The Religion Thread

[JTA]

"You talking about the marijuanas?"

Or whatever it was/is.....

I hate that stuff. Makes people come down with the case of the gays and devil worship.

[Mr.B]

"I hate that stuff. Makes people come down with the case of the gays and devil worship."

So will listening to Rock 'n Roll....

[JTA]

"I hate that stuff. Makes people come down with the case of the gays and devil worship."

So will listening to Rock 'n Roll....

Touche.

[Seth Milner]

The Religion Trashing Thread

I can't help but wonder why this thread wasn't aptly named such in the beginning. From the get-go it has been nothing but.

A debate or argument is one thing, but when such as what has been posted here is the norm, it ceases to be anything of value or worthy of comment.

From reading past posts, I'm under the impression that there is only one member here who professes Christianity, while the majority of others constantly strive to trash his beliefs rather than offer fruitful opinions.

Now that same individual, having tired of constant vulgarity being tossed at his family, retaliated in a rather unconventional manner by exposing the identity of his tormentor. That, in turn, made him the "bad person" and the villain in the eyes and minds of the others, and left him to shunning by the others who obviously thought that his tormentor had every right to torment him because of this being an open forum. :-0?>

The point of this post is to ask the question 'Where should the line have been drawn'? Before the ship hit the sand would have been a good place to start, but the administrator states this is an uncensored forum. OK; this is an uncensored forum, so I ask why vilify the one who fought back? Is that not in itself a form of censorship against one individual?

This sure is no thread on "Religion"

[rstrong]

From reading past posts, I'm under the impression that there is only one member here who professes Christianity, while the majority of others constantly strive to trash his beliefs rather than offer fruitful opinions.

...."one member here who professes Christianity" is a troll, and a particularly vile one at that, and anything but Christian.

He's stated outright - when his beliefs opposed Old Testament teachings - that he doesn't consider the Old Testament to be part of or relevant to Christianity. This puts him at odds with EVERY MAJOR BRANCH of Christianity.

As for the New Testament, he apparently has an obscure mathematical formula where certain paragraphs and directives are absolutely sacrosanct, while the preceding and following ones are meant to be ignored. Really. Check out what he's posted.

But its more than that. He just plain DOESN'T GET the message or meaning of Christianity. He's a vile hate-monger. He's a Christian ONLY in that he cherry-picks bits from the Bible to back his bigotry, hatred and phobias, and ignores the rest.

Nor is an attack on his bigotry an attack on Christianity or "Christian beliefs." The largest Protestant denomination in my country supports and performs same-sex marriages, as do several others. Even the Quakers support it. And the number of denominations that do are growing. And while you might say that old-school Christianity didn't support it, in fact the Catholic Church supported and performed same-sex union for a thousand years, from roughly 500 to 1500AD.

You're defending a troll. And if this thread seems particularly anti-religious, it's because he's been a somewhat successful troll. Some bigots wrap the flag around themselves and declare an attack on their beliefs to be an attack on America. He's doing it with religion. Don't be fooled.

Now that same individual, having tired of constant vulgarity being tossed at his family

Others treated him the way he treated others. No more, no less. Really. Take a look.

[Colonel Taylor]

The Religion Trashing Thread

I can't help but wonder why this thread wasn't aptly named such in the beginning. From the get-go it has been nothing but.

A debate or argument is one thing, but when such as what has been posted here is the norm, it ceases to be anything of value or worthy of comment.

From reading past posts, I'm under the impression that there is only one member here who professes Christianity, while the majority of others constantly strive to trash his beliefs rather than offer fruitful opinions.

Now that same individual, having tired of constant vulgarity being tossed at his family, retaliated in a rather unconventional manner by exposing the identity of his tormentor. That, in turn, made him the "bad person" and the villain in the eyes and minds of the others, and left him to shunning by the others who obviously thought that his tormentor had every right to torment him because of this being an open forum. :-0?>

The point of this post is to ask the question 'Where should the line have been drawn'? Before the ship hit the sand would have been a good place to start, but the administrator states this is an uncensored forum. OK; this is an uncensored forum, so I ask why vilify the one who fought back? Is that not in itself a form of censorship against one individual?

This sure is no thread on "Religion"

As been said for years now and now you are seeing, the libs here do not think for themselves because they aren't capable. They all FOLLOW their leader and dare not say anything different because they don't know how to, one says something the others follow like a puppy dog. When it is different it's a litany of curses and vulgarity.

As for the administrator he will censor post and threads only to Protect His Leader.

[O Really]

If it were named "Religion Bashing" it would still be fun. People have the Constitutional right in the US to believe in and practice any religion they want. They do not have the right to be protected from ridicule for believing something ignorant. Some people believe things many if not most people fine really off the edge. So long as they don't bother others, there's no problem with that. But I wonder if "Christians" such as those who sometimes post here would give all beliefs the respect they expect for their own.

