# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=785 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 786 --- ## [Religious/Spiritual- what has kept you from losing Faith?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-spiritual-what-has-kept-you-from-losing-faith/360207)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2006, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-spiritual-what-has-kept-you-from-losing-faith/360207 "2006-06-14T00:21:57Z")
Inspired by the “Apostates” GD thread (Apostates: what made you lose your religion? - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board)… A lot of eloquent, well-thought-out, heartfelt stories there; some bitterness & ration… --- ## [Zarqawi Killed - Will It Make A Difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zarqawi-killed-will-it-make-a-difference/359862)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zarqawi-killed-will-it-make-a-difference/359862 "2006-06-13T21:29:33Z")
WaPo story To answer my own question, No. If killing Uday and Qusay, and capturing Saddam, both only proved to be bumps in the road to chaos, why should this be any different? The main thing going on right now in Iraq… --- ## [Prediction/prophecy of Islam in the Bible? Torah?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-prophecy-of-islam-in-the-bible-torah/359409)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-prophecy-of-islam-in-the-bible-torah/359409 "2006-06-13T20:12:58Z")
I have seen some evidence that Jesus was predicted in the Torah (Old Testiament). Yes I know it’s not enough for some people, but there was some indication that something was (or is) comming. Is there any indication of… --- ## [Can Bush be trusted to handle Iranian overtures in good faith?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bush-be-trusted-to-handle-iranian-overtures-in-good-faith/360052)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bush-be-trusted-to-handle-iranian-overtures-in-good-faith/360052 "2006-06-13T20:05:53Z")
I was starting to get seriously concerned last month about the noises being made in Washington about war on Iran, most of all when Bush refused to rule out nuclear strikes. “All options are on the table.” Nuke Iran? WTF? … --- ## [Republicans for gay marriage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-for-gay-marriage/360340)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-for-gay-marriage/360340 "2006-06-13T13:31:10Z")
The only amendment that was designed to let the federal government meddle in the personal lives of the American people was the 18th amendment, which banned the sale of alcohol. It didn’t work. After fourteen years, Pro… --- ## [What's with THE ONE TRUE FAITH anyway?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-one-true-faith-anyway/360248)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2006, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-one-true-faith-anyway/360248 "2006-06-13T08:12:53Z")
In Apostates: what made you lose your religion?, jjimm posted the following argument: Y’know, jjimm never actually disproved choice 1. All logic tells us is that the chance that our particular religion is THE ONE TRUE… --- ## [1.2 Trillion barrels of oil in America? Why economically colonize the Third World?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-2-trillion-barrels-of-oil-in-america-why-economically-colonize-the-third-world/360127)
**Author:** [@Marcus\_Tullius\_Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus_Tullius_Cicero)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-2-trillion-barrels-of-oil-in-america-why-economically-colonize-the-third-world/360127 "2006-06-13T04:30:40Z")
Why hasn’t the U.S. government yet turned to the Green River Formation for oil yet, especially given such tumultuous times. Of the 2 trillion barrels of provable oil dispersed throughout the sandstone there, 0.8-1.2 tri… --- ## [WWII what ifs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-what-ifs/358228)
**Author:** [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Replies:** 141\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-what-ifs/358228 "2006-06-13T00:48:02Z")
Probably a boring subject to most but something I’ve been giving some thought to recently after doing some reading. Two different scenarios have sort of floated around my brain and I was wondering what others thought. F… --- ## [How come you Americans haven't impeached Bush?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-americans-havent-impeached-bush/358605)
**Author:** [@northern\_canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/northern_canuck)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-americans-havent-impeached-bush/358605 "2006-06-12T23:02:17Z")
Me and some of my fellow Canadians wonder why Bush is still your president. It seems he has illegally curtailed freedoms, gotten you into a war for causes he lied about, and in general can run amuck all in the name of m… --- ## [Why doesn't Russia have an all-volunteer military NOW?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-russia-have-an-all-volunteer-military-now/359778)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-russia-have-an-all-volunteer-military-now/359778 "2006-06-12T17:25:59Z")
