DinnerDialogue.com is a division of Family Matters. Its purpose is to bring deeper and more open discussions to your family. Every weekday brings new news that opens up topics for discussion on moral, ethical and spiritual issues.

TODAY'S NEWS - July 16, 2002
This page is updated by 2:00 pm (PST)

Lie-detection advances raise hope, concerns - Washington Times
"There has been a reawakening of our interest in being able to determine the truth from each other," said sociologist Barbara Hetrick, who teaches a course on lying at the College of Wooster in Ohio. "As technology advances, we may have to decide whether we want to let a machine decide guilt or innocence."

• What if effective lie-detection devices became inexpensive enough that families could afford them? Would they be a hot selling item? Explain.
  
  
• What would be the benefits or concerns about parents using them on their kids? What about spouses using them against each other?
  
  
• What scriptures come to mind?
  Use the Bible tool below to help you find what you are looking for.
  

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'Godless Americans' Plan March on Nation's Capital - CNSNews
"We are participating in this march to reclaim the American nation as a secular nation because we feel it's being moved more and more to a religious nation," said Katherine Bourdonnay, a spokesperson for the Council for Secular Humanism.

• Do you think we are becoming a religious nation? What would be good or bad about that? If we did become officially labeled a "Christian Nation" would that mean we did our job?
  
  
• Joe Zamecki, office manager at the American Atheists Center said, "[It's] not going to be a religion-bashing fest." How can they be adamantly opposed to religion and not bash religion? How can Christians hate the sin but love the sinner?
  
  
• What scriptures come to mind?
  Matthew 12:30; Luke 6:27; Romans 12:14

SIDE ORDERS - other news from today

Homosexual 'Big Brothers'? - FNIF
It's a brave new world at your local Big Brothers Big Sisters office. As of this month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) will require that all 500 of its local affiliates include active homosexuals as volunteers and mentors to children. Many parents who support Big Brothers Big Sisters may be surprised to learn that their child could soon be paired with a gay or lesbian mentor. In fact, parents whose children are enrolled in the organization's school-based programs will not even be told when their son or daughter is matched with a gay man or a lesbian woman.

Was Jesus 'gay'? - World Net Daily
In the immoral days in which we live, homosexual men and women are grasping for every possible straw to get acceptance for their destructive, aberrant lifestyle. The secret gay agenda has infiltrated the media, Hollywood, the public schools, the government and, yes, now even religion. How sad to say homosexuals have gone as far as to try and hijack and pervert biblical Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus Christ – all in the name of "gay sex." And America, we've let it happen.

Teens give peers reasons to abstain - Washington Times
Regret is often what comes next. In a 2000 survey conducted for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 63 percent of boys and girls ages 12 to 17 who have had sexual relations said they wished they waited longer. In 2001, 46 percent of high school students had had sexual relations, down from 50 percent in 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Wisconsin Woman Fined For Cursing On Phone - KOAT
She was given a $95 citation by police for leaving an off-color message on her ex-husband's answering machine. Wisconsin is one of a handful of states to outlaw profane language on the telephone.

LEFTOVERS - previous dialogues

Monday - July 15, 2002

British Reality Show Will Hand Parents Marriage Choice to Kids
Public School Pushes Homosexual Agenda and Discriminates Against Christian Student During 'Diversity Week'--Federal Lawsuit Filed

Friday - July 5, 2002

Hurry up and date

Wednesday - July 3, 2002

Christian Mass Media Reach More Adults With the Christian Message Than Do Churches
Cruise Kids to Live 'Far and Away'

Tuesday - July 2, 2002

Cruise Kids to Live 'Far and Away'

Monday - July 1, 2002

Why men drag their feet down the aisle

Friday - June 28, 2002

What to take? Evacuees must choose from a lifetime of memories
The race to raise a brainier baby

Thursday - June 27, 2002

Flap After Court Rules Pledge of Allegiance Unconstitutional

Wednesday - June 26, 2002

Spanking May Make Kids Violent, Analysis Finds
Sign Threatens Potential Car Thieves

Tuesday - June 25, 2002

Democracy for Palestinians
For Some, Tag Joins Dodgeball as Playground Pariah
Leveled Playing Field?

Monday - June 24, 2002

Suicide over hair-do
FBI: Major Crime Up 2 Percent