(June 8, 2016 at 10:14 am)Mathilda Wrote: Religion is a tool to keep people in their place and to make them easier to exploit by the rich and powerful ruling class. This lesson of the Prodigal son is to accept that you will get taken for granted if you keep your head down and do the right thing and that somehow this is for the greater good.

Thanks for your thoughts! If you care to, can you point to the parts of the text that show you that this is the lesson?

(June 8, 2016 at 5:50 am)Brian37 Wrote: The bible has lots of fairy tale stories readers like to claim teach something. There are some pretty nasty stories in it too. And Jews quote the OT, and Muslim quote the Quran, and Hindus quote the Baghavad Gita and Vedas, and Buddhists quote Buddha. All the OP proved is that they can repeat a story in an old book.

I would say the OP proved nothing at all! Care to share what do you think of the fairy tale story?

OP, what are your thoughts on the story?

(June 8, 2016 at 1:21 pm)Ignorant Wrote:   

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(June 8, 2016 at 5:42 am)madog Wrote: I think it highlights the fact that the father took his loyal son for granted ....

Discussing it first with the son that had stayed behind would of been the nice thing to do. Had he done so that son would have felt special and would have probably suggested the fattened cow himself, however the father took for granted what he had.

Dog.

You might be right there. What do you think about the father telling the loyal son, "My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours."? Too little too late or an affirmation that the father shares more than just a fattened calf with him?
 

I think it highlights the fathers insensitivity. As has been said the loyal son would have partaken in the feast, so a nice steak wasn't the issue here. 
 
When you have children it is important to convey your demonstrations of love equally .... we know the father had never demonstrated his love in such a public manner for the loyal son.

I think the belated "everything I have is yours"  missed the point, as I doubt this was about the fattened cow for the loyal son but the fact that for all the son's loyalty the father had taken him for granted.
As I said not discussing it with the loyal son first was the not the act of a sensitive man .... I hope this isn't a way to show your "God" is nice?

It's an analogy to the Drumpf campaign.

(June 8, 2016 at 1:45 pm)madog Wrote: I think it highlights the fathers insensitivity. As has been said the loyal son would have partaken in the feast, so a nice steak wasn't the issue here. 
 
When you have children it is important to convey your demonstrations of love equally .... we know the father had never demonstrated his love in such a public manner for the loyal son.

I think the belated "everything I have is yours"  missed the point, as I doubt this was about the fattened cow for the loyal son but the fact that for all the son's loyalty the father had taken him for granted.
As I said not discussing it with the loyal son first was the not the act of a sensitive man .... I hope this isn't a way to show your "God" is nice?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Why does there need to be a suspicion that there is a "secret game" I'm playing? There is no forthcoming "proof" or "argument". I just wanted to know how people who-do-not-believe-in-God respond to one of Jesus's parables. Is that too crazy to believe too? =)

(June 8, 2016 at 1:49 pm)Minimalist Wrote: It's an analogy to the Drumpf campaign.

HA!

(June 8, 2016 at 1:30 pm)ApeNotKillApe Wrote: OP, what are your thoughts on the story?

Well, my thoughts are still developing about it. Hopefully I'll have them ironed out enough soon to share.

(June 8, 2016 at 1:56 pm)Ignorant Wrote:

(June 8, 2016 at 1:30 pm)ApeNotKillApe Wrote: OP, what are your thoughts on the story?

Well, my thoughts are still developing about it. Hopefully I'll have them ironed out enough soon to share.

Why did you present this story then?

(June 8, 2016 at 1:53 pm)Ignorant Wrote:

(June 8, 2016 at 1:45 pm)madog Wrote:   I hope this isn't a way to show your "God" is nice?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Why does there need to be a suspicion that there is a "secret game" I'm playing?  

It just seems strange that a self professed Catholic would need to ask atheists for the meaning of a parable? 

It does seem a nifty way to post parables and evangelize, which is not to say I am saying that is what you are doing, which is why I said I hope rather than consider