The Use of Religion

[Some Schmo]

I don't mind proselyting at all.

I'm not saying people shouldn't talk about their religion if they're asked about it.

I had a nice visit every month for a couple of years from a wonder JW lady. I had mentioned my Mormon upbringing and asked if I was willing to answer her questions (and there were lots of them) about Mormonism. I was happy to do that. I also told her up front that I understood that she was called to witness and that was fine with me. She learned more about Mormonism. I learned more about JW theology. More importantly, I got to experience getting to know a very kind fellow human. I was sad to learn that she had been rotated to another area.

I had a similar experience about 4 years ago with a JW who knocked on my door. Thing is, I don't have a problem resisting their "charms" and I enjoy asking them questions that confound their beliefs. It's sport.

What I'm talking about primarily is people making unprovable claims about reality (fine, whatever) and then trying to make everyone else live under their idea of what the law should look like given their unprovable claims (“F” off with that).

If someone wants to ask me about a god one on one, I'm all over that. It's always fun to discover someone's version of the god idea. You get to count all the unfounded premises. Good times.

[Gunnar]

It is undeniable that some of the greatest and most noble achievements of humankind in the arts and humanities have been inspired by sincere and humble religious faith, yet it is equally undeniable that some of the greatest blunders and atrocities in history have also been due to doctrinaire, intolerant and unquestioned religious claims. As I have often stoutly maintained, no belief system or claim is more deservedly suspect than one that can only be justified by claiming divine authority for it, no matter who or what claims such authority!

[dantana]

When Jesus started, or some say, restored his religion to the world, he told his disciples to go tell the world. They did. Mission accomplished. Everyone on the planet has heard of Christianity. Can that be enough now?

It just seems to me that now it isn't so much about spreading the word as it is poaching people from one sect to another. Couple that with the theory of - no true altruism - and seems to just be a matter of god talkers talking god because they think they have to not because they want to.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

- Those who do what I'm coming to think of as "performative religion;" it's a character they play to gain something they can't get on their own

Timely. Trump posted this last night on his Truth Social account:



It’s utterly transparent, but his cultists don’t mind.

- Doc

[Some Schmo]

It’s utterly transparent, but his cultists don’t mind.

- Doc

Your post made me realize that Trump isn't really that much different than the biblical god. He's capricious, senseless, and has crippling insecurity, so much so that he requires loyalty over common sense. He's said a ton of crap that is insane.

He's also a racist douchebag who gives certain people the idea they are the chosen ones.

And of course, his base is like Job. No matter what he does to them, they still line up to kiss his unworthy ass.

[Some Schmo]

Only Defense of the Ten Commandments Law Just Imploded Spectacularly

If religious people want to know why there's such a backlash to their idiotic beliefs these days, it's damned nonsense like this 10 commandment law in Louisiana.

Nobody is a bigger hypocrite than a politician pushing religious BS. Public religious practice is lying in the name of a pious façade.

I'm amazed there are still adults who think religion is a good way to control everyone. Of course, if you're dim enough to think there's a magical sky fairy, you'll believe anything.

If someone wants to push a law based on their religion, they should have to prove its idiotic claims first. If they can't, then they should “F” off immediately. I'm so sick of people giving religion any respect at all. It's ridiculous. damned grow up, people.

[Physics Guy]

Appealing to symbols printed on money, to settle arguments about secularism versus theocracy, is an old Christian tradition.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle [Jesus] in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money." And they brought unto him a penny.

And he saith unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?"

They say unto him, "Caesar's."

Then saith he unto them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

All three synoptic gospels have versions of this scene. I interpret these repeated verses to mean that God commands secularism.

[Gunnar]

I find Saddleback Church, the largest church in California, to be the best example of how to properly use religion. Watch what its Pastor, Rick Warren, has to say about

WHAT THE Bible SAYS ABOUT RACE, ETHNICITY, AND ORIGIN

In this video, Pastor Rick Warren delivers a firm, but grace-filled message that clearly calls racism a sin, saying that racism, prejudice, and bigotry have no place in our church family.

Pastor Rick also teaches us what the Bible says about race, ethnicity, and the unity that followers of Jesus are called to show in their lives. In this message, he reminds us that every single person of every ethnicity and origin is made in the image of God. God has never made a person who was not made in his image. And, as image-bearers of Christ, we are to be bridge builders for the Kingdom of God. In the wake of the events in Charlottesville, this is an important and timely message for the Saddleback Church family and our community.

It is encouraging to find that not all evangelicals are crazy enough to endorse the extreme views of MAGA and Donald Trump. It is hard for me to imagine that this man would ever seriously consider endorsing Trump and his hateful, divisive rhetoric. In Pastor Rick's view, racism and white supremacy are egregiously sinful, and have no legitimate place in Christianity. I find his comments both admirable and inspiring. He correctly points out that there is really only one human race, and no human beings are any less made in the image of God than any other humans.

This is a big part of what "woke" really means. Anyone who is "anti-woke" either doesn't understand what "woke" really means or is a hateful, irrational bigot. The same thing is true of anyone who adamantly rejects Critical Race Theory, which is nothing, but a scholarly, honest and factual analysis of how ethnic and racist prejudices have historically impacted society and government policies, more often than not to the unjust detriment of minorities, in particular.

(edited for clarification and correction of typos)

[Some Schmo]

Saddleback Church, the largest church in California, be the best example of how to properly use religion. Watch what its Pastor, Rick Warren, has to say about

WHAT THE Bible SAYS ABOUT RACE, ETHNICITY, AND ORIGIN

In this video, Pastor Rick Warren delivers a firm, but grace-filled message that clearly calls racism a sin, saying that racism, prejudice, and bigotry have no place in our church family.

That was good stuff, Gunnar. I'm glad there are a few religious leaders out there like Pastor Rick.

One of the pernicious things about religion is that it's purposefully vague and can be interpreted any way a person wants to interpret it. That leaves the door open for people to call themselves whatever they want while still living any way they want.

I could go around calling myself a Christian if I wanted to and be completely justified in doing so, given the interpretation of Christianity I've made. That would make me exactly as much of a Christian as anyone else who claims to be one, because claiming it is not necessarily living it, nor does it guarantee a sound interpretation of Christianity by the self-identified Christian.

The fact that you need to go to church to "remain faithful" says everything we need to know about the viability or accuracy of what's being said there. I don't need regular meetings to renew my faith in gravity or math. Those subject stand on their own. They don't need to be propped up by constant revisions and reinterpretations of the subject matter.

But at least Pastor Mike was talking to his own congregation and not pushing a political agenda outside his churches walls. Full credit for that (although it is a video on YouTube released by the church... but I don't/can't object to its message in spirit).