Can Christians Eat Raspberries?

[SalixIncendium]

You're ignoring all the scriptures that say it doesn't matter what we eat or don't eat.

So your answer is "when the Bible contradicts itself, just pick verses that suit your preferences"?

Alrighty then. You aren't even a Christian so I don't know why you are acting like you care about this topic.

Just because someone doesn't identify with a religion doesn't mean that they don't care about what aspects of that religion dictate the behaviors of its adherents.

And your response there amounts to little more than hand-waving.

 

[Revoltingest]

Alrighty then. You aren't even a Christian so I don't know why you are acting like you care about this topic.

Perhaps you've never had someone else's religion forced upon you.
Or had your religion become a matter in court for adverse judgement.
But if you were an atheist, like me, it would be different.
Christians try to lord their faith over us.
So we take great interest.
Don't like this?
Then tell your Pope to back the **** off.

(That was fun.)

 

[Balthazzar]

This is true. While investigating this passage you brought up, I found that the word here translated "bramble bush" here is used in only 4 other places, (Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:30; Acts 7:35) and all of those are in reference to Moses' burning bush. Interesting, indeed! (Gives more meaning to Jesus's claim, "I am the true vine.")

G942 - batos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

G942 - βάτος bátos, bat'-os; of uncertain derivation; a brier shrub:—bramble, bush.

www.blueletterbible.org

Nice ... It's funny. I have my pre-defined understanding of the implied meaning, so I didn't bother looking up the term. In any case, It appears the implication is that the bramble bush is good. On that same note, it is also written that no one can see God's face and live. Exodus 33:20 Jesus suggested that none are good but God, who apparently appeared as a burning bush.

This would necessitate a transformation or change or condition that would enable us to see God's face and live. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

The claim of being the true vine may be an accurate assessment. Seeing purely or wholly isn't easy. We get too confused to acknowledge bad experiences as coming from anything "good".

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

As long as Christians impose their beliefs on others, the Christian religion is fair game for everyone.

Some Christians harangue. Some atheists harangue. I'm not sure that either form a cohort capable of imposing much of anything.

 

[Balthazzar]

Some Christians harangue. Some atheists harangue. I'm not sure that either form a cohort capable of imposing much of anything.

I was required to look the term up. Thank you. Well stated. Although, I might disagree with your assessment of capabilities cached with our enemies. You remember the song "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam? If you're to be my enemy, I would think it best for me to over reach your capability than to underestimate it. Not that you or they are my enemies, but I know all of you could be.

The songs imagery had me envisioning a picture of Jesus' transfiguration in correlation to and with the battle of Armageddon. The picture "Jeremy" apparently drew. This has been a long-standing teaching from Christians, so It would imply that Jeremy was picked on for this and lashed out at those who became bullies to him and/or enemies. I'm sure he would have seemed harmless to me, also. It's easy to underestimate our enemies. This is not uncommon. It's just as easy to understand the potential ferocity harbored within them, but it's also not uncommon to over-reach our own capabilities. I choose peace for this reason.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

You remember the song "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam?

No. Purposely.

 

[crossfire]

Nice ... It's funny. I have my pre-defined understanding of the implied meaning, so I didn't bother looking up the term. In any case, It appears the implication is that the bramble bush is good. On that same note, it is also written that no one can see God's face and live. Exodus 33:20 Jesus suggested that none are good but God, who apparently appeared as a burning bush.

This would necessitate a transformation or change or condition that would enable us to see God's face and live. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Zen koan: What was your original face before your parents were born? (Hint: parents=mother and father--duality.)

The claim of being the true vine may be an accurate assessment. Seeing purely or wholly isn't easy. We get too confused to acknowledge bad experiences as coming from anything "good".

That darned tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

[Balthazzar]

No. Purposely.

That's what he said, too.

 

[Balthazzar]

Zen koan: What was your original face before your parents were born? (Hint: parents=mother and father--duality.)

That darned tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The light between the shadow world of absolute darkness and the glory of absolute illumination, lines us to travel between the two worlds. My shadow will never die as long as the light never fades, and the light will never fade as long as it has a reason to be. In this maelstrom is the ruach and the roll of life, as well as the soul of all souls we call God.

 

[AGEMERCY]

I think it's okay to eat some in moderation.

 

[Kathryn]

People can and in some cases do have interest in the scriptures of other religions.

You're not looking at all the scriptures about food and what we can and can't eat.

Perhaps you've never had someone else's religion forced upon you.
Or had your religion become a matter in court for adverse judgement.
But if you were an atheist, like me, it would be different.
Christians try to lord their faith over us.
So we take great interest.
Don't like this?
Then tell your Pope to back the **** off.

(That was fun.)

Har har. Believe it or not, I do not have a line to the Pope.

 

[Kathryn]

So your answer is "when the Bible contradicts itself, just pick verses that suit your preferences"?


Just because someone doesn't identify with a religion doesn't mean that they don't care about what aspects of that religion dictate the behaviors of its adherents.

And your response there amounts to little more than hand-waving.

(waves at Salixincendium) Wow, that was harder than I expected it to be.

 

[Kathryn]

As long as Christians impose their beliefs on others, the Christian religion is fair game for everyone.

What you mean is simply that the Christian religion is fair game for everyone.

 

[mangalavara]

You're not looking at all the scriptures about food and what we can and can't eat.

If I were approaching it as a whole, I would. What I am focused on is a specific text.

 

[Kathryn]

If I were approaching it as a whole, I would. What I am focused on is a specific text.

I personally believe you need to look at it as a whole.

 

[mangalavara]

I personally believe you need to look at it as a whole.

Yes, I understand, but what I'm interested in is the exegesis of a particular passage.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

What you mean is simply that the Christian religion is fair game for everyone.

Since it shows no sign of stopping imposing itself on others: yes.

Just on the government side:

- my government provides funding and tax breaks to religious groups and individuals.
- my government operates Christian schools.
- my government has outsourced a lot of our public health care.
- the laws of my country make the head of a Christian church my head of state.

If I have a medical emergency and get brought by ambulance to the hospital, it's basically a coin flip as to whether I end up at a hospital where I may be denied medically indicated care based on the hospital administrators' interpretation of the Christian religion.

I demand a say in the public healthcare I receive, so this means I demand a say in every religion that might influence my healthcare.

If you don't like this, ask the Diocese of London to divest itself from the publicly-funded hospitals it currently influences so that they can be secularized.

 

[Kathryn]

Since it shows no sign of stopping imposing itself on others: yes.

Just on the government side:

- my government provides funding and tax breaks to religious groups and individuals.
- my government operates Christian schools.
- my government has outsourced a lot of our public health care.
- the laws of my country make the head of a Christian church my head of state.

If I have a medical emergency and get brought by ambulance to the hospital, it's basically a coin flip as to whether I end up at a hospital where I may be denied medically indicated care based on the hospital administrators' interpretation of the Christian religion.

I demand a say in the public healthcare I receive, so this means I demand a say in every religion that might influence my healthcare.

If you don't like this, ask the Diocese of London to divest itself from the publicly-funded hospitals it currently influences so that they can be secularized.

Not my business so no, I won't ask the Diocese of London anything.

 

[Revoltingest]

You're not looking at all the scriptures about food and what we can and can't eat.

Har har. Believe it or not, I do not have a line to the Pope.

Get one!
And vote for a better one next time his election rolls around.

 

[SalixIncendium]

(waves at Salixincendium) Wow, that was harder than I expected it to be.

Deflecting usually is.