REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Finally God is with this country

POSTED BY: THERIGHTSTUFF
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 10:38
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Monday, May 22, 2006 1:59 PM

RMMC


SigmaNunki & FMF,

Thanks for the kind invite. I'd be more than happy to join you folks in some s'mores on the other thread.

Oh, SN...I love the David Suzuki quote.

*****
RMMC

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Wednesday, May 24, 2006 7:12 AM

ZOID


The problem with pseudo-politico-religio-ideological threads like this is that everyone is full of ordure. Present company included...

So, apropos of quite probably nothing, a parable of Jesus (before He became the Christ, of course) from Luke 10:
Quote:

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" 27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Now, the interesting thing about this particular parable -- which even most Modern Christians don't know -- is that it's not about 'Christian Charity'. Rather, it's about letting devout religious practice get in the way of doing what's right in God's eyes. You see, the (Jewish?) traveler was attacked, castrated and bloodied. The priest and the Levite could not help him because to do so would constitute the touching of blood, and loss of ritual purity; strictly forbidden. But the apostatic Samaritan was under no such compunction, and so, he saved the traveler's life.
Quote:

...It is important to note that Samaritans were despised as apostates by the story's target audience. Thus the parable, as told originally, had a significant theme of non-discrimination and interracial harmony. But as the Samaritan population dwindled to near-extinction, this aspect of the parable became less and less discernible: fewer and fewer people ever met or interacted with Samaritans, or even heard of them in any context other than this one. To address this problem with the unfamiliar analogy, the story is often recast in a more recognizable modern setting where the people are ones in equivalent social groups known to not interact comfortably. For instance, in a telling to a conservative middle class audience, the assaulted man could be a middle class businessman, the unhelpful passers-by could be presumably respectable people like a pastor and the substitute for the Samaritan could be a minority viewed with stigma by the audience such as a homosexual, atheist, or biker gang member. Thus cast appropriately, the parable regains its socially explosive message to modern listeners: namely, that an individual of a social group they disapprove of can have a superior moral behaviour to individuals of the groups they approve; it also means that not sharing the same faith is no excuse to behave poorly, as there is a universal moral law...
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Samaritan, put most succinctly among many similar treatments available on the 'Net.



The thing that many Modern Christians (and the unbelievers they alienate) don't recognize is that Jesus represented a New Law. Rather than eye-for-an-eye, kill-everyone-who-doesn't-believe/behave, as the Old Testament Law required, Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" (an adulteress; John 8: 3-16).

As a further proof of the power of this New Law, Jesus was/is the only person who never sinned, who was without sin. (NB: Okay, I know many don't believe in the divinity of Jesus; but just play along for second. Think of it as a quaint fairy tale, if you must.) As the only one among the group who could thus rightly stone the woman, did Jesus do that? He did not. Finally, this self-proclaimed non-judgemental and non-punishing Jesus is the presupposed example for all of us Christians.

So why then so many proclamations of condemnation from Modern Christians? Why so much citing of the 'Old Law' and calls for death and eternal damnation?

I think just about everybody could stand to be a little better acquainted with the actual teachings of Jesus. Even if you think it's all a fairy tale, there is divine wisdom in His story and His words. If we could all live Christ-like lives (as opposed to 'chained to the masthead of Old Law-based, Modern Christian dogma') -- even if you do not believe that Jesus was divine -- I think there's a lot more 'wiggle room' for individualism than you might anticipate, which seems to be the major complaint from non-believers. The whole 'check your heart and mind at the door' mentality of Neo-Christians ('Stepford Christians', I call them), looks a little too much like becoming a pod-person. And that was certainly never Jesus' intent, proclaiming instead that He was a personal savior, and different things to each individual person.

But being non-judgemental... Forgiving others as you would be forgiven (because believe this, we all need forgiveness and a lot of it)... Being an all-loving and -accepting individual... is a Sisyphean task for the vast majority of humans. They simply cannot maintain their focus away from themselves and their chosen social groupings for any extended period of time.

...Let alone for the rest of their earthly lives. Still, whether you believe Jesus was divine or not, focusing on others rather than oneself -- and being non-judgemental of the 'sins' of others -- are goals worthy of pursuit, even if we repeatedly fail. It's the wholehearted effort that matters in True Christianity...



Peacefully,

zoid

P.S.
I really have no interest in joining every club that comes along, simply because all my friends are doing it. So, leave me off the 'Forsaken' list. Instead, I propose a new list: "The Forsaken Among The Forsaken List". All you've got to be is a fierce individualist, and uncaring as to how the rest of the pack feel about it. Open membership, no secret handshakes or t-shirts (or inclusion on any actual list, for that matter). Carry your membership card in your heart, never flash it to anyone, and let only your words and deeds exhibit your membership. See? Just like being a true Christian...
_________________________________________________

"I aim to misbehave." -Capt. Mal Reynolds, law-breaker: like Jesus the Christ, my Lord and Savior; Serenity, a.k.a. 'the BDBOF'

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Wednesday, May 24, 2006 8:49 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


I've asked this question many times. Why do Christians seem to hell bent on the OT - with all its judgement and punishment - when the NT so full of love and forgiveness so clearly says to follow the new teachings. You'll get many a strange contorted answer.


Nearly everything I know I learned by the grace of others.

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Wednesday, May 24, 2006 8:54 AM

BSCPANTHERFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
now I REALLY want a t-shirt

can the "we aim to burn" be set in flames? Way COOL!

