carlip Posted May 29, 2013 Posted May 29, 2013 What do you tell people who say you have taken bible quotes out of context?Do they not realize that EVERY sermon is taking a bible story out of context from the rest of the bible, this would make for some very long mass if they had to put it all in context. Or is it their only defense to actually admitting it is wrong?
Wesley Posted May 29, 2013 Posted May 29, 2013 It is not the only defense, but one of the defenses available. This one allows them to ignore certain facts so that they can continue to believe in religion. Selectively ignoring the bad stuff is convenient. Though I am sure you understand some of the reasons why people believe in religion and need these defenses and how it has very little to do with the facts.
Existing Alternatives Posted May 29, 2013 Posted May 29, 2013 You are absolutely correct, using one sentence or a couple will always be out of context. Two questions immediately popped into my head: what is Bible’s context? and what’s your objective in these discussions? It has been established that Bible is full of (most likely intentional) contradictions. You can spend years swapping quotes contradicting each other. Heck, Catholic church has been doing it for centuries. But, what’s the point?
tasmlab Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 And the other insistence is that it needs to be 'interpretted'. My big favorite is when they just make stuff up that's not even in scripture. My religous sister was explaining to me how God created evolution and guided man's development through the process. Sounds good enough, but it's just not in the book or in any other formal cannon. The beleivers are really in a crappy trap with the Bible being so long and bad and inconsistent. If they could admit that they were lying to themselves for like 10 minutes, they could agree to write a new book of what God beleives are good ethics and behaviors and worship that. You could probably fit it on a pamphlet and it would so superior that even us atheists wouldn't bother debating it. (I know what I'm writing is wholesale preposterous given how christianity works)
Existing Alternatives Posted June 5, 2013 Posted June 5, 2013 The beleivers are really in a crappy trap with the Bible being so long and bad and inconsistent. If they could admit that they were lying to themselves for like 10 minutes, they could agree to write a new book of what God beleives are good ethics and behaviors and worship that. You could probably fit it on a pamphlet and it would so superior that even us atheists wouldn't bother debating it. Well, you know, there are only 10 commandments, and they are not that long...
tasmlab Posted June 5, 2013 Posted June 5, 2013 A handy, short list of rules is a pretty good idea for an organized religion. But they even goofed that up horribly too!
Stefan Molyneux Posted June 5, 2013 Posted June 5, 2013 Who cares if you quote fiction out of context?
Freedomain Posted June 5, 2013 Posted June 5, 2013 Who cares if you quote fiction out of context? “Tired of walking in on Harry, Hermione and Ron all over the school, Professor McGonagall had given them permission to use the empty Transfiguration classroom at lunchtimes.”
carlip Posted June 5, 2013 Author Posted June 5, 2013 I've even pointed out to some people that their 1st commandment(deut. 5:7-10) goes against one of the 7 deadly sins (envy)... Are these people really that broken that they cling to this flotilla of religion?
Existing Alternatives Posted June 6, 2013 Posted June 6, 2013 I've even pointed out to some people that their 1st commandment(deut. 5:7-10) goes against one of the 7 deadly sins (envy)... Are these people really that broken that they cling to this flotilla of religion? Interesting point.... except that "7 deadly sins" are not Biblical per se, but rather Classical Greek adopted by Catholic church.
Brandon Buck _BB_ Posted June 6, 2013 Posted June 6, 2013 What do you tell people who say you have taken bible quotes out of context? I accept their objection and ask them to describe the proper context for rape, murder, slavery or whatever other Biblical atrocity we're discussing. A theologin once tried to paint me into a corner with the interpretation argument. I responded to him that it seems rather counter intuitive that God would write a book that he expects everyone to follow to the letter and then make that book so confusing that one has to have a college degree to decipher it. That was the end of that debate. In the end, you're not dealing with contradictions when you debate theists. You're dealing with cognitive dissonance and dissociation. Logic can't penetrate those.
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