Page 22 | to ask Christians about dinosaurs...

EastYorksLass · 2022-04-29T16:46:09+00:00

This is a serious question - so I have been thinking a lot lately about whether God exists, the meaning of life and why is the world in such a terrible state... been thinking about going to church but still feel I am on the fence. One question which has really got me thinking (after watching dear old David Attenborough... ) is where do dinosaurs fit into all this. Sorry if this sounds very weird but I would love to hear an explanation!

donquixotedelamancha · 01/05/2022 20:04

Everything peachy for the first 500 years then? Or has the scumminess been going for the full two millenia but had some non-scum break years?

I do hope it's this one: e.g. 0-300AD, fine but things really kicked off in March of 301. Then there was that time in the late 90s when all the Christians were well behaved.

Or perhaps it's just that Christians are only nice on Tuesdays and from 6 to 11AM on Saturdays.

OMG12 · 01/05/2022 21:33

Againstmachine · 01/05/2022 19:57

If you really can’t see where your argument falls down, it probably isn’t worth engaging further. You appear to be extremely angry though, I suggest you might need to find ways to address this and it would probably do you well to step away from the internet for a while

I'm not angry this is passive agressive rubbish to accuse others of being angry when they are.

I’m not angry at all? Why do you think I’m angry? I don’t think I’ve said anything that would indicate otherwise.

On the other hand, you seem to be thrashing about, unable to form a coherent argument, lashing out at people calling people scum. These are all hallmarks of someone who is not entirely in control of their anger.

0utForAWalkBitch · 01/05/2022 21:46

Serious question, how are we meant to know which parts of the bible are “allegorical” and which are “gospel”? Or is it just the bits you agree with? I actually have more respect for the eejits that take it all literally than the ones that think they can pick and choose…

GoldenOmber · 01/05/2022 21:57

0utForAWalkBitch · 01/05/2022 21:46

Serious question, how are we meant to know which parts of the bible are “allegorical” and which are “gospel”? Or is it just the bits you agree with? I actually have more respect for the eejits that take it all literally than the ones that think they can pick and choose…

The Gospels are four specific books and they all begin with “the Gospel according to”, so bit of a clue there.

As for which bits of it are meant to have allegorical symbolic meaning: all of it. It’s a religious text, not a weather report. The things that inarguably literally happened (the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, eg) also have allegorical symbolic meaning. This is the standard way to approach religious texts in that particular religious tradition. You are free to consider but your objection would come down to “people are approaching this religious text religiously”, which is a bit circular.

GoldenOmber · 01/05/2022 21:58

GoldenOmber · 01/05/2022 21:57

The Gospels are four specific books and they all begin with “the Gospel according to”, so bit of a clue there.

As for which bits of it are meant to have allegorical symbolic meaning: all of it. It’s a religious text, not a weather report. The things that inarguably literally happened (the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, eg) also have allegorical symbolic meaning. This is the standard way to approach religious texts in that particular religious tradition. You are free to consider but your objection would come down to “people are approaching this religious text religiously”, which is a bit circular.

Show quote history

“Consider this silly”, that should say.

Bluerose77 · 01/05/2022 22:11

I actually have more respect for the eejits that take it all literally than the ones that think they can pick.

Just imagine the outrage if it was any other religion that were called "eegits" for taking their holy book literally.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 01/05/2022 22:15

Bluerose77 · 01/05/2022 22:11

I actually have more respect for the eejits that take it all literally than the ones that think they can pick.

Just imagine the outrage if it was any other religion that were called "eegits" for taking their holy book literally.

As I mentioned upthread, I'm genuinely surprised you don't seem to have come across people being negative about or mocking other religions? It's commonplace here in the UK at least for Jewish and Muslim people to often hear negative comments about their religion, including mocking, it isn't something unique to Christianity at all.

TooBigForMyBoots · 01/05/2022 22:21

It's commonplace here in the UK at least for Jewish and Muslim people to often hear negative comments about their religion, including mocking, it isn't something unique to Christianity at all.

I agree with this comment. The only thing unique about the mocking is that it comes from dicks who don't like people who are different to them.

Bluerose77 · 01/05/2022 22:32

.
As I mentioned upthread, I'm genuinely surprised you don't seem to have come across people being negative about or mocking other religions? It's commonplace here in the UK at least for Jewish and Muslim people to often hear negative comments about their religion, including mocking, it isn't something unique to Christianity at all.

I agree it isn't unique to Christianity, but not on here. If ever someone who is a Muslim for example comes on here and perhaps wants to talk about their religion, everybody on the whole speaks with respect, which is exactly how it should be. It isn't the same if it's Christianity. An example being called idiots for taking the Bible literally. It's something I've observed on here over the years.

OMG12 · 01/05/2022 22:33

0utForAWalkBitch · 01/05/2022 21:46

Serious question, how are we meant to know which parts of the bible are “allegorical” and which are “gospel”? Or is it just the bits you agree with? I actually have more respect for the eejits that take it all literally than the ones that think they can pick and choose…

The serious answer to this is the text can and should be read on many different levels. One can look at the whole thing as allegorical, symbolic. The tale of an internal spiritual change.

