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therationa (m)
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One of Jesus's founding doctrine was the doctrine of passive non-resistance to evil and violence. This is expounded in the books of Luke 6: 27 - 28 and Matthew 5: 39 - 41. | Luke 6: 24-31 | Matthew 5: 37-45 | 24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. | 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. |
These are some of the most preposterous words attributed to Jesus. He is commanding people to love, not least their enemies. Love, the classic sense of the word, is a sentiment that is gained and not commanded. Loving ones enemies is not the route to resolving the tension that may exist between both parties. Negotiation and discussions are a better way to deal with ones enemies than the blanket expenditure of ones love. Further, why should one NOT resist evil? Basically, he takes from an individual the legitimate right to defend himself. If a man walks into your house and takes away your books, do you also give him you clothes? If he strikes you, would you show him the other cheek? How many Christians adhere to this standard? Here is what George Smith has to say about this doctrine; Why? For what possible reason should one offer oneself as a sacrificial animal in this way? Such questions, however, do not apply to Jesus, because he is interested only in obedience, not in presenting rational arguments. In fact, when viewed in this context, this commands begin to make sense. We are not to judge others, Jesus says, which is merely another facet of suspending ones critical faculties. We are to tolerate injustice, we are to refrain from passing value judgements of other people -- such precepts require the obliteration of one's capacity to distinguish the good from the evil; the require the kind of intellectual and moral passiveness that generates a mentality of obedience. The man who is incapable of passing independent value judgements will be least critical when given orders. And he will be unlikely to evaluate the moral worth of the man, or the supposed god, from whence those orders come. Source: Atheism: The case Against God, George H. Smith, Page 325. No wonder they are called " The Flock", servile little machines, at the beck and call of clerics and deities! Are there any Christians today who follow these precepts of Jesus? If you don't, are you justified in calling yourself a Christian? ===================================================================================================== Some of my other threads The Dangers Of Religious Fundamentalism To Intellectualism http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=110955.msg1929006#msg1929006Danger! Religion May Damage Your Intelligence And Your Mind If Not Your Wealthhttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115458.0.htmlDoes Anyone Not Know What The Permian–triassic Extinction Event Is ?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115553.0.html What Are Spiritual Truths? http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115666.0.html#msg1996318Road To Damascus Incident: Paul's Account http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115689.0.html#msg1996608Noah, Kangaroos, Sloth, Polar Bear And Panda In A Wooden Boat http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115589.0.html#msg1994984 Resurrection Accounts In The Gospel: Reconciliation Wantedhttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115582.0.htmlDoes Jesus Know What Causes Sin? Thank Goodness He Doesn't.http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115292.0.htmlThe Dreadful Plight Of Apostasy In The Biblehttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115114.0.htmlIs The European Union Prophesied In The Bible? Is It The Anti-christ?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115053.0.htmlJesus And The Old Lawshttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115190.0.htmlWhat Can Be Said To Be Definitely Known About Jesus?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-114935.0.html Origin Of Christianity And Diabolical Mimicry In Anticipationhttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113860.0.html Hell Past, Hell Present; Which Do You Prefer?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113947.0.html#msg1971669The Sexual Act And Christian Teachinghttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-114332.0.htmlScientific Rationalism, Reason And Faith: Which Produces Systematic Knowledge?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-114253.0.html On The Prophesy Of The Virgin Birth Of Jesus, Part 2: http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113676.0.html On The Historical Reliability Of The Bible http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-114215.0.html When And From Where Did Jesus Ascend Into Heaven http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113519.0.html http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-114023.0.html#msg1972418http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-114023.0.html#msg1972418 When Was Jesus Born?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113449.0.html On The Prophesy Of The Virgin Birth Of Jesus 13012dg http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113342.0.html#msg1963529 Was Jesus The Prophesied Messiah? Let's Look At The Evidence. http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113303.0.html What Are Your Chances Of Being Saved?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113283.0.html Who Wrote The Gospels And When Were They Written? http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113277.0.html#msg1962589 God Selects The Rulers Of Countries; G W Bush, Sadam, Pol Pot, Abacha, Hitlerhttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113186.0.html#msg1961537Cannibalism In The Bible: Det 28:53-57, Lev 26:29, Jer 19:9, Ezek 5:10, Lam 4:10http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113181.0.html#msg1961343What Are The Core Tenets (doctrines, Value And Virtues) Of Christainity? http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-112990.0.html Faith-healer And Evangelist, Maurice Cerullo, Investigated http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113871.0.html What Fate For Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Constantine And Tomás De Torquemada? http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-112997.0.html#msg1958617Is The Doctrine Of Trinity Biblical? The Johannine Commahttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-112865.0.html#msg1957266 On The Authenticity Of The New Testament, Part 2 http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-112848.0.htmlHow Is Salvation Achieved? http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-112833.0.htmlOnly For Those Who Know Their Bibles And Some History: Who Was Jesus?