, Chapter 7, Verse 28, we read, “I say to you, among those born of women, there is NO ONE GREATER (my emphasis) than John (i.e., John the Baptist!)”! [Gideons Translation]
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Simply stated, if the claim on page 8 of the book titled, The Quran Translated: Message For Humanity, is correct… and which reads, “… Being the last of these Prophets, Muhammad was to be God’s FINAL (and thus, ULTIMATE!) Messenger!…”… then!… the words attributed to Christ within the Book of Luke, Chapter 7, Verse 28, are UNTRUE! And so!… making Christ “confused”– at best!… or– worse!– A LIAR! But, if the words of Christ within the Book of Luke, Chapter 7, Verse 28, and, in Chapter 16, Verse 16, are TRUE!… then!… not only was Muhammad NOT the greatest of the Prophets, he (Muhammad!)– AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY!– COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROPHET, AT ALL (i.e., as such is described, within the pages of the Bible!)! For!… and apart from Christ’s words in Luke 7: 28 (extolling praise, glory, and the Seal of Finality on John the Baptist!)… how could the Law and the Prophets be up UNTIL John, yet– nevertheless!– a subsequent prophet (and yea!… supposedly!… THE GREATEST PROPHET!) is revealed some six hundred years after the fact, of the time of Christ (see, Quran, CH 33: 41… and note: With the exception of Ahmadi Muslims, “Khatamu ’n-Nabiyyīn”– “Seal of the Prophets”!– is regarded by Muslims to mean that Muhammad was the last of the prophets sent by God!)?
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And thus, the battle… then!… obviously!… is between the claims proffered by the self-styled prophet of God, Muhammad!… and, the claims CLEARLY ATTRIBUTED to Christ! And as for the said appearance of Archangel Gabriel to Muhammad to bestow upon Muhammad a SPECIAL PROPHETIC DISPENSATION (as outlined in the work, The Quran Translated: Message For Humanity!), such an act by Gabriel (something not mentioned in the Bible!) would put Gabriel in conflict with the words– and will!– of Jesus Christ!… and– ultimately!– in conflict with GOD! And so, if the said prophet Muhammad did in fact receive a visit from an Angel, I would strongly assert that that Angel, was someone OTHER, than Gabriel!
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And so!… there can be only ONE!… CLEAR!… resolve to this epistemologic dilemma!:… either Jesus Christ or Muhammad, was “confused”!… OR!… A LIAR! For!… God is not “confused”!… and God is not a LIAR! And!… as there is OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE for the veracity of the claims put forward by Jesus Christ, the “confusion”!… OR!… DISHONESTY!… IS NOT CHRIST’S! As 1 John 2: 22 states, Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the ANTICHRIST!– denying the Father and the Son. [NIV]
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But with regard to the “conservative reaction” to Islam… the view of the “self-avowed/ averred” “CHRISTIAN RIGHT (and its supporters… e.g., the Right-wing GOP!)”, that THESE have a “DEVINE/ SACROSANCT DISPENSATION (i.e., one ‘blessed by God’!… AND YEA, ‘A RIGHT, AT THE HEART, OF THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST!’)”, and/ or, a “SACROSANCT HUMAN RIGHT (i.e., in deference to the non-Christian, Humanist members of the GOP!)” to bear arms in defence of themselves (e.g., against the likes of ISIS!), and in defence of the “downtrodden” of the world… is… well!… SUSPECT! And!… begs the question: “Is their ‘DEVINE POSTURE’, and ‘DEFENSIVE POSITION’, JUSTIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST?” Well… let us examine (i.e., those who profess Christ!) a few further New Testament passages, to find out!
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In Matthew Chapter 05, Verse 38, Christ states: “You’ve heard that it has been said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, THAT YOU NOT RESIST (PHYSICALLY CONTEND WITH!) EVIL: WHOSOEVER SHALL HIT YOU ON ONE CHEEK, TURN TO THAT ONE, ALSO, THE OTHER.” In Matthew Chapter 10, Verse 16, Christ states, “Be aware!… I send you out AS SHEEP, in the midst of wolves; therefore, be as wise as serpents, BUT HARMLESS, AS DOVES.”
