[Harsha Shah]

Re: Introductions, etc.

As for your first point, ever heard of something called natural law? Rape, murder, and other such things are abhorrent to almost all societies, as they prevent society from functioning. These peoples were disregarding that, so the fact that they had committed sins against even natural law meant that they were still ripe candidates for punishment.

Yes, Miss Locke. It is Harsha Shah here and I am discussing these things with you also on this thread, yes. I am hoping sincerely that I am not offending you. I am writing this because the sad and beautiful people of this forum have been failing to explain some things to me but I am thinking that you will be answering my concerns about your religion, yes. I am thinking that some people may find this offending.

Yes, I have studied RME that is how to teach Religious and Moral Education at the university level an the thing that you were describing is common apologetics - that the people who your god is said to have destroyed were committing awful things. I must be asking if it is thus acceptable that also the infants and the small children are punished? Yes? Did the three-year-old rape the neighbour's wife? In the nice story of your Noah all the babies and old women and the rapists and the rapees were killed. In the future, your Jesus will also kill all the babies and the rapists and the rapees. Can you be assuring me that all these innocents will be going to your heaven even if they were not christians? Yes? If they are going, then what would be the point of following a cult? In the stories that were being mentioned before some of the children are being taken as sex slaves.


I am thinking that if your god is real then it is of course his or her rules but I am thinking that I am a better person than she or he is and I am also thinking that you are a better person. I am thinking that your religious is presuming guilt but our society is presuming innocence if not being proven otherwise. I am thinking and probably offending you that I am getting better discussions about this with my twelve-year-old pupils of my RME class. Yes. They can be identifying with the children who were not raping or looting or killing but were being drowned in the story of god. Yes, it is a relief to be knowing that it is just a story. I am very sorry that I was being carried away, yes.

[Blanche_Locke]

Re: Introductions, etc.

--unnecessary, unprofessional emoticon removed--

Where did this female come from? Why is it allowed to disturb my Church? I sometimes but only sometimes wonder if American - the greatest language that Jesus also spoke - would benefit from the word that describes active efforts to keep silent such as the Natzisch word zweigen. Anyways, this seems to be good distraction for our obnoxious sinner the Much guy so it is not all in vain. Meanwhile: Keep them tithes a-comin' --unnecessary, unprofessional emoticon removed-- The 2024 campaign (with either yours truly or even the Big D) ain't payin' itself. Off and out for now. Me 'ouseboys need some TLC as they're upset after a prank caller asked them to take the Chinaflu microchip (they obviously didn't they informed the church authorities and it is being traced).

First of all, Pastor Ezekiel, hello and welcome to the thread! I was beginning to wonder when you'd show up. I'd be happy to answer your questions and then ask you a few of my own.
As for where I came from, I believe it was from a human uterus. From your tone of wonderment, it seems you have not. Did you hatch from an egg? Very interesting indeed.
As for why I'm disturbing your church... if it takes a few bad arguments from an idiot like me to disturb it, then it must not have very stable foundations.
The thing that bothers me, though, is that you seem to be draining the funds of your churchgoers in a manner that could be construed as greedy. Is a multi-million dollar jet really necessary? I think you could do just fine with business class tickets in a commercial jetliner and spend the money somewhere wiser.
Cheers, Blanche Locke.

[Blanche_Locke]

Re: Introductions, etc.

No, it does not. I still do not understand why innocent people need to be punished for the sins they did not commit - the sins of their ancestors.


I still don't understand why children need to be raped or killed just because their parents do not believe in God.


I still don't understand why God approves of oppression and genocide.


I still don't understand why God approves of slavery and mistreatment of women.


Yes, that one verse you cite sounds nice, but it only refers to treatment of slaves, foreigners, and women in the afterlife - it does not refer to the way slaves, foreigners, and women should be treated in this life, as shown by the other verses cited by Sister Basilissa.

My advice? Go to another place on the internet. I would post links to a few, but I think they would get removed by one of the overzealous moderators here. This place is hellbent on forcing a merciless and cruel worldview down people's throats. They really should hang up a sign over the metaphorical entrance that says "abandon hope all ye who enter here". The toxicity levels in here are higher than those on reddit, 4chan, or discord, or all of those combined.
I'm not going to be posting for a while, as I'm pretty sure nothing constructive is being gained here, and it's ramping up my anxiety attacks. Aside from the few sane ones here or those uninfected by this pestilence disguised as godliness, all I can see are childish people following a road to hell. In the end, they will stand before God and be judged, and then given a taste of their own medicine.
Cheers, Blanche Locke

[Didymus Much]

Re: Introductions, etc.

