Comments on: One Nation Under Absurdity http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=one-nation-under-absurdity Reason without faith. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:56:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ErvinTW http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-349 ErvinTW Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:56:48 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-349 Thanks! Nice post. Thanks! Nice post.

]]> By: RonaldLI http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-343 RonaldLI Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:48:44 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-343 Спасибо за текст! Очень понравилось Спасибо за текст! Очень понравилось

]]> By: Michael Spitler http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Michael Spitler Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:42:24 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-63 ^^ Speak for yourself, brother. ^^ Speak for yourself, brother.

]]> By: bongo http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-60 bongo Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:13:16 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-60 My favorite definition of god is.... Dog spelled backwards... which is a son of a bitch.. and that is what we are.. sons of bitches. My favorite definition of god is….
Dog spelled backwards… which is a son of a bitch.. and that is what we are.. sons of bitches.

]]> By: Mallory http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Mallory Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:44:18 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-56 An intelligent, thoughtful person with a well developed personal ethical code will be able to draw something useful, moral or thought provoking from almost any book, be it Harry Potter or the Bible, while discarding the rest. The problem comes when people without intelligence, judgement and ethics read books such as the bible and then try to interpret them as literal truth, and enforce their teachings on others. It doesn't work any better with the bible than it would with Harry Potter. Interestingly, these people only seem to take on board the bits of the bible that agree with their own prejudices. Many fundamentalists, for example, are very opposed to homosexuality, divorce, evolution (fill in other fundie oddities of your choice) but ignore the parts of the bible forbidding the consumption of pork and shellfish, the ruling that people with imperfect sight (eg need glasses) cannot attend church, and the command to give others whatever they ask of you - for example your wallet and your car. An intelligent, thoughtful person with a well developed personal ethical code will be able to draw something useful, moral or thought provoking from almost any book, be it Harry Potter or the Bible, while discarding the rest.

The problem comes when people without intelligence, judgement and ethics read books such as the bible and then try to interpret them as literal truth, and enforce their teachings on others. It doesn’t work any better with the bible than it would with Harry Potter.

Interestingly, these people only seem to take on board the bits of the bible that agree with their own prejudices. Many fundamentalists, for example, are very opposed to homosexuality, divorce, evolution (fill in other fundie oddities of your choice) but ignore the parts of the bible forbidding the consumption of pork and shellfish, the ruling that people with imperfect sight (eg need glasses) cannot attend church, and the command to give others whatever they ask of you – for example your wallet and your car.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Jeff Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:28:00 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-53 I don't know where Edwin got his 10 commandments, but they aren't mine. They are as follows: I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; {S} thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. I don’t know where Edwin got his 10 commandments, but they aren’t mine. They are as follows:

I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Thou shalt not murder.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house; {S} thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

]]> By: Ben http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Ben Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:12:03 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-52 First off, I would like to mention I agree with your post wholeheartedly. I would like to mention. the pledge of allegiance also came out of the civil war. Maybe not the exact words (especially the "under god"), but citizens of the southern states were forced to quote an allegiance pledge. Secondly, even speaking literally, the less direct commandments do not say what many people believe they do. Take for example the first: "Thou shall have no other god(s) before me." This does not say "Thou shall have no other gods," but rather none should worshiped more than he. A college professor who is Christian pointed this out. First off, I would like to mention I agree with your post wholeheartedly. I would like to mention. the pledge of allegiance also came out of the civil war. Maybe not the exact words (especially the “under god”), but citizens of the southern states were forced to quote an allegiance pledge.

Secondly, even speaking literally, the less direct commandments do not say what many people believe they do. Take for example the first: “Thou shall have no other god(s) before me.” This does not say “Thou shall have no other gods,” but rather none should worshiped more than he. A college professor who is Christian pointed this out.

]]> By: Brandon http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Brandon Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:18:33 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-47 haha Amen to that. haha Amen to that.

]]> By: Edwin http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Edwin Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:36:23 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-46 I don't know if you people read the same commandments I did, but here they are: 1) you shall have no other gods before me. 2) You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 3) You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 4) Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. For six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. 5) Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 6) You shall not murder. 7) Neither shall you commit adultery. 8) Neither shall you steal. 9) Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbour. 10) Neither shall you covet your neighbour’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbour’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour. --- Some of those are ok generic principles that were around forever before the monotheistic religions, but most of it is worthless claptrap. I don’t know if you people read the same commandments I did, but here they are:

1) you shall have no other gods before me.

2) You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me,
but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3) You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

4) Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
For six days you shall labour and do all your work.
But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you.
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.

5) Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

6) You shall not murder.