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Next, the ensuing is a question put to Christ from a Pharisaic lawyer… in an effort to tempt Christ! In Matthew, Chapter 22, Verse 36, the Pharisaic lawyer asks (in an attempt to catch Jesus in some act of pompous pontification, and religious sophistry!): “Master, which is the GREAT COMMANDMENT in the Law?”; V37) Jesus said unto him, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND”; V38) “THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT”; V39) “AND THE SECOND IS LIKE UNTO IT!… ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, AS YOURSELF'”; V40) “ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS, HANG ALL THE LAW, AND THE PROPHETS!”
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Next, are the words of Paul to the Ephesians, concerning the Christian’s struggle with evil: In Ephesians Chapter 06, Verse 12, Paul states: “FOR WE (CHRISTIANS!) WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD; BUT, AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.”
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Next, in advance of His anticipated sojourn to the Garden of Gethsemene, Jesus sought to convey an important message to His entourage– and, to all others who might bear witness (then, and in the future!)!– about the error of physically resisting/ contending with evil (in an effort to vanquish it!)! And!… in preparation!… set in motion, the ensuing means– whereby!– His message to be told, could be told!
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In Luke, Chapter 22, Verse 36, Christ states to His entourage: “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it!… and likewise, a knapsack! And let the one who has no sword, sell his cloak, and buy one (a sword!)”; V37) “For I tell you, that this Scripture must be fulfilled… in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.'” “For what is written about Me, has its fulfillment”; V38) And they said (those with Christ!): “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And He (Jesus!) said to them: “It is enough”; V39) And when Jesus came out, He went (as was His custom!) to the Mount of Olives; and His disciples followed Him.
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Subsequently, and upon completion of His efforts in the Garden of Gethsemene, Jesus stood ready to confront the evil, advancing upon Him and His followers. In Matthew, Chapter 26, Verse 46, Jesus states: “Rise, let us be going. See… My betrayer is at hand”; V47) While He was still speaking, Judas came (one of the original twelve disciples!)… and, with him, a great crowd… with swords, and clubs… from the Chief Priests… to the elders of the people; V48) Now the betrayer had given them (those with Judas!) a sign; and, saying to them (those with Judas!): “The one I will kiss, is the man… seize Him”; V49) And he came up to Jesus, at once, and said: “Greetings, Rabbi!”… and he (Judas!) kissed Him (Jesus!); V50) Jesus said to him: “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they (those with Judas!) came up, and laid hands on Jesus… and seized Him; V51) And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword (i.e., Simon… Peter… see, John 18: 10)… , and struck the servant of the High Priest… cutting off his ear; V52) Then Jesus said to the one (Peter) who drew the sword: “PUT YOUR SWORD BACK INTO ITS PLACE. FOR ‘ALL’ WHO USE THE SWORD, WILL PERISH BY THE SWORD”; V53) “DO YOU THINK THAT I CAN’T APPEAL TO MY FATHER?… WHO WILL, AT ONCE, SEND ME MORE THAN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS!”; V54) “BUT HOW, THEN (if God were to do this!… Jesus continued!) SHALL THE SCRIPTURES BE FULFILLED?”… THAT THUS, IT MUST BE SO (i.e., that the prophesied events should happen in the manner, as was prophesied!)?”
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An interesting response to His disciples– to say the least!… and, after having compelled them to buy, and bring the weapons, in the first place! And!… at a time, of the greatest physical threat to the life of Jesus!… that would lead to His very crucifixion! But!– and as it turned out!– to teach them (and all who would eventually receive these actions, and words!), an important lesson:… VENGENCE IS GOD’S PREROGATIVE!– NOT MAN’S!; VENGENCE IS NOT THE RESERVE OF THOSE CLAIMING CHRIST!; AND, IT IS NOT TO BE METED OUT, IN THIS WORLD! And!… Jesus adds an additional reinforcement, in the Book of John…
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In John, Chapter 18, Verse 36, Jesus states: “MY KINGDOM ‘IS NOT’ OF THIS WORLD!… IF IT WERE, MY SERVANTS ‘WOULD HAVE FOUGHT (and I’ll add here… when Judas, and his gang, met Christ!)’, THAT I MIGHT NOT BE DELIVERED OVER TO THE JEWS!…”
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In other words, the servants of Christ DID NOT PHYSICALLY RESIST EVIL!… EITHER TO SAVE CHRIST, OR THEMSELVES!… AND!… MOST IMPORTANTLY!… WERE COMMANDED BY CHRIST, NOT TO DO SO!
