Monday, June 28, 2010

hmmm, I have so many....

I want to thank everyone for leaving comments. You guys crack me up. I usually can't wait to get home from work and check out your responses. I'm telling you that because sometimes I ask loaded questions. I'm almost afraid to ask this next one. Loaded questions often get loaded answers. But I just can't help myself.

I was working at a house last week, I think the people could have been Atheists? They don't go to church, cussed like sailors and had a Richard Dawkins book laying out. (Something about evolution). I'm sure there are some Christians who could fit that description as well. We'll save that for another day. But as I was moving the fridge out of my way, I noticed one of the Proverbs written on a piece of paper and stuck to the side of the fridge next to a cool recipe for peanut butter fudge. Anyways it made me think about the godless dude in "Pulp Fiction" played by Samuel L. Jackson who quoted a Bible verse before he would kill somebody.

Do any Atheists have a favorite Bible verse? Those of you who were once part of the church, what was your favorite verse when you were still a "Christian"?

Peace squared, feeno

14 comments:

  1. The book was probably the Selfish Gene. It's a good book, you should read it. It's not about religion, it's mostly about biology and genetics.

    Anyways. My favorite verse of all time is Exodus 15-3 : "The Lord is a man of war, the Lord is His name."

    I like it because it says (at least in that translation) that the Lord is a MAN. Not a God, but a MAN.

    And I also like it because Manowar is one of my favorite Heavy Metal bands.

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  2. Yeah,

    Don't know the chapter or verse number but it goes someting like this, "This is the day the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it."

    Not sure if that's entirely accurate, but it is in the "Schuler Paraphrased Teflon Brain" version somewhere in my head.

    I really do like it a lot. It reminds me to make the best of every day and that "I" am neither Creator or Center of the Universe.

    And then there's the one about the timber in my own eye and the splinter in someone else's.

    And how about, "You who is without sin, be the first to cast a stone", again the Schuler Paraphrased version.

    I could go on. There is a lot of good stuff in the Bible, no doubt...no doubt.

    SteveO

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  3. OH YEAH!

    I forgot to mention that one from the Old Testament where God tells the Jews to go into the Land of Caanan "...and let nothing that breathes remain alive.."

    That one usually comes to me when I'm in a state of Religious Road Rage or just generally Raging. I know, I'm taking it entirely out of context, but at the time it just FEELS so right, know what I mean?

    SteveO

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  4. For inspirational verses I would have to say Philippians 4:8 is hands down my favorite.

    "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

    Also, as a writer, you may have guessed that I like Proverbs 18:21 which reads:

    "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

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  5. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
    - Matthew 7:3-5

    That, or maybe...

    And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
    - Matthew 6:5-6

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  6. I think Tristan took mine - Philippians 4:8.

    Some of my favorite non-bible verses -

    "I admit that reason is a small and feeble flame, a flickering torch by stumblers carried in the star-less night, -- blown and flared by passion's storm, -- and yet, it is the only light. Extinguish that, and naught remains."
    ~ Robert G. Igersoll

    "Give me the storm and stress of thought and action rather than the dead calm of ignorance and faith. Banish me from Eden when you will, but first let me eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge."
    ~ Robert G. Igersoll

    "Anyone who, in discussion relies upon authority, uses not his understanding, but his memory."
    ~ Leonardo Da Vinci

    "In matters of religion it is very easy to deceive a man, and very hard to undeceive him."
    ~ Pierre Bayle

    "To know a person's religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance."
    ~ Eric Hoffer

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  7. Great verses and great responses. Thanks. But can't you guys see the things that drive you mad about religion are the same things that would get on Christs' nerves too. He didn't like people making a show outta religion or pretending to look like something for the sake of your reputation. Or thinking your better than others. That's why he harped on the Pharisees so much. They honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him.

    Hey bobaloo, is that Eric Hoffer guy Jacks little brother?

    Late, feeno

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  8. Ding-ding-ding! Steve Schuler is the winner!

    As soon as I saw the title of this thread, I wondered "How many entries will be made before one of the skeptics throws out a Canaanite reference?" Thanks for keeping it real and not disappointing Steve-O. 'Representin' as always. This Bud's for you.

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  9. Psalm 23.

    It sounds great.

    Even if sadly its well proved itself to be utter complete bullshite and completely worthless.

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  10. I like the one by Jesus saying, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." I think the story would have ended better with Jesus picking up a stone and lettin' it rip at the woman, though :P lol

    Of course, the story was added in much later and so likely isn't even true (as noted in footnotes in most translations), but I think it's a good reminder that none of us are perfect, and we all deserve a second chance.

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  11. feeno... you don't see why maybe I'm a little angry about a group of people who refuse healthcare to others, make a big show of their faith, and judge others constantly while claiming to follow a guy did the exact opposite?

    Now only are they bad people, they're bad Christians. If only they just hated gay people and treated women like second class citizens... but no, that's not enough.

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  12. Geenks

    Again your argument is with religion or "religious" people. Plus not all Christians were against Obama care. And a big majority of atheists are Libertarians, (which I am, politics makes strange bedfellows) and they are usually way against a nationalistic anything, especially health care.

    Do Christian women hate women too? If we treat each other they way the Bible teaches us to, women would never complain.

    We should treat the gays also with the utmost respect and dignity as well. The difference is, most will always be offended by the fact that people like me think that the lifestyle is still a sin.

    But we aren't called to go and hate everyone who was a sinner. We'd have to hate everyone, ourselves included.

    Politically I personally believe that gays should enjoy every opportunity that I do. Nothing more, nothing less. But people go to far when they say we need to change how we interpret God's word or change the way we think.

    Everyone has the right to live their life under the guidelines set up by their govt. And nobody should be hateful or harmful toward any group of people, not just gays. But one day we will answer to God. His world, His rules.

    So we should all be able to get along. And treat everyone the same. But, some will never be happy as long as we call that lifestyle a sin.

    I don't want to offend people. But I'm not gonna go split a pizza and a pitcher of PBR with my friend who is cheating on his wife and not tell him that I think what he is doing is wrong in the eyes of God.

    Then it's between him and God. And if he don't believe in God, he's got nothing to worry about.

    Peace be with you Geenks

    feeno

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  13. Do Christian women hate women too? If we treat each other they way the Bible teaches us to, women would never complain.

    I'm sorry, this is just such bullshit. Women are told to be subservient (Eph 3:23-25). Women are blamed for sin and even blamed for why people must die (Ecc. 7:26). Women are told not to speak in church (1 Cor. 14:33-34).

    The argument that [all] women want to be treated the way the Bible describes is complete rubbish. Women were literally treated as second class citizens at best, and objects at worst, for centuries under theistic cultures that saw the Bible as not only religion, but legislation.

    Also, gay people don't care how you think of them anymore than you care how I or another atheist think of you. If I was standing in the way of you being able to go worship or baptize your children or preventing you from marrying, you might take an interest in how I feel, but only as it relates to you. It is the same with all people who are marginalized by a culture, gay or otherwise.

    New Churches are forming to accomadate the increasingly liberal views of the Bible. The old bigotry isn't being suppressed, it's just less popular, as those indoctrinated in it are growing old and dying (maybe there is a God...).

    Some churches have foreseen their fate and are trying to liberalize in order to survive, but that is not a problem of outsiders taking control of a church, only a church realizing that religion evolves. This happened with other issues like divorce, female church leaders, and others.

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  14. Women were literally treated as second class citizens at best, and objects at worst, for centuries under theistic cultures that saw the Bible as not only religion, but legislation

    "Christianity has gotten a bad rap from people who have not done their homework," says retired Illinois College sociology professor Alvin J. Schmidt, author of the recent book "Under the Influence: How Christianity Transformed Civilization." "In what countries have women lacked freedom?" he says. "Where Christianity is not present, especially in the Middle East. Were it not for Christianity, Gloria Steinem would still be walking about in a veil."

    Such logic causes Mr. Schmidt to see red. "Have these people ever read the Koran?" he asks. "I have read it with a fine-toothed comb more than once. Islam was founded by the sword. Muhammad took part in 66 battles and sold women and children into slavery. All this is documented. "To present Islam as a peaceful religion is to have your head in the sand. Jihad is right out of the Koran. The Christians who took part in the Crusades never cited any verse out of the New Testament backing what they did. But the Muslims who practice violence do cite the Koran." Christianity was considered radically pro-woman at the time of its founding, he says.

    "Christ was never quoted as saying anything demeaning or derogatory to women. Women in Greek days could hardly leave their homes. When her husband had guests over, she was not even allowed to sit in the same room. Their status was extremely low among the Romans, where the father of the family had the power of life and death, even over his wife. "In [the Gospel of] John, Chapter Four, Jesus was asked what he was doing talking to a woman in public, as you only talked with prostitutes in public. When he taught Mary and Martha in Luke 10, that was a behavior you did not do with women. "Christianity also nullified polygamy, as Jesus made it clear a man has one wife. If a Greek man was walking about outside with a woman, that was his mistress, not his wife. Christianity also made it clear widows were to be taken care of." Link

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