Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

this place is getting out of hand , or so I think.

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

Not really. It's been much worse.

I jsut needed to get a little political debate out of my system. It's been a while. I think I'm done now though.

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

Jesus also told us to murder those who didn't believe in him.

A little something extra for you:

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

I read all those texts, but you didn't impress me. I could explain all of them, but since it's no use, I won't.

It's not easy to break my belief. ;)

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

No, that's cool. I can understand wanting to take the literal meaning on certain passages and twist the interpretation of others to suit you. Though I would enjoy hearing why God ordered infants to be "dashed upon the rocks" or why he ordered human and animal sacrifices because he enjoyed the smell. It says what it says.

Church would have been a LOT more interesting if the preacher had recited those passages during sermon.

But wait a min, what are all these references to God being ANGRY? I mean who would have thought that a supreme being filled with love could experience "fierce anger"? Isn't anger really just a manifestation of fear, and fear, insecurity?

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

Neo, I am not a Christian, but I do know that when you take religious documentation out of the context of the entire document, you do the religion in question a huge disservice. By concentrating on every little instruction, you lose the message of the entirety of the document. After all, I could easily go passage for passage with you, posting passages that instruct peace, love and understanding. Passages which you has intentionally ignored because you appear to have an anti-Christian/religion agenda.

Some of the most religious Christian sects in the country are Mormons, Jehova's Witnesses and Amish, and they all expressly teach non-violence. And I highly doubt that even the Bible beating baptists in the south would go along with dashing babies on rocks, considering they are vehemently against abortion and euthanasia. These groups have gotten passed the passages that you posted to see the value of the document in its entirety. Why can't you?

I actually think that Canyarion has shown a lot of restraint and compassion by not responding to your attack on his religion, and I believe that is a true reflection of his religious teachings, unlike the carefully selected passages you posted.

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

Yeah okay, the point is that for all the teachings of love and compassion you can find a large if not equal number of teachings that say the opposite. All of this however is conveniently ignored.

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

And purposefully so. The Bible is a collection of parables that most Christian religions translate into the parlence of their times. Would you rather these Christian religions start beating on every aspect of the Bible and excuse immoral, cruel and violent behavior on the passages that you selected?

If so, you would have fanatical Islam.

Interpretation is a GOOD thing. Interpretation has allowed Christianisty to grow and relate to the here and now, and not what might have been seen as necessary 2,000 years ago. Afterall, Christianity has been the one unifying forced behind Western civilization, and I'll take Western civilization over any other brand in the world :-)

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

I think the point is that some religious people (note here that I used the word "some") use the Bible to support their political positions by quoting single passages out of context. Just because some atheists or non-Christians don't understand how to interpret the religion doesn't mean that many actual Christians know that any better. Take your point about interpretation being a good thing and how the Bible is something meant to be interpreted. Plenty of Christians in the world (and right here in the United States) would reject that point of view utterly.

But the thing is if you use the Bible quoted out of context to try to prove to people that Christianity is against affirmative action (for example), then it must also be valid to quote Psalms to exhort everyone to dash their babies on the rocks. Obviously, both positions are absurd, but one of them is actually taken seriously by some people.

By the way, what do I hate? Let's see now...

I hate people who don't read or can't be bothered to read carefully (come to think of it, that applies to a lot of people in this thread).

I hate people who can't ever think of any way to contribute to the public discourse except by shouting at the other side, calling them stupid and telling them to shut up (hey...ditto!).

Really now, this is pretty sad. Whenever people complain about arguments on this forum, my reaction is usually to say, "Oh no! People are disagreeing!!! Get over it." But if this is a typical political discussion, I think they have a point. You just keep running around in circles, never getting anywhere. I wonder how you expect anyone to respect your positions this way.

Let me just put out a thought for you: The Strangler and I agree on pretty much nothing. Gun control, taxes, the war in Iraq, Bush or Kerry, Xbox or GameCube, Swarthmore or Ursinus....we take pretty much opposite sides on it all. But you'll never find either of us calling each other stupid or saying that the other needs to shut up now before making a greater fool of himself. And I think that if we ever met, we'd get along pretty well.

I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that we're both over 20...

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

I resent that generalization of people under 20 years of age. I suggest you shut up, stupid, before somethin' bad happens to you.


/me tries to lighten the mood and walks away

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

LMAO!!!

Damn, thats one of the funniest posts I've read this year. :D

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

I don't recall telling anyone they were stupid or telling them to shut up. And nothing is being quoted out of context. The bible says what it says. The quotes are not opinions to be misinterpreted, they are statements and orders with clear meanings.

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

I thought of something else that is wrong with the world.

The amount of fighting and divison that is caused by religion.

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

Just a thought, Dyflon:

How much fighting and division do you think there would be if religion never existed?

Re: What's wrong with this world?
 

Probably about the same amount as now.