Is God a rapist and a paedophile?
Discuss religious, spiritual, and theological issues concerning Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other religion.
| Announcements | Posted on | |
|---|---|---|
| TSR launches Learn Together! - Our new subscription to help improve your learning | 16-05-2013 | |
-
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: Reading
- Posts: 3,947
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Of course we should. We've learned a lot over the last couple of millennia - ethics, philosophy, science, anthropology - why should we ignore all that in favour of what some iron age tribesmen thought was right and wrong?(Original post by najinaji)
If morality is based on cultural context, what's the point of Christianity and the commandments in the first place? Doesn't that mean we should just follow the morals we invented for ourselves rather than those imported from the Middle East? -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: London
- Posts: 3,677
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..So how do we choose what we should follow and what we shouldn't? I mean, the Catholic church officially says that homosexuality is a terrible sin in a time when it's becoming stigmatised less and less. Does that mean that if no one was homophobic anymore, the church would abandon that idea?(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Imho (being liberal Catholic) we should follow the good moral values that are laid out in the Bible, which are universal values that have existed throughout and up to our time, as you say.
Christianity is not just some moral code for life. That's just part of it.
The ten commandments are mostly quite sound, so worth following
...That's a very good point, but not in Christianity's favour in the slightest.(Original post by mmmpie)
Of course we should. We've learned a lot over the last couple of millennia - ethics, philosophy, science, anthropology - why should we ignore all that in favour of what some iron age tribesmen thought was right and wrong? -
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Respected Member
- Posts: 165
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..What important details? And by the way, almost half of the ten commandments are pretty much about how we should obey and worship god, sounds like a bit of a dictator to be honest.(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Imho (being liberal Catholic) we should follow the good moral values that are laid out in the Bible, which are universal values that have existed throughout and up to our time, as you say.
Christianity is not just some moral code for life. That's just part of it.
The ten commandments are mostly quite sound, so worth following
You've been watching some strange documentaries then that have left out some quite important details, it would seem
Last edited by Kaaal; 31-05-2012 at 11:58. -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: Reading
- Posts: 3,947
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..5, 7 and 8 are fine. 6 depends on interpretation. 9 and 10 are objectionable since they specify thought crimes. 4 similarly problematic - honour and respect are earned. 1, 2 and 3 are obviously rather problematic for the majority of the population who are not practising Christians.(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
The ten commandments are mostly quite sound, so worth following
I'm not a huge fan of the ten commandments, but they could be worse I suppose.Last edited by mmmpie; 31-05-2012 at 11:59. -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: London
- Posts: 3,677
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..(Original post by mmmpie)
5, 7 and 8 are fine. 6 depends on interpretation. 9 and 10 are objectionable since they specify thought crimes. 4 similarly problematic - honour and respect are earned. 1, 2 and 3 are obviously rather problematic for the majority of the population who are not practising Christians.
I'm not a huge fan of the ten commandments, but they could be worse I suppose. -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: Reading
- Posts: 3,947
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Three is not "almost half" of ten.(Original post by Kaaal)
What important details? And by the way, almost half of the ten commandments are pretty much about how we should obey and worship god, sounds like a bit of a dictator to be honest. -
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Location: n'caslte
- Posts: 1,237
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..In Egyptian times if you weren't a mother by 12 years, you were considered a reject. Mainly because the life expectancy back then was around 25-30.(Original post by Kaaal)
Well first of all, "the virgin Mary" was 12 years old when she was married to Joseph, who was between the age of 50 and 70. Then God goes and makes Mary pregnant a year later, without her knowing. So God is pretty much a rapist and a paedophile - two things that are extremely illegal today.
I know this is quite an outrageous thing to suggest, and I'll probably get a bit of abuse for it, but it's always confused me how this religion - which is supposed to be an example for how you live your life - was initiated in this way.
It's all in context of the times.
The Greeks thought it was fine to have sex with little boys. -
- Reputation:
- TSR Deity
- Location: London!
- Posts: 29,716
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Discernment of the Holy Spirit, coupled with guidance from the ministers of your denomination and a healthy dose of common sense(Original post by najinaji)
So how do we choose what we should follow and what we shouldn't? I mean, the Catholic church officially says that homosexuality is a terrible sin in a time when it's becoming stigmatised less and less. Does that mean that if no one was homophobic anymore, the church would abandon that idea?
The Catholic Church is not going to change its position on homosexuality any time soon, regardless of whether homophobia magically disappears one day or not
Um, like the bits where it talks about how women married far younger in those days, therefore the age of 12, 14 or whatever it would have been was, at that time, perfectly normal? Very surprised you didn't know that and are struggling to take it on board. Even atheists and agnostics are agreeing with me on this point(Original post by Kaaal)
What important details? And by the way, almost half of the ten commandments are pretty much about how we should obey and worship god, sounds like a bit of a dictator to be honest.
