Dear Pianistimo...

[ihatepop]

Dear Pianistimo,

I have a problem of which I would like to consult your opinion.

I have a really good friend in school who behaves really well...during recess he is always found in the library doing some reading. But recently, ever since we had gotten our laptops, he has been constantly misusing them. Oh, no more library for him...during recess he is found in the class playing computer games, although the school rules state that playing games within the school compound is a serious offense. Recently, it has gotten worse, as his good character is disappearing. He is skipping lunch just for the games.

I do not wish for his character detoriation to get worse, and I also do not want him to get into trouble. I have tried speaking to him about this matter before, but he just shrugs it off. Pianistimo, what should I do?

Thanks,

ihatepop

[imbetter]

why direct this question toward pianistimo?

[ihatepop]

Umm...because there was a thread called 'dear pianistimo' once, and she has had opinion dealing with such questions?

Nvm, anyone can answer...I guess 'dear pianistimo' is too focused towards pianistimo...

ihatepop

[tds]

ihatepop,

lovely to see that you care about your friend and his well being. in my humble opinion, you have done your part by trying to get him out of his game addiction. i think that is pretty much all you can do now.

a system must run its course, and we, being part of it, have to adjust and readjust- to exercise one's choice. when disregarding your advice, your friend chooses to make an adjustment of his own. lets hope he never stops learning.

my humble opinion. tds

[pianistimo]

dear ihatepop,

sorry that i didn't see this question or thread pop up.  this is a hard question because at first i thought it was a direct reference to my son somehow.  he is also a gamer, but i think he's starting to 'see the light.'  at least today he wanted to do something other that sit and game.

i think it is an outlet for stress.  and, that it provides something that teens do not have enough of.  perhaps encouragement.  i mean - if you make enough points or you are winning then it sort of provides a means of comparison.  for my son - he's very good at these games.  and sort of tutors other kids sometimes as to how to play.  the thing is - if he spent as much time at his schoolwork as gaming - he'd be a much better student.

what we were told is that gaming can be addictive and to not make it so easy.  so the computers are sometimes literally taken apart and pieces taken to my husband's job location.  we tell him that when he has gone to school and finished homework - then - it's ok to play. 

sometimes i feel that i focus on the weaknesses of my kids and not my own.  so, then i look at how much time i spent on pianoforum.  it's just easier to say 'they are addicted.'  parents have to recognize their own addictions, too.  having family time is certainly a good thing.  i don't think kids crave so much computer time when there are things to do that they find interesting. 

perhaps playing tennis or swimming or some kind of exercise.  gaming is such a 'fat' sport.  show him some pics of fat gamers.  tell him his heart attack risks.

[living_stradivarius]

Find out what games he is playing and report back. The type of game he plays will tell a lot about what he wants out of the activity.

[ihatepop]

.

[db05]

Dear pianistimo,

Why is thalbergmad mad?

Okay, you don't need to answer that one.......


What I wanted to say was, I noticed that my more, uhm, talented classmates loved to play games, but that's not all, they love pop music and play it often, they hang out together and play video games and whatnot, sometimes drink, and often smoke though some are not yet 18. (One of them just turned 18 recently.)

And my teacher, who you know I revere and adore, would often say that pop music (we are studying classical after all) and video games are bad. (He never saw them drink; I did once after a concert. He doesn't seem to notice the smoking, and recently it was prohibited in school.) I would say the same, but there is so much evidence to the contrary.

And games have many benefits, imo. If not, why did the author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad make a board game (Cashflow 101)? Why did Aruffo (acousticlearning.com) design his ear training software as games?

As you mentioned, gaming is an outlet for stress. It can also teach what books cannot through instant feedback and repetition, simply put, it gets you thinking and learning. It helps eye-hand coordination. It can be a good way to make and spend time with friends. MMORPGs come to mind.

I hate to say that my teacher is wrong, though. So I started an experiment recently, that is I started playing my old SNES game (on ROM because we don't have it anymore  ). Every night, no more than 1 hour per night. It's a huge chunk of time I'm losing, so I hope there will be good results.

Anyhow, I hate most of pop music, I can't drink much because I'm allergic and I don't smoke at all. I have many theories why my classmates are good, but I can only test this one about gaming.

