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[Quahom1]

Q:
Believable it is, but I myself don't believe much of what's on TV.

Yes...I'm pretty sure that he existed, aside from the proof you've found. As I've said several times here, all great and believable mythology contains kernels of truth that our researchers seem to uncover these days when we least expect it. By the way, I again think that you'd really enjoy the periodical that I mentioned previously, Biblical Archaeology Review.

I also think that the central point of the story is that those who lived in enslaved societies, such as ancient Egypt...great and majestic as it was, are not as capable of creative thinking as are those who live in relatively free societies, such as the biblical land of the Hebrews. Joseph's free upbringing "allowed" him to see and interpret things in Pharoh's dreams that even his wisest advisers were not capable of doing. And thus did Joseph make his mark, with his brain.

flow....

My point is...it existed at all. That just quelled about 99% of the nay sayers of those who called the Exodus, hogwash, because there was no enslavement, and no Hebrew in charge...Egypt, afterall, would have nothing to do with an inferior ethnic group...or would they?

looks like the most assuredly did...

 

[The Lord]

... What role do you think people of faith should play in politics and government?

Directly? None. Indirectly, people of faith influence society as citizens and as long as they do not step on other citizens' rights (and faith, I might add).

 

[Quahom1]

Directly? None. Indirectly, people of faith influence society as citizens and as long as they do not step on other citizens' rights (and faith, I might add).

Well, then you can sit on the side lines, while the rest of us get involved in our governments, and influence it as we think things should be. One less voice, or vote, just makes it that much easier for those of us with "agendas" to get those agendas made into law...

 

[kenod]

Posted by kenod ... What role do you think people of faith should play in politics and government?

Directly? None. Indirectly, people of faith influence society as citizens and as long as they do not step on other citizens' rights (and faith, I might add).

It depends upon what "rights" some citizens are demanding. Changing the law to accommodate minority values, changes society as a whole. Legislation has a profound affect on the formation of social values. What may begin as an anti-discrimination measure, can evolve into a restriction on what others are allowed to do and say.

Christians who believe that same sex behaviour is sinful have been fined for making public media statements in Canada and Britain.

In my country, a church holding a public religious seminar has been fined for saying Islam is wrong (actually they are still waiting on the result of an appeal). http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20240491-25717,00.html

Does the free practice of religion mean we cannot say I am right and you are wrong?

btw, sometimes we inadvertently step on others' faith .. I find your forum name problematic ... would you go into a forum on Islam and use Allah or The Prophet as your name? Possibly you will respond with "The Lord of the manor ..." but in the present context there is a more obvious connotation that some in this forum will find offensive.