"Cut and paste" Christianity

[Craveman]

I would never say there are no positive sayings in the Bible. I think atheists who insist there are only bad things in there is wrong and misleading just as any Christian is wrong or misleading for insisting there are only good things.

Agreed! There ARE actually some stories/verses in there that I like! (Shit! Does that mean I'm still an Christian?) 10 Commandments: 5-Honor your father and your mother, 6-You shall not murder, 7-You shall not commit adultery, 8-You shall not steal, 9-You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, 10-You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s." (I've ignored the 1st four commandments)

As moral beings, most of these should be "obvious" to us! I am sure though that we would be able to find these "nice" verses in most religious books.

[Violet]

I think the daughters were under the impression that they were the last women alive. Seeing how they were the only ones to escape Sodom, I think they assumed God smote down the rest of humanity with their city.

I don't know, though.

And what city in that environment ever thrived without trade? They really couldn't have that impression... unless this "God" did far more than destroy one city. He would have had to smite all who approached to give them that impression. The entire story is extraordinarily unrealistic. It even has the nerve to suggest that this entire CITY was lining up to have sex with angels... that is beyond idiotic. The crowd would have circled the house from all directions... Lot could not have escaped. This is every man in the city coming out of their houses specifically to rape 2 individuals... that's a lot of men wanting to fuck these angels... and lot of men being left out.

[Eilonnwy]

Agreed! There ARE actually some stories/verses in there that I like! (Shit! Does that mean I'm still an Christian?) 10 Commandments: 5-Honor your father and your mother, 6-You shall not murder, 7-You shall not commit adultery, 8-You shall not steal, 9-You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, 10-You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s." (I've ignored the 1st four commandments)

As moral beings, most of these should be "obvious" to us! I am sure though that we would be able to find these "nice" verses in most religious books.

I would disagree with that sentiment. Out of all the ten commandments, only 2 apply to law (stealing and murdering). Lying is only illegal if done so under oath. I think the other commandments are not moral and in some cases not very good, for instance:

Honor thy mother and father

In principal, yes, it's a decent standard. But as a sin? No. Parents are not always deserving of being honored. We know for a fact parents can abuse children. This also seems to go back to an antiquated notion that children are the property of their parents, which I disagree with.

10-You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

I do not think the act of coveting is a sin. It's akin to thought crime. You can covet whatever you want. It's a problem if you act on it and steal. This commandments also treat women like property, so I do not view it as moral.

[Violet]

Not bearing false witness is also something that is applied to law If you are a "witness", you are supposed to tell the truth (Although we do have to take that on faith). If it is discovered that the witness is lying... o.o

[Eilonnwy]

That's what I meant by lying under oath. However, lying in general is not illegal or a sin.

Also, which version of the ten commandments is the correct one?

That is why Ten Commandments displays on Government property is sooo unconstitutional, because not only do you espouse a Judeo-Christian religion over any other, but depending on your version, you're supporting Judaism, Catholicism, or a type Protestantism, which once again, breach of seperation of Church and State.

[Violet]

Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father."

There's "proof????" that they didnt think they were the only ones left They had the town of Zoar where there were plenty of men.

Edit: Ugh,

That is why Ten Commandments displays on Government property is sooo unconstitutional, because not only do you espouse a Judeo-Christian religion over any other, but depending on your version, you're supporting Judaism, Catholicism, or a type Protestantism, which once again, breach of seperation of Church and State.

That's America for you Wouldn't it be so nice if we really did separate the church from entirely the state?

[Meatball]

Ohhh OK. I had it in my head that they did it to repopulate the land, but it was actually to continue their family line. Makes total sense now.

I would also agreed that the 10 Commandments are garbage. Murder, theft, and false witness are the only ones that really speak to me.

[Violet]

It doesn't make any sense to me... I am beyond comprehending how Xtians usually try to defend it as a story that really happened... especially when it just screams "Poor fantasy!" any way I look at it...

[leo-rcc]

I still disagree with the not coveting the belongings of your neighbor part, I mean the economy booms on wanting the same stuff your neighbor has or even get the better model.

[Craveman]

I would disagree with that sentiment. Out of all the ten commandments, only 2 apply to law (stealing and murdering). Lying is only illegal if done so under oath.

The examples I quoted were not meant as commandments or law but merely moral guidance. So, stealing and murdering aside, I would not like someone to lie to me so therefore I would strive not to do so myself. I will honour my mother and father because they are lovely people. You have a good point regarding not all parents being honourable!

10-You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

I do not think the act of coveting is a sin. It's akin to thought crime. You can covet whatever you want. It's a problem if you act on it and steal.

You've just convinced me to delete that one from my list!