[pianistimo]

oh. oh. i have a question.  wait.  you don't want the answer to why thalbergmad is mad - and you didn't really pose a question here about gaming.  i'm presuming that you answered it yourself kind of.  it's an outlet for stress and it's better than smoking?  is that the idea?  well, i think i might just agree , for once, although, i see demons in these games.  (thal, be quiet)  seriously, every game i see -they are attempting to use subliminal stuff. you see stuff written on the walls but you can 't quite figure it out unless you freeze the frame and blow it up. nazi symbols or whatever.  i'm just speaking as a mother - don't you think than hour could be better spent getting ahead of your friends at a skill. you know - something that will pay money.

at least my son has gotten over the notion that designing games will make him a substantial living.  he used to tell me he was going to design games.  i said, ok.  but, how much do they actually make for all that work?  perhaps more than i realize?  anyways -  i suppose that everything is in the eye of the beholder.  i see death everywhere in some of those games.  i sometimes wish there would be some kind of games for kids to learn homework.  ah well.

say, can you help me now?  i was just wondering what you think might cause the huge student drop-out rates now in hs and college.  do you think one could literally blame it on late nights and not being able to get up in the morning from gaming?  just wondering.

[pianochick93]

Maybe just a lack of desire to learn...the drop outs just wanting to do fun stuff, enjoy their youth (or waste it). There's TV and internet pretty much everywhere now, whereas 20 or so years ago the internet at least wasn't everywhere. Maybe dropouts (I refrain from using the word 'kid' as I am one) think 'I can learn whatever I want from TV or internet...who needs school or uni?

Maybe it's a combination of both, maybe it's neither...I'm not a dropout and never will be one so I can't really answer accurately. I'm just making guesses.

[iheartpiano]

ihatepop,

lovely to see that you care about your friend and his well being. in my humble opinion, you have done your part by trying to get him out of his game addiction. i think that is pretty much all you can do now.

a system must run its course, and we, being part of it, have to adjust and readjust- to exercise one's choice. when disregarding your advice, your friend chooses to make an adjustment of his own. lets hope he never stops learning.

my humble opinion. tds

I agree.  I also think it's great you care for your friend so much, but there is only so much you can do. 

I also want to say that I can relate because I am struggling with the very same thing right now.  A dear friend of mine I've known for 21 years has been making some seriously bad choices lately, so I understand.       

[quantum]

Maybe it is also a reflection on the deteriorating state of our education system.  Learning should be fun and enjoyable. 

[pianistimo]

agreed.  typically there is a 'standard way ' to do everything and everyone must fit the mold and take standardized tests.  many guys, especially, just want to do more 'hands on' type learning.  like in physics class.  that was the only class besides a couple others that my son really enjoyed in hs.  the teacher didn't focus on testing.  he focused on learning.

[db05]

say, can you help me now?  i was just wondering what you think might cause the huge student drop-out rates now in hs and college.  do you think one could literally blame it on late nights and not being able to get up in the morning from gaming?  just wondering.

I don't think it's gaming, because games existed in other forms since time immemorial. I see what you mean about subliminal messages, but more so in sport/ chase games than video games. If you want to quench the urge to kill, play football and tackle someone.   

My mom went back to school this semester (!!), and we have new insights regarding schooling. Now we can actually compare the schooling in her generation and mine!

1) Poverty - When mom was young, they were poor and could only afford free public schooling, but everyone in the family graduated from college. Mom didn't get her dream course of Medicine, though. And they never went hungry for days. The poor here now are so poor, they go hungry. And some HAVE to quit school to work, or at least decrease expenses.

What about the more fortunate ones? Well, unlike before, both parents have to work all day and there's no time to check on how the kids are doing.

2) Teachers and students - The teachers back then must have been really good, OR maybe it's because the students were fewer. More people = more students = less attention given to each student = less learning. I think it's a little of both.

Mom was upset recently, because their group report wasn't appreciated much. The topic was motivation in the workplace. The reasons for unhappiness of workers were already given, so they put their feet in managers' shoes and thought of ways to improve the situation. The teacher was more interested in his problem than their solutions.

Can you say, spoonfeeding? There is a lot of that in the lower grades, and most students don't learn how to think for themselves. So once school is over, they find that they learned NOTHING.

And many of the best teachers are leaving the country to find better jobs abroad. Well, that's reality.

3) The system - It's basically the same before and after, except for the factors given above, and a few other things. One is that the subjects were slightly different. In my mom's era, Chemistry was just an elective in college (she took Spanish). And what's nursery and kindergarten? They just went straight to grade one (but we're a smart clan, hehe  )! Nowadays, kindergarteners study fractions, and high schoolers study Chemistry and Physics. Some even start those subjects in grade school. Wow!