Some of it will only come about if look at it in certain ways such as the numerical values of Hebrew letters mainly in the Old Testament The meaning behind certain letters, for example the insertion of shin into the Tetragrammaton and all the implications there.

Unfortunately the appropriation of the scriptures for political purposes and misinformed translations have stripped away many of these layers and people think it can be read as history. You can learn much more from the texts which have been left out of the cannon as these have not been messed about as much.

Taken as an iteration of a perennial philosophy the Christ story has a lot of truth.

donquixotedelamancha · 01/05/2022 22:40

Just imagine the outrage if it was any other religion that were called "eegits" for taking their holy book literally.

I don't think there would be outrage, but let's try:

Mohammed may never have existed. If he did the Koran was written long after his death and therefore anyone who takes it as the literal word of God, dictated to Mohammed, is an eejit.

The Tanakh is internally inconsistent and full of silly rules. It's God is depicted as capricious, vengeful and neurotic; only an eejit would be an orthodox Jew.

There we go @Bluerose77, if MNHQ delete this as offensive they surely must delete the similar posts about Christianity. I don't think they will because (as illustrated by the unpleasent PP) criticism of religion is not the same as abuse and is entirely normal in the UK.

TooBigForMyBoots · 01/05/2022 23:29

Ah, can yis stop having a go at the Jews and Muslims to make a point? Things are different if you're a minority group. I'm not saying it's any less offensive, but it is more frightening.

Bluerose77 · 01/05/2022 23:37

TooBigForMyBoots · 01/05/2022 23:29

Ah, can yis stop having a go at the Jews and Muslims to make a point? Things are different if you're a minority group. I'm not saying it's any less offensive, but it is more frightening.

People shouldn't be "having a go" at any religion.

TooBigForMyBoots · 02/05/2022 00:22

I understand that @Bluerose77 however it can be scarier if you're a member of a minority religion in a country that has a law allowing you to be made homeless and stateless with no warning. Which is the case in the UK.

donquixotedelamancha · 02/05/2022 07:06

Ah, can yis stop having a go at the Jews and Muslims to make a point? Things are different if you're a minority group. I'm not saying it's any less offensive, but it is more frightening.

It's not at all frightening to criticise religions for having foolish beliefs. The idea that religion should be free from criticism is bonkers. Bigots don't discuss the historicity of Mohammed they attack Muslims for being different.

People shouldn't be "having a go" at any religion.

You still haven't explained why.

Bluerose77 · 02/05/2022 08:03

It's when one particular religion comes under attack.....as in Christianity. For comparison it's pointed out that other religions are not ridiculed the same way. But that might be upsetting for those religions to even use them as a comparison 🤔

donquixotedelamancha · 02/05/2022 08:09

Bluerose77 · 02/05/2022 08:03

It's when one particular religion comes under attack.....as in Christianity. For comparison it's pointed out that other religions are not ridiculed the same way. But that might be upsetting for those religions to even use them as a comparison 🤔

Still not explaining why religions should be immune from criticism or mockery.

Bluerose77 · 02/05/2022 08:12

I'm not talking about bigots who attack people for being different. That wasn't my point. It was the Bible getting ridiculed which upset me and pointing out that other religions holy books don't get spoke about in the same insulting way. Let's not infer that's anything other than that.

Bluerose77 · 02/05/2022 08:16

🤔
Still not explaining why religions should be immune from criticism or mockery

As long as they aren't harming anyone in the name of their religion then they shouldn't be mocked. Why should that have to be explained. Odd you should ask.

donquixotedelamancha · 02/05/2022 08:18

It was the Bible getting ridiculed which upset me and pointing out that other religions holy books don't get spoke about in the same insulting way.

Yes, I get that. I just don't understand why you think that should be the case. Every other book/belief in the UK is up for criticism.

Bluerose77 · 02/05/2022 08:20

Not on here it isn't. If any holy book ever gets mocked, guaranteed it'll be the Bible. Of course it'll upset people.

donquixotedelamancha · 02/05/2022 08:21

As long as they aren't harming anyone in the name of their religion then they shouldn't be mocked.

Why? Lots of things get mocked.

Plenty of people would argue that religion is harmful but that isn't the point- people have a right to joke about or criticise whatever they wish.

Bluerose77 · 02/05/2022 08:23

To answer your question "why do I think that's the case" ......That's what I'd like to know, hence my posts.

Bluerose77 · 02/05/2022 08:28

Plenty of people would argue that religion is harmful but that isn't the point- people have a right to joke about or criticise whatever they wish.

But no they haven't got that right. I think it can be classed as some sort of hate crime now. It's when one particular religion is picked on.

J0nah · 02/05/2022 11:33

I'm only up to page 11 so apologies if this has been covered but the God having no arms bit intrigued me. If we were created in God's image where did our arms come from?