# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=674 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 675 --- ## [Churches with guards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/churches-with-guards/429483)
**Author:** [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/churches-with-guards/429483 "2007-12-11T23:23:50Z")
New Life Church, the 14,000-member institution founded by the Rev. Ted Haggard, has armed security guards? After the second shooting incident in Colorado the shooter was killed by an armed guard in the inside the church… --- ## [SDMB Historical outcome of Theism vs Atheism threads/war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-historical-outcome-of-theism-vs-atheism-threads-war/429229)
**Author:** [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2007, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-historical-outcome-of-theism-vs-atheism-threads-war/429229 "2007-12-11T12:32:38Z")
I am interested in how much of what we are doing is utterly futile? How possible is it really for one to be converted into the other? What is a typical outcome of a Battle-thread (A battle thread is any thread that is … --- ## [What would happen if Western terrorists bombed Mecca?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-western-terrorists-bombed-mecca/429107)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2007, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-western-terrorists-bombed-mecca/429107 "2007-12-11T08:32:30Z")
I got to wondering what might happen if say, someone’s spouse or child gets killed by Muslims in some way, and the surviving spouse or parent goes off the deep end and proceeds to somehow blow up a great deal of the Gran… --- ## [President Chavez's New Time Zone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-chavezs-new-time-zone/429432)
**Author:** [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2007, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-chavezs-new-time-zone/429432 "2007-12-11T06:12:35Z")
Did President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela actually make a change in Venezuela’s time zone, and if so, why? I’m not sure if he set his nation’s clocks forward or back, but wouldn’t this change put him out of step with his n… --- ## [Let's fix teenaged gunman shootings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-teenaged-gunman-shootings/429028)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 202\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2007, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-teenaged-gunman-shootings/429028 "2007-12-11T03:50:00Z")
Regarding Gun rampage US teen ‘wanted fame’ Couple of ideas: Stricter gun control measures Stricter penalties on parents of the perpetrators Would these help? --- ## [Is faith realistic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-faith-realistic/428792)
**Author:** [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Replies:** 165\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-faith-realistic/428792 "2007-12-11T03:02:45Z")
In this post, Der Trihs makes a couple interesting statements: \[QUOTE=Der Trihs\] Faith makes wisdom impossible, in the areas it touches on. Faith cripples the mind. And you can’t get knowledge from faith; it’s empty. I… --- ## [Iran: What Do the Israelis Know?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-what-do-the-israelis-know/429498)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-what-do-the-israelis-know/429498 "2007-12-11T02:57:13Z")
.that we don’t? Read today’s Drudge Report: the israelis claim that the US is ignoring the “truth” about Iran’s nuclear weapons-and it is comparable to ignoring the WWII holocaust. My question: if the Israelis have such … --- ## [Swingers club in residential area](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swingers-club-in-residential-area/429309)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swingers-club-in-residential-area/429309 "2007-12-10T23:48:31Z")
Is it a business or a private matter? I’m conflicted, so I will hold off… --- ## [why don't anyone question Britains nuklear arseal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-anyone-question-britains-nuklear-arseal/429137)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-anyone-question-britains-nuklear-arseal/429137 "2007-12-10T23:01:45Z")
For what reason are this nation alowed to possess atomic wapons? \*According to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: "…both nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states, “to pursue negotiations in good faith on e… --- ## [A Poll on Perceptions of Miranda Rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-on-perceptions-of-miranda-rights/429363)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-on-perceptions-of-miranda-rights/429363 "2007-12-10T13:31:02Z")
Help me settle a little debate. I think most Americans, even educated ones, don’t really understand their Miranda rights (e.g. right to remain silent, etc.). My friend disagrees, and feels the answers to the following… --- ## [Has H. Clinton been asked this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-h-clinton-been-asked-this/429112)
