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I got to the point where Mohammad claims God wants thieve's hands cut off. This isn't as eloquent as the Gospels, in my opinion. It seems to be a lot more like the Old Testament, with the establishment of new traditions which are flat out against Jesus' message of love and forgiveness. Sorry for not offering more insights, but it's not very interesting or worthy of deeper analysis yet. Mohammad does seem to respect Christians more than Jews though. Apparently some Jews had planned to kill him at a dinner party. Oh, he also says that Jesus never died on the cross at all, but was brought up into Heaven by God. He does believe in the virgin birth and Jesus' many miracles. I've heard before that Jesus is the second most important prophet to Muslims. It's a shame they don't read Matthew, or John, or Corinthians. But to be frank, there are lots of people in Western nations which are more thrilled by brimstone than the Gospel....

A Muslim friend of mine suggested (many times) that I read the Koran, so I've finally begun to. So far it just doesn't have the same eloquence as the Gospels, even if it does have much of the same message. I'll keep you posted (that one "you" who is actually reading my blog entries!). God Bless, Scott

Americans have a reputation in other countries for being greedy. Having lived abroad the past three years, I hear this all the time. The truth is that Americans are one of the most generous peoples in the history of humanity. Not only do we send hundreds of billions of US dollars in humanitarian relief every year to other nations, either through our own government or private charitable organizations, we've also spent trillions in the past, especially rebuilding Western and Southeastern Europe after World War II. Today our generosity even extends to nations where a large majority hold a decidedly anti-American perspective, such as Egypt and many Latin American countries. Earlier this year, my Italian boss and his girlfriend went to the United States, but his girlfriend didn't want to go. She didn't think she'd meet any Americans she would like because we are all so "conservative". She doesn't even consider America a democracy. Well, allow me to inform the rest of you about Italy, a country of civilization and social justice.... First of all, an experienced computer programmer here, such as myself, only makes about seven dollars an hour after taxes. For comparison, I made four times as much in the United States, and generally workers even earn two to three times more in Germany and France, which also have extremely high tax rates. Today I found out that if a person here makes more than about $6,000 gross (pre-taxes), they then owe almost an extra $3,000 to the government for the equivalent of Social Security. That's a 50% tax rate on the poorest people in this country!!! Not only that, but since the introduction of the Euro (Italy's new currency, along with most of the rest of Western Europe) prices have almost doubled in less than six years. Want a loan to buy an apartment? Well, if you don't have the right type of employment contract, basically one with no term limit, then you're out of luck. The people at the bank won't even talk to you. Most Italians do not have this kind of contract. Greed is ugly, and brutal. So are ignorance and bigotry. I hope one day Italians learn the truth about how things work in other countries, where merit and hard work are rewarded. Don't get me wrong: I'm not greedy myself and don't want to be rich. I just want to get by and at least have enough money for groceries at the end of the month. I always keep in mind what Jesus said - sooner will a camel pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man through the gates of Heaven. Amen.

We find ourselves in situations often with people who live far from God's light and transgress against Jesus' teachings, but it is so very important that we remain with them living the Gospel as an example for their betterment. There are so many self-proclaimed Christians who speak and act against God's law, as taught by Christ, and these people turn many away from the truth and life. This is especially why it's important that if you're living by Jesus you must be seen and known by others, so that they may come to see and know God and Jesus. First, we have to pray for wisdom, patience and strength so that we may act according to the Gospel. Second, if people go too far for you, then simply bless them and take a break. Before you pray for them, pray for yourself, to cleanse your soul and render your prayers on their behalfs more effective. Then reengage them, with gentleness and love. They are just children, as we all are. We have acted cruelly, as they have. They deserve God's grace just as much as any of us do. But if you hide yourself from others, you are also hiding God himself. You are hiding God's light. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 Little children, love one another!

I don't know God exists because I was brain-washed in some cult or because I'm weak-minded. I know God exists because the cruelty of others made me cruel, and altogether this ruined my life - and so one morning I woke up and felt sick deep in my soul, and I didn't ask some hypothetical god to help me; I simultaneously knew God existed and begged for his help. And I swear to you he truly, truly did help me. We often say that faith is belief; but it is knowledge from a sense which is dull in most of us, but is still just as real a sense as sight or hearing. I see God. He looks a lot like George Burns. It's important for you to understand this: I love God, more than I've ever loved any other person, and in a way different than I have ever loved any other. If a person insults God, I take great offense to that, similar to how if a person were to insult my dear friend, such as yourself, I would take great offense to it. When you deny God, it doesn't offend me; it just makes me sad for your sake. But when you say God has to earn your love and prove to you that he exists, that just royally ****** me off, and it is undeniably arrogant. I didn't choose the words I wrote to you before lightly and I think they needed to be said, not only for the sake of our friendship, which I value greatly and has been strained by certain offenses, but also for the sake of your soul, because you're just as much a child of God as I am and I truly care about it, and God deserves all of our love, respect and devotion. With love, Scott

If there are any Unitarians out there, I've started a new yahoo group for us to discuss theology and make new friends. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unitarians/ God bless everyone, Scott

Friends, please pray for me to pass through my more lustful periods. They're very difficult for me. Thanks, and God bless you all, Scott

To say I "believe" God exists is too weak of a statement. I sense God as well as I sense this monitor in front of me. Some people can't see the color red. They have a problem with the light perceiving cells of the eye. Well, some people can't "see" God either. They can if they want to but their pride keeps them from it. I have a seventh sense which they lack. So, I don't "beleive" in God - I know there is a God. I feel his embrace as acutely as I would feel another person holding me, for His is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Loving the lovable is too easy. You've got to love everybody.