Texas parents don't like nude sculpture - Page 7

xoxoxoBruce · 10-02-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Christianity must necesarily have a basic premise. Otherwise, the word describes something that doesn't exist. (Christianity does exsist...)
Do Christians not read the Old Testament?
#1 Is the Bible an optional text, as a Christian? #2 Does The Bible contain moral guidelines (albeit interpretable)?

Is that the entirety of the similarities between various forms of Christianity?

I think Wolf mentioned the Roman Catholics don't use the Bible, they use Catechism texts. Most Christians don't read the Bible other than select passages assigned to them in (usually youth) studies. The big question is, does it say in the translations what it said in the original texts.

Mother Goose contains interpretable moral guidelines. The Bible, covering thousands of years and multiple societies, contains many conflicting morality lessons. There's a passage in the bible that can be quoted to cover just about any behavior imaginable.

There are many similarities between many Christian religions, but that's the one that's common to all of them.

10-10-2006, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Christianity must necesarily have a basic premise. Otherwise, the word describes something that doesn't exist. (Christianity does exsist...)
Do Christians not read the Old Testament?
#1 Is the Bible an optional text, as a Christian? #2 Does The Bible contain moral guidelines (albeit interpretable)?

Is that the entirety of the similarities between various forms of Christianity?

They read the OT, as a history of where their religion came from, not a place to get dogma.
To call one's self a Christian one must follow the teachings of Christ... pretty much it. How is this not clear?
That is the only similarity between them. Many that call themselves Christian do not follow His teachings, quite the opposite, most teach the dogma of Us and Them.

Flint · 10-02-2006, 02:07 PM

Clearly, I am deeply and irrevocably offended. I often remark "ha ha ha" to denote dead-seriousness.

Flint · 10-02-2006, 02:56 PM

[/sarcasm] now we arm-wrestle . . . to the death

Flint · 10-03-2006, 08:47 AM

I often ask people why they feel the need to define themselves as Christian. I ask people what is gained by attributing the classification of Christian to themselves. Now, more than ever, I ask this question, considering that we have just exhaustively established that the word Christian has no demonstrable meaning whatsoever.

morethanpretty · 10-03-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

I often ask people why they feel the need to define themselves as Christian. I ask people what is gained by attributing the classification of Christian to themselves. Now, more than ever, I ask this question, considering that we have just exhaustively established that the word Christian has no demonstrable meaning whatsoever.

The Egyptian Pharohs, Roman Ceasers, Mystery cults, and the followers of various gods (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, ect) no longer have living representatives on this earth but we still study them and know what their basic beliefs were, how they practiced ect ect. Just because Christianity doesn't have that many genuine followers in this country doesn't mean we can't understand who they are supposed to be and how they are supposed to act. We even have histories of them outside the Bible, which is the most complete definition or representation of what Christianity is. Why do say that the word Christian has no demonstrable meaning? There are authentic Christians you just have to turn over a few rocks. I know a few I can give you their phone number...:-)

xoxoxoBruce · 10-03-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

I often ask people why they feel the need to define themselves as Christian. I ask people what is gained by attributing the classification of Christian to themselves. Now, more than ever, I ask this question, considering that we have just exhaustively established that the word Christian has no demonstrable meaning whatsoever.

The best thing about being a Christian is not having to explain it to other Christians because they already know and not having to explain it to non-Christians because they'll never understand.
You only have to know that you can't attribute any behavior by someone to them being a Christian. Even if it's fervent religious activity, it's personal choice on their part, not an attribute of Christianity alone.

Disclaimer....may not apply to Texas.

Flint · 10-03-2006, 10:58 AM

Sounds like "having your cake and eating it too" . . .
Either "Christianity" means something or it doesn't exist.

It's just a bit too convenient that anyone who questions the meaning of a word is deemed unable to understand a distinction which has never been made to begin with. That doesn't apply in any other area of life, and the necessity of "special rules" of logic should be a red flag. Just an observation...

xoxoxoBruce · 10-05-2006, 11:32 PM

Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts, or something like that, is a Cellar cookie.
Not every word has the same meaning to everyone. Even dictionary's sometimes don't jibe.
Instead of being frustrated, just stop trying to pigeon-hole people, sorting them by categories. Everyone is different.

tw · 10-06-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Not every word has the same meaning to everyone. Even dictionary's sometimes don't jibe.

Let's see. We are talking about nudity, sex, and "having your cake and eating it too" . . .

Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Flint · 10-06-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Instead of being frustrated, just stop trying to pigeon-hole people, sorting them by categories. Everyone is different.

How many goddamn times are you going to insist on mis-characterizing my statements?
I correct you every time, so I don't know where the confusion could be coming form.