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112697.msg1954632#msg1954632Only For Those Who Know Their Bibles: Old Testament Storieshttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112679.msg1954426#msg1954426Human Sacrifice In The Bible: Lev 27: 29 & Judges 11http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112584.msg1953340#msg1953340Please, Please, Please: Christians - Read Read Read Your Bibleshttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112578.msg1953311#msg1953311When Was Jesus Crucified?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112557.msg1952665#msg1952665On Conversion To A Religion (christianity Or I-slam)http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112547.msg1952353#msg1952353Faith-healers And Tele-evangelistshttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112398.msg1950528#msg1950528Where Did Sin Originate?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112377.msg1950291#msg1950291For The Non-beleivers Only, 1http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112262.msg1948957#msg1948957Would Christains Be Criminals And Offenders If They Were Not Christians?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112259.msg1948919#msg1948919On The Authenticity Of The New Testament, Part 1http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112240.msg1948631#msg1948631Has Atheism Got Principle? Nohttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112216.msg1948180#msg1948180It Is Biblical To Have Sex (and Lots Of It) Before Marriagehttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112139.msg1946940#msg1946940Should The Old Testament Laws Be Observed In The Modern Era?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112114.msg1946682#msg1946682Founding A State or Nation On Religious Principleshttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112086.msg1946268#msg1946268Great Books About Non-belief http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111928.msg1943935#msg1943935Who Are The Self-declared Non-believer? Resources For You http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111806.msg1942137#msg194111quc02137Beware of a Simplistic Interpretation of Jesus's 2nd Coming Passages http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111677.msg1939992#msg1939992 What Is The Evidence That The Bible Is The Word Of God? http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-113161.0.html#msg1960928Archbishop Cause Furore Over Sharia Law In The Uk http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111645.msg1939155#msg1939155Eminent Christian Scientist (francis Collins) Explains The Evolution Of Humans http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111482.msg1936158#msg1936158Please, Help Me Out With Your Knowledge Of The Bible http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111474.msg1936099#msg1936099What lasting Benefits Did Jesus Bring Into The World?http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115382.0.html#msg1992157The Catholic Doctrine, Original Sin And Evolutionhttp://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-115525.0.html#msg1994039Why Biology Is So Important To Our Modern World http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111466.msg1935975#msg1935975Genesis Vs Genetics http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111227.msg1932655#msg1932655 Please, Help Me Out With Your Knowledge Of The Bible http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-111474.0.htmlJesus Genealogy http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111222.msg1932616#msg1932616£300 (three - Hundred Pound Sterling) Essay Competition http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111143.msg1931508#msg1931508Beware Of Religious Fundamentalism In Your University Campuses http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=110965.msg1929160#msg1929160==================================================================================================== |
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therationa (m)
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Would you try and stop a burglar breaking into your home? Why? That is not what Jesus would have done!
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Cassiel (f)
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Are you like a religous scholar or something,Therationa?I admire your vast knowledge on religous issues  |
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therationa (m)
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I will answer with this quote taken from Gore Vidal's speech; The great unmentionable evil at the center of our culture is monotheism. From a barbaric Bronze Age text known as the Old Testament, three anti-human religions have evolved --Judaism, Christianity, Islam. These are sky-god religions. They are, literally, patriarchal --God is the omnipotent father-- hence the loathing of women for 2,000 years in those countries afflicted by the sky-god and his earthly male delegates. The sky-god is a jealous god, of course. He requires total obedience from everyone on earth, as he is in place not for just one tribe but for all creation. Those who would reject him must be converted or killed for their own good. Ultimately, totalitarianism is the only sort of politics that can truly serve the sky-god's purpose. Any movement of a liberal nature endangers his authority and that of his delegates on earth. One God, one King, one Pope, one master in the factory, one father-leader in the family home.
; Source: http://www.isebrand.com/Gore_Vidal_Monotheism_1992.htmThe progress of human civilization is in danger if superstitions are allowed to grow unchecked. Just like the doctors and scientist study viruses and bacteria in the hope of minimizing their impact of humans, I study religion for the same reason. |
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imhotep
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@therationa
Shoddy biblical scholarship - as usual
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therationa (m)
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@therationa
Shoddy biblical scholarship - as usual
Why don't you rebut by arguments rather than just comment sloppily. I want to see your arguments. |
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imhotep
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Why don't you rebut by arguments rather than just comment sloppily. I want to see your arguments.