Another is that the world is not the same. It's information era now, and we have to study computers and the internet and how to make the most out of technological advances. The world has changed, but the educational system hasn't. That's why traditional schooling is just not enough.

[db05]

oh. oh. i have a question.  wait.  you don't want the answer to why thalbergmad is mad - and you didn't really pose a question here about gaming.  i'm presuming that you answered it yourself kind of.  it's an outlet for stress and it's better than smoking?  is that the idea?  well, i think i might just agree , for once, although, i see demons in these games.  (thal, be quiet)  seriously, every game i see -they are attempting to use subliminal stuff. you see stuff written on the walls but you can 't quite figure it out unless you freeze the frame and blow it up. nazi symbols or whatever.  i'm just speaking as a mother - don't you think than hour could be better spent getting ahead of your friends at a skill. you know - something that will pay money.

at least my son has gotten over the notion that designing games will make him a substantial living.  he used to tell me he was going to design games.  i said, ok.  but, how much do they actually make for all that work?  perhaps more than i realize?  anyways -  i suppose that everything is in the eye of the beholder.  i see death everywhere in some of those games.  i sometimes wish there would be some kind of games for kids to learn homework.  ah well.

LOL, I wanted to be a game designer too, when I was in grade school. Yes, it pays a lot. But I think it would be better to be a hacker. I mean, the legal ones that do it for a living. (I don't know if there's a term for this.) Hackers aren't all bad.

Learn homework? I think some games could come close. How about something like Jeopardy, that you can play together? This game I'm playing is very old, it's how I learned geography as a kid. I get to discover the major ports and complete the world map.

[concerto_love]

dear pianistimo,

Any suggestions...?

[pianistimo]

db05,

that was great insight as to the type of changes that occur (or don't) in the education system.  and, i agree that life can be lonely if both parents work all day.  it's much harder (nigh impossible) with gas prices, etc - to be a one income family.  however, we've managed to do it by sacrificing lots of things.  i don't recall really missing anything, though.  i took out a loan for one year and my husband paid for one year - so i got 1 1/2- 2 years of uni toward a master's degree in piano.  i don't regret it - however, i haven't really made any money at this excepting teaching piano lessons (i was going for performance degree).  unless you are a top performer - people mostly want your services for free.  the piano lessons are good however.

i look at my son's dillemma's in life, too - and just hope that he will be guided to take as much counsel as possible.  i think you are doing this on this forum.  it's good because you get a multitude of advice and then you can choose what sounds right to you.  my son may or may not take my advice about designing gaming.  he loves it, however! and i'd hate to be the cause of dampening his spirits about it.  if he really wants it - i say 'go for it!'  but, i can't help muttering under my breath - what about all those kids that will get addicted to gaming and spend more time on it than their homework.  personally, i'd stay away from anything that could be harmfully addicting to anyone.

i don't know anything about hacking or things like that.  i am a complete computer nerd.  i can use word perfect - but my husband hates that program with a passion.  i'm just unaware of anything that is unperfect about it.  afraid i am little to no help on the hacking.  maybe government programs use it to spy on each other?  you might be paid lots of money to do it legally?  just wondering who hires hackers.

[db05]

Thanks, ma'am. I did my best. And unknowingly left the computer on for hours because I had dinner... 

You feel like an online mom to me now. How weird. I was also wondering if I could make a living by studying piano and teaching at the same time. Hopefully easier because I'm single and my parents still support me.

Hacking, LOL. It just crossed my mind. I don't remember where I got that info, sorry. Ask around to confirm? Or just don't inform your son that game designing is big business... How old is he by the way?

[pianistimo]

people do it - (study piano and teach piano) - but it's VERY difficult.  ask anyone who does it.  you typically aren't paid to practice.  that's the catch.  and, being a top performer requires a lot of practice.  what you do in college is paid for by loans.  when the loans are up - you owe money.  imo, it's better to make a quick choice and go for a double major.  practice when you can - make money all the time.  it's needed for survival.  and, when you make enough money - then you can practice more.  typically, the time for saving is when you can make the money.

