Reply #19: Well [View All]

as has often been said, silence = consent.

I do NOT see huge numbers of liberal Catholics, for example, taking to the streets to protest the ridiculous pronouncements of the church. In fact, I don't even recall seeing any here on DU say they have left the church over it.

If you go to church, drop money in the collection plate, or in any way "play along", you are supporting and endorsing the church's positions.

But that's just for Catholics. As for christianity in general, I just feel that once you give ANY credence to the Bible as an authoritative tome, the rest is just niggling details. I don't see how one can form a consistent ethos from a book so full of contradictions. How can you accept Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, but NOT his more militant stances (e.g. "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three." (Luke 12:51-2) or "...and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke 22:36))

If I have to respect YOUR right to cherry-pick what the Bible says, I have to respect the religious-right when they do the same thing. Since I have no objective criteria to judge which side is right when they make these claims, I either have to respect the fundies' position, OR I can reject both theirs and yours. I choose the latter.