@therationa This level of sloppy biblical scholarship deserves no response. Go and improve yourself before asking dumb questions. |
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therationa (m)
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@therationa
This level of sloppy biblical scholarship deserves no response.
Go and improve yourself before asking dumb questions.
Well, yet again. The last refuge of the coward. Nowhere to hide now, can't even think of a rebuttal? C'mon, address the verses I mentioned above. |
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imhotep
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You have been unable to defend atheism and evoltuion.
You have also failed to lampoon the bible. You merely revealed your inner shallowness.
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therationa (m)
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You have been unable to defend atheism and evoltuion.
You have also failed to lampoon the bible. You merely revealed your inner shallowness.
When I see you thrashing about like this, I know I have got you. I have asked you to defend the subject of this post (ie Jesus doctrine of passive non-resistance to evil) yet you have said NOT a single word about it. You only want to thrash about from here to there, and there. We are not talking about atheism and evolution on this post. There are other posts for that. Please, stay on topic. |
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Lord_Reed (m)
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@therationa
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
If this is the purpose of the that passage why then do u condemn it? Because as u well know the sun n rain benefit both the just n unjust. Why does it not benefit only those deserving/just? You may say it can't make value judgements but u as a human who makes value judgements still choose to forgive do u not or do always get your revenge/justice on those who wrong u?
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tpaine
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Interestingly, there's not been a single rebauttal of therationa's arguments on this thread. Wonder why!
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The Sly
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Interestingly, there's not been a single rebauttal of therationa's arguments on this thread. Wonder why!
Bcos no matter what u say or prove,he will never stop believing that ''he is a descendant of monkey or gorillaz'' So why wasting my time? i'v got important things to do rather than to waste time here. . |
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tpaine
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Bcos no matter what u say or prove,he will never stop believing that ''he is a descendant of monkey or gorillaz''
So why wasting my time? i'v got important things to do rather than to waste time here. .
But this thread is not about ''he is a descendant of monkey or gorillaz'' ie evolution. It is about Jesus's view on self-defense, a far cry from evolution - so I think it deserve a serious rebuttal. Incidentally, I do not think therationa's idea of evolution is ''he is a descendant of monkey or gorillaz''. If I remember my biology correctly, I think evolution simply says humans and apes and primates have a common ancestor; not that humans are descended from apes. - a major difference. |
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Lord_Reed (m)
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@tpaine
I asked therationa a question he has not answered.
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ppanther (m)
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@therationa
Permit me to say here that the issue
of rebutting your arguments is irrelevant.
Why? You ask.
Analogy: imagine trying to interpret a
Yoruba poem with Igbo, just because a few
words in Yoruba SOUND LIKE Igbo.
Let me explain:
You said: "Love, is a sentiment"
Well, you'll only have to read the Bible to
find out the Bible's OWN definition of
love. Not exactly your average
dictionary definition of love, the kind
that you are avoiding a "blanket expenditure"
of.
"Suspending critical faculties"? Let me tell you something
about suspending critical faculties.
Let's say you are sick. For you to be treated by a
doctor, you have to "suspend your critical faculties"
and trust that this fellow in white robes actually knows
a bit more than you about how your body operates.
Does that make you a fool? Does that mean you
are brainless, since you are supposed to know
enough about yourself to treat yourself?
It's only enlightened self-interest to admit that
there are some things beyond you and that
you need HELP. That is even why you read a
lot of material from folks better versed in atheism
than you.
Finally, the Bible is the Word of GOD! Granted, very bold claim.
To you, maybe very irrational claim, afterall there are
volumes of "inspired" documents out there.
Why do I want to stress this point? Because the Bible
is its own interpreter. It doesn't pander to anybody's
pet ideas about "injustice", "moral worth of man", "rational
arguments",
How would our world be if the law of gravity was so "liberal"
as to know the right time to operate and when to ease
off a bit? How comforting that some things are FIXED,
granting a certain stability and peace of mind!
P.S. Just a thought; could you really have a fruitful
negotiation/discussion without "refrain[ing] from
passing value judgment [on] other people"?
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huxley (m)
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On this one of my earlier threads (in the now infamous pseudonym therationa) I broached the morally repugnant subject of non-resistance against evil, one of Jesus's core messages. How many Christians live their lives by this standard?
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huxley (m)
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Is it right to curse someone who steals from you?
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