i sew and teach piano.  it's pen money.  my husband is a computer wizard and makes ten times more in one month than i do in a year.  we joke about it at tax time.  but, i do a lot of things to save him time and money.  for instance, i pay all the bills, do all the laundry/cleaning, cooking (sometimes), yardwork, and work p/t when it works out, take the children to school - pick them up - do activities or take them to activities.  generally, we've been able to do the one income thing - but we don't take summer vacations, we don't have a deck on our home, our basement is unfinished, and we generally do cheaper things like cycling when we want to have fun.  we do, however, go to the ymca and pay for family membership.  it seems to pay for itself when everyone goes.  funnily - the last few months only the two girls go.

my son just turned 19.  he does what he likes right now - but, is learning how much things cost.  he has a job at giant food stores and enjoys having his own money now - probably will live at home until he's out of college.  he might like another life - but why take out loans that you have to pay back at high interest.  if you miss one payment they can hike the interest, too.  it's just not that great to owe a lot of money to anyone.  they make the loans easy to get - but hard to pay off.  why pay for something you get that is free.  enjoy being home while you can!  it's a time to save money!  susan

[tanman]

Dear pianistimo,

there is this one question on the impossible quiz that I've been trying to solve for the past hour. any suggestions?

[db05]

my son just turned 19.  he does what he likes right now - but, is learning how much things cost.  he has a job at giant food stores and enjoys having his own money now - probably will live at home until he's out of college.  he might like another life - but why take out loans that you have to pay back at high interest.  if you miss one payment they can hike the interest, too.  it's just not that great to owe a lot of money to anyone.  they make the loans easy to get - but hard to pay off.  why pay for something you get that is free.  enjoy being home while you can!  it's a time to save money!  susan

We're the same age! I guessed high school or college, but didn't try an exact age. It must be cool to have a job and all; I don't have job except to study this music course. I only go 3x a week, so I have a lot of free time. It's boring sometimes, but it's better than my college experience that was sooooooo stressful! I think I'd like to teach when I become qualified. I love my teacher. Oh, I mean teachers. 

I agree on saving money, but sometimes a person just won't get it unless there's firsthand experience. Plus a mom's nagging tends to backfire. I like you, and I know you're worried because you care. But I don't know if your son knows that. I hope he does...

[thalbergmad]

Pianistimo - Online Mother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ahinton]

Pianistimo - Online Mother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thalbergmad - Online Bother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

ahinton - online spell chekker

[pianistimo]

dear db05,

i really try not to nag my son anymore.  i used to ask him 'is your homework done?  where is it?'  things like that.  now, he comes to me occasionally and says 'can you help me with this paper.'

mom's just give advice and see if anyone takes it.  when my son doesn't take my advice - i don't really bother him.  i think when he was 16-17 i started just letting him take more freedom in what he thought, did, and said.  but, still had house rules.  we respect each other.  also, he's pretty responsible, actually. 

so...you're 19, too!  and lots of time to practice.  that's good!  keep up the practice and don't think too hard about negativities. whatever you do - just do it to the best of your ability.  things go places when you least expect (that's been my situation anyways).  having a p/t job might be a good thing when you're up to it.  practice does take a lot of time and energy.  but, it sometimes puts one in a position of having to only prove themselves through one area of life.  i think diversifying early in life makes you more flexible later on.  for instance, just for fun - you could take something that also interests you - and not necessarily a career path choice.  just something you like.  maybe you need to de-stress.   

dear tanman,

what's the question? (not that i can solve it)

*ignoring infighting.

[thalbergmad]

maybe you need to de-stress.   

I think we agree on that my little pa preacher.

As for diversifying, i think you are correct. It gives one more choices as one gets older.

Thal

[pianistimo]

   i'm speechless.

[ahinton]

  i'm speechless.

With that admission I think that you're playing well and truly into Thal's hands, however unwittingly...

Best,

Alistair

[db05]

Thalbergmad - Online Bother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best,

Alistair

LOLOLOLOLOL.

[db05]

Oh oh by the way, Ma'am Pianistimo, I have another question. I just started learning piano last year, with not much progress as I hoped. (I couldn't get the good teacher I wanted, remember?) So I'm pretty much a beginner, though I'm studying music and all. I graduate from my course in 2 years, if I pass... Can I go get a degree in piano then? Think I can get into conservatory? Or at least just teach at my school?

[concerto_love]

dear pianistimo,

I have a school project to do a "book surgery", make a very long report from it... I choose "Rome sweet home" by Scott and Kimberly Hahn. I dunno how to make the analyze part, so can I ask your opinion about this book? Have u read it b4..?

Thanks.

