The Constitution. The Bible. And Christians

Please correct me if my interpretation is incorrect.

Christians want judges who do not "legislate" from the bench but who "strictly interpret" the constitution. However, is it not true that they use "biblical activism" relative to other peoples lives? They must go to Leviticus in the old testament to find scripture justifying their hate of homosexuals yet they do not stone to death people who work on the sabbath as is called for in Leviticus. Would this be legislating from the pulpit? This is not strictly interpreting the bible is it? Do they just pick and choose whatever the hell in the bible they need to push forth a political agenda in a tax exempt status? Would I be out of line to think of them as hypocrites? I'm just an insane wacko liberal in a red state who is approaching senility. I appreciate any clarification of my thoughts.

they claim to believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, but they only abide by those sections that support their pre-existing bigotry and prejudices . . . somehow, all the rest gets forgotten . . .

these people are hypocrites and phonies, and I have no respect for them or their "beliefs" . . .

"Support their pre-existing bigotry." And they do that with all piety and a smile on their faces.

On a different topic, I looked at your profile - "gardening." Do crepe myrtle survive in your part of the country? Ours are just an incredible, almost flourescent red right now in South Mississippi where the temperature is currently 74. We get a half dozen days below freezing during our "winters."

and have to go to the more vicious parts of the OT to find things to justify their vile views because those views are diametrically opposed to everything Christ said.

As Calivinists, they're not the least hypocritical, they're just unchristian. Face it, no one who thinks we're predestined to be rich or poor and being that, are either loved or despised by god and deserve to have either of those reinforced by their fellow humans is Christian in the least.

It's time to strip them of the name they've chosen and call them what they are: unchristian.

i came to the conclusion that anything to do with the old testament hasn`t jack shit in relation to what christ said. seems to me that the old testament was about the tribes of the semites and jesus`s message had nothing to do with the history of the tribes.
when ever a "christian" fundy uses the old testament i wonder if it ever dawns on them that they are talking about the jews which to many of their flock are evil money lending sub humans......

I look at them in surprise and say "I didn't know you were Jewish".

If they actually read the teachings of Jesus, they would know that he was the fulfillment of the OT and so those teachings were no longer relevant.

his intelligence reports. (Actually, I hear that reports of his intelligence are highly overrated.)

But there is a vocal segment of American Christianity that is very, very scared. They seek assurances of blackness and whiteness in their world, and they think they find it in selective quotations from the Bible, overlooking the plethora of viewpoints presented there (e.g., right from the get-go in Genesis, when two versions of creation are recounted, one right after the other).

They like preachers who assure them that they're going to Heaven, and they appear to like it even more when their preachers assure them that other folks are going to Hell. And not just some vaguely-defined "bad people," either. Their itching ears want a catalog of names, transgressions and punishments, chock full of the people that scare them so badly.

There is a segment of our political world that knows about this fear, and exploits it to the hilt. They people the wide world and the local neighborhoods with all sorts of boogeymen to look out for, from Osama bin Laden to dangerous-looking colored people. They get the word out in myriad ways, from church pulpits to Fox News. All of this is presented as a threat to their way of life, usually defined in very vague terms that reassures these scared people that everything will be all right as soon as the proper white people are fully in control again, and everyone else knows their place.

"Legislating from the bench" is just another arrow in the fear quiver, and about 90% of the folks who use the phrase have no practical idea of what it means. You can usually break this argument down by asking, sincerely, for specific examples of such rumored legislation. Be prepared to answer with specific questions like, "So you don't think that all citizens deserve their full constitutionally-guaranteed rights? Wouldn't it save a lot of time and trouble if you just made a list of rights and who is entitled to them?"

also be very very ignorant? I fail to see what threat homosexuals pose to our nation? I appreciate your post, very enlightening. They just piss me off royally. I'm a constitution loving kind of guy and I don't see that same warmth for the document by those who call themselves christian. Legislating from the bench? Would that not be supreme court in bush v gore? Oh, I guess that was acceptable.

And as I say, there's a segment of the political world deeply interested in fomenting fear and exploiting ignorance. You can usually identify them because they are against education funding in general or diluting the educational process to such an extent that young folks grow up not knowing how to spot fear-mongers.

For the record, they piss me off, too. Mostly because they make my work so much harder.

their asses.

It also says that you HAVE to eat Kosher. Mat 19:9 outlaws ALL divorce other than cheating... I could go on and on.

First, it isn't the Christians who are to blame, many of my friends are Christian and they don't believe any of the "activist judge" crap being spewed from WH. The better term would be Evangelical Christian, however these people are about as Christian as Zell Miller is a Democrat.

