(no subject)

[johnny9fingers]

Every now and then I have to go on a rant about Christianity.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2224553,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

As far as I'm concerned the preachers and pastors that spread this sort of evil shit need kneecapping. And I'm against torture.
It's bad enough that some folk can't think: that they encourage other folk to be like them is criminal.

Comments

We in the 'civilised west'...

[ankh156.livejournal.com]

... lived (and died) through 700 years of this treatment dished-out by the glorious papal hoards (amongst others). And their motives were rarely theological. I think it's a failing in the human animal. We can only progress forwards as fast as the slowest among us. That's why we should be educating everybody.

Re: We in the 'civilised west'...

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

I'd go further: mandatory education for everyone (no exceptions) until 30; only allowed out of secure educational facility with an armed guard; and the requirement of passing exams before being allowed into the regular company of the civilised and adult.
But as for the priests....may the ill they do be repayed in full, unless they can find some true forgiveness both in and for themselves.
I would that churches, which are collective entities, were subject to Karma. It would soon sort the bad from the good.

[vlion.livejournal.com]

It is categorically against biblical tenents to charge money for spiritual service. If a preacher wants money beyond reimbursements, there is something twisted there.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

In my youth this was known as the sin of Simony; named for Simon Magus.
The Catholics stopped the selling of indulgences at about the Counter-Reformation. Not so some Fundamentalists. Nigeria is full of ridiculously intolerant folk anyway, they're about to split the Anglican Communion over the issue of Homosexuality. I'm surprised that such a split didn't happen with the ordination of women, actually.
I have a problem with all religions at the moment.
From where I stand, how closely the universe resembles the prophecies tests the prophets, not the universe. This is how we should be grading our prophets. Those that get it right, keep: those that fail, bin. Or we can accept that all relevation has equal weight. Either we measure their message against what is, or they're all as right as each other.

[vlion.livejournal.com]

Ironically, I am reminded of the verse pair in the Old Testament(copied below) suggests that a false prophet is not to be respected.

Fundamentally, if there is a group that claims to follow one who calls themself the Truth("I am the way, the truth, and the life" - Jesus), they had better be truthful in all things. It's fairly well accepted that the books of prophecy in the Bible are partly metaphorical. And they had best play out in exacting detail exactly point for point right, even accepting metaphor.

Being a Christian, I do believe that they will - when things are known - all be correct(even accepting that not all scripture is 100% literal).

I make no defense or apology for these so-called prophets down in Nigeria that take money for what they ought not, and encourage crimes against children. Jesus made a point of welcoming children, and any so-called Christ-ian(little christ, lit.), ought to take heed of their Lord's example.

Deuteronomy chapter 18.
21. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

22. When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

To a great extent I agree with you. Much of scripture should be read with an appreciation at least as sophisticated as that of the times when these scriptures originated. I rarely have much of a problem with sophisticated Christianity, or Islam, or Judaism, or Hinduism or any of the panoply of human thought on the matter of our relationship with 'God'; the Creator; or whatever nomenclature happens to be acceptable here and now.
I have a problem when scripture that contradicts all the other evidence is regarded as 'literally' true. It may have symbolic meaning: but the usurpation of what appears to be the case by the ignorant 'literalists' render their faith not one I could ever share. A faith wherein the symbols of its belief and its founding mysteries are interpreted as fact in contravention of any and all other evidence hasn't been teaching a sensible catechism.
To rephrase Wittgenstein's opening tautology in the 'Tractatus', all that is the case is all that is the case.
This is the human quest: monkey see, monkey try to understand.
Stuff that is obviously wrong, like Ussher's dating of the age of the world is still being debated about in the US. What is wrong here? There appears to be some collective madness. I accept one has a constitutional right to believe up is down, or believe pi to be 3.2, but I doubt the constitutional sense in allowing folk with such beliefs to influence or orchestrate policy in any way.
Render unto Caesar....And that's not just taxes, it is also the principle of State law....didn't he place himself in Pilate's hands? No mad escape anyway, and even Van Gogh never got an ear back....
Let the religious care for their religions. Leave the engineering of all kinds, to the engineers, else you will believe pi to be 3.2, and your bridges will all fall down....or have I missed something?

[tripinthehead33.livejournal.com]

Sad, but not surprising. Wait until people start freaking out over the prophecies regarding 2012 coming around. This is a localized thing, in a small area of the world. THAT mess may end up spreading like wildfire in the last half of 2011. Only a few more years left until that comes up on us too. Woo.

[winterlion.livejournal.com]

No argument what so ever.

that situation is just a complete horror.