Very Disturbing Christian Website

[DeepIron]

If I was looking for a set of moral commandments I don't think I'd be looking in the Bible for it.

Where would you look?

[mrbeast]

Originally Posted by DeepIron

Where would you look?

Thats a good question. :hmm:

[DeepIron]

Personally I think this is one of the best summations of the Ten Commandments I've run across:

The 10 Commandments - Christ's Summation in the New Testament
The 10 Commandments were summed up in the New Testament at Matthew 22, when Jesus was confronted by the religious "experts" of the day:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40).

A reflective reading of Christ's teaching reveals that the first four commandments given to the children of Israel are contained in the statement: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." It continues that the last six commandments are enclosed in the statement: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

If accepted in this context, the Ten Commandments are "reduced" to two. Something that, IMHO, would be MUCH more understandable to us today rather than trying to apply (or understand) the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament.

As far as practical "everyday" application of even these two "simplified commandments", well, that's another matter...

[DeepIron]

It's all down to "common sense" as said Fish above.

Hmm, common sense is open to a wide interpretation IMO. And, where does "common sense" derive from to begin with?

Besides, as far as I'm concerned, Mankind has displayed a deplorable lack of common sense throughout the ages...

Right, but it's not like if religious don't do that either...

I try not to confuse "religious" with "having faith". The Pharisees were "religious"...

[August]

Originally Posted by mrbeast

Thats a good question. :hmm:

Hence my point.

[DeepIron]

Originally Posted by Mikhayl

And what about philosophy ? At least philosophers didn't pretend to be "god" nor did they try to enforce their vision to others. "commandements" are just some mind enslaving stuff.

Yes, what about philosophy? Gotta love this quote from Bertrand Russell:

"The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as to seem not worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it."

Contrast that with what I posted earlier... simply love God and others as you would yourself. I'll choose what Christ said... If for no other reason than it's easier to understand and doesn't require any forays into 'philosophy'...

BTW, which branch of philosophy would you like to follow? Metaphyical, Logical, Ethical, etc. Or perhaps realism, nomimalism or conceptualism? Which branch of philosophy is the definitive basis for "common sense"?

I'm just curious but why do you consider "commandments" as "mind enslaving"? Do you believe that accepting a 'philosophical' approach is less "inhibitive"? I'd argue that the reverse is true; God requires very little of our minds, He wants our hearts. Adopting a 'philosophical view' can be much more "mind limiting" IMO. How does a philosophical doctrine that chooses "logic" for example adequately explain emotion? Or existence?

[DeepIron]

I don't believe there's any kind of god out there...

I want to respond to your statement without coming across like some 'religious zealot' or unintelligent person blinded by my beliefs.

My spin is this: your choice to "believe or not" in God, is exactly that, your choice. No one can force you to believe. By the same token, I do believe and no one can make me stop believing in God. This is both very cool and very damning and has led to a LOT of misunderstandings IMO. I don't consider you any less a person for your convictions. They are, after all, yours. I would hope that you would consider me in the same light...

Now, if people from both "camps" would just give one another the courtesy of respecting the other, regardless of whether they 'believe' or not, the world would be a nicer place I think.

so these "holy" texts have been written by guys just like today's politicians write laws to suit their agenda...

A little something for thought: There has been much research done on the "authenticity" of the Gospels, especially the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and there is a lot of evidence that points to them being very real and not collaborative. The Gospel of John was written after the others and has always been the "odd man out" as far a narrative but has also been shown to be "authentic".

The point being is this: IF one considers the Gospels from a purely historical point of view, one thing emerges: There are eyewitness accounts that a man from Galilee was crucified (killed) and was later seen alive again.

[DeepIron]

I have to admit anyway that I can't help but feel funny about people who "really" believe in god, just like I would feel funny about someone who truly believe in santa claus.

I know... it's something that quite a few people tend to find a bit weird... It's "ok" to love cats or <insert something else here>, but less "ok" to love God... If you know what I mean...

btw I think I shared many of your opinions about various subjects here, it's just that particular part.

No worries Mikhayl... I enjoy engaging conversations!

