tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post5022959561016291672..comments2023-11-05T07:32:07.024-05:00Comments on life's journey: 'blog against theocracy'billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206096509976316141noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-31377612546135017542007-04-11T10:52:00.000-04:002007-04-11T10:52:00.000-04:00Thanx for a great contribution to the BAT. You hit...Thanx for a great contribution to the BAT. You hit all the good points. I think when one joins a non-mainstream religion, you really start seeing how Christianity is shoved down our throats at every turn.genexshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624705835921067185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-63397539196623390682007-04-09T05:35:00.000-04:002007-04-09T05:35:00.000-04:00signpost:it looked so easy, our heritage beckonedt...signpost:<BR/>it looked so easy, our heritage beckoned<BR/>the nation was, after all, christian<BR/>and so they began their crusade marching toward theocracy<BR/>and as they plodded the children wailed “are we there yet?”<BR/>and god whispered back “you're going the wrong way”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-61060333882299600442007-04-08T21:10:00.000-04:002007-04-08T21:10:00.000-04:00Sarah-You are falling into the quagmire of fundame...Sarah-<BR/>You are falling into the quagmire of fundamentalist thinking. The Bible is composed of two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The OT is for history, the prophets, and the poets. The NT is the life and teachings of Christ Jesus.<BR/><BR/>Christian, by the suffix 'ian', means, little; from; belonging to; or follower of, the root, in this case, Christ. Therefore, as a Christian, one needs to follow, and be bound by, the New Testament. Jesus said, "I bring to you a new covenant (testament)" <BR/><BR/>Jesus did NOT approve of the cruelties of the OT. Give me some chapter and verses that left you with that impression. I'll give you one off the top of my head that says he didn't.<BR/> <BR/>Matthew 5:38-39: Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth (referring to OT Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21); but I say unto you, that you resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.<BR/><BR/>I would also like to see where you got the impression He says, He doesn't care about those who are damned.<BR/><BR/>As for fascism not being secular, read the linked post, 'The F-Word' in my last comment. All the fascist regimes of Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Pinochet, et al, started under the guise of religion, but once power was cinched, persecuted the very religious people that gave them the power. See Shirer's 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich'.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment, Sarah, Peace.Brother Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08603553502416272941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-82294748354414006172007-04-08T19:08:00.000-04:002007-04-08T19:08:00.000-04:00"In a true theocracy, especially a Christian Theoc..."In a true theocracy, especially a Christian Theocracy, there would be no poverty, hunger, homelessness, hatred, or wars. There would be no political cronyism, corporate greed, bigotry, or capital punishment. It's a sad fact that more money is to be made on war, than on peace."<BR/><BR/><BR/>I highly doubt that. The Bible isn't a book of peace and never has been. The God of the Bible isn't a deity of peace and never has been. Jesus Christ didn't advocate complete pacifism either. In fact, Jesus says in the Bible that he did approve of the cruelties of the Old Testament and that he doesn't care about those who are damned. The direct reason we have so many Christian fundamentalists is because of what the Bible "directs" these people to believe. <BR/><BR/>Fascism has never been secular, because those who advocate it know that religion can be used to control the masses. People are so devoted to religious belief over reason that they can't think rationally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-80362931108813213422007-04-08T14:33:00.000-04:002007-04-08T14:33:00.000-04:00I almost used that same quote in my BAT post. Glad...I almost used that same quote in my BAT post. Glad to see someone else used it (and used it well). Thanks so much for your thoughts.Essential Estrogenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07017364139649234961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-21135703079458593242007-04-08T11:36:00.000-04:002007-04-08T11:36:00.000-04:00I too, am against theocracy, but for somewhat diff...I too, am against theocracy, but for somewhat different reasons. The carnal nature of man would just not let it function. Submitting oneself, totally, to the will of God, is the basic tenant of nearly all major religions. Christianity, Judaism, Islamic, et al, all fail miserably.<BR/><BR/>It would bode well for people to realize that just because someone says, "I am a Christian", does not mean they actually are. People like Robertson, Falwell, Dodson, Reed, etc, etc, are wolves in sheep's clothing. They are the bin Ladens of Christianity.<BR/><BR/>Christianity, by the very meaning of the word, is to follow the teachings and examples of Christ. 87% of this country are self-described as Christian. The true number is probably in the single digits, somewhere between 3 and 5 percent.<BR/><BR/>In a true theocracy, especially a Christian Theocracy, there would be no poverty, hunger, homelessness, hatred, or wars. There would be no political cronyism, corporate greed, bigotry, or capital punishment. It's a sad fact that more money is to be made on war, than on peace.<BR/><BR/>Fascism may be secular at it's core, but it always cloaks itself in religion. For proof, one only has to look at the early pictures of the Third Reich; with the cross of Christ, emblazoned in the center of the swastika. I did a post you may find interesting, called The F-Word.<BR/><BR/>http://ofrevelation.blogspot.com/2006/10/f-word_28.html<BR/><BR/>Good post, Betmo, sorry for the dissertation-length comment.Brother Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08603553502416272941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-56697856708333165842007-04-07T23:37:00.000-04:002007-04-07T23:37:00.000-04:00Great post, have a good weekend.Great post, have a good weekend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-4135312765098693942007-04-07T13:46:00.000-04:002007-04-07T13:46:00.000-04:00AWESOME post!! I had to come back to finish readin...AWESOME post!! I had to come back to finish reading it b/c I kept getting interrupted and I wanted to digest every word.<BR/><BR/>Spado - you should come to LAWRENCE kansas. It's an oasis of reason and intelligence surrounded by the insanity of kansas.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12052461149278894648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-13080049381135342422007-04-07T12:21:00.000-04:002007-04-07T12:21:00.000-04:00The funny thing about the word "god" is that funda...The funny thing about the word "god" is that fundamentally religious people see it and assume it means their god.<BR/><BR/>Ah, assumption... we all know what it means to assume...<BR/><BR/>Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-83332541842375989462007-04-07T07:44:00.000-04:002007-04-07T07:44:00.000-04:00It's all about tolerance. The result is peace.It's all about tolerance. The result is peace.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09454344516994289843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-67497745114909635612007-04-06T22:49:00.000-04:002007-04-06T22:49:00.000-04:00Nice one, betmo... really good. It never fails to...Nice one, betmo... really good. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes to recognize this country was founded by deists. It makes me feel less alien to america knowing things didn't start out quite the way they've turned out. But the tears are also my anger that such a profound reality shift took place that people everywhere spew christian beginnings w/o so much as a hiccup.slcslchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07573194195229856432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-64544039202286516382007-04-06T21:47:00.000-04:002007-04-06T21:47:00.000-04:00Exploitation of religion by politicians will whate...Exploitation of religion by politicians will whatever short term gains received, will come back to haunt the reactionaries for decades, They are marked as fanatic and intolerant for decades.<BR/><BR/>The Dems learned the wrong lesson, and talk about religion as much or more than the GOP.Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-31358041407445710672007-04-06T21:31:00.000-04:002007-04-06T21:31:00.000-04:00Good blog. Finally made it here from C-Dell's spot...Good blog. Finally made it here from C-Dell's spot. I do follow a religious faith, even though there are key issues that I feel it does not address. As I said to C-Dell: religion should not be crammed down our throats. I am a Christian, a poor one by those Kansas folk types as I curse and have lots of negativity in my mind. I also loathe George Bush and this damn war. I also support gay marriage and I don't see homosexuality as a sin. A lot of evangelicals bond over social issues and know the Bible verses that support their view, but they really don't know the Bible itself or how it was created. Yet you cannot reason with those people. I don't even bother.Enemy of the Republichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17342253341470198835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-67622057362048388172007-04-06T20:37:00.000-04:002007-04-06T20:37:00.000-04:00Feel free to borrow my graphic if you want, I feel...Feel free to borrow my graphic if you want, I feel I owe you anyways for never getting around to that meme from the other day...sorry about that, I've been working nights and it has me all screwed up.Frederickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796513694478927710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-16668069774682009342007-04-06T16:11:00.000-04:002007-04-06T16:11:00.000-04:00Hey, I am going for the trifecta on this. I will p...Hey, I am going for the trifecta on this. I will post something Sunday on Bring it On, my blog and a local blog community our newspaper runs. My original foray into this can be seen on my personal blog as well as here:<BR/><BR/>http://www.teambio.org/<BR/><BR/>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/dusty1215/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06698117410778232102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-15168347434652949452007-04-06T15:40:00.000-04:002007-04-06T15:40:00.000-04:00Thank you for this! I was so excited and so overw...Thank you for this! I was so excited and so overwhelmed by the full spectrum of this topic I could hardly think where to begin! I did more quoting than writing, but that's what's cool about this blogswarm, right? Many voices!Thornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017781098602577734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-15612393322460104692007-04-06T14:52:00.000-04:002007-04-06T14:52:00.000-04:00time- you have said what my husband has been sayin...time- you have said what my husband has been saying for a long time. thanks.billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16206096509976316141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-61286430740320915782007-04-06T14:48:00.000-04:002007-04-06T14:48:00.000-04:00It's quite a story, that the Bible tells. If true,...It's quite a story, that the Bible tells. If true, it reveals a character of God, that is disturbing.<BR/><BR/>This God of the Bible comes across as a tyrant. He demands obedience and everlasting adoration. What kind of being needs such egotistical attention? <BR/><BR/>He manipulates people to get his desired result, and threatens those who don't follow his rules. <BR/><BR/>He discriminates by choosing one group of people over all others, yet claims to be the only way to personal salvation for all. <BR/><BR/>Did he create us just to have his ego satisfied? Why would he create such violent, sinful beings if that is against his nature? The contradictions are confusing.