You aren't the meanest. Unless you want to be and then you are



I just found this thread, and I want a t-shirt!
Oh yeah, and I want on the list, too. I'm a conservative (notice I DIDN'T write Republican) and a Christian, and this guy is a couple of strawberries short of a fruit bowl.

Just for clarity, most of the politicos in DC are there to wield power and get re-elected, regardless of party, and anyone who wants to be President badly enough to campaign for the job is a bigger nutjob than Jayne thinks River is.

So please, add me to your list, and I'll bring some feed for the goat!

So who is he?
He's my husband.
Well who in the damn galaxy ain't!

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Friday, June 2, 2006 12:58 PM

RIVER6213


Quote:

Originally posted by TheRightStuff:
You talk like a queer and probably fight like one too kicking like a girl.
My friends are making fun of me for talking to all of you saying you can't tell if theyre pure or mixed so I'm not anymore.
Good bye idiots.

TheRightStuff



*laughter*

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Thursday, June 8, 2006 10:02 PM

STDOUBT



"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
~Mohandas Gandhi

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Wednesday, July 5, 2006 8:11 AM

DAUGHTEROFDREAMS


Hehehehehhee. That was awsome!!!! I've just started reading up on the FORSAKEN and that song you wrote was so funny! My roommate asked if I'd finally lost it cos I was laughing so hard. Thanks.

___________________________________________________
You can take my hope when you pry it from my cold dead fingers!

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Thursday, July 6, 2006 1:16 PM

TITIWAI


I'm new, but can I please be on the list?

San Nakji for President!

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 9:54 AM

REAVERMAN


Quote:

Originally posted by Titiwai:
I'm new, but can I please be on the list?

San Nakji for President!



Sure you can! Just come on down to the Forsaken thread and join in!

You're welcome on my boat. God ain't.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:37 AM

TOMONKELCANNABIA


Quote:

I'm new, but can I please be on the list?


+1

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:41 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION


um, we don't have a goat. Just a ME that requires blood letting, and nekkid pyre dancing.


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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:43 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION


Come one come all, cut your hand and pledge your blood to me - and then get nekkid and dance


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Sunday, August 13, 2006 4:48 PM

BIGDAMNTEXAN


Hell'I'm in! PLEASE put me on that list!!!!...
Either that or someone PLEASE ship me off this rock!!!
I'm cuttin' my hand FMF!!!
Let's get with the nekkid dancin'!

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Sunday, August 13, 2006 6:21 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


Quote:

cut your hand and pledge your blood to me - and then get nekkid and dance
Just got cut elsewhere, will that do?

Me nekkid and dancing ... hide the childrens' eyes! Don't let them see!


The horror. The horror ...

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Monday, August 14, 2006 7:59 AM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.


Quote:

Originally posted by citizen:
You better watch out,
You better not die,
Better be devote,
I’m telling you why,
Fundamentalist is coming to town!

He’s making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out who’s heathen and right,
Fundamentalist is coming to town!

He stalks you when you’re sleeping,
He hides when you’re awake,
He judges if you’ve been bad or good,
So just pray for goodness sake!

O! You better watch out!
You better prepare to die.
Better be devout,
I’m telling you why,
Fundamentalist is burning you DOWN!



I like that song. I like the people on the list. Is it too late to request being put on the list?

---

Go to http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/ and vote Firefly!

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Monday, August 14, 2006 8:29 AM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.


All right, here's the deal. I tried reading all of this, really I did - but even though there are the wonderful people who made my I.Q. go up, TRS managed to drop it at a sickening rate. I have a headache, and typing is hard; I'm starting to spell even the simplest words wrong (is that sentence grammatically correct?).

Ahhhh!


---

Go to http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/ and vote Firefly!

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Monday, August 14, 2006 8:38 AM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.


Quote:

The thing that many Modern Christians (and the unbelievers they alienate) don't recognize is that Jesus represented a New Law. Rather than eye-for-an-eye, kill-everyone-who-doesn't-believe/behave, as the Old Testament Law required, Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" (an adulteress; John 8: 3-16).


Sorry, that story is invalidated by the fact that it was added in by some scribe or another, and probably never happened.

I couldn't resist...

---

Go to http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/ and vote Firefly!

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Monday, August 14, 2006 8:42 AM

ANTIMASON


im not sure what evidence you have that invalidates this example..but the message is plain through out the whole of the NT

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Monday, August 14, 2006 8:54 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION


YinYang

Come on over to the Forsaken thread - we have TRS burgers!





We are The Forsaken - We aim to burn! and we don't need no stinkin levels!

one of the Forsaken TM

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Monday, August 14, 2006 10:32 AM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN


*raises hand* Ooo! Oooo! I want to be on that list too! BTW, if you truly were a good Christian I think you'd remember the whole Jesus telling us not to judge others thing. I believe it was a pretty important part of his ministry.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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Tuesday, August 15, 2006 10:10 AM

KELKHIL


LMFAO!

Wow I was wondering what this whole Forsaken Thing was!

*Raises freshly cut bloody hand* Ooh-ooh, pick me, pick me; I wanna be on the list too!


just wish I had some cool emotes to place here!

Kelkhil

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Tuesday, August 15, 2006 10:38 AM

AJW


Gorramit! I'm only on this place for one day, I can't even read this whole thread - I gave up and skipped to the end. But I know I want to be on the list too!

- Al Weiner -
(Bush probably talks in theaters. 'Nuff said.)

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