**Author:** [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-h-clinton-been-asked-this/429112 "2007-12-10T03:45:02Z")
“What’s the biggest mistake Bill Clinton made as President?” If so, what’s been her answer? --- ## [How come the DNC is stripping early-primary states of delegates, but the RNC isn't?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-the-dnc-is-stripping-early-primary-states-of-delegates-but-the-rnc-isnt/429308)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-the-dnc-is-stripping-early-primary-states-of-delegates-but-the-rnc-isnt/429308 "2007-12-09T18:29:48Z")
So far the DNC has declared Florida and Michigan, whose state legislatures have rescheduled their presidential primaries to January, will not be allowed to seat their delegates at the Democratic National Convention. But… --- ## [A book based on the bible...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-book-based-on-the-bible/429241)
**Author:** [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-book-based-on-the-bible/429241 "2007-12-09T16:04:36Z")
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&endeca=1&isbn=0743291476&itm=25 I haven’t read it…but might. I wonder if it would be OK for him to do a Quran-themed one? --- ## [Lesbian Couple Denied a Divorce in Rhode Island](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbian-couple-denied-a-divorce-in-rhode-island/429251)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbian-couple-denied-a-divorce-in-rhode-island/429251 "2007-12-09T15:45:33Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071208/ap\_on\_re\_us/gay\_divorce Let the debate begin! --- ## [Legality of taxing items repeatedly.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-taxing-items-repeatedly/428474)
**Author:** [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-taxing-items-repeatedly/428474 "2007-12-09T03:22:50Z")
I bought a truck the other day. It was used, and I was the 3rd owner. (Original owner died, transferred title to heir, heir sold it to me.) I transferred title, bought tabs, etc. I also had to pay 6.5% sales tax on th… --- ## [US Constitution 2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-constitution-2-0/428731)
**Author:** [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-constitution-2-0/428731 "2007-12-08T22:36:30Z")
I love the Constitution. I think it is one of maybe the top 5-10 most important documents in human history. Having said that, I do think it is getting a tad dusty. The world has changed dramatically since the wild, ca… --- ## [Republicans: What do you think of Ron Paul?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-do-you-think-of-ron-paul/428051)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-what-do-you-think-of-ron-paul/428051 "2007-12-08T17:55:00Z")
Just curious what the vanishingly small number of board Republicans think of Ron Paul as a candidate. To be honest I don’t know that much about him. A Republican friend of mine says he is the best candidate out there, … --- ## [The U.S. State Department: on the way out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-s-state-department-on-the-way-out/429236)
**Author:** [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-s-state-department-on-the-way-out/429236 "2007-12-08T02:58:01Z")
I’ve been listening to the audiobook of Margaret MacMillan’s Nixon and Mao, and it amazes me how much Nixon and Kissinger went out of their way to marginalize the State Department. Granted that their Secretary of State,… --- ## [What would it take to change an athiest's mind?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-to-change-an-athiests-mind/428035)
**Author:** [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Replies:** 218\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-to-change-an-athiests-mind/428035 "2007-12-08T00:29:10Z")
Pretty straightforward OP. Some people have said on this board that they would find it easier to believe in a super-advanced alien race or that they were suffering from mental illness than to believe in god/gods/etc. So… --- ## [Torture Redux: Some thoughts after reading reports of military investigation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torture-redux-some-thoughts-after-reading-reports-of-military-investigation/429204)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torture-redux-some-thoughts-after-reading-reports-of-military-investigation/429204 "2007-12-07T23:46:09Z")
This week I completed my role in a project helping to document torture and accountability for torture in the US War on Terror. Among other things, I examined dozens of documents produced by the CID and NCIS–the criminal… --- ## [Plame: Fitzgerald agrees to turn Bush & Cheney interview transcripts over to Waxman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plame-fitzgerald-agrees-to-turn-bush-cheney-interview-transcripts-over-to-waxman/429179)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plame-fitzgerald-agrees-to-turn-bush-cheney-interview-transcripts-over-to-waxman/429179 "2007-12-07T20:33:54Z")
