On August 26 2010 10:12 Gatsbi wrote: That doesn't make sense to me.. if you don't believe the stories in the Bible, how can you call yourself Christian? Isn't the Bible the "word of God"..?
Where does the Bible make this claim? You make it sound like the Bible is a unified book, which it isn't. The Bible is a collection of scriptures and religious texts gathered from across various periods in time. They've been written, rewritten, adapted, translated, etc. over the years. The point of the scripture in my belief is not in the literal acceptance of the text as is, but rather the message behind them and the points that they make.
Unfortunately, over the course of the years, the texts and their historical context have been forgotten by many and it's now common for churches to teach things out of traditional ideology rather than scriptural interpretation. When looking at Christianity or any religion, it's important to read the text in context and actually search for what the intent of the text is rather than what it says at face value. This is what I mean by many religions being represented by people who don't even know their own religion. That having been said, you'll find that many "bible-based" churches are not actually bible-based at all.
I really don't want to turn this into a religious debate, but if you are interested in a more objective look at the Old Testament than what the average church may provide, then I'd suggest checking this course out:
It's by no means a complete study of the Christian Bible or Christianity since it limits itself to the Old Testament and the Jewish history and context surrounding it, but given the fact that Christianity and Islam both grew out of Judaism, it helps to know where things began in order to be able to understand a bit more about these religions overall. At very least, it may clear up some misconceptions about the "In the beginning" stuff...
If you want something specifically about Christianity, Yale also has an open intro course about New Testament History and Literature here:
As for how I define myself as a Christian, I define myself as a Christian by what I consider to be Christian principles and beliefs in regard to the issue of my relationships and salvation. For me, this is a very personal issue and I've no interest in imposing it on anyone else. Similarly, I've little interest in the origins of the universe simply due to the fact that it's not a basis for anything I believe in the first place. This doesn't mean I'm not curious, but rather that I see it as something pretty irrelevant and insignificant that people seem to make a huge deal out of for no real reason.
On August 26 2010 02:52 MoRe_mInErAls wrote: I find it ludicrous that these Christians (local and abroad) who mutilate Muslims in the name of their God are allowed places of worship in Islamic countries. Tear down all their churches I say.
Yes, lets retaliate towards bigotry with more bigotry. Should solve everything.
Also, nowhere in the article did it say he was Christian -_-.
On August 26 2010 09:13 LegendaryZ wrote: I wish people were required to have a shred of education in the origins, nature, and function of religion both in the present and throughout history before they were allowed to comment on it... (This is for both religious and non-religious people.)
Why don't you enlighten us as apparently you know the "purpose" of religion that hundreds of religious scholars can't come to agreement on.
Why don't you learn to read and realize that I did not mention "purpose" in any part of that post? As for the origins, nature, and function of religions, these things can be viewed and analyzed objectively and I doubt you'd find a single credible scholar that would say something so stupid as:
"The world would be better off without religion."
or
"The purpose of religion is _______________."
or
"Religion works because X, Y, and Z."
Whether you agree with religion or not (and there are MANY different religions), it serves various functions in society and has very close ties with the evolution and moral structure of that society. Religion isn't something that someone just sat down one day and decided to construct. It's something that's evolved with us in some form or another for the better part of recorded human history (if not all of it) and not something that could (or even should) be easily stripped away.
The veracity of religious belief is also a non-issue nor is its arbitrary nature. Even from a non-religious standpoint one could certainly value religious texts as literature akin to the many fables so common in our culture that we often use as tools for teaching life lessons and instilling moral structure. Treat religious texts and stories as something that may possibly be deeper and more complex than just tales about a bunch of pious self-righteous "goody two-shoes" people and maybe you'll learn to value them and see that they aren't at all what they're often made out to be.
Just in case you missed all that, I'm not arguing that religion is "right". I'm arguing that even if it's wrong, one could still appreciate it and find value in it. Sadly, religions are often terribly represented by a bunch of idiots that haven't even taken time out to study their own religions or its origins so I can understand if you may find it a bit difficult, particularly given the times we live in where being a Muslim supposedly means you're willing to strap a bomb to your chest for the promise of virgins or being a Christian supposedly means you believe that we were just plopped on the earth out of nowhere and that dinosaur bones were put there by Satan to trick us...
Speaking as an Atheist <3 :p. Imo, too many Atheists just fall into the same trap as the bigoted overzealous fundamentalists they resent, using their beliefs as a tool to marginalize and feel superior to a multifaceted group of people.
On August 26 2010 11:25 Half wrote: Speaking as an Atheist <3 :p. Imo, too many Atheists just fall into the same trap as the bigoted overzealous fundamentalists they resent, using their beliefs as a tool to marginalize and feel superior to a multifaceted group of people.
I suppose it's somewhat understandable once you start seeing the type of nonsense the more vocal religious extremists start spewing. The voices of reason and compromise are far too often overwhelmed by the deafening roar of the ignorant and intolerant. How we got from "Love thy neighbor." to what we see on the news every single day, I'll never know... I have to admit that it's somewhat depressing...
On August 26 2010 11:25 Half wrote: Speaking as an Atheist <3 :p. Imo, too many Atheists just fall into the same trap as the bigoted overzealous fundamentalists they resent, using their beliefs as a tool to marginalize and feel superior to a multifaceted group of people.
