Here's a couple of fun quotes. First, let's take Obama's quote:
"Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy?" Obama asks in the speech. "Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?
"So before we get carried away, let's read our Bible now," Obama also said to cheers. "Folks haven't been reading their Bible."
He also calls Jesus' Sermon on the Mount "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our Defense Department would survive its application."
Mmmkay. Not too shabby, really. Even though yeah, I'd rather NOT see any discussion of mythology in politics, it's not too bad. He's pretty much right-on about the sermon on the mount, too.
Next up is Dobson's response.
In the comments to be aired later Tuesday, Dobson said Obama should not be referencing antiquated dietary codes and passages from the Old Testament that are no longer relevant to the teachings of the New Testament.
"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology," Dobson said, later adding that Obama is "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."
Mmmkay, then. Not surprising, really. It's interesting to me, though, that he chooses to call this confused, and says that the teachings of the Old Testament are no longer relevant.
Right. Time to look it up. I decide to go with a nice easy issue, homosexuality (because gay people are FAAAAAAABULOUS and I need some hilarity in my day). So, a quick google search gets me to the Focus on the Family site, which then refers me over to this site. The discussion of the appropriateness of homosexual behavior contains a shocking lack of funny. I'm disappointed... there goes the funny part of my day. Still, it uses Leviticus as one of the bases for the "gay ppls are bad mmkay" argument. AAAAND, to continue to spell out the hypocrisy at play here, Leviticus happens to be one of the parts of the (wait for it) OLD FRICKIN' TESTAMENT. Yes, the SAME OLD FRICKIN' TESTAMENT which is apparently too outdated to be of any use in a christian discussion on theology. The very same OLD FRICKIN' TESTAMENT which is used to discuss bans on abortion, bans on gay marriage, keeping me from buying scotch on the SABBATH (which is a concept from the very first PART of the OLD FRICKIN' TESTAMENT, you DOUCHE)....
You eating that cake yet? You can't have it, you know. It's earmarked for people who get that the bible is in general, from Old to New and everything in between, a mistranslated, misunderstood, mediocre-grade quality, plagiarized work of fiction as created by dozens of authors over thousands of years, best suited for making money off of hicks who like to donate their savings in order to get a bunion healed up in a tent in some rural setting.
At some point, preferably soon, someone will hit these really annoying evangelicals over the head with a clue bat. Until then, I'd appreciate it if the news media could possibly (at least briefly) stop giving them free publicity.
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Nicely said! It feels that religious leaders can twist and distort the Bible to their own beliefs. But, if someone else does this, then it's bad and against God.
ReplyDeleteIt really does seem strange to downplay the Old Testament when it's the bedrock of the inflexibility of Creationism (and the Intelligent Design movement by extension) that so many of the extreme religious right subscribe to.
ReplyDeleteThe spirit of what Obama said (2 years ago!) is correct. It's silly to cherrypick parts of the Bible and miss other core messages (like not killing folks or screwing each other over just to make a buck).
EXACTLY.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping all of Dobson's followers take his advice from several months ago: if Huckabee isn't the republican candidate, don't vote!
ReplyDeleteSeriously - you're shocked at a Christian's HYPOCRISY?
ReplyDeleteI'd be more shocked that a Christian WASN'T showing some signs of a hypocritical nature. I'd call the paramedics, because obviously they wouldn't be in their "right" mind.
Thank you for putting into words exactly what I was thinking as I read the story about this dufus preacher spouting about nothing but still getting front page press which is his objective. The bible is probably the most distorted book in the history of man and it is those under the guise of religion that are guilty of a worldwide fraud for profit and control of the masses.
ReplyDeleteI always think it's funny when people argue over this fairy tale of imaginary friends. It's all just so funny.
ReplyDeleteI protest! I am glad to hear Dobson standing up for stoning disobedient children to their death.
ReplyDeleteAnd AMEN for his blasting Obama for saying that 'turning the other cheek' and that to 'love your enemies' doesn't work in the Defense Department.