According to Wikipedia: The available manpower for the various branches of the \[Russian\] Armed Forces was estimated at 36 million in 2003… As of 2005, some 330,000 young men are brought into the army via conscription i… --- ## [Bush baiting aside what kind of leader is Venezuela's Chavez?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-baiting-aside-what-kind-of-leader-is-venezuelas-chavez/349090)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-baiting-aside-what-kind-of-leader-is-venezuelas-chavez/349090 "2006-06-12T16:22:47Z")
Productive and honest? Corrupt? Fair? Authoritarian? Objectively, how is he doing in terms of leading his country and providing good governance? --- ## [Monica Lewinsky and Betty Page: Birds of A Feather?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monica-lewinsky-and-betty-page-birds-of-a-feather/360274)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monica-lewinsky-and-betty-page-birds-of-a-feather/360274 "2006-06-12T14:39:06Z")
Bettie Page and Monica Lewinsky offer curious parallels on how sex works in our political process. Commentators on Betty Page sometimes say she had an innocent quality about her. I don’t know that I agree with that. I t… --- ## [Why are there so many irrelevancies in The Bible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-irrelevancies-in-the-bible/360296)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2006, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-irrelevancies-in-the-bible/360296 "2006-06-12T09:08:24Z")
I don’t mean in the “The Bible has no relevance today” kind of way… let me explain. I’ve been reading my way through The Brick Testament (I mean, it’s The Bible illustrated with Lego! I don’t think it gets much cooler t… --- ## [Christians - What made you believe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-made-you-believe/360223)
**Author:** [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-made-you-believe/360223 "2006-06-12T06:09:05Z")
I have been reading a lot lately about Christianity and the historical record of Jesus. It seems most Christians at a basic level believe that Jesus was God incarnate and he died for sins of man and was then he was resu… --- ## [Relatively Price of Health Care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-price-of-health-care/360218)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-price-of-health-care/360218 "2006-06-11T20:56:11Z")
This thread made me recall a previous time when I decided to look up the state of health care in the US, to find out that per person, the US spends eight times the amount of money as the UK (for instance) and yet has a l… --- ## [Is the SDMB stuck in the past?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-stuck-in-the-past/360043)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-stuck-in-the-past/360043 "2006-06-11T19:20:25Z")
I know that technically this probably belongs in “About This Messageboard”, but really, hardly anyone goes in there so I’d appreciate it if it could be left here, or at least not moved to ATMB… OK, anyway, I’ve noticed … --- ## [A heavenly conundrum. . .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-heavenly-conundrum/360068)
**Author:** [@furnishesq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furnishesq)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-heavenly-conundrum/360068 "2006-06-11T12:28:05Z")
Here is a philosophical question about heaven and hell. Assume for this question that there actually is a heaven and hell. This is merely a philosophical excercise – I am not arguing for or against the actual existence… --- ## [Mission Accomplished!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mission-accomplished/359995)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2006, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mission-accomplished/359995 "2006-06-11T09:48:27Z")
With the death of Zarqawi, GWB missed a perfect opportunity to declare another mission accomplished and point to the many missions ahead of us in the War on Terror. Don’t you think? --- ## [What would happen if the earth's destruction was pinpointed and inevitable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-the-earths-destruction-was-pinpointed-and-inevitable/359201)
**Author:** [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2006, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-the-earths-destruction-was-pinpointed-and-inevitable/359201 "2006-06-11T08:09:23Z")
I’m talking about the social ramifications here; I’m interested in knowing what people think would happen if, say, we knew a black hole was coming towards Earth, and we knew it would be here in exactly two years, and the… --- ## [Resolved: GWB as an early president would have destroyed the union](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-gwb-as-an-early-president-would-have-destroyed-the-union/358975)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-gwb-as-an-early-president-would-have-destroyed-the-union/358975 "2006-06-10T20:51:33Z")
