Onward Christian Soldiers!

[Mephisto]

I've noticed that there are many militant Christians here, and I was wondering just how militant they actually are. Do those of you who defend the Bible actually take it literally? If so, are you willing to take your religious beliefs down to the word of God?

He gives his most militant followers the right to kill those who oppose his laws. Don't believe me? Here are a few favorites:

Here's your God-given license to kill Goth girls, Wiccans or old women with crooked noses and moles on their chin; "Thou shall not permit a female sorcerer to live." (Exodus 22:18 and Leviticus 20:27)

Here's a great way to get rid of that pesky, punky, mouthy neighborhood kid with the dysfunctional and abusive family; "Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death." (Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9)

Tired of all those people who blaspheme in the name of the Lord, kill them! It's your right according to the Bible; "One who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall be put to death." (Leviticus 24:16)

Ever want to just walk into a hospital, a fire station or any number of places that are open 24/7 and just start killing people? It might be against the law, but you're perfectly justified if you believe the Bible is God's word. As a matter of fact, you could kill anyone you caught working on the Sabbath; "Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death." (Exodus 31:15 and 35:2)

I'm always amazed at those who claim the Christian God is a meek and loving God, and I'm always amazed at those who spout "safe passages" from their Bible as proof that the Christian religion is compassionate. The Bible seems to me to be like Melville's Moby Dick - everyone wants to claims they've read it, but few actually have. It also seems to me that those Christians who quote it most know it least. They are simply parroting what they've been told in Bible study - which really isn't study at all, but more propaganda through repetition.

I'm very interested in what the faithful have to say about the above Bible quotes. Can you prove to me that God is NOT justifying cold-blooded murder?

[Upchurch]

The only Christian "militant" I can think of off the top of my head is 1inChrist. The rest of the Christians I can think of, while not willing to probe some aspects of their faith too harshly, are rather reasonable and enjoyable to chat with.

[Mephisto]

You're right,

Perhaps militant is too strong a word. Maybe "Bible Activist" would be more appropriate. I was actually posing the question to those who believe the Bible should be interpreted literally.

:D

[c4ts]

The only militant guy is Riddick, he rarely shows. I don't consider 1inC militant, he just belongs to one of those Christian cults in his garage.

[Whyatica]

don't forget the stoning disobedient children bit, I dunno exactly what passage that is in the Bible though

[IIRichard]

I have been told that under Jewish law it's actually quite difficult to execute a person. However, I'll admit that I can't verify that. In addition to the Torah, the five books of Moses, there is a huge body of law that has been transmitted orally, some (all?) of which can be found in the Talmud. Orthodox Jews recognize some 642 commandments.

I don't understand the interest in "militant" Christians in these forums. Except for 1inChrist, a harmless nutter, I haven't seen much propagandizing here. The homeopaths seem to scream louder and more often.

[PogoPedant]

Originally posted by c4ts
The only militant guy is Riddick, he rarely shows. I don't consider 1inC militant, he just belongs to one of those Christian cults in his garage.
There are several cults in his garage? :eek:

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by Whyatica
don't forget the stoning disobedient children bit, I dunno exactly what passage that is in the Bible though


It's Deuteronomy 21:18

18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." 21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.

I think it's a fine law.

[c4ts]

Originally posted by PogoPedant
There are several cults in his garage? :eek:

For all I know, there may very well be.

[NickW]

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
I think it's a fine law.
:eek: scary :eek:

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by NickW
:eek: scary :eek:

Just wait until you have teenaged sons.

For the humor-impaired, I am just kidding. As my sons well know.

[Roadtoad]

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
Just wait until you have teenaged sons.

For the humor-impaired, I am just kidding. As my sons well know.

Oh, please. I've been through it four times now.

Sorry, gang, but that's all out of the Old Testament. People forget that central to the New Testament, Jesus said, "Think not that I have come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it." He was the one who was to pay the penalty for all those rebellious kids out there. (BTW, 1in: One wonders why you preach all that other filth and forget this part.)

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by Roadtoad
Oh, please. I've been through it four times now.

Sorry, gang, but that's all out of the Old Testament. People forget that central to the New Testament, Jesus said, "Think not that I have come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it." He was the one who was to pay the penalty for all those rebellious kids out there. (BTW, 1in: One wonders why you preach all that other filth and forget this part.)

I only have one teenaged son right now, the other two are younger.

As someone else pointed out, fundies have to keep the OT as well, in order to condemn homosexuality.

[ilk]

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
I only have one teenaged son right now, the other two are younger.

As someone else pointed out, fundies have to keep the OT as well, in order to condemn homosexuality.

Not quite true. Looking through my skeptics annotated bible I see that there are some NT references.