If I say I believe the Seahawks lost the Super Bowl because I washed my "12th Man" jersey, most would find that a superstitious frivolity. But it's a belief. If I say I believe I can get wishes granted if I cross my toes and squint three times, many would say "good luck with that, idiot." But if I kneel and fold my hands... somehow that's a higher form of belief deserving of the silence and respect of others. Go figure.

[bannination]

I see Christians all to often making fun of other religions.... "look what those silly Muslims believe..."

Christians really are persecuted.

[Seth Milner]

You're defending a troll. And if this thread seems particularly anti-religious, it's because he's been a somewhat successful troll-----He's a vile hate-monger-----He's a Christian ONLY in that he cherry-picks bits from the Bible to back his bigotry, hatred and phobias, and ignores the rest.

I'm not defending anyone. I'm only trying to understand this insane thread!
I have read a numerous amount of his posts. From what I can gather, he is simply one individual defending his Christianity and his God from verbal and hate filled attacks from all sides; your comments just happen to be the one with more educated overtones, and because you are a learned atheist, you are the one who's most angered by his not being shamed by your accusations of picking and choosing scripture that identifies God's stance on homosexuality.

Let me say here that I am not a Christian or member of any religious denomination. I do believe there is an Omnipotent Creator, but I don't attend organized meetings to worship Him. I believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of The Creator, written by mortal men who were inspired by the Creator to write it. Although there are events and laws that seem ludicrous to us, there had to be a reason for their being noted and included in Biblical writings. I believe homosexuality is contrary to God's intent for man's existence on this Earth, regardless whether Jesus said anything about it or not. How I feel about homosexuality in today's society, or their marrying, is something I don't dwell on nor have any stated opinion on. I will not defend homosexuality or religion nor will I put either of them down.

[Seth Milner]

I see Christians all to often making fun of other religions.... "look what those silly Muslims believe..."
Christians really are persecuted.

Do Christians believe that it's OK for men to commit adultery, but if their wives do so, they should be stoned to death?
Do Christians believe that if you draw a picture of what you think God looks like, you should be put to death?
Do Christians believe that it's OK for a man to rape a woman, but she should be put to death?

Just a few. Did you really think this one out?

[O Really]

... Although there are events and laws that seem ludicrous to us, there had to be a reason for their being noted and included in Biblical writings. ....

Yes, there undoubtedly would be. Dietary restrictions, for example, make more sense when you consider the likelihood of salmonella in the pork, and the value of keeping ones kitchen fit, or kosher. The overall culture of the time affected the writings, also. Kings were understood - "Presidents" not so much. Men ruled; women were property. No reason to think that what fit the time and culture of 5,000 BC to 1500 AD necessarily fits in the 21st Century - or at least no reason to force-fit it.

[bannination]

I see Christians all to often making fun of other religions.... "look what those silly Muslims believe..."
Christians really are persecuted.

Do Christians believe that it's OK for men to commit adultery, but if their wives do so, they should be stoned to death?

Leviticus 20:10
"'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

Do Christians believe that if you draw a picture of what you think God looks like, you should be put to death?

See exodus.

Do Christians believe that it's OK for a man to rape a woman, but she should be put to death?

Even weirder.... is forced rape commanded by God ok?
See Deuteronomy.

Just a few. Did you really think this one out?

Muslims and Christians share most of the same teachings, did you really think this one out?

[Seth Milner]

Muslims and Christians share most of the same teachings, did you really think this one out?

Yes, I did. You were referring to today's Christians vs. Muslims, therefore I was comparing today's Christians and Muslims.
Many Muslim sects still adhere to Sharia law, Christians do not follow the laws set forth to the Jews of the Old Testament.

[rstrong]

From what I can gather, he is simply one individual defending his Christianity and his God

Again, what I see is simply one individual defending his bigotry and his hatred, and misrepresenting Christianity to do it.

I come from a Christian background. I'm related to plenty of Christians, and know plenty more. NONE have his opinions. Even the few who oppose same-sex marriage, would be shocked by his bigotry and would want nothing to do with it.

When the biggest Protestant denomination in the country supports and performs same-sex marriages - as do other denominations - being anti-homophobic bigot is NOT the same as being anti-Christian. No matter how much Mr.B and you try to paint it as such.

I believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of The Creator, written by mortal men who were inspired by the Creator to write it. Although there are events and laws that seem ludicrous to us, there had to be a reason for their being noted and included in Biblical writings.

I may not be religions, but I do like history. And I'm fascinated by the early day of the Christian Church - how it went from a Jewish doomsday cult in Christ's time - but still definitely Jewish - to evolving into a separate religion during the century after Christ's death.

We know that the New Testament was assembled several hundred years AFTER Christ, its contents picked from a much larger collection of gospels and letters and wildly differing Christian beliefs. For example there were competing popular views of the very nature of Christ. At the Council of Nicea they chose the Trinity version. Other views - and their followers, were suppressed. Other aspects of Christianity were edited out at synods before and after, with much the same results for their followers.