What I comented on initially was the institution of Christianity, and subsequently we've been debating whether the institution exists, and, if so, what it's defining characteristics are. You insist it has none, and I disagree. (How do you define yourself as something which has no characteristics?)

If I'm "frustrated" it's because you won't stop putting words in my mouth.
Despite my repeated clarifications, you continue to "pigeon-hole" me (which is ironic as hell...)

10-03-2006, 10:16 AM

Having studied religion for as long as I have, I am constantly amazed at how readily people who have not read their Bible in ... years (or not all of it at ALL), never read a concordance, or studied the history of the times from the
Roman perspective, readily get into a disagreement with me on finer points of dogma or just historical aspects of Cannon Law or just what happened and how... it is sad.
99% of that "Religion" is pulpit here-say and most of those guys have little to no real training.
When I point this out I always get "but its about faith".... how can you have faith in something you don't even know the basics of. Sure, if you really know what you are CHOOSING to believe in, warts and all... that I can see.
But, just saying you have faith and not knowing what you are talking about... cult.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-03-2006, 10:41 AM

Nor do they know that the concept of papal infallibility and dogma of Immaculate Conception, didn't exist before the mid 1800s.

Flint · 10-10-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

To call one's self a Christian one must follow the teachings of Christ... pretty much it.

How is this not clear?

It's perfectly clear.

The teachings of Christ, as represented by the Bible, are the "standardized set of guidelines" that define Christianity.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-11-2006, 05:19 PM

No, Christ taught one "guideline". Love thy neighbor as thyself. That's it...there ain't no more. Someone that follows that "guideline" is a Christian. It's that simple.
Stop confusing the churches(business of religion) that use his name(usually in vain), with his teaching or followers.
You try to tie anyone claiming to be a Christian with the sins of the churches, is the equivalent of blaming me for the institution of slavery. I assure you, neither is my fault.

If you have issue with one of the aforementioned churches/businesses, take if up with them specifically and stop trying to blame the rest of us, in your personal dispute.

If you don't want me to put words in your mouth, shut your mouth and open your ears, then the words will go where they were intended. :p

10-02-2006, 02:07 PM	#3
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Clearly, I am deeply and irrevocably offended. I often remark "ha ha ha" to denote dead-seriousness. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-02-2006, 02:56 PM	#4
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	[/sarcasm] now we arm-wrestle . . . to the death __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-03-2006, 08:47 AM	#5
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I often ask people why they feel the need to define themselves as Christian. I ask people what is gained by attributing the classification of Christian to themselves. Now, more than ever, I ask this question, considering that we have just exhaustively established that the word Christian has no demonstrable meaning whatsoever. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-03-2006, 10:58 AM	#8
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	a word which can't be defined... Sounds like "having your cake and eating it too" . . . Either "Christianity" means something or it doesn't exist. It's just a bit too convenient that anyone who questions the meaning of a word is deemed unable to understand a distinction which has never been made to begin with. That doesn't apply in any other area of life, and the necessity of "special rules" of logic should be a red flag. Just an observation... __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-05-2006, 11:32 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts, or something like that, is a Cellar cookie. Not every word has the same meaning to everyone. Even dictionary's sometimes don't jibe. Instead of being frustrated, just stop trying to pigeon-hole people, sorting them by categories. Everyone is different. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-03-2006, 10:16 AM	#12
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Having studied religion for as long as I have, I am constantly amazed at how readily people who have not read their Bible in ... years (or not all of it at ALL), never read a concordance, or studied the history of the times from the Roman perspective, readily get into a disagreement with me on finer points of dogma or just historical aspects of Cannon Law or just what happened and how... it is sad. 99% of that "Religion" is pulpit here-say and most of those guys have little to no real training. When I point this out I always get "but its about faith".... how can you have faith in something you don't even know the basics of. Sure, if you really know what you are CHOOSING to believe in, warts and all... that I can see. But, just saying you have faith and not knowing what you are talking about... cult.

10-03-2006, 10:41 AM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Nor do they know that the concept of papal infallibility and dogma of Immaculate Conception, didn't exist before the mid 1800s. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-11-2006, 05:19 PM	#15
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	No, Christ taught one "guideline". Love thy neighbor as thyself. That's it...there ain't no more. Someone that follows that "guideline" is a Christian. It's that simple. Stop confusing the churches(business of religion) that use his name(usually in vain), with his teaching or followers. You try to tie anyone claiming to be a Christian with the sins of the churches, is the equivalent of blaming me for the institution of slavery. I assure you, neither is my fault. If you have issue with one of the aforementioned churches/businesses, take if up with them specifically and stop trying to blame the rest of us, in your personal dispute. If you don't want me to put words in your mouth, shut your mouth and open your ears, then the words will go where they were intended. :p __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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