Author: Ron Shank

A point to remember

I’m just now seeing this.

Well, appellate judges are not obligated to follow the precedent of the Supreme Court. They take an oath only to uphold the Constitution. There’s no oath, no rule, no nothing [that mandates they must follow precedent].

It’s from the pre-confirmation hype about Judge Roberts, but it makes a point that too many folks forget. Justices only take an oath to the Constitution. There is no mandate they follow precedence.

The rest of the transcript is just funny. I wish there had been audio.

No Hell?

As happens from time to time, comments take on a life (or post) of their own.

Here is a post and my replies from Angry Dissenter:

I always like talking theology.
The short answer is yes, I believe that if there’s a heaven and I get hit by a bus today, that I get in.

What do you base this on?

However, your question and my answer are based on philosophical assumptions and conclusions which, I think, are more important than either the question or the answer.
1) First, I can’t believe in hell. It’s not a concept that is logically compatible with my conception of God, or even the popular Christian concept of God. If you believe that God is infinite (or at least larger than all things in existence), hell becomes extremely problematic.

It wasn’t problematic for the author’s of Scripture or Christ, Himself:
“Hell” in Scripture:

  • Gehenna (Greek): The place of punishment (Matthew 5:22,29; 10:28; and James 3:6)
  • Hades (Greek): The abode of the dead (Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27)
  • Sheol (Hebrew): The grave (Psalm 9:17; 16:10)

    • Continue reading “No Hell?”

    The jury is still out on Alito’s “conservatism”

    Note to Conservative groups: This is why you should never jump out the same day and in support of the President’s position with out letting the dust clear.

    While liberal special interest groups are castigating President Bush’s latest Supreme Court nominee as a far-right extremist, details are beginning to emerge that may indicate otherwise.

    Read more at FPN’s Website

    Getting the Most Improved of The Day Award

    The Yahoo Map Beta takes many of the things I like and adds the thing someone should have thought of years ago: mapping to various points. For example, I know the best route from here to St. Louis. But Google thought it new better than me, while now I can add points and get a more accurate map… and I really like mini map thing in the upper right. Looks like they took that from the google earth program. Which is really cool too if your pc will run it.

    Yahoo! Maps, Driving Directions, and Traffic