The Faith & Religion mega Thread

This is one of my favorite quotes:

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." -Stephen F Roberts

Originally Posted by alred try go to your whatever churches more ... although you dont have to go everytime if you cant help it ... .

Mattheus 6/5

Jesus told you not to go to church. What are you doing!!

Lets kick this up a notch. We've been focusing too much on christianity, how about another abrahamic religion. Another example of how conservative groups really don't care about people, and only use religion as a means to their end, though it seems that this is the base of all islam. Yes thats right, I just took a swipe at islam. They deserve this, as much as christian fundamentalists do too. So much for 'allah's mercy!'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7106234.stm


Now now, I know what you are about to say. "But this is in Saudi Arabia, women don't have much rights." Well, where are the 'champions of islam' claiming that islam protects women's rights? It doesn't, period, just like christian fundamentalists don't care about a woman's right to choose if she wants an abortion, but thats another topic that I'm sure will come in later.

I realize this post seems rather harsh, but if religion was so 'perfect' we wouldn't be having this conversation now would we?

Originally Posted by oskar Mattheus 6/5 Jesus told you not to go to church. What are you doing!!

That's a) out of context and b) even on its own you didn't get it.



Cheers,
Tink

Originally Posted by Tinkster That's a) out of context

Then make it Matthew 6:1 to 6:8

and b) even on its own you didn't get it.

There's not much not to get, really. He sais: Don't pray in public. Go home and pray to yourselves.

Are there any Moslems on these forums willing to condemn that latest barbarity from Saudi Arabia? Punish the victim? How sick can you get? Anyone who follows that mess of dark-age superstitions needs therapy.

Forget all religions, the world would be a better place if these viruses called "humans" that evolved from monkey's had to grow a brain.

Hopefully one day atheists, agnostics and members of every major religion will be able to sit down together, crack open a (metaphorical) beer and have a good laugh about Scientology.

Originally Posted by oskar Then make it Matthew 6:1 to 6:8

Still too narrow - it's a continuation of the sermon on the mount.

Originally Posted by oskar There's not much not to get, really. He sais: Don't pray in public. Go home and pray to yourselves.

He says "Do not pray ostentatiously to impress". You didn't
get it after all.

The whole lot is about how not to be a hypocrite, and in
context of the sermon on the mount in chapter 5; and none
of the things listed are synonymous with "not going to curch".

How many verses would you like me to find you where either
Jesus attends a service himself, or implies that his disciples
are attending? I'm sure I can find at least 10.

And then there's of course Paul (Hebrews 10:25) asking us not to
forsake the assemblies.



Cheers,
Tink

Originally Posted by Jeebizz I realize this post seems rather harsh, but if religion was so 'perfect' we wouldn't be having this conversation now would we?

As bizarre and sickening as that story may be, there is one that is worse. Are there any Brits on this forum? How do you feel about the Saudi funded construction of the largest shrine to hatred and bigotry being built in London just in time for the Olympics?

An overabundance of "political correctness" will be the death of Western Civilization as we know it. Curious how America's First Amendment rights are being used as a weapon against us. Guess which rights will be the first to go if the Islamofacists take over? Freedom of religion? That's gotta go. Freedom of speech? Out. Freedom of the press? Forget it. The right to peaceably assemble? No way. The right to petition the government for redress of grievances? You've got to be kidding.

The hypocrasy is is unbelievable.

The violence occurred when Fatah supporters began taunting Hamas police and throwing stones, witnesses said. The Hamas security forces reportedly responded by firing towards the crowd.

I don't recall the IDF ever doing such a thing (and I know what story you're going to quote to dispute this - don't bother, it's already been proven to have been staged).

I subscribe to the Mel Brooks theory, there are just some people that are in dire need of being made fun of.