[thalbergmad]

Dear Pianistimo,

After cycling to work for 14 consecutive days, my bollox are killing me.

Can you suggest a good make of saddle.

Thanks

Thal

[ahinton]

Dear Pianistimo,

After cycling to work for 14 consecutive days, my bollox are killing me.

Can you suggest a good make of saddle.

Thanks

Susan can (and doubtless will) answer for herself but, in the interim and whilst not intending to upstage anything that she might say in response, might a practical remedy be to desist from cycling to work? - after all, the prospect of damage, howsoever caused, to the Thalbergmad bollox (surely an English national treasure?) is without doubt just too horrific to contemplate...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

the quality of questions has degraded.  where's the angel food cake?

ok.  first i check on dbo5's other thread and find a spammer talking about gardening, marinading, and not killing meat all in one message.  (well, perhaps it's a lesson to me not to put so many topics in one paragraph).  anyways...now i come on this one...and even dbo5's question seems a little tricky here.

ok.  db05 - i think you should slow down.  smell the roses. maybe take a trip. then, when you have finished your world travels (or a small jaunt somewhere's) - come back to your piano studies full steam ahead.  i think all women need to be educated. after all, you never know if the person you are with is going to disappear or die.  then what?  or...if you just decide to make it on your own for a while.  get a double major.  one in music and one in something else that can be/or not related to music.  my preference would be something NOT related.  did you mention languages?

concerto_love, i'm just wondering about this 'rome sweet home' book.  the sweet part seems odd as rome is the mafia center of the world.  and, rome is old.  home is where one is born.  you can visit - but no place feels like home unless you're born there.  the title is something definately worth discussing if the author's recently made it their home vs. being born there.  however, perhaps better comparisons can be made by 'outsiders.'  rome is full of secrets.

thal, i take it that you are practicing up for the ride around the isle of whit?  just deal with the pain and continue riding.  i've never seen any lying on the ground.  although there are two huge iron ones along our bike trail, now that i think about it.  please, readers, don't be offended.  it's just my husband's bad sense of humor to point them out EVERY time.  'oh, there's the iron balls...'

[pianochick93]

although there are two huge iron ones along our bike trail.

Eh. Stop riding along Rundle Mall...that's in my city, not yours 

[db05]

ok.  db05 - i think you should slow down.  smell the roses. maybe take a trip. then, when you have finished your world travels (or a small jaunt somewhere's) - come back to your piano studies full steam ahead.  i think all women need to be educated. after all, you never know if the person you are with is going to disappear or die.  then what?  or...if you just decide to make it on your own for a while.  get a double major.  one in music and one in something else that can be/or not related to music.  my preference would be something NOT related.  did you mention languages?

By world travels, do you mean my geographical game? Does that count? I mentioned linguistic ability, that is I'm good in English, reading, writing, and the like. Not sure if that also means I'll be able to pick up a new language quickly.

Yes, I'm trying to de-stress now, whatever that means. I got reprimanded the other day for my terrible piano playing. I hadn't practiced seriously in a while. I took music at first as a kind of therapy, but it tends to backfire when I'm too serious.

[concerto_love]

Thanks, pianistimo....  So guys, if u have another opinion and analyze please tell me!!

[db05]

Thanks, pianistimo....  So guys, if u have another opinion and analyze please tell me!!

I've never heard of your book. I searched wiki, but there were no matches. Gah!! Why such a book? What are you studying? When we did book reports, it was about African and then Asian literature (although the author didn't seem to be Chinese). So we were more interested about the culture, and the slice-of-life in the book. So it depends.

[concerto_love]

I see,

[pianistimo]

i liked the start - where he/she says 'catholic apologetics sounded more like an oxymoron.'  however, the authors came to believe in the catholic doctrines.  i suppose one can come to believe in any religion that claims to trace it's authenticity to the 12 disciples.  however, every one of the 12 was jewish and typically the romans didn't like them and didn't even allow them to be buried in rome.  you know - this is a secret - but i don't think peter is buried there.  simon magus peter, maybe.  nobody can prove me wrong up to this point.  the proof just isn't there that peter's bones are truly there.  and, even if they were - peter was typically in jerusalem as he was the leader there.  paul was sent to the gentiles.  the catholics have  A LOT of apologetics.

peter was called to rome when simon peter magus wanted to challenge his authority.  he got the emperor to hold a sort of 'wager' between the two - and see who could be the more convincingly spiritual.  it ended that simon peter magus died several days later after attempting to fly -but peter was crucified head down.  but, WHERE was he bured. can anyone prove 'st. peter's basilica' - positively?

i could write my own book - but i have to take some time on the wording.  don't want to get the pope offended.

