...because the clergy never lies... and doesn't use lies to manipulate their flock.

Not.

A pastor has promised to make a full confession to his congregation Wednesday after his claims to have served as a US Navy SEAL turned out to be pure Hollywood make-believe.

Rev. Jim Moats, a 59-year-old pastor at the Christian Bible Fellowship Church in Newville, Pa., was exposed after The Patriot-News interviewed him for a story about life in the elite SEAL fighting force.

The story, prepared by the newspaper in the wake of the successful US operation targeting al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden, was published Friday.

Readers of the newspaper immediately accused Moats of being a fraud.

"We deal with these guys all the time, especially the clergy. It's amazing how many of the clergy are involved in those lies to build that flock up," said retired SEAL Don Shipley, one of a handful of former SEALS trusted to maintain a database containing the names of all SEALs.

One impertinent question: How can so many otherwise intelligent people believe that an all-powerful, all-loving God could save humanity only by having his son die - well not really die but rise from the dead after 3 days, so that it was only semi-death - and that those who believe this fairytale will have ever-lasting life in heaven but that those who disbelieve will be condemned to burn in hell for eternity?

Only about 10-15% of the US population sees anything amiss with this creed, so the above question will likely generate no answers but lots of hateful comments from resentful (but loving) Christians.

I don't resent ignorance Bob. I simply down vote it.

"Only about 10-15% of the US population sees anything amiss with this creed, so the above question will likely generate no answers but lots of hateful comments from resentful (but loving) Christians."

Kind of like pictures of the Prophet Mohammed tend to draw murderous crowds of the Religion Of Peace, right?

Way I look at it - either it's true or it ain't. Ol' JC didn't command we go behead everyone who don't believe, so that's a plus. If it ain't true, then no harm no foul in at least treating others kindly (as in not hacking off heads if they dare disbelieve, or blowin' em up if they ain't prayin' proper and all that carp) so... if it IS true - then no harm no foul as by playin' by the rules means you get a (probably miniscule, in my case) trophy and such at the end of the season.

So why worry? Like life ain't short enough to get your boxers wadded up over whether or not someone ELSE believes that they should actually try to treat folks kind and all that.

Bob, see the tradition of James. There's more to Christianity than mere belief.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A24-26&version=NIV

24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.