So I’m reading about how Aaron Burr, and some New York federalists, seriously considered seceding in the first decade of the 1800’s - they envisioned a country of ‘New England’ very much like the decentralized articles-o… --- ## [Capitalism is a Form of Creeping Socialism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalism-is-a-form-of-creeping-socialism/359809)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalism-is-a-form-of-creeping-socialism/359809 "2006-06-10T18:41:24Z")
Proponents of capitalism often claim that their system is the only viable alternative to socialism. This doesn’t make any sense to me; it sounds like saying that we should go downstairs to avoid reaching the basement. … --- ## [Conservative Socialism in Western Europe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-socialism-in-western-europe/360000)
**Author:** [@Azov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azov)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-socialism-in-western-europe/360000 "2006-06-10T13:27:11Z")
My perception is that most people in Western Europe are social conservatives who prefer a statist economy. It seems like religion is more woven into their government and culture than in the U.S. and they seem to have a … --- ## [Does current science prove the existence of god?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-current-science-prove-the-existence-of-god/359619)
**Author:** [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-current-science-prove-the-existence-of-god/359619 "2006-06-10T00:30:33Z")
So here’s the story. My girlfriend has been trying to get me to go to church for awhile now, and I basically agreed the idea was fine, but was not really interested in going. Then, I decided to give it a try. I went t… --- ## [What Happened in California? Billbray v Busby](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-california-billbray-v-busby/359764)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-california-billbray-v-busby/359764 "2006-06-09T16:24:33Z")
Was the district to Red to ever really hope to take? Were Busby’s comments re immigrants not needing papers to vote a killer? --- ## [Every Country Has One Nuclear Weapon. Good Idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-country-has-one-nuclear-weapon-good-idea/359831)
**Author:** [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-country-has-one-nuclear-weapon-good-idea/359831 "2006-06-09T15:01:14Z")
The rules for this exercise are that every nation has one and only one nuclear missile. As to the range of this missile, let’s assume this missile can hit any target on the world accurately. The first problem is whethe… --- ## [Who will the next war be against?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-the-next-war-be-against/359361)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-the-next-war-be-against/359361 "2006-06-09T13:57:22Z")
Who’s next? Iran? North Korea? China? Mexico? What will be the next big conflict the US is in after the Iraq War? --- ## [Does human life have inherent value?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-human-life-have-inherent-value/359657)
**Author:** [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-human-life-have-inherent-value/359657 "2006-06-09T06:51:52Z")
This question comes out of a post I made in the pit. Here is the post in question. The thread is about a Katrina refugee who is still living in a NYC hotel on the taxpayers dime, drinking booze and watching TV all day. H… --- ## [Should standing armies be illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-standing-armies-be-illegal/359412)
**Author:** [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-standing-armies-be-illegal/359412 "2006-06-09T05:03:17Z")
Another thread asks if the US is too pro-military. I agree that it is, and a primary reason is that we have a standing army. That is also a major problem I have with Iraq and our foreign policy in general. But I also thi… --- ## [Jesus Seminar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-seminar/359840)
**Author:** [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-seminar/359840 "2006-06-09T02:09:20Z")
What is the view on Jesus Seminar? Was it top flight work into the historical Jesus? Or was it a politically motivated con job? --- ## ["War on \[Abstract Noun\]" Always Doomed to Failure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-on-abstract-noun-always-doomed-to-failure/359911)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-on-abstract-noun-always-doomed-to-failure/359911 "2006-06-09T01:23:45Z")
It seems to me that the phrase “War on \_\_\_\_\_,” where the blank is not a country, nor an army, is doomed to failure. It also seems to me that these “wars,” due, perhaps, to cognitive dissonance, are wildly popular. War o… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=784) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=786)