Second, evangelical christians will have absolutely no problem with any contradictions contained within their logic. Trying to use logic on these people is a HUGE waste of time. The way it works for these people is they form an opinion first then cherry-pick from the bible to find passages to support their beliefs. Then using circular logic (well I guess they are capable of some form of logic), they tell themselves their beliefs and opinions must be correct, since they must have developed these beliefs and opinions from studying the bible.

Go to a Klan rally sometime. You will hear the exact same arguments being used by those people to justify their beliefs. Evangelical Christians aren't nothing but the KKK without sheets.

I believe I will pass going to a klan rally however I believe here in South Mississippi I could probably find one without much trouble. Its incredibly sad that, based on your post, so much effort is put into justifying one's hate for another without making any attempt to know another.

Traditional Evangelicals such as jimmy Carter consider their mission in life to live out the Gospel message of Jesus, which is, believe it or not, help the poor, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and live in peace. The politicized post resurrection pharisees who have hijacked the name "Christian" have made life difficult for a great number of us

taken over an aspect of the church and are spreading..

http://www.insider-magazine.com/ChristianMafia.htm

http://www.aoreport.com/200502/news_expose-christianmafia.htm

...is simply that they have been part of society since biblical times.

Many in the clergy abuse the pulpit by preying on people's inate xenophobia in order to maintain their loyalty. Seeing the effectiveness of this scheme, the unethical dregs in the Republican party have used it widely in attempt bring votes to their camp. The great national embarrasment resulting from this is eleven states with bigotry written into their constitutions. Look for more in '06.

FW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and I thought I was a rational human being. If homosexuality was mentioned in the old testament it was because it existed when the old testament was written. And the hate continues. How incredibly evil can people be all in the name of Jesus Christ and love?

Welcome aboard Rev and thanks for your post.

http://www.godhatesshrimp.com

Yes, I know it is satire, but I am posting the link in case someone here hasn't seen it and needs a good laugh.

Especailly those who say they do. So yes, some Christians, like some of everyone else, are lying hypocrites. A lot of us also completely understand the first amendment and work very hard against all the attempts at establishment that are going on.

at listening to those who bang the table and insist on a strict reading of the Constitution by judges while not strictly reading their own religious doctrine which they would like to cram down the throats of all of us. I do find it quite a chuckle that a strict reading of the constitution would not further their goals. And if they long for a strict reading of the constitution why would they spend millions attempting to amend it? I'm just an old veteran whose head is filled with liberal thoughts of constitutional liberties for all. If that ain't maintained, we are no longer America.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/12/great_debate.html

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/12/a_nation_under_god.html

"News: Let others worry about the rapture: For the increasingly powerful Christian Reconstruction movement, the task is to establish the Kingdom of God right now—from the courthouse to the White House."

Also, Catherine Criers's book "Contempt" is quite an eye opener regarding the courts and the takeover by the religious right. She seems to put it in a nice little package tied with a bow.

I found this on another site, so thought I'd share it.
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Neocons could not be MORE wrong about this country being founded on judeo-christian ideals.

Thomas Jefferson: "Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law."

George Washington: "The United States of America should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy."

James Madison: "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."

John Adams: "This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it."

To all of those who believe that our founding fathers founded this country on religion, most notably Christianity... please re-think your position. These are the same founding fathers who are viewed as great men, who are quoted unequivocally and whose ideas and laws are considered the best-laid of any in history.

It is ridiculous when things such as the following are accepted: In 1854, the House Judiciary Committee said: "in this age, there is no substitute for Christianity...That was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants.'

This is absolutely not the case.


Thomas Jefferson said each of the following:

"The Christian god can be easily pictured as virtually the same as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of the people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites.

"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man"

"The authors of the gospels were unlettered and ignorant men and the teachings of Jesus have come to us mutilated, misstated and unintelligible"

These men founded our country and these are their opinions... Neocons need to stop throwing that "America was founded on Christian beliefs" crap at us... it's just NOT TRUE.

Can you share a link?

And welcome to DU, rpgamerd00d! :hi:

If you remember L'il Abner, you'll remember the schmoos: they'll taste like any food you want. Religion is also the Dogpatch ham of the smokehouse: it never runs out.

Belief is whatever you want it to be, and it's unassailable. It needs no justification and can steam through all inconsistencies with colors flying.

Don't apply logic to religion; you're better off explaining people's reckless taste in mates. It's an answer, not a process. You're wrong, just accept it. The very inconsistency of it all brings them to glory even more in the harmoniousness of it all.

Think not, brer; thought is not the province of religion. Just keep your eyes open and network with the sane and honorable.

or a wool blend. :eyes: