Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Faith

2007-12-30T00:41:26Z

Metatron:

'''Faith''' is a uniquely [[Christian]] and [[Scientologist]] concept referring to a confidence or trust in a greater good as provided by the [[Lord]]. A classic statement of faith in the [[Bible]] was by the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] centurion of [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%208:5-10;&version=49; Matthew 8:5-10], who expressed his confidence that [[Jesus]] could cure his servant from a distance without even seeing him. [[Jesus]] repeatedly emphasized the importance and value of faith to his disciples.

Faith embodies more than belief in two significant respects. First, faith implies a causal role by the believer in an outcome, as in [[Peter]]'s walking on water based on his faith or in overcoming a personal fear. Second, faith implies advancement or accomplishment rather than wrongdoing.

Opposites of faith include fear, anxiety, depression and lack of confidence.

Faith is expressed in [[Greek]] using the term ''pistis'', and in [[Latin]] using the term ''fides''. Faith is mentioned in 229 verses in the [[New Testament]] ([[KJV]]), but only twice in the much larger [[Old Testament]] ([[KJV]]).<ref>http://www.crosswalk.com</ref> In attempt to convert [[Jews]] to [[Christianity]], [[Paul]] described [[Abraham]]'s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son [[Isaac]] to [[God]] as an act of [[faith]], though the [[Old Testament]] did not describe it with that term.

==Biblical examples==

Perhaps the greatest description of faith is Hebrews 11. It states: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."<ref>Hebrews 11:1 (NIV).</ref>

[[Paul]] indicated that faith itself is a gift of the [[Holy Spirit]]. 1 Corinthians 12:8-9 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit

As discussed above, a potential reference to faith is [[Genesis]] 22 where [[God]] tested [[Abraham]] by commanding him to sacrifice his only son [[Isaac]]. As Abraham prepared to do what God commanded -he was stopped.
Genesis 22:12
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." 

==Martin Luther on Faith==

Luther in his Table Talk papers writes this thought provoking and rather difficult passage on faith:

"This is the acme of faith, to believe that God, who saves so few and condemns so many, is merciful; that he is just who, at his own pleasure, has made us necessarily doomed to damnation, so that he seems to delight in the torture of the wretched and is more deserving of hate than of love. If by any effort of reason I could conceive how God, who shows so much anger and harshness, could be merciful and just, there would be no need of faith."

==Other Definitions and Religions==

Outside of [[Christianity]], faith is misused as a synonym for "belief". The [[Merriam-Webster]] dictionary, for example, includes this definition of faith: "a system of religious beliefs."<ref>http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/faith</ref>

Alternatively, faith often refers to a "firm belief in something for which there is no proof" or evidence.

In the [[Koran]], the concept of submission to [[Allah]] is mentioned 11 times, while the concept of faith in Allah is mentioned only once.

Etymologically, the word 'faith' is closely linked to the concept of "fidelity," which emphasizes commitment to something or someone, specifically [[Christ]]. Thus, faith is often understood to mean 'loyalty' to a particular view of [[divinity]]. Yet, faith can also be envisioned more broadly as a trust in [[providence]], as it entails an active role for the believer himself for advancing good.

The literary critic Harold Bloom distinguishes Christianity from the other two dominant monotheistic religions in his book Agon by contrasting them with Gnosticism:

"Gnosticism polemically is decidedly not a faith, whether in the Christian sense, pisits, a believing that something was, is, and will be so; or in the Hebraic sense, emunah, a trusting in the Covenant. If religion is a binding, then Gnosticism is an unbinding, but not for the sake of things or persons merely as they are. Gnostic freedom is a freedom for knowledge, knowledge of what in the self, not in the psyche or soul, is Godlike, and knowledge of God beyond the cosmos. But also it is a freedom to be known, to be known by God, by what is alien to everything created, by what is alien to and beyond the stars and the cosmic system and our earth."

Faith is emphasized in Christianity but is unrecognized by the worldview of [[Philosophical Skepticism|philosophical skepticism]].

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:religion]]
[[Category:philosophy]]

== External links ==
* Holding, James Patrick, [http://tektonics.org/whatis/whatfaith.html Fallacious Faith]

Leviticus

2007-12-30T00:40:36Z

Metatron:

'''Leviticus''' is the third book of the [[Old Testament]], part of the [[Pentateuch]]. The book is [[chiastically]] structured.

Many Christian and Jewish conservatives believe that Moses is the sole author of the Pentateuch and that he was inspired directly by God to write text to write the Pentateuch in the space of a month, that month being the first of the second year after the [[Hebrew]] exodus from [[Egypt]].

Most of Leviticus is filled with laws and codes, but many Christians do not consider these codes to be literal--they represent the foreshadowing of the coming of [[Jesus Christ]] and most specifically the [[crucifixion]]. It serves as a gospel of the grace of God and the holiness of God's people.{{fact}} Many Christians maintain that to strive for these codes is Holy.

There are two main sections in Leviticus:

== Summary of Leviticus 1-16 ==
Is the priestly code and many of its rules and regulations. Among these regulations:

=== Offerings: Leviticus 1-7 ===
* Burnt Offerings (Leviticus 1)
* Offerings of meat (Leviticus 2)
* Peace Offerings (Leviticus 3)
* Offerings for sin (Leviticus 4)
* Offerings for trespass (Leviticus 5)
* Instructions for Priests regarding offerings (Leviticus 6-7)

=== Sacrificial Stories 8-10 ===
* Aaron and his sons are made into priests (Leviticus 8)
* Aaron's sons "offered strange fire before the Lord" and are burnt to death for their sins by God directly. (Leviticus 9-10)

=== More Laws 11-16 ===
* Which animals are clean and which are unclean. (Leviticus 11)
* How to purify a woman rendered unclean from child birth. (Leviticus 12)
* Laws of Leprosy and lepers as well as laws of mildew. (Leviticus 13-14)
* Laws regarding on the rendering clean of issues of bodily fluids from men and women and how to become clean. (Leviticus 15)
* On atonement and the description of the [[scapegoat]]. (Leviticus 16)

== Holiness Code: Leviticus 17-26 ==
This is a very clear and concise expression of laws and holiness. It is not thought that Leviticus 27 is part of this concision of laws.
* Prohibition on the consumption of blood and of anything that has died naturally, also subjects idolatry and proper sacrifice of animals (Leviticus 17)
* Prohibition of incest, and of relations with the wife of a neighbor. (Leviticus 18)
* Prohibition of looking upon a woman while she is menstruating. (Leviticus 18)
* Prohibition of sacrifice of humans (Leviticus 18)
* Prohibition of Homosexuality and Beastiality (Leviticus 18)
* Many laws and admonitions: Keep the Sabbath, help the poor, do not steal or lie or cheat, be kind to the blind and dumb, don't be a gossip, love thy neighbor, don't let cows interbreed, don't used mixed seeds, do not wear two types of fabric at once, relations with slave women, do not eat fruit from trees for four years, no magic, no astrology, guidelines for haircuts and shaving, no tattoos, respect elders, treat strangers kindly, be fair. (All Leviticus 19)
* Punishments: All who sacrifice their children will be put to death, all who do not respect their parents will be put to death, both of those who adulterer shall be put to death, those who have relations with their fathers wife or son's wife shall be put to death, those who engage in sodomy shall be put to death, those who engage in relations with their mother in law will incur burning death upon man, wife and mother, those who engage in beastiality will be put to death along with the animal, do not look at naked or have relations with your sister, uncle's wife or brother's wife, witches and wizards should be stoned. (Leviticus 20)
* Priestly codes: Priests must marry virgins, cannot shave their heads, daughters will be burnt alive if they are "whores," no lame or dwarven or blemished or handicapped priests. (Leviticus 21)
* Holy food: No unclean man shall eat of the holy food, nor shall strangers, slaves or servants unless the priest owns them. If the Priest's daughter marries a stranger she shall not eat the holy food. Your sacrifices to the Lord may not be deformed. (Leviticus 22)
* Keep the Sabbath, make festivals and make offerings to God. Save some of your harvest for the poor. God will destroy you if you violate the Sabbath. (Leviticus 23)
* Altar of incense (Leviticus 24)
* A blasphemer is put to death. All blasphemers shall be put to death. (Leviticus 24)
* Murderers shall be put to death. Those who kill beasts shall have their own beasts killed. "Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again." (Leviticus 24)
* Laws regarding the Sabbath and the Jubilee year, and laws regarding slavery. (Leviticus 25)
* Those who follow God's commandments shall be rewarded. They shall be prosperous and blessed with good weather and respected by God. Those who dispute God's commandments will be punished. Their crops will fail and be eaten by enemies, they will be killed by enemies, their children will be eaten by wild animals, there will be pestilence, then they will eat their own children. (Leviticus 26)
* Also there are Leviticus 27 and 28. They concern the commutation vows and set the price for each human being. It is not a part of the Holiness code, though, as it has been considered by modern standards to be irrational.