[Skybird]

This is what I consider to be one of the key passages - if not the key passage of Stanislav Lem's highly philosophical famous novel "Solaris" (my own inadequate translation from German to English). There, one of the protagonsits says:

"We start out into cosmos, we are prepared for everything, that is the loneliness, the struggle, the martyrdom, death. For modesty’s reason we do not speak it out, but sometimes we believe that we are wonderful. However, that is not all, and our readiness turns out to be just play-acting. Actually we do not want to conquer all space, we just want to expand Earth up to its’ boundaries! Some planets have to be like a desert like the Sahara, others have to be as icy as the poles, or tropical like the Brazilian jungle. We are humanitarian, and we are noble, we do not want to subjugate other races, we just want to bring them our values, and adopting their inheritance. We think we are the knights of the holy contact. That is the second lie. Humans we do seek, no one else! We do not need other worlds, we need mirrors! We don’t know what to do with other worlds. We want to find our own, idealized image; these globes, these civilizations have to be more perfect than ours, while in those others we hope to find the image of our own primitive past. However, there is something on the other side that we do not accept, against which we fight, and after all it is not only the pure distillate of human virtues that we have brought with us from Earth, the heroic monument of mankind! We have come here like we really are, and if the other side is showing us this truth, this part of it that we hide – then we are unable to accept that!"

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by DeepIron

I know... it's something that quite a few people tend to find a bit weird... It's "ok" to love cats or <insert something else here>, but less "ok" to love God... If you know what I mean...

No worries Mikhayl... I enjoy engaging conversations!

I agree DeepIron. When you mention that you have a particular hobby/interest, most people will be slightly intrigued or at least not disrespectful. Mention religious beliefs and people start ranting & raving about fundies, bible-belters, etc etc.

I love how so many of these atheists demonize Christianity, but when you bring up Islam or any other "hip" "non-Western" religion they start to genuflect right away.

Nevertheless I do respect atheists like Pat Condell & Christopher Hitchens who are at least consistent about condemning religion.

[DeepIron]

Originally Posted by Wolfman1

Just a thought watch a movie called Zeitgeist. Just a different perspective. Opened few parts to my mind......

Cool graphics and soundtrack... But not much else that hasn't been "postulated" as "truth" before... There have been many, many explanations, many theories, many opinions, and that's fine. Without contrasts, the world would be pretty boring... I like movies like Zeitgeist because they give me the opportunity to test MY faith...

I love how so many of these atheists demonize Chrtistianity, but when you bring up Islam or any other "hip" "non-Western" religion they start to genuflect right away.

:rotfl: Good point...

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by DeepIron

Cool graphics and soundtrack... But not much else that hasn't been "postulated" as "truth" before... There have been many, many explanations, many theories, many opinions, and that's fine. Without contrasts, the world would be pretty boring... I like movies like Zeitgeist because they give me the opportunity to test MY faith...

:rotfl: Good point...

It looks like that poster misspelled the name of the religion. We'd better get some members of this peaceful religion to peacefully chop his peaceful head off.

And if you suggest that their religion is violent, they'll peacefully detonate a suicide bomber in your local shopping mall.

These days, violence seems to be the best way to get people to think highly of your religion - no?

[August]

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

These days, violence seems to be the best way to get people to think highly of your religion - no?

Fear or scorn does seem to be the two most popular choices these days.

[flyingdane]

Please People".......Words of the few do not reflect the words of the many.

[antikristuseke]

Originally Posted by DeepIron

Cool graphics and soundtrack... But not much else that hasn't been "postulated" as "truth" before... There have been many, many explanations, many theories, many opinions, and that's fine. Without contrasts, the world would be pretty boring... I like movies like Zeitgeist because they give me the opportunity to test MY faith...

Have to agree here, Zeitgeist brought up some interesting points, but it bases its claims too much on anectotal evidence. Some claims it makes are very detached from reality, while others are factual.

:rotfl: Good point...

Nice generalisation there. But thats something that admitedly hapens on both sides so oh well. Anyway personaly i dont diferentiate between religions when it comes to religious zealotry, they all face the same contempt from me. I may be an *******, but I am an equal oportunity *******.