Interesting how you nitpick one small thing that doesn't affect much...

I selected what was imo the most egregious, and focused on that, instead of doing a multi-page refutation of everything you raised.

Interesting is how you evade answering even that.

SO HOW'S THE EXODUS READING GOING?

[Basilissa]

Re: Introductions, etc.

As for your first point, ever heard of something called natural law? Rape, murder, and other such things are abhorrent to almost all societies, as they prevent society from functioning. These peoples were disregarding that,

First of all, rape and murder are not a sin in the eyes of our Lord, especially when applied to heathens: Deuteronomy 7:1-6, 20:13-14, 20:16-18, Deuteronomy 21:10-17...

However, if these nations were so abhorrent that they were doing things which prevented society from functioning - how come they were able to keep their societies functioning? Deuteronomy 7:5 mentions their pagan temples, Deuteronomy 13:15 mentions their cities. I think we can both agree that it requires a high degree of social cooperation to build cities and temples.

Also, please note that your explanation is not Biblical - the Biblical explanation is that God has given Israel to the Israelites, but in order to inhabit the land, they had to kill off the previous owners. You know, like what is going on in the West Bank, except that today "common sense" prohibits genocide, so the Palestinians today are thrown out rather than murdered.

so the fact that they had committed sins against even natural law meant that they were still ripe candidates for punishment.

And the punishment extends to their newborns and unborn children:

Hosea 13:16 16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

I am glad we agree on this subject - we will make a True Christian™ of you yet! You are pro-murder just like God commands us to be!

Also, kindly refrain from putting words in my mouth. I do not lust after the blood of innocents like you and your ilk. As for your argument on that account, may I kindly remind you of Hebrews 8:13... In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete.

Matthew 5:17-18
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

When you talk talk about God being vindictive and spiteful, that seems quite heretical.

Oh sweetie, don't blame the messenger - I'm just informing you what the Holy Bible says.

It's not me, it's the Bible that says God sometimes intentionally strays people away, so that He can punish them later:

Ezekiel 20:25-26
25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

It is the Holy Bible, not me, that says God enjoys violence against children:

Psalm 137:9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Perhaps it would have done you good to have been born in the time of the inquisition. It would certainly fix your problem of cherrypicking verses that support your claim without giving thought to any others.

You're so funny, sweetie! You are the one cherry picking, with your ideas of God as some sweet loving hippie!

As for your bit about slavery and mysogyny, I would advise you to keep quiet about unless you want to catch a strong case from the FBI.

I do not understand your train of thought. I can reassure you that I did not write the Holy Bible, so I am not responsible for its contents. I just read and follow it, that's all.

[Dolores de Barriga]

Re: Introductions, etc.

My advice? Go to another place on the internet. I would post links to a few, but I think they would get removed by one of the overzealous moderators here. This place is hellbent on forcing a merciless and cruel worldview down people's throats. They really should hang up a sign over the metaphorical entrance that says "abandon hope all ye who enter here". The toxicity levels in here are higher than those on reddit, 4chan, or discord, or all of those combined.

Thank you for your advice. However - don't you find their adherence to what the Bible actually says quite refreshing? Or do you prefer the churches which lie about God and the Bible, showcasing only a few nice-sounding verses and hiding the ugly, cruel, hateful 90% of it?


I agree that this community seems rather abrasive, but at least they don't lie to you. They are eager to show you what the Bible really says, rather than what you would want it to say.


I realize that cognitive dissonance can be painful, and being exposed to the cruelty of the Bible certainly causes cognitive dissonance after being told that God is loving and merciful.


But you certainly shouldn't take True Christians' word on it. You should sit down and read the Bible yourself, and judge for yourself: is this really a God worth worshiping? Read the whole thing before deciding whether God is cruel or merciful, loving or hateful. In my experience, most people who actually sat down and read the Bible end up being atheists. But maybe in your case it will be like with these lovely Baptists: maybe you can embrace God of the Bible and worship Him, if not out of love then out of fear - which is what He prefers, anyway.

[Isabella White]

Re: Introductions, etc.

I'm not going to be posting for a while, as I'm pretty sure nothing constructive is being gained here, and it's ramping up my anxiety attacks. Cheers, Blanche Locke

Those "anxiety attacks", dear Miss Locke, are the result of the Holy Spirit convicting you of your unconfessed sins — the very sins that will take you to !