As a Godly Christian I would wonder about the vast number of deletions and additions in the Bible centuries after Christ. We KNOW about these from looking at early versions of the Gospels found over the years. For example the Gospel of Mark ending with the women fleeing from the empty tomb... The End, roll credits. The longer ending - with Jesus's resurrection, the resurrected Jesus's orders emphasizing ministry, missionary work, evangelism, and baptism - still didn't appear in Gospels of Mark 300 years later.

When you show up at the Pearly Gates you might be asked why you didn't follow Sabellianism, Arianism, the Gnostic Gospels or the teachings of Origen - all common in early Christianity, and all edited out over the first 600 years. The response, "bad editing" might not go over when much of the information is available.

Frankly, I often wonder is ignorance of Christianity's origins and early history is a requirement of Christianity.

I believe homosexuality is contrary to God's intent for man's existence on this Earth, regardless whether Jesus said anything about it or not.

And you're entitled to your opinion. Just as those who disagree - many of them Christians - are entitled to their opinion. It's when folks like Mr.B try to force those opinions on others, that we have a problem.

The Christian church will adapt with the times; it always has. Self-flagellation and burning heretics and using the Christian "Curse of Ham" to enslave blacks all used to be "natural" in Christianity, all part of God's will. Not any more. The Catholic Church has supported cremation only since the early 1960s (not coincidentally when rates began to rise). For centuries before, the church had viewed cremation as a pagan practice that was expressly forbidden. As noted above, even the Catholic Church endorsed same-sex unions for a thousand years.

The religion is evolving slower than it did in the few hundred years after Christ's death, but it nevertheless continues to evolve.

[rstrong]

Muslims and Christians share most of the same teachings, did you really think this one out?

Yes, I did. You were referring to today's Christians vs. Muslims, therefore I was comparing today's Christians and Muslims.
Many Muslim sects still adhere to Sharia law, Christians do not follow the laws set forth to the Jews of the Old Testament.

A small group of Muslims here in Canada called for government recognition of Sharia Law here a few years back. They were shouted down by a MUCH LARGER group of Muslims who had experienced it the old world, and wanted no part of it in the new. This is no different from what happened with other waves of immigrants.

In the Christian "old world", the Holocaust occurred only a few decades ago, with non-Germans from France to the Ukraine participating. In 1942-1943 there were concentration camps in Croatia run by Catholics where orthodox Christian Serbians were murdered by being burned in kilns alive (at least the Nazis gassed them first and they were not burned alive). Pogroms occurred in Europe even AFTER WWII. I can give MANY more examples over the Christian era.

Some of it made its way into the "new world" too. Slavery only ended in the new Christian world in the 1880s, and Christianity (endorsements of slavery by Jesus, Paul and friends) was often used to justify it. The Mormons opposed equality for blacks - via the "Curse of Ham" - even when Mitt Romney was avoiding Vietnam preaching in France. Again, I can give many more examples.

Don't fool yourself. Christianity is a merely few decades ahead Islam in "growing up."

[Mr.B]

This is how you properly cut in on a dance in Canada......

[rstrong]

This is how you properly cut in on a dance in Canada......

Rather than running away as usual from any serious discussion about religion, Mr.B posts an animated gif about dancing with a non-sequiter reference to Canada.

*sigh* I suppose it's an improvement.

[Mr.B]

There's no such thing as a "serious discussion" about religion with you. To you, the Bible is bigoted and homophobic, therefore, in replying to you,
I decided to post what really stirs your interest....the love of perversion and abomination.

As far as my attempting to "force my opinions on others", post a citation.

Call me a troll if you wish; I'm not the one that's over 1500 miles away from this little town, with no connections whatsoever, posting in this non-descript waning forum just to make myself appear to be someone so all-important.
I'm willing to bet that you've sought out more than this forum to blabber and run your mouth in. You first began posting in the old T/N forums, and you wouldn't be here now had it not been for sometime lefty letting you know that T/N went belly up.

You don't impress me, or probably anyone else....if you do, they, along with you, really need to get a life.

[rstrong]

There's no such thing as a "serious discussion" about religion with you. To you, the Bible is bigoted and homophobic,

As I've said repeatedly, YOU are bigoted and homophobic, not Christianity. You merely wrap Christianity around your bigotry and hate the way others do with the flag.

As far as my attempting to "force my opinions on others", post a citation.

I was talking about the religious in general. Dictating to others who can get married, what days they can't shop, what scientific facts can be put into school textbooks or on signs and postcards at the Grand Canyon, etc.

Call me a troll if you wish;

Done. Keep trolling if you wish.

[Vrede too]

So my being what you say I am makes my family a target for your childish, immature trash talk?

No you bringing Banni's family into the conversation makes your family a target (reap what you sow) ...

He never learns and he always whines.