7) Neither shall you commit adultery.

8) Neither shall you steal.

9) Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbour.

10) Neither shall you covet your neighbour’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbour’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.
—
Some of those are ok generic principles that were around forever before the monotheistic religions, but most of it is worthless claptrap.

]]> By: Rob H http://www.whereisyourgod.com/articles/one-nation-under-absurdity/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Rob H Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:40:36 +0000 http://www.whereisyourgod.com/?p=10#comment-41 Don't misunderstand me, my brother. There is nothing personal in what I have written. I think you may perceive it that way because your core beliefs are being challenged. I understand, I was there once. You'll get over that when you accept that the bible is complete rubbish, which happens sooner or later if you are sincere in your quest for truth, as I can see that you are. You're just getting on the freeway, the onramp is a bit scary, but when you get up to speed it's all cruise control. "Christ said "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" and when asked "who is thy neighbour? went on to the parable of the Good Samaritan. If you wish to understand this parable as it was understood by his hearers, you should substitute "Al Queda" for Samaritan. I fear my modern day Christians would resent such a substitution, because it would compel them to realize how far they have departed from the teachings of the founder of their religion." This was originally Bertrand Russell's comment, but about Nazi's instead of Islamic fundamentalists, I made that change to make it current. Still true, though. Remember, according to the bible, the "Good Samaritan" is currently gnashing his teeth in eternal hell fire while their perfect savior looks on for eternity. And you use this as a moral teaching that is worthy? The fact of the matter is that in one short response to my comment you have totally backed down from your assertion of only one day ago, that the bible has good in it. Now you are forced to realize that there is nothing uniquely good about it. As you say, if one looks at these stories deeper there is more to it. The only difference between your position and mine is that I HAVE looked deeper into those stories, and the "more to it" part doesn't make it moral or good, in fact quite the opposite. You said earlier that you've read "most" of the bible. Just like a lot of christians. I suggest you read it all, then read it again, then read about when the bible was written, when it was canonized, how it has changed, how translation has altered it. Then read it again. Then we can talk about how "moral" it is. Until then, know that you have been challenged to prove me wrong. You won't. Please try. Remove the blinders our judeo-christian society has placed upon us, and you will see things much more clearly. It's not easy, but I have faith that you will. Keep up the good work. P.S. I realize that I am much more comfortable discussing the bible with a believer. They're so easy. Discussing degrees of disagreement with the bible is much more challenging, you already know 90% of it is crap, makes for a different type of argument. I appreciate it, Thanks. Don’t misunderstand me, my brother. There is nothing personal in what I have written. I think you may perceive it that way because your core beliefs are being challenged. I understand, I was there once. You’ll get over that when you accept that the bible is complete rubbish, which happens sooner or later if you are sincere in your quest for truth, as I can see that you are. You’re just getting on the freeway, the onramp is a bit scary, but when you get up to speed it’s all cruise control.
“Christ said “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” and when asked “who is thy neighbour? went on to the parable of the Good Samaritan. If you wish to understand this parable as it was understood by his hearers, you should substitute “Al Queda” for Samaritan. I fear my modern day Christians would resent such a substitution, because it would compel them to realize how far they have departed from the teachings of the founder of their religion.” This was originally Bertrand Russell’s comment, but about Nazi’s instead of Islamic fundamentalists, I made that change to make it current. Still true, though.
Remember, according to the bible, the “Good Samaritan” is currently gnashing his teeth in eternal hell fire while their perfect savior looks on for eternity. And you use this as a moral teaching that is worthy? The fact of the matter is that in one short response to my comment you have totally backed down from your assertion of only one day ago, that the bible has good in it. Now you are forced to realize that there is nothing uniquely good about it. As you say, if one looks at these stories deeper there is more to it. The only difference between your position and mine is that I HAVE looked deeper into those stories, and the “more to it” part doesn’t make it moral or good, in fact quite the opposite. You said earlier that you’ve read “most” of the bible. Just like a lot of christians. I suggest you read it all, then read it again, then read about when the bible was written, when it was canonized, how it has changed, how translation has altered it. Then read it again. Then we can talk about how “moral” it is. Until then, know that you have been challenged to prove me wrong. You won’t. Please try. Remove the blinders our judeo-christian society has placed upon us, and you will see things much more clearly. It’s not easy, but I have faith that you will. Keep up the good work.
P.S. I realize that I am much more comfortable discussing the bible with a believer. They’re so easy. Discussing degrees of disagreement with the bible is much more challenging, you already know 90% of it is crap, makes for a different type of argument. I appreciate it,
Thanks.

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