Legion Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 My fellow heathens, I have here a game for us to play, if you wish, with serious implications. I hope it will be both fun and enlightening for us all. Our overall purpose here will be to remove the baby from the bath water of Christianity... if it exists. I invite you here to 1 ) find a passage from the Bible which has some relevance, or utility, or wisdom, or some other quality which recommends it. 2 ) Then please explain why you think this passage has this good quality. 3 ) Then end the post with "too bad Christianity is bullshit." I certainly hope these three point posts will be debated, and I also hope we have a fair number of them interspersed with debate about them. I will here give an example, which will close out this opening post. And then we will see where it goes. ----------------------------------- "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness." Luke 11 : 34 I think this passage is accurate in the following sense. I believe that the way we interpret our experiences dictates in large part how we respond to them. For instance, suppose I come upon a person during the course of the day. I think we can all mostly agree that people have some mixture of good and bad in their characters. And if I look for the goodness in them then my behavior towards them will be in accordance with the goodness I see. But if I look for the bad in them, then my behavior will also be in accordance with the badness I see. In this way, I think Luke 11:34 has some measure of accuracy. Too bad Christianity is bullshit. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunaticheathen Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7:6 This is a good verse, that I sometimes use, because it conveys that there are some people out there that it is useless to try and give wisdom to. Some people simply cannot appreciate the "pearls" we would love to offer them, would even attack you for trying. It reminds me to be discerning in who I speak about spiritual matters with. For some, it just will not help, and it would hurt me, it's best to leave them be, and save my pearls for those it would help. Too bad Christianity is bullshit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddbird1963 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Well, the problem with a passage like that is that it is a metaphor. First, second and third century readers (and hearers) interpreted such a saying differently than we do now. It can mean anything to anyone (or any group) at any given time. It is so open to interpretation that it becomes what Dan Dennet (Or wasit Victor Stenger?) calls a deepity. It appeals to something in us and we seek to interpret it in a way that is meaningful to us. But we don't really interpret it - we create the meaning and the most persuasive group gets to assign it a meaning for their contemporary generation. It's not that Christianity is bullshit, it's that Christianity is so vague and shifting and changing and contradictory that anything can mean just about anything to anyone for any reason. So much so that Christianity (as well as any other religion) is about power. But, in the spirit of cooperation I'll say it: Too bad Christianity is bullshit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrotherJosh Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Ecclesiastes 1:18, "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." Not that I am particularly wise or knowledgeable. But the little wisdom and knowledge I have gained has been a double edged sword. On one end, I am fascinated with the universe, science, history, religion, literature, human behavior...but with more knowledge comes a certain amount of grief. A good example is as a child, and like all children, I grew up thinking how rosy our nation's history is (George Washington and the cherry tree, Lincoln and the pennies etc...). Then in 7th grade I learned about the Trail of Tears. I learned something, I gained knowledge, but it certainly didn't make me happy to know it. Too bad Christianity is bullshit. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 I can see that I alone am not going to be able to field these excellent posts. I just wanted drop in here and offer my thanks. Luna, Oddbird, BrotherJosh, thank you. You've got me thinking. And I like that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deva Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 I loved this whole chapter. I highly value compassion. I very much wanted to believe God has "great love" and "his compassions never fail". If he were always forgiving - verse 23 I assumed meant a new clean slate everyday - .. but.... Too bad Christianity is bullshit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted February 10, 2012 Moderator Share Posted February 10, 2012 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what- ever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) I think this is a very good verse, in the fact that it promotes morality. Humans had already figured out that we should stay together, support one another, etc..... We are evolutionarily programmed to be cooperative. I know he says 'think' on these things, but in order to 'think' true, nobel, right, pure, admirable - we have to 'be' these things. In short - to 'think' this way - is to live this way. Moral 'thinking' pervades our practical lives everyday - This sort of behaviour is necessary to the survival and welfare of the human spieces. We figured out this good wisdom many thousands of years ago!!, ............ too bad christianity is bullshit! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurari Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." ~ John 13:34 It's been said, sung, written, and hugged about in pretty much every culture around the world for countless centuries. It's one of the basest and truest realities that we have in the world that makes our lives wonderful, fulfilling, and worthwhile. Love. All you need is love. Too bad Christianity is bullshit. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugene39 Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Isaiah 1: 13-18 - Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations - I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! See justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. James 1:27 - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Christianity has become simply a system of beliefs that one must adhere to,and is built upon thinking of all the me-centered things that God did for me. One thing I admire about Judaism is one doesn't have to read much of their literature before you will find the phrase tikkun olam which means repair of the world. None of us can repair the world, but we can help to repair the corner of the world in which we find ourselves. The two quoted Scriptures mean to me that our actions are much more important than having our religious ceremonies down pat, all while ignoring the hurting people around us. Too bad Christianity is bullshit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted February 11, 2012 Moderator Share Posted February 11, 2012 Genesis: To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, And to the man god said, cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground............. Stress has been here since the beginning of time!! The fight or flight response prepares us to either 'fight' or 'flee' from a perceived threatening or harmful situation. This was a very critical response during cave man days. When the proverbial sabre tooth tiger attacks, you get out your club and kill it, or you run like mad! Yeah - The good ole' cave man days...men throwing arrows at buffalos, men hunting large animals and bringing home the beef and working the ground!! . A HUGE struggle!! Difficult childbirth has always been. It is the the result of the human brain and head having evolved so quickly. (Big brain... large head ....difficult birth) In another 10,000 years or so womens' hips will be large enough to handle the job with ease as we evolve! Too bad christianity is bullshit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antlerman Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 This is an awesome thread Legion! Too bad Christianity is bullshit. Alright, I'll add my two cents. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40 This was my first sermon preached, and I realized no other sermon ever needed to be preached as I prepared to speak. All religion can be summed up, and eliminated in this injunction. Love is the fulling of all laws as "love works no ill". Yet religion strives to simulate what can only be performed through a true heart. Too bad Christianity doesn't know this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxy Methoxy Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Judges 3:21-25 [20] A word from God: What Aod, who was judge and chief magistrate of Israel, did on this occasion, was by a special inspiration of God: but such things are not to be imitated by private men. [21] And Aod put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly, [22] With such force that the haft went in after the blade into the wound, and was closed up with the abundance of fat. So that he did not draw out the dagger, but left it in his body as he had struck it in. And forthwith by the secret parts of nature the excrements of the belly came out. [23] But Aod carefully shutting the doors of the parlour and locking them, [24] Went out by a postern door. And the king's servants going in, saw the doors of the parlour shut, and they said: Perhaps he is easing nature in his summer parlour. [25] And waiting a long time till they were ashamed, and seeing that no man opened the door, they took a key: and opening, they found their lord lying dead on the ground. I like this verse because like Aod, I'm a lefty. Too bad Christianity is bullshit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pratt Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 my favorite 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. I found it comforting when times were hard, and that was many moons ago,,,,, too bad chrisitanity is bullshit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzy Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 "Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers." (Luke 6:44) This verse actually helped me to deconvert, when I was thinking about how come my whole Christian journey only gave me shit: guilt, fears, invasive thoughts, a judgmental attitude etc. So I decided Christianity actually is not a good tree. Though many things in the Bible are BS and Christianity as a whole is, but there are also some wise things. This sentence is one of those, IMO. Too bad Christianity is BS and Jesus likely never said those words. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzy Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 This is an awesome thread Legion! Too bad Christianity is bullshit. Alright, I'll add my two cents. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40 This was my first sermon preached, and I realized no other sermon ever needed to be preached as I prepared to speak. All religion can be summed up, and eliminated in this injunction. Love is the fulling of all laws as "love works no ill". Yet religion strives to simulate what can only be performed through a true heart. Too bad Christianity doesn't know this. My problem with this verse is that while it's nice that it says love is the most important thing, but it says above anybody else you should love God. So you should love an imaginary friend more than your family and friends. And Jesus confirms it when he says those who leave their families for him will get greater rewards in heaven. So this Christian type of love is pretty fucked up, in my opinion. Oh well, that's because Christianity is bullshit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwc Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 "The universe was formed out of a big bang." I think this is a pretty good theory as to how the universe was formed. Too bad science is bullshit. So I don't have to know or care about what I just said above...good, bad or indifferent. It's bullshit after all. The real, non-bullshit, answer is the universe fell out of a primordial monkey butt. I have to remind myself that the monkey butt answer is the correct answer by stating science is a lie. I am a sad person. Am I playing this game correctly? We take something. Then say something "good" about it knowing full well I'm just going to call it all bullshit anyway? mwc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JadedAtheist Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 "The universe was formed out of a big bang." I think this is a pretty good theory as to how the universe was formed. Too bad science is bullshit. So I don't have to know or care about what I just said above...good, bad or indifferent. It's bullshit after all. The real, non-bullshit, answer is the universe fell out of a primordial monkey butt. I have to remind myself that the monkey butt answer is the correct answer by stating science is a lie. I am a sad person. Am I playing this game correctly? We take something. Then say something "good" about it knowing full well I'm just going to call it all bullshit anyway? mwc It must've taken you years to refine the art that is killing the fun in a thread. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antlerman Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 This is an awesome thread Legion! Too bad Christianity is bullshit. Alright, I'll add my two cents. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40 This was my first sermon preached, and I realized no other sermon ever needed to be preached as I prepared to speak. All religion can be summed up, and eliminated in this injunction. Love is the fulling of all laws as "love works no ill". Yet religion strives to simulate what can only be performed through a true heart. Too bad Christianity doesn't know this. My problem with this verse is that while it's nice that it says love is the most important thing, but it says above anybody else you should love God. So you should love an imaginary friend more than your family and friends. And Jesus confirms it when he says those who leave their families for him will get greater rewards in heaven. So this Christian type of love is pretty fucked up, in my opinion. Oh well, that's because Christianity is bullshit. It depends how you envision God. If God is understood as the source of Love and you connect to that first above all else, than it works. When your mind and heart are renewed, than your soul will flow naturally to the world through that Love you found within. But is this how Christians relate to God? I don't see that as it should be because...... Christianity is bullshit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwc Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 It must've taken you years to refine the art that is killing the fun in a thread. You forgot to say "Christianity is bullshit" so I don't know if I can accept your compliment. mwc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 It must've taken you years to refine the art that is killing the fun in a thread. You forgot to say "Christianity is bullshit" so I don't know if I can accept your compliment. "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." - Romans 14 : 19 I think this verse urges us to the essence of symbiosis, which is likely the key to communal living. It's just too damn bad Christianity is bullshit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 It must've taken you years to refine the art that is killing the fun in a thread. You forgot to say "Christianity is bullshit" so I don't know if I can accept your compliment. mwc Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Sometimes it's just better to shut up and people think you're wise instead of saying something and revealing that you're not. mwv is full of bullshit. I'm just trolling you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackpudd1n Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 It must've taken you years to refine the art that is killing the fun in a thread. You forgot to say "Christianity is bullshit" so I don't know if I can accept your compliment. mwc LOL you're such a shit-stirrer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asanerman Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Luke 22:40-46 The passion drama moves into the Garden at Gethsemane, to which Jesus has withdrawn for an all-night vigil of prayer. Having "talked the talk," he must now "walk the walk." When I finally came to my "senses" I began to understand in a “felt” way (an existential way) what that (real or imagined) man did that night was to “model” what it is like to confront our own deepest fears and ambivalence in order to say, with all our being, the “one thing necessary” that will allow us to go beyond the survival instincts of the animal brain and ego-- and enter “into” the joy of self-emptying and generosity of being fully human people. Jesus was at “ground zero” that night, at the root of what in means to be a part of the human condition. He was in the "eye of the needle through which we all will enter not just in our physical dying but also in our daily living. Jesus cannot “save” or rescue or insulate me from my life, but what he did do was to model and consecrate (to make sacred) my “dying to what robs the beauty, goodness and truth from my living!” Any spiritual teacher or therapist, worthy of the name would do no different!--IMHO It sickens me that the fun-damn-mental movement that bears his name, thinks that to be complete bullshit. saner 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 Jesus cannot “save” or rescue or insulate me from my life, but what he did do was to model and consecrate (to make sacred) my “dying to what robs the beauty, goodness and truth from my living!” Any spiritual teacher or therapist, worthy of the name would do no different!--IMHO It sickens me, that the fun-damn-mental movement that bears his name, thinks that to be complete bullshit. saner Saner my mind tries to make you either heathen or heretic, but I know you are a familiar mystery. When Nietzsche asserts, "To live is to suffer and to survive is to find meaning in the suffering", what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted February 11, 2012 Moderator Share Posted February 11, 2012 Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” I have found that this really works 99% of the time for me. As a matter of fact, I believe that if the whole damn world would stop trying to change each other and accept one another for who we are - we wouldn't have to 'stir' up anger. Most of the time the harsh words is about somebody trying to change someone. Again, it would take everyone's co-operation to produce a world in which we would all speak 'soft' to one another. I bet you the cave men discovered this secret..........many, many thousands of years ago. From the beginning of time, people have been trying to learn how to live in community with one another. Nice verse..full of wisdom........ Too bad christianity is bullshit! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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