After the video, SA says the following "When you can interpret the Bible any damn way you please, other people will interpret the Bible any damn way they please." This to me really should be the takeaway of the video (obviously I think it is brilliant, I stole this quote for the title of this post). This is the problem with the bible being a big book of multiple choice, it really does seem like you can justify any position with it. I have heard many people say that Jesus only teaching peace and love, I have heard people say "what's the harm?", well here it is. This guy used the same book to justify rape! You might say "well that's old testament", well this guy doesn't seem to have any qualms about using the old testament to justify his atrocities. The old testament is in your book, and assholes don't seem shy about using it.
This actually reminds me of separation of church and state a bit. People who don't want separation of church and state assume that their religion will be the one associated to the government. They assume that other religious people are just like them. It doesn't occur to them that some religious people, even some Christians, believe things vastly different from them. Some sects don't go to doctors at all, they just pray and let God sort it out. What if they got in power, would they outlaw hospitals? Seems a bit out there, seems a bit crazy right? You know what else sounds crazy? Justifying rape with the bible.
I just watched Kevin Smith's Red State. It is a great fictional example of people justifying horrible activity with the Bible. I recommend if you want to see a near worst case depiction of both religion and the police.
ReplyDeleteSince I used to be part of a sect that doesn't believe in doctors, I can say that if they ran government they would, at the least, discontinue all forms of public heathcare.
Red state was ok, I think I'd give it 3/5 stars. Good not great.
DeleteI agree with you a hundred percent here. Lately, Ive been hearing a lot of arguments against homosexuality by citing Leviticus. But when you point out something else from the OT, even in the same book and chapters, Christians will say that the OT "doesn't count" anymore or "well Jesus didn't say anything about it, so its not important." It's hard to ever get a clear stance in the conversations about the OT I've experienced that didn't feel like the person was just picking stuff that was acceptable in our society while throwing out the rest. It always feels arbitrary. I think everyone affected by the Bible in one form or another should really take the time to sit down and read it. The whole thing. Particularity if you believe that it contains the information to save your eternal soul.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of consistency drives me nuts. It seems all we can do is keep hammering the point, but it is quite the uphill battle.
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