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/1tim/1.html#10

[Ossai]

Mephisto
Ever want to just walk into a hospital, a fire station or any number of places that are open 24/7 and just start killing people? It might be against the law, but you're perfectly justified if you believe the Bible is God's word. As a matter of fact, you could kill anyone you caught working on the Sabbath; "Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death." (Exodus 31:15 and 35:2) They would have to wait till Monday though.

Upchurch
The only Christian "militant" I can think of off the top of my head is 1inChrist.
Don’t forget Nick Harman and his belief in a literal, except where he doesn’t want it to be, bible.

Ossai

[Mephisto]

Originally posted by Ossai
Mephisto
They would have to wait till Monday though.

Upchurch
Ossai

Good point, Ossai

But I'm sure you could find a Christian somewhere that wouldn't consider this "working" on the Sabbath. Some might just consider it downright fun!

Mephisto

[thatguywhojuggles]

When I worked as a waiter, nothing would irritate me more than the "God Squad" as we called them. These were people who would come in to eat lunch on Sunday right after their church service. Apparently it's wrong to work on Sunday, but it is okay to make someone else work.

Oh, and they are horrible tippers.

[Mephisto]

Originally posted by thatguywhojuggles
When I worked as a waiter, nothing would irritate me more than the "God Squad" as we called them. These were people who would come in to eat lunch on Sunday right after their church service. Apparently it's wrong to work on Sunday, but it is okay to make someone else work.

Oh, and they are horrible tippers.

They are horrible tippers because they'll never give over 10%! ;)

It's interesting that you mentioned the "God Squad" because that was our name for religious (usually retired) people who got into car accidents on the way to or from church. I worked in a hospital emergency room for almost nine years and it was common knowledge that there would be a spate of minor car accidents on Sundays.

That alone is enough to suspect the used-car dealer's claim that, "it was only driven once a week on Sunday by a little old lady."

P.S. I liked your website a lot and have included teaching basic juggling to martial arts students as a method of improving hand/eye coordination. :)

[ReFLeX]

Originally posted by thatguywhojuggles
When I worked as a waiter, nothing would irritate me more than the "God Squad" as we called them. These were people who would come in to eat lunch on Sunday right after their church service. Apparently it's wrong to work on Sunday, but it is okay to make someone else work.

Oh, and they are horrible tippers.
I expect most people who go to church don't actually believe you shouldn't do any work on Sunday. Sure it's hypocritical, but be careful not to overgeneralize. I doubt they were thinking to themselves, "We will cause these heathens to break the Sabbath commandment and go to hell! HA HA HA..." It isn't as though you wouldn't have been there anyway.

[jmercer]

Well... while stoning rebellious teenage sons has a certain gruesome attractiveness to it, it's not likely to help much. Quoting the Riddler in one of those Batman movies: "If he's dead, he won't learn nothin'!" ;)

I didn't take exception to the militant christians comment (not being a bible literalist myself - quite the opposite), but "many" was kind of an overstatement.

And Lisa - you have my sympathies. Maybe I could use your teenage son to beat MY teenager over the head? As an impromptu club? :D

[Mephisto]

[i]
I think it's a fine law. [/B]

I've got a teen son too, so I can certainly appreciate your humor.

I recently saw a t-shirt on a woman at the store that said, "I have teenagers, I can appreciate why some animals eat their young."

:)

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by jmercer


And Lisa - you have my sympathies. Maybe I could use your teenage son to beat MY teenager over the head? As an impromptu club? :D

I dunno. My teen son is 6'1" and I'm only 5'5". It's going to be difficult to swing him like a club. But I'll give it the old college try. :D

[jmercer]

Well... I'm 6' 2", and my son's about 5' 10. In the spirit of inter-parental support, I'll offer to hit your son over the head with mine first. That should make yours more pliable. Then I'll help you lift your son up a bit, and you can take the second swing.

How's that? :D

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by jmercer
Well... I'm 6' 2", and my son's about 5' 10. In the spirit of inter-parental support, I'll offer to hit your son over the head with mine first. That should make yours more pliable. Then I'll help you lift your son up a bit, and you can take the second swing.

How's that? :D

Sounds good. Maybe it will knock some sense into him.

[jmercer]

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
Sounds good. Maybe it will knock some sense into him.

Oh. That's the goal? Dunno if that'll work or not, but it's worth a try. I just want mine to shut up and stop arguing with me about everything. ;)

[Lisa Simpson]

Oh my son doesn't argue with me (much). He could be a straight A student if he put just a little effort into school. But does he? No. Well, he puts effort into the classes that interest him. Which leaves out math, English, science.

Does the Bible mention stoning as a punishment for not doing homework?