Let us follow Dobson and drop our weapons, allow our enemies to massacre our troups, and kept on lovin' them.
This would clearly send a subtle message to our foes that I'm sure would touch their hearts.
Twisting the words in the Bible for an agenda. That must be new? NOT!!! I guess Dobson just didn't like it, because he wasn't doing the twisting. I don't really think Obama was twisting it anyway. Hard core conservatives seem to like to skip that whole "judge not" passage, as well as the "love your neighbor one". People like him need to look in the mirror before they go on attacking others words. AND of course he brings up abortion to make his point, because talking about stopping killing of innocent people in wars is just not evangelical enough. Give me a brake.
ReplyDeleteLove it. I couldn't be happier if I had said it myself. The sad part is that these idiots actually think they are RIGHT!
ReplyDeleteyou know, you talk about distorting and contorting speech and words and all that; however, in the midst of what you were doing is actually counterdicting yourself and your words. What Dobson was saying about the Old Testament (and you'd have to read more than just a statement of faith to understand) is that Christians no longer live under the Law--The Ten Commandments. We, as Christians, live under grace. The fact (and even the athiest writer Josephus wrote about this) is that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died for the sins of all who believe in him, and rose again (again an accounted detail in the writings of Josephus and early documents. The Law is not necessarily no longer needed; however, it is still in use. People are so quick to look at Christians when we mess up, but we are broken and sin daily as well. We are in need of a Savior--which is where Jesus comes in. He is the only one that lived a perfect life and died for us. If someone told you they loved you and died for you--would you turn away? People who do not understand Christianity are so quick to dismantle it. Non-Christians can say what they want about Christians, tear down our faith, our beliefs, our morals, yet when we speak up, we're called narrow-minded? That's hypocrisy. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
ReplyDelete(Oh, and by the way, people say we can have a political system without religious ties--google this: Laus Deo)
Sad, very sad. May God have mercy on your souls. I'm "sure" all of you have actually read the Bible and know what it says.
ReplyDeleteFYI...the old testament laws are to be followed unless they were amended by Jesus. And, by the way, homosexuality is still wrong in the New Testament, as is killing the innocent (abortion).
Just remember, there is one truth and that is we are all going to die someday. When that happens, I am no worse off than you if you are right about the "myth" thing. If I'm right, you will suffer an eternal "death".
Oh, and being a "good person" can never be good enough to get into heaven, because you are still a sinner. God does not allow sinners in heaven, unless the sin has been redeemed.
The good news (by the way, that is what Gospel means, good news) is that you can ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, to forgive you from your sins and to sincerely do your best to not sin again. He will forgive you if you are sincere in your heart (He is God and knows your heart).
This is for John...You might want to check your facts because the Bible is the only Historical book that is accurate. The Old Testament history (people, places, etc) are being proven scientifically and paleontologically to this day.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteI'm only doing one comment for now, just so I can clear something up.
According to Anonymous (if that's REALLY your name!!) -
"People who do not understand Christianity are so quick to dismantle it."
Hi. Allow me to introduce myself.
I grew up in a conservative Jewish household in a Christian neighborhood. I went to church once in a while with friends as a teenager. I read the old testament, front to back ("pentateuach and haftarah") including the rabbinical commentaries. I read 2 translations of the "New Testament", the King James and the New American Standard as well as many of the "apologetics". I was a fervent believer in the concept of a conscious god until my teenage years.
I bit the deity thing, hook line and sinker, from the getgo - until I discovered that the only reason given to believe in god was a because the bible said to, and the reason to believe the bible is because god said so. I realized the circular logic of the system and the inherent brainwashing, too - and that's when I realized it was all BS.
So here's the thing: I know my stuff. I know it inside out. I could quote scripture back and forth all day. I do not argue from ignorance. I understand Christianity. I understand Islam. I understand Judaism. I understand Buddhism.
I reject them all as false. Period.
To "imabeliever" - wow. dude. seriously? you really, honestly believe that the bible is an accurate and completely factual historical record? I just.... Wow.