Posted on Apr 27, 2015
SGT Anthony Rossi
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Can our religious faith dictate how we earn or spend our money?
Posted in these groups: Powmia SocialHumanall RightsFreedom Freedom
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CH (MAJ) William Beaver
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Best electrician story I ever heard: i was with a group of Baptists in Bayou la Batre, Alabama doing some post-Katrina home rebuilding. I saw the Mennonites and Old Order Amish (from Lancaster, PA) camped out there. Stopped by to visit with them to talk shop. I mean , how often do you get to sit and enjoy conversation with Old Order Amish? Well , we all shared what we were doing and my new Amish friend says he and the boys are here to rewire the houses. Say what? I ask him how he does that if he doesn't live with electricity himself? He smiled and said that just because he doesn 't use it doesn't mean he can't install it in the homes of people who need it. He is a self-taught master ekectrician. He added, " Now granted I am far better at removing electricity than I am installing it !" But that amazes me. Guys from a religion that doesn't believe in using electricity would hop a tour bus and travel from PA to the coast to help electrically repair homes devastated by Katrina. Since they have no TV they read about the Katrina news and responded accordingly . I gained a new and deep love for the Amish on that mission trip.
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Capt Retired
Capt (Join to see)
9 y
I don't necessarily agree with all of the teachings of the Amish. BUT, I sincerely respect the dedication and character of the vast majority I have seen.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
TSgt Joshua Copeland
9 y
CH (MAJ) William Beaver, I grew up (partially) in York County PA, which is the county next to Lancaster. When I was in high school, I drove through down town York everyday. Everyday there was Amish in the one neighborhood using power tools, driving trucks to bring supplies and remodel the houses. After a few months of watching this, I stopped and talked with them. They are granted permission from their leader to use electric, cellphones and cars for work only. Still no electric in their houses and their personal stuff was all done by buggy, but it was a trip to see! They had bought the houses cheap, were remodeling them to flip the houses for a profit. It took the neighbor from a slum to a really nice middle class area. I am sure they made quite a bit of money too!
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SPC Steven Depuy
SPC Steven Depuy
9 y
I live in Lancaster County PA, the hard core Mennonites and Amish crack me up. You can do almost anything to make money, just not supposed to use it for your own pleasure. A lot of them don't even believe in the rules, but don't want to get shunned and kicked out of their church. Some of the Mennonites I know say business is business, personal is personal. They will screw you over in a heart beat in a business deal, and your not supposed to take it personal because its just business. Spend a little time driving down Railroad Ave at New Holland PA, this farmer just uses mules to farm, this guy uses them but has a gas engine on the machine they are pulling, this guy has a tractor, but it has steel wheels, this guy uses a small bulldozer to pull his stuff, and they all claim some religious high ground to what they do. Two of the groups fought over a little window in the back of the buggy. They are a crazy bunch to figure out. But they do great stuff life they did after the hurricane. I will tell you though, a lot of the Amish will cut any corner they can doing something. A plumbing company for example that went out of business a few years ago always used plumbing PEX pipe on their radiant heat jobs because they didn't understand the importance of the oxygen barrier in the proper pipe. No way an Amish carpenter would ever build a house for me, I have seen far too much.
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Capt Richard I P.
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Absolutely. I went into this in detail on MAJ (Join to see)'s wedding cake topic.
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PO2 Steven Erickson
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Edited 9 y ago
Uncle joe jots
Let me be so bold as to remind all of us that this is the United States of America. You have the right to think and feel as you see fit, even if the majority (or, yes, even if EVERYONE ELSE) thinks that you're a lunatic.

If I choose NOT to do something on the basis of my beliefs, HOW DARE ANYONE tell me that I'm not allowed to NOT do something? (I'm not talking about life-endangering action or inaction.)

This is the same "forced tolerance" that is in the news with business owners being punished and threatened for NOT conducting a business transaction.

Although I personally believe that racism and discrimination are immoral, unethical, ignorant and fear-driven primal urges, I will NEVER PRESUME to tell another man that what he believes should subject him to legal punishment. If some shopkeeper wants to discriminate against anyone, those who disagree should kindly take their business elsewhere. Pure economics will make the final decision on that person's business strategies.

God help us all if the majority is EVER allowed to tell the minority that they (we?) should be punished for what they (we?) think or feel.

Oh... wait... um... TOO LATE?
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SGT Anthony Rossi
SGT Anthony Rossi
9 y
It's nice to read a truly AMERICAN point of view. Thanks you Sir!
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