legov Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 remove peoples' need for an emotional comfort blanket We need more and better-trained counsellors/psychologists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 The very concept of people spending whole 'academic' (sic) careers being 'learned scholars', interpreting scripture is something I find utterly staggering. Playing devil's advocate here - isn't that similar to academic literature study? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted May 9, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted May 9, 2012 The very concept of people spending whole 'academic' (sic) careers being 'learned scholars', interpreting scripture is something I find utterly staggering. I'm staggered that there are whole cults dedicated to reading scripture and twisting it and moulding it and wedging it into scenarios to prove it's value. And yet there are. As some of us know first hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J.Rimmer Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 The fact that by signing up to the good, you are forced to sign up to the bad. That you can't pick a package that suits you. I agree with this... one should not be able to cherry pick the bits one likes. The faithful must take at least some responsibility for the acts of their fellows... from the Inquisition to 9/11. Those voting National Socialist in Jan '33, whilst not necessitating their being executed in 1945, most certainly left them with some share of the responsibility for what happened in the intervening 12 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 evangelicalism is incredibly entrenched. This variety (and its scary cousin, fundamentalism) Honest question - what's the difference between the two? (evangelicalism and fundamentalism) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J.Rimmer Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 The very concept of people spending whole 'academic' (sic) careers being 'learned scholars', interpreting scripture is something I find utterly staggering. Couldn't agree more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted May 9, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted May 9, 2012 evangelicalism is incredibly entrenched. This variety (and its scary cousin, fundamentalism) Honest question - what's the difference between the two? (evangelicalism and fundamentalism) The evangelical seeks to convert - the very basis of it is to shout from the rooftops to attract new followers. The fundamentalist doesn't necessarily want to convert people, they just incredibly embedded into a very serious and often full interpretation of their faith. The obvious examples I can think of of the difference might be the Jehovahs as evangelicals - they are quite fundamental Christians, they interpret the Bible in many ways in very very straight, literal terms (or twist reality to match the scripture... maddeningly). They're definitively evangelical, and quite fundamental. The Taliban, on the other hand, are very very fundamentalist Muslims. They look at the Qur'an and interpret it hard and fast to the word. But they don't necessarily seek to convert people - they just want to live life to the letter suggested by the Qur'an (and Islams other scriptures), and may want all the other people in the world too.. but they're not actively out preaching to convert. An Evangelical doesn't need to be a fundamentalist (a great many Christian evangelicals aren't particularly fundamental in their beliefs in all honesty), and a fundamentalist doesn't need to be evangelical... but they're often related and overlap a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norton65ca Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 I think those definitions are murky, but I'd say fundamentalism is far less inclusive, in that true fundie churches don't encourage dialogue with any other groups and tend to have deeper control over their members, in some cases frightening levels of control. Fundamentalism came about with the publication sometime in the late nineteenth century of a book of fundamentals, which delineated the basic truths for a Christian that were non negotiable, such as the physical resurrection, virgin birth, literal hell, total depravity etc etc. Evangelicalism is slightly more open and inter church dialogue is not frowned upon as much. there is a blending at the edges, I was evangelical but knew a few fundies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 This may sound controversial but arn't most organized religions just huge Colts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norton65ca Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 mine was a Smith and Wesson.. ...I'll get my coat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 This may sound controversial but arn't most organized religions just huge Cults? No no no! They are not. Why? My father insists so. Nevermind I can't explain why, they just aren't! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 the way forward is making a secular education for both males and females mandatory up to 16, worldwide. Not an easy task when you have girls schools being firebombed in afghanistan etc If a country declines, reduce aid, or direct (government) aid at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Well it should read "WIVES or bacon", which makes it a bit more of an even contest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 This may sound controversial but arn't most organized religions just huge Cults? No no no! They are not. Why? My father insists so. Nevermind I can't explain why, they just aren't! haha Im my eyes they are to conform to a certain structured way of thinking, kind of like a re programming for your brain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 definitely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norton65ca Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 absolutely. Re: tolerance I believe that I would stand for any man's right to be able to freely worship whatever fantasy cartoon character he wishes too, to go to any church or temple he so desires. I am adamantly against "state religions". Although our culture teaches us that "Tolerance' is the greatest virtue, I believe it has its limits. I "tolerate" my fellow man's right to entertain benighted fantasies and call them a religion if he wants, but it does not follow that I 'tolerate" those fantasies themselves. I respect the man, not his fantasies. Monotheism is a blight upon the world we live in and is responsible for the death, torture, maiming and oppression of countless millions of humans. It must go if there is ever to be any peace on planet earth. I will scorn and fight against evangelical religion whenever I am able and I will mock its precepts, expose its lies and defy its proselytes till the day I die. I would not wish that kind of mental slavery on anyone. I am free, I'm not returning to the prison. Tolerance does not extend to tolerating dangerous and divisive lies and deceptions. Tolerate the man's right to deceive himself, but do not, no NEVER tolerate his message, it is pure poison to the human race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 our culture teaches us that "Tolerance' is the greatest virtue...and yet there is never a shortage of politicians bandying about the term "Zero Tolerance" for this and that, as though tolerance was something inherently bad. (but I agree with your post) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted May 9, 2012 Administrator Share Posted May 9, 2012 Over here, education is often better in catholic owned schools and to get into them you must be christened. It may be different over there, but in the UK church schools score higher than state schools because they can cherry pick the best students who are not from their brand of indoctrination. They are better because they have a higher proportion of better students and of course that gap widens every year. I find it offensive that my taxes are used to benefit religious privilege. If people want to have their children indoctrinated by Catholics (or whoever), then so be it, but I don't see why my taxes should support this in any way. I believe all state sponsored schooling should be entirely secular. Personally I think the indoctrination of children is wrong and should be illegal. That's still a long way off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted May 9, 2012 Moderator Share Posted May 9, 2012 It may be different over there, but in the UK church schools score higher than state schools because they can cherry pick the best students who are not from their brand of indoctrination. They are better because they have a higher proportion of better students and of course that gap widens every year. It is different. That's one way where Ireland is still very much a religious country. The church owns an awful lot of schools. As far as I know, they do not pick and choose from non-indoctrinated kids. Firstly, we don't have a school league system over here like in England so there's no tangible benefit to do it and secondly as I said, I believe if you aren't catholic you don't get in. That's not a rule they pick and choose when to ignore. Though that wasn't much of an issue for most up to now given that basically every Irish person is christened, which brings me on to ... ... why there are moves afoot to separate the church from schools. The public's opinion of the church via the whole priest/kids/vatican issue being one reason but more relevantly, the amount of non-catholic immigrants is also now making it an issue socially, where it wasn't one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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