[general disarray]

i could write my own book - but i have to take some time on the wording.  don't want to get the pope offended.

If the pope is offended by you, he's a heartless fool.   

[pianistimo]

.

[pianistimo]

if i were to write a book - it would not concentrate actually on jewish or catholic doctrines or beliefs.  it would focus on the 'gospel' of Jesus Christ.  what it is.  then, one can compare the other doctrines to it.  Jesus said not to add or subtract to HIS words.  so...what is true?  every word of God!

concerto_love, now i will ask you if you have read the bible.  it is wayy more important, imo, to read than books about other denominations faith.  it is God's own words to us through his disciples, prophets, and faithful.  i don't, for one instant, believe the catholic church has the power over sainthood.  do you know God is in control of that!  it says in revelations that he opened 'THE BOOK OF LIFE.'  if you want to live (be a saint!) - obey God.

[concerto_love]

thanks pianistimo!! really helping!!!

[thalbergmad]

i could write my own book

You just have.

[thalbergmad]

i hope that people will see two sides of a very controversial and inflamed topic - of which i did not bring up!  (remember that, ok!)

Who brought it up then?

I cannot see it.

Thal

[thalbergmad]

some of the parents went to concentration camps. 

I am very sensitive about this.

My Grandfather died at a concentration camp.

Thal

[thalbergmad]

here is what i believe will happen.  the pope gets friendly with the jews by knighting klenicki (a rabbi in nyc - and the knighting is reminicent of what?  the CATHOLIC ORDER).  klenicki does some of the bidding of the pope in terms of allowing 'inter-faith' dialoge - which basically means to allow some of the teaching of one or the other - and more toleration and inter-faith understanding - WHICH ALLOWS FOR CONVERSION.  now, some argue - but i think the pope is coming from a direction of CONVERTING JEWS ultimately.  all this is POLITICAL.

the goal after all this is that the pope gains access to control of both sides of jerusalem - the jewish and the palestinian - and is given power to decide the PEACE OF ISRAEL by dividing it in two and being the main 'stabilizer.'  will this stabilize israel.  maybe according to the UN?  this is a bartered POLITICAL situation and is like two power-brokers (the UN and catholic church).  isn't this wayyy more situational than the little tit-for-tat baptist fight?  the baptists aren't trying to take over israel politically - they want to assure that when Yeshua returns - the faith of Israel will still be strong for whomever is waiting for the Lord to return.

I have sent this to MGM as it would make a bloody good film. Maybe they could get Arnie to act in the starring role.

Personally, I think the Pope will convert to Islam and move into a Harem in Tehran High Street. However, he is really on a secret spying mission to see if the Iranians are building a bomb.

When he finds out they have, he gets his beads out and converts back to being a Catholic, just in time to try to avert World War 3. In the ensuing struggle, he gets his robe caught in an Iranian tank and ends up being 1 inch high and 12 foot wide.

Just as possible as your suggestion.

Thal

[pianistimo]

thal, recently you have been very good natured.  are you eating something different?  something sweet.  coconut juice or something?  i was expecting an explosion - but my sides are ripping still. 

home sweet rome is not the book for me.  i'm just telling people like it is.  if they want to get baptized before they know they have a choice - that's their business.  i don't think God is so incapable that he can't save babies if they die young.  it's just a faith that i find clashes with the words of the bible.  i don't see Jesus going around making disciples out of babies.  he was nice to them, however.  what i understand is that he waited until a person was rationally capable of a decision for themselves. 

home sweet rome is written by two people who were skeptical of the catholic faith - but then converted.  i have no bones to pick about people who like lots of ritual and prefer mysticism.  freedom of religion is important.  but, if the UN and the pope (two very REAL players) decide to go political - this is affecting many people's choice/freedom and makes the catholic church basically the head of all world organized religion.  when one says 'christian' they should have a choice in their own definition.  a one-world religio-political system just doesn't cut it for me.  how did the pope end up being a political player and speaking for ALL religions/christians.  is anyone else (other faiths) allowed to speak at United Nations conventions?

[thalbergmad]

a one-world religio-political system just doesn't cut it for me. 

Would it if it were your faith?

Thal