== Significant Passages ==
There are many very important passages in Leviticus:

=== Aaron and his Sons ===
* 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
* 10:2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
* 10:3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
* 10:4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
* 10:5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
* 10:6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.

=== Important Laws of Leviticus 18 ===
* 18:10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.
* 18:11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
* 18:12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's father: he is thy father's near kinsman.
* 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
* 18:14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
* 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
* 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.
* 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
* 18:18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
* 18:19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
* 18:20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
* 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
* 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
* 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
* 18:24 Neither shalt thou lie with any object that is unable of worship: it is an abomination.
=== Important Laws of Leviticus 19 ===
* 19:10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
* 19:11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
* 19:13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
* 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
* 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD.
* 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
* 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
* 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
* 19:26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
* 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
* 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
* 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
* 19:35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.

=== Punishments of Leviticus 20 ===
* 20:2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
* 20:9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
* 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
* 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
* 20:12 And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
* 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
* 20:15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
* 20:16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
* 20:17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
* 20:18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
* 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

=== Codes of Justice in Leviticus 24 ===
* 24:16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone * him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
* 24:17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
* 24:18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.
* 24:19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
* 24:20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
* 24:21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.

[[Category:Old Testament]]

Paul McCartney

2007-12-30T00:35:45Z

Metatron:

'''Sir Paul McCartney''' (born 1942) was bassist for the [[Beatles]] and shared songwriting credit with [[John Lennon]] for most of their original songs. McCartney favored lighter, more pop-oriented songs than Lennon, and this became much more apparent after April 1970 when the Beatles broke up and both began to record solo. McCartney soon formed a new band, [[Wing]], and records of many staples of AM radio.

On December 23rd, 1980, McCartney was arrested for possession of [[marijuana]] in [[Japan]] and spent eight days in jail. Had he been tried and convicted, he could have spent eleven years in prison. He was knighted by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] on March 1st, 1997.

Paul was married for thirty years to [[Linda Eastman]], a vegetarian, who played the keyboard in Wing but died in 1998. His second marriage to Heather Mills lasted for four years and ended acrimoniously. He continues to tour and perform, and is Britain's highest-earning musician today.

[[Category:Musicians|McCartney, Paul]]

Britney Spears

2007-12-30T00:33:22Z

Metatron:

'''Britney Spears''' (born December 2, 1981) is an [[United States of America|American]] pop [[singer]]. Her song "...Baby One More Time" made her a star in 1999.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spears, Britney}}

[[Category:Singers]]

Talk:Problem of Evil

2007-12-30T00:31:56Z

Metatron:

I suggest that the problem of evil be expanded upon, there are other answers than those proposed, and the question format of the article needs to be reworked.---

:Please feel free to add your thoughts. Multiple editors pooling their knowledge and refinement can lead to strong results. [[User:Learn together|Learn together]] 13:29, 28 June 2007 (EDT)

::Sounds as if you are trolling to stir the pot here, and arrive at your pre-conceived notions. I hope I am wrong in thinking that. [[User:MattM|MattM]] 22:34, 1 October 2007 (EDT)

I myself do not know so much about this, but can I make a small request that someone apply some of Iranaeus' theodicies to this article, as they are clever and reasonable arguments for the problem of evil, of course from a Christian perspective. [[User:Metatron|Metatron]] 20:19, 28 December 2007

One thing I would like to suggest is that there is no problem of evil. So evil exists in the creation of a good, omnipotent, omniscient God: the actual problem is that of evil, non-omniscient beings understanding why creation would or would-not have any particular feature. [[User:Qwestor|Qwestor]] 16:45, 28 December 2007 (EST)

:That may be a hard one to explain. Another way to look at it is that evil does not exist any more than cold exists. Cold is the absence of heat. Evil is the absense of (good/God). [[User:Learn together|Learn together]] 20:57, 28 December 2007 (EST)

::Unfortunately, I can't agree with you there Learn together. Just because someone isn't doing good, it doesn't mean they're doing evil. Eating a meal can't really be considered good, but by the logic you give, it apparently is then evil. Not having a go at you, but can you see the mistake? [[User:Metatron|Metatron]] 14.53, 29 December 2007

::Yes this is an oft cited consideration. and while I think there is something to it, the Judeao-Christian God is still omniscient/omnipotent which raises the question of why He opted for a creation in which His creatures would be permitted to disobey Him when it was evidently His option that they be unable to. [[User:Qwestor|Qwestor]] 10:30, 29 December 2007 (EST)

::: I think Learn together is essentially correct, that evil is the absence of good/God (not just "good"), although this is perhaps by definition rather than anything else, meaning that evil is ''defined as'' the absence of God, rather than "nasty, horrible things".
::: The meal analogy as presented is not a good one, I don't think. We need to eat to live, so a meal is therefore "good", and the absence of the meal is "bad", because without it we will starve. So although there are still plenty of problems with the analogy (such as how fasting and gluttony fit into the analogy), it still does illustrate the basic principle. We don't need "bad" things (such as poisons) to kill us. A lack of "good" things (meals) is sufficient.
::: As for Qwestor's point, my understanding is that if He didn't allow his creation (specifically ''man'') to disobey Him, he would have been creating robots, not beings capable of showing love by being able to ''choose'' whether to love Him or not. Also, if one doesn't experience evil, one won't appreciate good. We wouldn't appreciate how good God is without understanding how bad things are without God.
::: [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 17:05, 29 December 2007 (EST)

::::But consider that the Scriptures give a vignette into a future world (new heaven/earth) in which the redeemed will be incapable of sinning and yet will not be robots. So God can have it either way, opt for no creation (including the angels) and no disobedience, or a time in which His creatures would fall, be redeemed, then live in sinless perfection. [[User:Qwestor|Qwestor]] 17:28, 29 December 2007 (EST)

:::::Then doesn't this bring us round to intuitionism? The idea that humans inherently know what is good and evil, and although we can be influenced by decisions, it is still down to the human to make that choice, and as a result even two people who have agreed on almost everything can disagree on some things as well. --[[User:Metatron|Metatron]] 19:31, 29 December 2007 (EST)

Talk:Politics of global warming

2007-12-29T15:13:40Z

Metatron:

In response to a suggestion from TK, I think we should re-organize the [[global warming]] articles.

*[[Politics of global warming]] - advocacy on both sides of the question: how much are people causing it, and what should we do to prevent it (or adapt to it)?

*[[Science of global warming]] - how have global air temperatures risen and fallen in the past, what do scientists think caused this (especially before the modern era), and how much do "greenhouse gas" emissions like [[carbon dioxide]] add to warming?

We'll need to divide the politics part into separate articles:
*[[Kyoto Protocol]] - a treaty to "reduce" emissions or "buy" [[carbon credits]]
*[[Emissions trading]] - a "scheme" to allow "polluters" to pay a penalty in lieu of reducing emissions. (Who collects the payments, and where does the money go?)

The science is much more complicated:
*[[solar variation]] - the "[[solar constant]]" isn't constant!
*[[cosmic rays]] - affected by solar variation
*[[cloud formation]] - affected by [[cosmic rays]]
*[[El Nino]] - a natural temperature variation in the Pacific Ocean
*the so-called "[[Greenhouse effect]]" - various gas particles help keep heat from "radiating" out into space
*[[infrared radiation]] - the rays that keep french fries warm at McDonald's (similar to [[microwaves]]).

This is not a complete list, but the issue is, frankly, too complex for me! I cannot single-handedly fight against a two billion dollar industry, even if I devoted all my waking hours to it. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 09:14, 10 August 2007 (EDT)

*Ed, your seemingly never-ending supply of creative and intelligent ideas make you an invaluable member of the CP team, if I do say so myself, and I do, speaking for myself and not you this time. ;-) --[[User:TK|şŷŝôρ-₮K]][[User_Talk:TK|Ṣρёаќǃ]] 14:33, 10 August 2007 (EDT)

:Can I make a quick point, in reference to the first line of the article, which implies that taking action against global warming is a bad thing? Even if global warming is largely down to natural causes, there is no plausible argument for ''not'' trying to prevent it. It doesn't make sense that taking no action could be better than taking any action at all.--[[User:Metatron|Metatron]] 10:13, 29 December 2007 (EST)

Talk:Problem of Evil

2007-12-29T14:53:28Z

Metatron:

Talk:Problem of Evil

2007-12-28T20:19:34Z

Metatron:

Talk:Problem of Evil

2007-12-28T20:19:18Z

Metatron:

Talk:Problem of Evil

2007-12-28T20:18:18Z

Metatron:

Tides

2007-12-28T19:38:23Z

Metatron:

'''Tides''' are one of the most reliable phenomena in the world. As the sun rises in the east and the stars come out at night, we are confident that the ocean waters will regularly rise and fall along our shores. [http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides01_intro.html]

Tides on the [[Earth]] result from the [[Moon]]'s gravity, which is just enough stronger on the near side of the earth to attract ocean water more than on the far side. Fishermen, sailors and other observers have long noted that the twice-daily cycle of high tides and low tides is corresponds to the moon's orbit.

A noteworthy observation is that the moon is less effective at creating a tidal effect on smaller bodies of water, such as lakes. This is remains today an unexplained phenomenon.

==See also==
*[[tidal coupling]]
*[[gravitational locking]]

Britney Spears

2007-12-28T19:30:39Z

Metatron:

'''Britney Spears''' (born December 2, 1981) is an American pop singer. Her hit, "...Baby One More Time" made her a star in 1999.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spears, Britney}}

[[Category:Singers]]

Vegetarianism

2007-12-28T19:10:33Z

Metatron: /* Forms of Vegetarianism */

[[Image:Fruits.jpg|right]]
'''Vegetarianism''' is the practice of abstaining from [[meat]] consumption. Somebody who practices vegetarianism is referred to as a ''vegetarian''.

Vegetarianism is a common theme among the [[Dharmic religion]]s, such as [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], and [[Jainism]]. This stems from the belief that all higher animal life is sacred (in Jainism, ''all'' life is considered sacred), one of the core concepts of all of these religions. <ref>For more than 130 years Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) have practiced a vegetarian dietary lifestyle because of their belief in the wholistic nature of people. [http://www.andrews.edu/NUFS/veggiediet.html Andrews University Nutrition Department] </ref> It was also a central tenet of the [[Essene]] branch of Judaism.

Many people outside of these religions also choose to be vegetarians because of various other beliefs, such as abstinence from contributing to "inhumane" farming methods practiced by the meat production industry, or to lessen their environmental impact.

