Using the Bible as an excuse for bigotry

[Roses]

I am thinking of a couple of forums on which I used to post, when I say I have been sickened by sick bigots who use the Bible to defend their nastiness.  Extremist Christians often condemn homosexuality and want it made illegal. There is nothing wrong with being gay, and as I have pointed out often enough it is possible Jesus was gay as he is said to have had a specific disciple whom he loved, who was presumably a male.

I came across an evil white supremist 'Christian' claiming that Jesus was white, and not of middle eastern appearance as he would have been. His racist comments were disgusting and then some.

Then there are those Christians who condemn women who are pregnant without a wedding ring on their finger, dismissing the fact Mary was supposed to have been pregnant with Jesus before they were wed. They bang on about how terrible sex before marriage is supposed to be, totally forgetting that quite a number of male Biblical characters were having it off with women other than their wives, like that guy Abraham, and Solomon supposedly had loads of concubines.

Many of the Biblical characters behaved badly, including the god featured there, but some people look upon them as heroes, WHY?

[Robbie]

No idea. I suppose one could come across a very charismatic speaker and 'feel' profoundly changed. I'm not making excuses LR, just pondering like yourself.

I largely agree with the content of your post.

[Roses]

No idea. I suppose one could come across a very charismatic speaker and 'feel' profoundly changed. I'm not making excuses LR, just pondering like yourself.

I largely agree with the content of your post.

So many people fail to question what they are being told by preachers. I thank my lucky stars that I had the sense to question the garbage, which was spouted in the pulpit of the pentecostal  church we attended when I was a kid.  The sermons would often last nearly a couple of hours!

[Robbie]

Yes we have to question everything, also try to see different points of view. We'll never have all the answers but it's a great 'journey' (I know,dreadful word).

[Roses]

Yes we have to question everything, also try to see different points of view. We'll never have all the answers but it's a great 'journey' (I know,dreadful word).

As I have mentioned many times our three daughters are Christians, but moderate in their views, thank goodness. Our Anglican Priest daughter, doesn't preach she shares her views with the congregation. Her talks are very memorable in a good way, and often talked about by the church members for a very long time. 

[Robbie]

That does sound fine.

[Anchorman]

Er....presumasbly your daughter conducts worship and stands in the pulpit expounding her interpretation of Scriptures? That's preaching. You seem to equate the term with some form of hellfire and damnation tub thumping. While that, too, is preaching, there are as many forms of preaching as there are preachers. When I expound the Scriptures, I hope I get my points over with humour, and with a sense of hope - but with a firm conviction based on the faith I try to share.

[Roses]

Er....presumasbly your daughter conducts worship and stands in the pulpit expounding her interpretation of Scriptures? That's preaching. You seem to equate the term with some form of hellfire and damnation tub thumping. While that, too, is preaching, there are as many forms of preaching as there are preachers. When I expound the Scriptures, I hope I get my points over with humour, and with a sense of hope - but with a firm conviction based on the faith I try to share.

She doesn't preach in the way fundies do, her sermons are fun and very memorable. People are still talking about the time one Easter some years ago, she broke a raw egg over a man's head (with his permission) to get her point across.

[Anchorman]

She doesn't preach in the way fundies do, her sermons are fun and very memorable. People are still talking about the time one Easter some years ago, she broke a raw egg over a man's head (with his permission) to get her point across.

   


Again, you use the term 'fundies'.
I'd prefer 'extremists'; most Christians I know accept the fundamentals of the faith as contained in the Apostles' Creed and expanded in the Nicean.

[Roses]

   


Again, you use the term 'fundies'.
I'd prefer 'extremists'; most Christians I know accept the fundamentals of the faith as contained in the Apostles' Creed and expanded in the Nicean.

Fundamentalists tend to believe the Bible to be literally true, which is pretty extreme in my opinion.

[Anchorman]

Fundamentalists tend to believe the Bible to be literally true, which is pretty extreme in my opinion.

   



No, not all of us - not even most of us.
You might be surprised to learn that All Christians accept Scripture as 'God-breathed' and most recognise that not all of it is meant as history.

[Roses]

   



No, not all of us - not even most of us.
You might be surprised to learn that All Christians accept Scripture as 'God-breathed' and most recognise that not all of it is meant as history.

