Re: From the same nut jobs who gave us two terms of Walker Texas BushmshonleMay 26 2006, 17:32:44 UTC
Indeed, there are so many contradictions in the Bible that you'd have to interpret it the way you choose for it to be worthy of worship.
Some protestants read the passage as saying "the highly religious people who wouldn't help were too concerned with deeds, shame on them. Belief is the only thing you need."
While the Catholics read it as saying "Jesus is telling us to do good deeds." That the Catholics believe that what you do actually matters is what makes me like them more.
Unfortunately, the fundamentalists' idea that "belief is the only thing and screw deeds" is much more viral in nature. A well-reasoned religion doesn't spread as far or as fast as one without the element of reason. Thus, we get many more parasitic religions than beneficial ones around. Another way to help strengthen a religion is to tell the followers that there are dangerous outsiders who can't be trusted or have fallen to the devil.
My point is, there is surprisingly little wisdom in something that is so popular. You'd think there'd be at least one deep thought in there, but there ain't. It's handy to have around in times of need and times of celebration, but the nut-job baggage is so much that it's still a parasite.
Re: From the same nut jobs who gave us two terms of Walker Texas BushjpfedMay 26 2006, 17:44:38 UTC
I'm an atheist that was raised Catholic. I wasn't aware of the Protestant interpretation.
Incidentally, the Catholic focus on deeds made "coming out" as an atheist to my parents much easier than it's been for some of my friends to their belief-focused Protestant parents.
Re: From the same nut jobs who gave us two terms of Walker Texas BushmshonleMay 26 2006, 17:51:28 UTC
Yeah, probably the worst thing with the protestants is that they believe a good person who, say, lives in a poor village that has never heard of Christ would never get in to heaven.
At least the Catholics leave room in their heaven to all good people.
For what it's worth, telling small children about hell and using it as a threat for them to "be good" is a form of child abuse.
Some protestants read the passage as saying "the highly religious people who wouldn't help were too concerned with deeds, shame on them. Belief is the only thing you need."
While the Catholics read it as saying "Jesus is telling us to do good deeds." That the Catholics believe that what you do actually matters is what makes me like them more.
Unfortunately, the fundamentalists' idea that "belief is the only thing and screw deeds" is much more viral in nature. A well-reasoned religion doesn't spread as far or as fast as one without the element of reason. Thus, we get many more parasitic religions than beneficial ones around. Another way to help strengthen a religion is to tell the followers that there are dangerous outsiders who can't be trusted or have fallen to the devil.
My point is, there is surprisingly little wisdom in something that is so popular. You'd think there'd be at least one deep thought in there, but there ain't. It's handy to have around in times of need and times of celebration, but the nut-job baggage is so much that it's still a parasite.
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Incidentally, the Catholic focus on deeds made "coming out" as an atheist to my parents much easier than it's been for some of my friends to their belief-focused Protestant parents.
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At least the Catholics leave room in their heaven to all good people.
For what it's worth, telling small children about hell and using it as a threat for them to "be good" is a form of child abuse.
Reply
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