The More I Learn About This Religion Lark, The More I Hate It.

[wildwood]

A popular ploy by the learned religious to excuse the unpopular bible parts seems to be that "one must not take certain passage in the bible and take them to be as read".

I'd like someone to explain away the Deuteronomy 21:18 - 21

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //I don't think there is much talk of that anymore.//

You're mistaken.

[Khandro]

No I'm not, I don't believe even the Pope believes there is an extra-terrestrial place called hell where people are tortured for eternity.
As someone who never goes to church, you seem to know a lot about what is and isn't said there.

[naomi24]

Khandro, you know nothing of my life and you assume far too much. I attend quite a few church services but I am always perplexed when I witness little children praising Jesus for washing their sins away. At such a young age what sins can they possibly be guilty of? Do please enlighten me.

[Khandro]

n. // At such a young age what sins can they possibly be guilty of? Do please enlighten me.// Well, what about;
Gluttony: Why do some parents allow their children to become so obese by giving them everything they want?
Envy: Why do some parents feel they have to give their children things they can't afford because some other child seems to have it?
Laziness: Parents taking their children on strike because of SATs tests, fearing it might require them to apply themselves.

If children sin, it's because the parents who lack comprehension of what is right and wrong not only allow it, but encourage it.

[naomi24]

Khandro, so poor parenting renders a child a sinner? Really? Anyone who believes that needs to think very seriously about his own abysmal parenting skills before criticising others.

The notion of ‘Sin’ survives only because the proponents of religion continue to psychologically abuse the impressionable. It is a spiteful concept founded on fear and designed by man solely to control by repression.

[idiosyncrasy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin
In a religious context, sin is the act of violating God's will. Sin can also be viewed as any thought or action that endangers the ideal relationship between an individual and God; or as any diversion from the perceived ideal order for human living. To sin has been defined as "to miss the mark".

We are all sinners by the mere fact we are born. Since Adam and Eve rebelled against God, they "missed the mark" of perfection. They were now imperfect. Hence, just as a dented cake tin cannot produce a perfect cake , so too man cannot produce a "perfect" man.

Whether you are an atheist or a believer, you are still born in sin.

This is where organised religions are guilty. They have introduced the idea that when a person does anything wrong - it is a sin. No it is not!!

As to innocent children. Not all children are innocent - sad to say. When young children as young as 8, 9 or 10 can go out and kill, even "rape" are not innocent and in many cases, religion has nothing to do with it. It is the environment they live in.

So no Naomi - you "do not hit the nail" on the head - you have absolutely no idea and are just plucking ideas out of the air.

As to going to various churches, you poor dear!! you must be so confused as from my experience none of them speak in unity!!

[naomi24]

idiosyncrasy, //We are all sinners by the mere fact we are born.//

What an evil concept that is – and what dangerously arrogant specimens of humanity you and others like you are. Who are you to judge people so? Incidentally, I don’t go to various churches so if you insist on bombarding the readers here with your preposterous philosophy at least have the courtesy to attempt to comprehend what‘s been written.

[idiosyncrasy]

Naomi@ No it is not as you put it "an evil concept". It is a fact. And no, I am not arrogant, I am not judging, that is not for me to do - it is left to the Almighty. He has given the judging to his son Jesus Christ. Whether you want to accept it or not, there is no way out of it. Every person living or who has ever lived, is going to be judged. You can deny it all you like but it won't change a thing. You can malign God all you like, but it won't change anything. You will still have to face judgement, both you and I. The scriptures clearly state that God is the Creator, the Universal Sovereign and that he has the final say in all matters. We are mere imperfect humans who are nothing more than a particle of dust in the universe.

[naomi24]

idiosyncrasy, you don't understand the meaning of the word 'fact'. None of it is 'fact'. If you were capable of reading the bible with a clear eye you would know that the main player was not what you believe him to have been - but you're not capable. You're indoctrinated.