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And so, are we (who profess Christ!) to adopt the view… today!… in 2016!… that THIS WORLD (the world that Christ declared was NOT His Kingdom!), IS TO BE MADE HIS KINGDOM!… IS TO BE MADE “OUR” KINGDOM!… THROUGH BLOODSHED? AND!… AS IF!… THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, HAD ARRIVED!
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And further… and in a perverse– SATANIC-BACKED!– attempt to subvert the simple story of the AGAPE LOVE of Jesus Christ for God, and for mankind, the following Bible passage is often cited as some kind of “DEVINE SUPPORT” for the position, that “CHRISTIANS” should “BATTLE EVIL THROUGH THE FLESH”!
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In John, Chapter 15, Verse 13, Christ states: “GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE, THAN THIS: THAT ONE LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE, FOR ONE’S FRIENDS!”
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The questions to be asked here, are these: “Is the ‘laying down’ of one’s life for one’s friends (AS A CHRISTIAN!), the same as TAKING THE LIFE OF ANOTHER, OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS, IN ONE’S DEFENCE OF ONE’S FRIENDS?” And if so, how can/ does such a position remain CONSISTENT, with the totality– AND CLEAR!– teachings, of Jesus Christ?
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Simply put, given all of the aforenoted Scriptures (and those unstated!), there can be ONLY ONE INTERPRETATION of/ for John, Chapter 15, Verse 13… and that is: “OUR ‘LAYING DOWN’ OF ONE’S LIFE FOR A FRIEND– I.E., AS A TRUE CHRISTIAN, AND IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD!– MUST BE IN THE MANNER, OF JESUS CHRIST (I.E., ‘WITHOUT’ THE SHEDDING OF THE BLOOD, OF ANY OTHER)!”
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As a footnote– AND PLEA!– to the followers of Islam, and to the Global Muslim Community (leaving aside, for the moment, those who are of other faiths!): remember!… Islam attests to the existence of the person of Jesus Christ; however, the Old Testament (the Testament and Bible, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!… and to which, Islam subscribes!) DOES NOT ATTEST TO THE PERSON OF MUHAMMAD! And a Testament, and Bible, that preceded the birth of Jesus Christ!… and!… His New Testament!
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One can only speculate as to why Muhammad, and Islam emerged! Possibly the encroachment of Judaism!… and possibly the additional encroachment of the Roman Catholic movement (the latter of which, St. Paul… in tears!… warned the 1st century Christians, would arise! And!… which took the lives of many Christians, and non-christians alike!… and!… in the name of God, and Christ!)! But, whatever the reasons!… the words of Christ are clear!… John the Baptist!… was!… THE ONLY FINAL!… AND GREAT, PROPHET OF GOD!
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Please!… no emails!
STUDY FINDS NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR TRANSGENERISM
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This article is by courtesy of Raven Clabough, of The New American, of Wednesday, August 24, 2016
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The Left often likes to use science — or rather, a modified version of science — in arguments related to atheism, evolution, abortion, climate change, etc. But just how it will deal with a new scientific study on transgenderism remains to be seen. According to a new report published in The New Atlantis journal, transgenderism — the latest hot button social justice “ism” — is not supported by science.
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The report was co-authored by former Chief of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University Dr. Paul McHugh and Arizona State University Professor of Statistics and Biostatistics Lawrence Mayer. They concluded that “gender identity” is not separate from biological sex.
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“Examining research from the biological, psychological, and social sciences, this report shows that some of the most frequently heard claims about sexuality and gender are not supported by scientific evidence,” the report prefaced.
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“The hypothesis that gender identity is an innate, fixed property of human beings that is independent of biological sex — that a person might be ‘a man trapped in a woman’s body’ or ‘a woman trapped in a man’s body’ — is not supported by scientific evidence,” stated the researchers.
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This is not exactly groundbreaking news to those who exercise common sense, of course. Simply because an individual purports to identify as something doesn’t make it true, particularly if it is biologically impossible. It does not take a scientific study to confirm that a person who identifies as a horse, for example, is not a horse, or one who identifies as a chair is not in fact a chair. But the study should provide some weight to the common sense approach to transgenderism, while simultaneously exploding the beliefs of some social justice warriors who may have difficulty reconciling this scientific study with their own sense of reality.