If god was responsible for the nastiness in that book, it doesn't say anything good about the god character.

[Anchorman]

If god was responsible for the nastiness in that book, it doesn't say anything good about the god character.

   



Would you prefer us a race of automata?
Man has used religion as an excuse for wars which are not, essentially, religious, but an attempt at land or power grab.
Christ gave me only two commands; none involved killing, and the only blood shed is His.

[Roses]

   



Would you prefer us a race of automata?
Man has used religion as an excuse for wars which are not, essentially, religious, but an attempt at land or power grab.
Christ gave me only two commands; none involved killing, and the only blood shed is His.

Jesus was far from perfect, no sort of god, imo. His was killed because he got up the noses of the Jewish hierarchy, not to save humanity, if it needed saving from anything.

[Anchorman]

Jesus was far from perfect, no sort of god, imo. His was killed because he got up the noses of the Jewish hierarchy, not to save humanity, if it needed saving from anything.

   


Define 'perfect'.
By what standard do you measure perfection?

[Roses]

   


Define 'perfect'.
By what standard do you measure perfection?

Perfection is someone without faults, although a person like that would be a pain in the neck, imo . Jesus had plenty of imperfections just like the rest of us, that is clear from the Biblical accounts of his sayings and actions.

[Anchorman]

Perfection is someone without faults, although a person like that would be a pain in the neck, imo . Jesus had plenty of imperfections just like the rest of us, that is clear from the Biblical accounts of his sayings and actions.

   


By what standard do you measure Jesus' 'imperfections'?

[Roses]

   


By what standard do you measure Jesus' 'imperfections'?

By my own.

[jeremyp]

Perfection is someone without faults, although a person like that would be a pain in the neck, imo

No they wouldn't. Being a pain in the neck is a fault. If Jesus was without faults, you'd think he was great, in spite of also being perfect.

wow. Fairground Attraction, anyone?

Jesus had plenty of imperfections just like the rest of us, that is clear from the Biblical accounts of his sayings and actions.

That's true. Unless fig trees deserve to be zapped.

[jeremyp]

   
By what standard do you measure Jesus' 'imperfections'?

Hi,

Do you think Christians do think of Jesus as being perfect* in some way? Or is that a straw man? If it's not a straw man, what is you're definition of perfection?

*dammit, go away Fairground Attraction.

[Anchorman]

Hi,

Do you think Christians do think of Jesus as being perfect* in some way? Or is that a straw man? If it's not a straw man, what is you're definition of perfection?

*dammit, go away Fairground Attraction.

   

I was trying to check the standards LR used to measure perfection....she stated 'my own'.
The standard Christian response is that Christ was without sin, obedient to His father.

[jeremyp]

   

I was trying to check the standards LR used to measure perfection

I understand that. I wasn't asking about LR's standards, I was asking about yours.

The standard Christian response is that Christ was without sin, obedient to His father.

OK fine. Is that your definition of perfection, or are you saying "Christ wasn't perfect but he was without sin, obedient to His father"?

The reason I ask is because, Christian theology says that Christ is God and sin (this is my interpretation of the word) is doing things God doesn't want you to do,  so saying Christ is without sin is essentially meaningless.

[BeRational]

   



No, not all of us - not even most of us.
You might be surprised to learn that All Christians accept Scripture as 'God-breathed' and most recognise that not all of it is meant as history.

How do you distinguish which parts are not to be taken literally,  and do all Christians agree?

If not why

[Anchorman]

How do you distinguish which parts are not to be taken literally,  and do all Christians agree?

If not why

   



How do I descern?
Well, I'd use prayer, asking for the Spirit ti lead me....
....and use the God-given evidence of history and archaeology as a guide to the Old Testament, judging which is, and which is not, history.
As to whether all Christians agree?
All mainstreajm Christians - Orthodox through Evangelical - accept Scripture.
We don't all interpret it in the same way.

[Roses]

   

I was trying to check the standards LR used to measure perfection....she stated 'my own'.
The standard Christian response is that Christ was without sin, obedient to His father.

If god was the father of Jesus, being obedient to that evil entity would be a very grave fault.