I don't think they can stoop any lower than that - strapping a suicide bomb to a one year old child. But, with vermin like that, who knows? Anything for a guaranteed entry to paradise and 72 virgins. As for what's happening in the UK, the political correctness mafia are firmly set on convincing us of the benefits of being a multicultural, multifaith, society. In other words - a toxic waste dump for the scum of the world.

Originally Posted by Tinkster Still too narrow - it's a continuation of the sermon on the mount.

I just slapped my forehead and it hurts.
And how is that too narrow? What before or after 6:1 - 6:8 is relevant?

He says "Do not pray ostentatiously to impress". You didn't get it after all.

Yes, he said that too...
Repeatedly explaining that the other side "did not get it" doesn't make your point any more valid though.

The whole lot is about how not to be a hypocrite, and in context of the sermon on the mount in chapter 5; and none of the things listed are synonymous with "not going to curch".

How about "do not go to the synagogues to pray, go home and pray for yourself" That's pretty clear cut in my opion.

How many verses would you like me to find you where either Jesus attends a service himself, or implies that his disciples are attending? I'm sure I can find at least 10.

One would do actually. Not that that would be relevant. It's not like this would be the first thing that the bible is not really conclusive about. The only passage I have in the back of my head with Jesus in a synagogue was him going postal over people trading there or something. Not that I claim to have read more than about a third of the book. And for the most part Genesis and Revelations. As a non-believer those are the more exciting parts.

But I don't see what I got wrong about this one. "Don't go to the synagogues to pray"... not much open to interpretation right there in my humble opinion.

Originally Posted by oskar I just slapped my forehead and it hurts.

Well, you must be prone to making mistakes, then.

Originally Posted by oskar And how is that too narrow? What before or after 6:1 - 6:8 is relevant?

Scroll up - I already said it. This is a continuation of the
sermon on the mount: all of chapter 5.

Originally Posted by oskar Repeatedly explaining that the other side "did not get it" doesn't make your point any more valid though.

I don't know how else to word it; you don't understand it
in terms of linguistics(1) , nor in terms of theology(2).

Originally Posted by oskar How about "do not go to the synagogues to pray, go home and pray for yourself" That's pretty clear cut in my opion.

Originally Posted by oskar One would do actually.

(1)
Matthew 4:23
Matthew 9:35
Jesus keeps preaching in the synagogues. Clear indication that he's
not only not violently opposed to them but must be attending on a
regular basis - otherwise he wouldn't have had a show of trying to preach.

Matthew 23:34
He tells his followers that they will be prosecuted in the synagogues,
which kind of suggests that they went there habitually.

Originally Posted by oskar Not that that would be relevant. It's not like this would be the first thing that the bible is not really conclusive about. The only passage I have in the back of my head with Jesus in a synagogue was him going postal over people trading there or something. Not that I claim to have read more than about a third of the book.

That was the temple, not a synagogue. And it doesn't exist anymore.

Originally Posted by oskar And for the most part Genesis and Revelations. As a non-believer those are the more exciting parts.

Well, if you read the good book for entertainment do me
a favour and spare me your exegesis :D

Originally Posted by oskar But I don't see what I got wrong about this one. "Don't go to the synagogues to pray"... not much open to interpretation right there in my humble opinion.

(2) From "Don't prance around in the Prater in a pink undergown"
you conclude that "going to the Prater is bad" per se.


As I said: you didn't get it.


Cheers,
Tink

Let us all pray (wherever we are) for peace between oskar and Tinkster...Amen.

Let us pray:

Oh Noodly Master, spread the Sauce of your enlightement upon these disputants, who have become too wrapped up in supporting their own positions to recognize that any position that is founded in faith cannot be supported; it merely is, or is not, and this is why debates about religion are ultimately fruitless.

Touch these disputants with Your Noodly Appendage, that they may take comfort in their own positions while not expecting to be able to change anyone else's positions, and so that they may partake freely in the Pasta of Life, enjoying the occasional Meatball, and wallowing in the Sauce, without choking.

Raaaaaa-Men!