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

John 16:7-11:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Rather than frittering away your precious (and very limited) time, by attacking the servants of Almighty as they present Truths to you, why don't you open a copy of the and study it? If you prefer to push your ungodly opinions at the very kind people who are here to help you, then you will be reminded of those careless words and actions when you stand before the on Judgment Day!

Matthew 12:36 "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

[handmaiden]

Re: Introductions, etc.

As for your first point, ever heard of something called natural law?

Is it mentioned in the Bible?

As for your bit about slavery and mysogyny, I would advise you to keep quiet about unless you want to catch a strong case from the FBI.

Hmm. . . I don't think that the FBI is on high alert against all forms of misogyny, but I'm sure that if you pick up the phone and call them, they'll drop everything else they are doing and arrest us right away.

a few bad arguments from an idiot like me

Finally! Signs of honest admissions and a little humility. I am so proud of you; I wasn't sure that you had it in you.

I'm not going to be posting for a while,

Really? Are you even capable of shutting up for that long?

I'm pretty sure nothing constructive is being gained here,

Nothing constructive by your definition because we're supposed to defer to you on our church website.

. . . and it's ramping up my anxiety attacks.

Well, we certainly don't want you experiencing any of those, that might lead you to suspect that you aren't the Queen of All Wisdom and Biblical Insight.

all I can see are childish people following a road to hell.

So much for that moment of insight.

In the end, they will stand before God and be judged, and then given a taste of their own medicine.

And there goes that brief foray into humility.

[Joanna Lytton-Vasey]

Re: Introductions, etc.

My advice? Go to another place on the internet.

Once I had stopped laughing at you, a pompous self-proclaimed "amateur researcher", giving advice to Mrs de Barriga, a professional academic with an actual job, Luke 4:23 sprang to mind:

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

[AkiraK]

Re: Introductions, etc.

Once I had stopped laughing at you, a pompous self-proclaimed "amateur researcher", giving advice to Mrs de Barriga, a professional academic with an actual job.

ok boomer

[handmaiden]

Re: Introductions, etc.

ok boomer

[wincing in pain] Oh! The repartee! So sharp, so cutting edge, so. . . overused, cliche and pathetic.

AkiraK, you are really going to step up your game if you want to have any impact with your postings. Here's a place to start--read the Bible. That is the primary ground for all of our discussions.


We count among our forum membership people who have studied the languages of the original texts. There are others who hold advanced degrees and who, as has been pointed out, have years of experience in research and writing and lecturing for which they are actually paid.


But, hey, you've got "ok boomer" in your intellectual arsenal, so you're all set to take on any arguments.

[AkiraK]

Re: Introductions, etc.

[wincing in pain] Oh! The repartee! So sharp, so cutting edge, so. . . overused, cliche and pathetic.

AkiraK, you are really going to step up your game if you want to have any impact with your postings. Here's a place to start--read the Bible. That is the primary ground for all of our discussions.


We count among our forum membership people who have studied the languages of the original texts. There are others who hold advanced degrees and who, as has been pointed out, have years of experience in research and writing and lecturing for which they are actually paid.


But, hey, you've got "ok boomer" in your intellectual arsenal, so you're all set to take on any arguments.

e

[MitzaLizalor]

Re: Introductions, etc.

e

There's a high, allegedly a zingy high, but also a low.

I'm not sure what the "low" bit is, never having experienced it, but get real. Satan plumbs the nadir of human angst, ultra-despair, ultra-drencrom, ultra-everything.

Only Jesus saves. Comparing nihilist shenanigans with God's instructions where His people were threatened, perhaps merely opposed in their campaign, perhaps not even opposed, this horror is drawn in stark contrast to love.

[AkiraK]

Re: Introductions, etc.

There's a high, allegedly a zingy high, but also a low.

I'm not sure what the "low" bit is, never having experienced it, but get real. Satan plumbs the nadir of human angst, ultra-despair, ultra-drencrom, ultra-everything.

Only Jesus saves. Comparing nihilist shenanigans with God's instructions where His people were threatened, perhaps merely opposed in their campaign, perhaps not even opposed, this horror is drawn in stark contrast to love.

Nice opinion, just one tiny problem with it. Inspecting your post, it looks like your opinion is different from mine. Let me tell you something, I am the baseline for opinions. Any opinion I hold is objectively correct and as a result, any other opinions are wrong. Guess what? You happen to hold the wrong one! [*** FOOLISH THREAT REMOVED, AS COMMANDED BY JESUS TO GODLY MODERATOR ***]

[Didymus Much]

Re: Introductions, etc.

The tl;dr version:

...wrong opinion...