Coverage of a recent speech Valerie Plame gave at Brown University: Is there anything the Admin can do to stop it? (If B&C deny any involvement in the outing, how can they invoke executive privilege here?) If not… --- ## [Attention Theists!!!! I Am Going To Bet My Life That God Does Not Exist!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-theists-i-am-going-to-bet-my-life-that-god-does-not-exist/429158)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-theists-i-am-going-to-bet-my-life-that-god-does-not-exist/429158 "2007-12-07T16:30:30Z")
I am starting a new thread in connection with this thread about what it would take to make an atheist believe. It is really a sidebar to the other thread, but since I am willing to lay my life on the line, I think SD ca… --- ## [As punishment for moving up primary, DNC strips Michigan of convention delegates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-punishment-for-moving-up-primary-dnc-strips-michigan-of-convention-delegates/428512)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-punishment-for-moving-up-primary-dnc-strips-michigan-of-convention-delegates/428512 "2007-12-07T15:51:18Z")
First Florida, now Michigan. :dubious: Are they really going to make this stick? Reduce certain states’ primaries to pointless symbolic exercises? Why does the DCN have any investment in Iowa & New Hampshire’s caucus/… --- ## [So, what does England get out of the Union, anyway?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-england-get-out-of-the-union-anyway/428931)
**Author:** [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-england-get-out-of-the-union-anyway/428931 "2007-12-07T13:56:12Z")
It’s being reported on the news today that Scotland is to get free prescriptions out of money from Westminster (and, presumably, the English). This is another in a long series of benefits that the Welsh and Scottish see… --- ## [Americans: which foreigner would you like as POTUS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-which-foreigner-would-you-like-as-potus/428464)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-which-foreigner-would-you-like-as-potus/428464 "2007-12-07T13:49:08Z")
Americans, suppose you had to import someone as POTUS, who would it be? They can’t be an American citizen, so no Shwartznegger or Albright, or even of dual nationality. And what about the VP? Same restrictions. So, wh… --- ## [Gitmo: Camp Delta SOP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gitmo-camp-delta-sop/426375)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gitmo-camp-delta-sop/426375 "2007-12-07T11:44:58Z")
https://secure.wikileaks.org/leak/gitmo-sop.pdf Just found this- full Standard Operating Procedure for Camp Delta. No comments yet- still reading it. --- ## [Large Hadron Collider, Curiosity Killed the Cat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hadron-collider-curiosity-killed-the-cat/428026)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hadron-collider-curiosity-killed-the-cat/428026 "2007-12-07T07:18:09Z")
When I was a boy I was very curious. I wanted to know what this stuff was that made things happen and I knew enough that if I stuck a nail into an electrical socket I would find out. I did have experience with electric f… --- ## [Are parents "sacrificing" for their children? What exactly does that mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-parents-sacrificing-for-their-children-what-exactly-does-that-mean/428997)
**Author:** [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2007, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-parents-sacrificing-for-their-children-what-exactly-does-that-mean/428997 "2007-12-07T04:49:31Z")
I don’t have any children but I’ve been sorting through my feelings about starting a family and one topic that’s still unresolved in my mind is this concept of “parental sacrifice.” I hope I don’t ever feel that way whe… --- ## [Blame women for the death of feminism ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blame-women-for-the-death-of-feminism/428737)
**Author:** [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blame-women-for-the-death-of-feminism/428737 "2007-12-06T18:52:59Z")
Blame women for the death of feminism? I am a guy.She has some good points. I do not agree with everything she says. But let’s get a debate started, shall we ? --- ## [Convince me not to sell my car.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-not-to-sell-my-car/428637)
**Author:** [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-not-to-sell-my-car/428637 "2007-12-06T18:28:17Z")
I know a girl with a suspended license who offered to buy my piece of junk beater. I know that if I sell her this car, she will use it to break the law and drive without a license. I’m not sure that I would even be leg… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=673) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=675)