If you discuss against a religious belief that you do not hold/follow your self, how can you be sure you are correct and the actual believers and followers of the belief in discussion is wrong?
Maybe listening is better than claiming to know
Discussion is dangerous.....it leads to wisdom.
Some Christians are afraid to say or write the name of their God, so they write G_d, assuming, of course, that God (the all-knowing) won't be able to figure it out.
Many Christians fear mentioning God lest they take God's name in vain.
Many Christians refuse to read the bible, but they quote God by saying it is in the scriptures (somewhere.....who knows where).
Reverend Savonarola had the Bonfire of the Vanities, in which art and books were burned. Many times since, books have been burned because of their prurient nature (Catcher in the Rye) or portrayal of Demonic forces (Harry Potter, or Buffy the Vampire slayer), and some have been burned (perhaps along with their authors) for containing science, which some Christians claim is anti-religion. However, I know of very few scientists who have burned theists at the stake. There were, of course, Nazi doctors who practiced human experimentation (using humans as Guinea pigs.
The Dark Ages were a period in which the prim Christians were in charge, wielding their cruelties.
Puritans believe that dance produces joy, and joy is sinful. And, singing, music, and most books also seem to be banned.
The Amish refuse to allow anyone to talk to shunned members (those who stray from the teachings of the church and go out into the world to find out how it is). It is common for the Amish to forgive young adults who experience the outside world, and eventually accept them as members of the community again.
To a great extent, theists define themselves, by their actions.
The
world is messed up now (forest fires, debt, pandemic, ecological collapse, Global Warming accelerating, trade imbalances, homelessness, objections to universal health care (Jesus healed folks)). W. Bush embroiled the nation in wars, recession, outsourced factories, etc.
The world got this way when the
Religious Right rallied in great numbers and took over the political system.
Christians no longer follow Christ. "Thou shalt not kill" should prevent the war in Iraq.
There is still a lot of soft money political campaigning, such as the funds that keep Rush Limbaugh on the air, even after his demise. Year round politicking filled with
lies and half truths (from the political party allied with Christians).
The son of Reverend Robert Schuller (Crystal Cathedral founder) was photographed in public with booze in one arm, a scantily clad buxom blonde in another arm, and his
penis sticking out from his pulled down trousers. Is this how a reverend is supposed to behave? Is this the best use of church funds? Are the poor being fed, the sick healed? Are they doing what Jesus would have done? When you live in a glass house you shouldn't have your pants down.
It's easy to use Christian forgiveness to hid the
boy molesting Catholic priests, and
Boy Scout of America troop leaders who raped little boys. But, eventually such stories do make headlines. Of course the Catholic Church and BSA have both declared bankruptcy in order to deprive their innocent victims of just compensation because their love of mammon exceeds their devotion to God.
How can I tell if I am wrong? How can I tell if it is a sin to rape little boys? How can I tell if it is a sin to have one's penis sticking out in public? How can I tell if Reverend Jim and Tammy Fay Bakker were wrong to steal from starving Africans to air condition their mansion? Tammy said that she learned from this....learned not to get caught next time.
The Lord says "judge not lest ye be judged." Yet,
we must judge that those who do Satanic things and want us to follow in their footsteps are leading us down the primrose path. So we must judge in order to recognize and avoid Satan.
We can be sure that we recognize Satan when we see him ruling by fear (Orange alerts issued by W. Bush and Dick Cheney), and bearing false witness against our neighbors (Axis of Evil, and Doctor of Death)....all motivations for war. We can be sure that we recognize evil by seeing tax breaks for the super-wealthy (who used their vast wealth to outsource American jobs overseas to take advantage of cheap Chinese slave boys), and don't help the hoards of homeless people.
