[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

You want to start quoting the Bible now?

I quote the bible all of the time, as a matter of fact I used it extensively in an article I wrote about people trying to ban Harry Potter from public schools.

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

Are you mad.

Am I mad? I'm not even mildly upset. As to the allusion to insanity, I've been called pathologically sane by some people. I guess they are referring to the fact that nobody else they know can be so dispassionate or unemotional. Who knows?

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

First off I was refering specifically to the Gospels. Although there are moments in John that are a bit puritanical, there are many other instances, especially in Luke, Mark and Matthew that are beautiful treatises on compassion and good will. It's what one sees in anything is the issue here. Some see a bunch of holy rollers expressing self-rightegousness and damnation to all those who don't believe, but that's not what I see.

I will agree that those things can be found there, but you cannot deny the abuse, intolerance, prejudice, discrimination, misogyny, etc that they contain as well.

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

As far as Hebrews is concerned, if you know anything about Judeo-Christian docrtine percieving the Gospels as part of the Bible, God is vengeful and Jesus is merciful, it's a balancing act. If you look closely the appearance of Jesus is signifigant because it rails against convential Jewish dogma as it stood at that time.

So you're saying that the religious doctrine changed to meet the political needs of the times.

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

Either a construction or fact, for one to read the Bible and constantly outline and highlight the parts of condemation is still short sighted and pesimistic.

*presto chango*

Either a construction or fact, for one to read the Bible and constantly outline and highlight the parts of absolution is still short sighted and optimistic.

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

As someone who has been through the Catholic school system, I should be the one tearing down Jesus, or God, but I refuse. I was taught the Bible since I was 5 or 6, and I still feel the same about it today.

So you're willing to admit to a great amount of intellecual inertia and naivete.

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

I was told by countless nuns that I was going to hell, many times quoting passages from John, but I refuse to submit to such condemnation.

Why aren't willing to accept that the people who are willing to submit their lives to the doctrine you so willingly admit to may be right considering that they're whole life is qrapped up in discovering its mysteries?

They have the same, or better, resources to draw from, as well as more time to devote to such endeavors.

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

I do my best to treat people as noted in these religious teachings, not out of fear for my soul, but out of the compelling nature of the teachings and the way they touched my heart, plain and simple.

It does no good to only apply the warm fuzzy parts of your doctrine. It states very clearly and in many places how you are to treat the non-believer.

I haven't had to run anybody from my property for hurling stones yet.

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus109

Accordingly, if you look at the sum of Jesus' teachings, he wanted people to love each other because we are all God's children, in effect no different than him, only difference being he had to die for the sins of others. The pain and suffering of Christ is also an area of great inspiration, many condemed others in his name, but Christ always had mercy on those who "knew not what they did"


-Walrus

As touching as it may be, it doesn't work for me on too many levels. I understand social engineering when I see it. I see ethnic ideological justification, and all of the other things I mentioned before.

If such a doctrine works for you that is fine, but I set higher intellectual standards for myself. I don't mean this as a condemnation (much) but if you want to have faith I'm happy for you. Don't try to rationalize it within the framework of your own doctrine. A word cannot be used in its own definition.