Health can be given as another reason. In Daniel 1:4-15, Daniel and his companions declined to eat Babylonian royal food and instead requested fresh water and vegetables. At the end of ten days, they were healthier than those who ate the rich food.

It can be difficult to get all of your daily required [[nutrient]]s without eating animal products, and many vegetarians take vitamin supplements or eat enriched foods. <ref>"Those who eat very little meat, fish and foul and ... may be missing, or getting very little, crucial nutrients for optimal health such as [[vitamin B12]], [[iron]], [[creatine]], [[carnitine]], and several other [[nutrient]]s" [http://www.raysahelian.com/vegetarian.html] </ref> <ref>According to Olivant, the most useful supplements for the vegetarians contain nutrients that may be limited in their diet, such as omega-3. [http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=65255-vegetarian-supplements] </ref>

==Forms of Vegetarianism==
*Vegan - A vegan diet excludes all food and ingredients that comes from animals. This excludes animal meat, animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs or honey, and byproducts such as gelatin.[http://www.vegan.org/going_vegan/eating_vegan/index.html]
*Lactovegetarian - Someone who eats a plant based diet but also eats animal produced foods (that do not result in the death of the animal) such as milk and cheese.
*Ovo-lactovegetarian (or lacto-ovovegetarian) - Similar to the Lactovegetarian but also consumes eggs.
*Pescatarian - This is considered a form of vegetarianism, which consists of eating fish, but no other varieties of meat.

==Famous Vegetarians==
[[Image:H G Wells 2.jpg|right|H G Wells]]
*[[Albert Einstein]] - Scientist, famous for [[Theory of Relativity]]. He became a vegetarian a year before his death.
*[[Bob Barker]] - Game Show Host, most notably [[The Price is Right]]
*[[H. G. Wells]] - Famous Science Fiction author, works include [[The War of Worlds]]
*[[Paul McCartney]] - singer/bassist for [[The Beatles]]
*[[Henry Heimlich]] - Inventor of the [[Heimlich Maneuver]]<ref>www.famousveggie.com[http://www.famousveggie.com/peoplenew.cfm]</ref>, and promoter of quack remedies.
*[[Henry A. Wallace]] - Vice President of the U.S. 1941-1945; Presidential candidate 1948, communist sympathizer.
*[[Adam]] and [[Eve]], while in Eden (Genesis 1:29)

==Notes==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/appendixC.htm USDA Dietary Guidelines]
* [http://www.vegsoc.org/ The Vegetarian Society ]
* [http://www.britishmeat.com/49.htm 49 good reasons to be a vegetarian]
* [http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/mtvegetarianism.html The Myths of Vegetarianism by Stephen Byrnes]

[[category:psychology]] [[category:biology]]

Pro-life

2007-12-28T19:05:29Z

Metatron: /* See Also */

'''Pro-life''' is the name given to people or organizations who defend the rights of the unborn child, and who oppose [[abortion]].

While pro-[[abortion]] would be an accurate term for those who profit from [[abortion]] and support taxpayer funding of [[abortion]], [[pro-choice]] is the term preferred by [[liberals]].

Due to rulings by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], the [[United States]] allows [[abortion]]s at virtually any time in pregnancy. Many state [[government]]s even pay for [[abortion]]s using taxpayer dollars.

In [[America]]n politics, the [[Republican Party|Republican]] and [[Constitution Party|Constitution]] Parties are strongly opposed to abortion and believe it should be illegal. The [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] and [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Parties both support abortion and oppose legal restrictions ([[libertarians]] themselves are divided on the issue). The [[Democratic Party]] supports taxpayer-funded abortion as well.

The phrase "pro-life," especially in the [[Catholic]] Church, may also include similar issues, such as the [[death penalty]] and [[euthanasia]].

==See Also==
*[[Abortion controversy]]
*[[National Right to Life Committee]]
*[[Pro-Choice]]
[[Category:Abortion]]