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The New Atlantis report is sure to provoke some controversy, as it challenges a number of theories that have been readily accepted by the general public in recent years, including what the authors dub the “born that way” hypothesis: “The notion that homosexuality or heterosexuality is in any given person unchangeable and determined entirely apart from choices, behaviors, life experiences, and social contexts.” According to the authors, that view is not “well-supported by research.”
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The authors also take issue with the criteria found in the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for diagnosis of gender dysphoria in children, and the interventions used in the treatment of gender dysphoria despite the lack of scientific evidence behind them.
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At particular issue for the researchers is how transgenderism is being foisted on America’s youth, as the scientists note that most children outgrow gender confusion, and efforts to advocate transgender acceptance are sure to create further confusion. “Children are a special case when addressing transgender issues. Only a minority of children who experience cross-gender identification will continue to do so into adolescence or adulthood,” the report stated.
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“There is little scientific evidence for the therapeutic value of interventions that delay puberty or modify the secondary sex characteristics of adolescents, although some children may have improved psychological well-being if they are encouraged and supported in their cross-gender identification,” wrote the researchers. “There is no evidence that all children who express gender-atypical thoughts or behavior should be encouraged to become transgender.”
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The report argued that enabling acceptance of transgenderism through medical intervention is particularly harmful. “An area of particular concern involves medical interventions for gender-nonconforming youth. They are increasingly receiving therapies that affirm their felt genders, and even hormone treatments or surgical modifications at young ages,” the authors observed.
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These sentiments are similar to those found in a position statement released by the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) on March 21 entitled “Gender Ideology Harms Children,” in which the writers observed that any policies that foster the belief that gender dysphoria is anything beyond a psychological problem are in fact harmful.
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The authors of that position statement made several scientific observations, including that human sexuality “is an objective biological binary trait.” Children who use hormones to attempt to mimic a sex that is not their own have a number of dangerous physical and mental risks, the position statement advised, adding that “conditioning children into believing a lifetime of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex is normal and healthful” can be classified as child abuse.
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According to The New Atlantis study, in fact, conditioning anyone to accept impersonation of the opposite sex via surgery or chemical influences is harmful. The authors observe that adults who choose to have sex-reassignment surgeries have “a higher risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes.” They cite a study that found that sex-“reassigned individuals were about 5 times more likely to attempt suicide and about 19 times more likely to die by suicide.”
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Interestingly, PJ Media did a piece earlier this week on some of the real-life victims of what it dubbed the transgender “cult.” These” victims” were encouraged to embrace their gender confusion in their youth and are now living with the repercussions of those decisions. “I am a real, live 22-year-old woman, with a scarred chest and a broken voice, and five o’clock shadow because I couldn’t face the idea of growing up to be a woman. That’s my reality,” Cari Stella confessed in a YouTube video. “Gender was done to me, gender was traumatizing to me, I don’t want anything to do with it anymore,” she declared. She admitted, “When I was transitioning, I felt a strong desire — what I would have called a ‘need’ at the time — to transition.”
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Stella now contends that her transition only made things worse. “It can be damn hard to figure out that the treatment you’re being told is to help you is actually making your mental health worse. Testosterone made me even more dissociated than I already was,” she said.
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Stella is a prime example of an observation made by the authors in The New Atlantis study. They wrote, “The potential that patients undergoing medical and surgical sex reassignment may want to return to a gender identity consistent with their biological sex suggests that reassignment carries considerable psychological and physical risk.” The report ultimately concluded that politics and culture have been far too influential in the understanding of transgenderism and LGBT-related mental health problems, and encouraged individuals to take a more scientific approach to these issues.
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The researchers wrote, “While there is much controversy surrounding how our society treats its LGBT members, no political or cultural views should discourage us from understanding the related clinical and public health issues and helping people suffering from mental health problems that may be connected to their sexuality.”
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They readily admitted that better research is required to determine the best ways to help lower the rates of poor mental health outcomes in the LGBT community, but noted that despite the scientific uncertainty behind sexual orientation and gender identity, “drastic interventions” continue to be prescribed and delivered to patients.
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In June, McHugh noted that despite the lack of biological or physical basis for sexual identity, scientists struggled to persuade others that transgenderism is a psychological disorder because “there is a deep prejudice in favor of the idea that nature is totally malleable.”
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The authors of the article welcomed “spirited responses” to their report, and it is likely they will be barraged with exactly that.