Well that's your opinion and I am not going to berate you for having it(Original post by mmmpie)
5, 7 and 8 are fine. 6 depends on interpretation. 9 and 10 are objectionable since they specify thought crimes. 4 similarly problematic - honour and respect are earned. 1, 2 and 3 are obviously rather problematic for the majority of the population who are not practising Christians.
I'm not a huge fan of the ten commandments, but they could be worse I suppose.
They could indeed be much worse
-
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 2,823
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..She was told beforehand and she accepted it, and then she became pregnant, she wasn't told after she had Jesus(Original post by Kaaal)
People seem to be picking up on the paeodphile part and ignoring the rape... hmmm...
Last edited by A level Az; 31-05-2012 at 12:04. -
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Respected Member
- Posts: 165
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Okay, I understand that women married earlier etc. But this suggests that the bible is out of date... May I ask, are you against homosexuality?(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Discernment of the Holy Spirit, coupled with guidance from the ministers of your denomination and a healthy dose of common sense
The Catholic Church is not going to change its position on homosexuality any time soon, regardless of whether homophobia magically disappears one day or not
Um, like the bits where it talks about how women married far younger in those days, therefore the age of 12, 14 or whatever it would have been was, at that time, perfectly normal? Very surprised you didn't know that and are struggling to take it on board. Even atheists and agnostics are agreeing with me on this point
Well that's your opinion and I am not going to berate you for having it
They could indeed be much worse
-
- Reputation:
- Banned
- Location: London
- Warning points: 1000
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Of course it will, aha. Most denominations of Christianity already have; you're telling me the Catholic Church will willingly be the last front for homophobia? The Catholic Church will remain bigoted as the minority? Doesn't sound like something a tolerant and loving religion would do nor something Jesus would stand for - excuse the cliché sentiment(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
The Catholic Church is not going to change its position on homosexuality any time soon, regardless of whether homophobia magically disappears one day or not
I think if such a scenario were to occur, the CC would adapt their views on homosexuality. -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: London
- Posts: 3,677
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Yes it is...(Original post by mmmpie)
Three is not "almost half" of ten.
...so does that mean it's still okay to marry and impregnate 12 year olds?(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Discernment of the Holy Spirit, coupled with guidance from the ministers of your denomination and a healthy dose of common sense
The Catholic Church is not going to change its position on homosexuality any time soon, regardless of whether homophobia magically disappears one day or not
(Original post by Matty Smoothie)
Oh Professor Dawkins...
-
- Reputation:
- TSR Deity
- Location: London!
- Posts: 29,716
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..As a liberal, I would say a fair bit of the Bible is out of date. (That said, the Old Testament is much less relevant for Christians anyway.) I am not against homosexuality(Original post by Kaaal)
Okay, I understand that women married earlier etc. But this suggests that the bible is out of date... May I ask, are you against homosexuality? (Though then again, neither is Christianity: just against homosexual sex)
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Respected Member
- Posts: 165
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Oh I know. But how it is supposed to have happened is basically magic. If you were told that Jack and the Beanstalk was a religious event, would you believe it?(Original post by sammy-lou)
I don't think God is actually supposed to have had sexual intercourse with Mary you know... -
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
- Location: England
- Posts: 633
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..Joseph's age was never told within the Scriptures(Original post by Kaaal)
Well first of all, "the virgin Mary" was 12 years old when she was married to Joseph, who was between the age of 50 and 70. Then God goes and makes Mary pregnant a year later, without her knowing. So God is pretty much a rapist and a paedophile - two things that are extremely illegal today.
I know this is quite an outrageous thing to suggest, and I'll probably get a bit of abuse for it, but it's always confused me how this religion - which is supposed to be an example for how you live your life - was initiated in this way.
-
- Reputation:
- TSR Deity
- Location: London!
- Posts: 29,716
Re: Does nobody else find this weird?..You clearly have more faith in the Vatican than I do(Original post by Matty Smoothie)
Of course it will, aha. Most denominations of Christianity already have; you're telling me the Catholic Church will willingly be the last front for homophobia? The Catholic Church will remain bigoted as the minority? Doesn't sound like something a tolerant and loving religion would do nor something Jesus would stand for - excuse the cliché sentiment
I think if such a scenario were to occur, the CC would adapt their views on homosexuality.
What does your discernment, guidance from relevant people and common sense suggest?(Original post by najinaji)
...so does that mean it's still okay to marry and impregnate 12 year olds?
