Religion
Related: About this forumThe 'Whole Armor of God' didn't mean what the Right thinks it meant:
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Paul wasn't talking about bullet proof vests, which have little to do with "breastplates of righeousness" and combat boots, which have little connection to the gospel of peace. He didn't mean for Christians to take up semi-auto rifles, either. They are not the "swords of the Spirit" in any way. There has apparently been some sort of misunderstanding by the "Christian" Right. It's metaphorical verse, not an order of arms.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)I understand.
safeinOhio
(32,680 posts)In my opinion. Or AKA, Saul the Pursecuter
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)the history behind the Saul/Paul transformation is interesting.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)Or the fable?
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)And there are conflicting stories about Paul. Biblical Archeology had some articles about this subject.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)or it did not. The interpretation of which it is belongs to the reader, but the truth does not.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)If I read I may not find what you see
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)I feel that everyone "sees" what they look for when reading the Bible.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)BUT you still don't answer the question
Perhaps if you stated the history it would allow others to see what you see and that would open up things they could ponder
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Similar to the lyrics of Amazing Grace. And I can identify with that experience. Do I feel that my faith makes me better, or smarter, or happier, or luckier than non-theists? No. I feel it is a personal thing that happened to me, and others.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Left out was " than non-theists" in my response. The previous response has been edited for clarity.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)However what I find is organized religion tries to control that faith
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)...the only thing that matters is what they want to believe, regardless of the text.
Voltaire2
(13,033 posts)Christianity has been linked with militarism. The christian god is two faced, it is the god of love and the god of war. Whatever the words in the texts might mean, the reality is obvious.
"True Christians" have been slaughtering in their god's name for 1700 years.