I suppose it's somewhat understandable once you start seeing the type of nonsense the more vocal religious extremists start spewing. The voices of reason and compromise are far too often overwhelmed by the deafening roar of the ignorant and intolerant. How we got from "Love thy neighbor." to what we see on the news every single day, I'll never know... I have to admit that it's somewhat depressing...
"Believe this because I (or The Book) say so, not because there's any reason to believe it" trains people not to question authority and is therefore easily abused. Furthermore, it corrupts rational thought by valuing incoherent metaphysical justifications over science and reason.
Secularism addresses this problem by letting people pretend to be religious when really they're not. But part of the package is shielding religious notions from serious inspection... which stabs society in the back if there are some religious notions so abhorrent they need to be struck down.
Bloomberg's gonna use him for some PR tomorrow, going to City Hall to have a meeting. The attacker is a college student that just came back from Afghanistan where he was a correspondent embedded with the Marines, all for a senior project... irrc at School of Visual Arts.
Guess those times there really created some type of psychological problem for him, or maybe he was just drunk. Thats what I heard at least.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ <- criticism of all aspects regarding Islam (womens rights, gays, rape, leaving Islam, nonbelievers, etc). Also has a list of all terror attacks done in the last 10 years in the name of Islam.
On August 26 2010 12:39 Disregard wrote: Bloomberg's gonna use him for some PR tomorrow, going to City Hall to have a meeting. The attacker is a college student that just came back from Afghanistan where he was a correspondent embedded with the Marines, all for a senior project... irrc at School of Visual Arts.
Guess those times there really created some type of psychological problem for him, or maybe he was just drunk. Thats what I heard at least.
Interesting, so it's a Muslim on Muslim crime? Maybe the Afghan student was against Park51.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ <- criticism of all aspects regarding Islam (womens rights, gays, rape, leaving Islam, nonbelievers, etc). Also has a list of all terror attacks done in the last 10 years in the name of Islam.
On August 26 2010 12:39 Disregard wrote: Bloomberg's gonna use him for some PR tomorrow, going to City Hall to have a meeting. The attacker is a college student that just came back from Afghanistan where he was a correspondent embedded with the Marines, all for a senior project... irrc at School of Visual Arts.
Guess those times there really created some type of psychological problem for him, or maybe he was just drunk. Thats what I heard at least.
Interesting, so it's a Muslim on Muslim crime? Maybe the Afghan student was against Park51.
I haven't heard anything about the attacker being a Muslim.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ <- criticism of all aspects regarding Islam (womens rights, gays, rape, leaving Islam, nonbelievers, etc). Also has a list of all terror attacks done in the last 10 years in the name of Islam.
On August 26 2010 12:39 Disregard wrote: Bloomberg's gonna use him for some PR tomorrow, going to City Hall to have a meeting. The attacker is a college student that just came back from Afghanistan where he was a correspondent embedded with the Marines, all for a senior project... irrc at School of Visual Arts.
Guess those times there really created some type of psychological problem for him, or maybe he was just drunk. Thats what I heard at least.
Interesting, so it's a Muslim on Muslim crime? Maybe the Afghan student was against Park51.
It was an American student who was in Afghanistan with the marines for a senior project. Just like it says in the post you quoted. Some of you people should employ others to do your thinking for you, clearly the challenge of reading is too great.
On August 26 2010 07:45 bdams19 wrote: damn... I live on 1st and 20th and that shit is crazy. People are all pissed off about this 9/11 mosque bs are being ridiculous.
On August 26 2010 13:04 thesighter wrote: Islam, the religion of peace. 15,911 terror attacks since 9/11
thereligionofpeace.com
More people are killed by Islamists each year than in all 350 years of the Spanish Inquisition combined.
Islamic terrorists murder more people every day than the Ku Klux Klan has in the last 50 years.
More civilians were killed by Muslim extremists in two hours on September 11th than in the 36 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland.
19 Muslim hijackers killed more innocents in two hours on September 11th than the number of American criminals executed in the last 65 years.
You could use the fact that they were all Muslims to paint a billion people with the same brush. But to be honest I think you're still thinking too small, sure stereotyping a billion people is good but have you considered that they were all living humans? That can up us to almost seven billion. All human? Now every person who has ever lived is a terrorist. If you're going to use these fallacies, think big. I for one think all carbon based lifeforms in all wheres and whens of the universe are terrorists.
On August 26 2010 13:04 thesighter wrote: Islam, the religion of peace. 15,911 terror attacks since 9/11
thereligionofpeace.com
More people are killed by Islamists each year than in all 350 years of the Spanish Inquisition combined.
Islamic terrorists murder more people every day than the Ku Klux Klan has in the last 50 years.
More civilians were killed by Muslim extremists in two hours on September 11th than in the 36 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland.
19 Muslim hijackers killed more innocents in two hours on September 11th than the number of American criminals executed in the last 65 years.
You could use the fact that they were all Muslims to paint a billion people with the same brush. But to be honest I think you're still thinking too small, sure stereotyping a billion people is good but have you considered that they were all living humans? That can up us to almost seven billion. All human? Now every person who has ever lived is a terrorist. If you're going to use these fallacies, think big. I for one think all carbon based lifeforms in all wheres and whens of the universe are terrorists.
Not painting all with the same brush. Islamic teachings are dangerous and easily misinterpreted by extremists. There is something fundamentally wrong with the teachings of the Quran.
EPT