<BR/><BR/>One has to wonder why God chose to involve himself directly in the lives of humans in the early days, but has decided to ignore us for centuries. <BR/><BR/>What is everlasting life? To kneel at his feet and worship him forever? That's the purpose for life and afterlife, to adore him?<BR/><BR/>When people believe something so deeply, and that belief is threatened, they are may react violently.<BR/><BR/>Was Hitler jealous of the Jews? Did he wonder why the creator of all and the key to eternal salvation, created him inferior to others. Why did God make him a second class being?<BR/><BR/>Maybe Jesse Ventura was right, the church is a crutch for the masses who cannot handle what life gives them.<BR/><BR/>It's fine if you want to believe in supernatural fairy tales, but is that necessary, to be kind to your fellow human beings? <BR/><BR/>If your God did not exist, would you be a murderer or a rapist? <BR/><BR/>Would it be ok to be a violent, hateful person just because you find out there is no God? <BR/><BR/>Do you need God, to treat others as you would want them to treat you?<BR/><BR/>What is it about the followers of the prince of peace, that they demand all must believe in their God? To the point of social rejection, negative character judgment, or violent submission.<BR/><BR/>If Christ's philosophy is the right way to live, then why do his followers condemn those who don't believe?<BR/><BR/>Are threats of Hell, intimidation, exclusion from everlasting life, ect., ect...a good way to encourage membership in your church? Must one kill, to prove one's commitment to God? Isn't that what God asked of Jacob?<BR/><BR/>You can read this as BS ramblings, but that's how confusing I see the contradictions of God belief.<BR/><BR/>And please stop trying (through making laws in my government) to force me to live by your religion.Timehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474837430855732529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-17847756915530338272007-04-06T13:37:00.000-04:002007-04-06T13:37:00.000-04:00Great post better than mine. You made great points...Great post better than mine. You made great points we even synced up on some points. I wish that mine was as good as this. Great post.C-dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15420754854549345661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-46213276868409283022007-04-06T12:43:00.000-04:002007-04-06T12:43:00.000-04:00Well done, Betmo and thanks for the tour of religi...Well done, Betmo and thanks for the tour of religious hypocrisy. I am always astounded at the degree of humiliation and total disregard for humanity people are willing to tolerate for the sake of religion.Peacechick Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808832340636218022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-76359800071406137842007-04-06T11:15:00.000-04:002007-04-06T11:15:00.000-04:00Bush 43 has made many attacks on the Constitution ...Bush 43 has made many attacks on the Constitution since 9/11/01, but we must not forget that he always intended to shred 'that goddamn piece of paper', as he calls it. One of his first acts as pResident was to announce the Faith-based Initiatives Program - designed more to provide monetary rewards to the reight-wing churches that helped him get elected than to provide social services to those in need. Apparently he interpreted his 49% popular vote mandate and illegal, partisan appointment by the Supremes as 'political capital' that he could use to unilaterally amend the Constitution.<BR/><BR/>And that was before things really got bad. :(SadButTruehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977090207448656065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-78139840283115144582007-04-06T10:03:00.000-04:002007-04-06T10:03:00.000-04:00Betmo, you amaze me. I've posted, but nothing so ...Betmo, you amaze me. I've posted, but nothing so eloquent as you.DivaJoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02534571327558009753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-66151996615367713082007-04-06T07:37:00.000-04:002007-04-06T07:37:00.000-04:00Had a minute on line as we get ready to leave "Lib...Had a minute on line as we get ready to leave "Liberal" Kansas. No, that's the name of the town I'm in, Liberal. Supposedly where Dorothy came from in the "Wizard of Oz". The way the wind blew last night, I can see why she was blown to OZ.<BR/><BR/>Christian signs are all over here. Commercials are for making Kansas the best place to raise kids based on christian values. Bill boards want NO Abortion and a couple is ONLY a man and a woman. There are NO signs that say we need to stop killing people. NO pro jew, pro muslim, pro anything but christian. NO anti-war messages.<BR/><BR/>The radio stations with the best reception are the christian stations. You can find 2-3 of them anywhere while driving through the state. Their message never mentions love and forgivness. It only interprets words from an old book and tells you what they mean and how much you need to send them as far as money. They even go so far as to suggest christian meaning in non christian music, telling the listener/sheep what is good to listen to, and what is not, never mentioning that our country is at war.<BR/><BR/>Peace. Peace means allowing and tolerating freedom of religion and free choice of your lives. Enough bullshit!<BR/><BR/>I'll be in New Mexico today by early afternoon. Socorro, Truth or consequences and Deming are the places we plan to visit. Later :-)Spadomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23768728.post-92069016248487130462007-04-06T05:11:00.000-04:002007-04-06T05:11:00.000-04:00It's already interesting to read some of the respo...It's already interesting to read some of the response's, but not surprising.Coffee Messiahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16908162048706236634noreply@blogger.com