PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

I think this is one of the most cogent pieces I've seen on taking the Bible literally. Wh**ever side one is on, I hope it sparks some real thought.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/how-violence-is-justified-but-homosexuality-is-wrong-when-youre-a-biblical-literalist/#ixzz3Ffp1LLzi

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

Ben Corey is more of a l*****t pundit than a Bible scholar. As I read his piece, he is saying, lets all accept homosexuality in defiance of what is in the Holy Bible, ... and then lets all surrender our weapons, join hands singing Kumbaya, and allow our enemies to k**l us without any resistance.

There is a difference between aggressive violence and defense against violence by others. He doesn't seem to care much about differentiating between the two.

The whole article is slanted toward, the liberal ideas of, "homosexuality is okay, no matter what the Bible says", and "gun control is good, because Jesus wants you to love your enemy, even if he comes to k**l you." In other words, you shouldn't defend yourself if you love Jesus, so why would you need a gun?

Selling books and promoting his blog site is his shtick. The old profit motive.

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

Trooper - Your comment brilliantly proves Corey's thesis: You've selectively chosen which parts of the Bible are open to interpretation and which are not, all to suit your own personal agenda. Try again.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

That's your l*****t biased opinion. I disagree.

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

Typical right-wing tactic: When confronted by their obvious hypocrisy they label the call-out "opinion" and decide to "disagree". Man up and admit that you've just decided which texts are open to interpretation and which are not. It's certainly your right, but you should own it.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

Well, .... you're wrong again. I'm assuming that you know the Bible well enough to know that the Lord does not condone homosexuality, but you do lack enough knowledge to know that the Bible says you can defend yourself.

Luke 22:35-39: 35) And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing." 36) Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37) "For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the t***sgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end." 38) So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." 39) Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

Here's the context. Picture this. Jesus and his disciples have just had communion. They are about to go to a time of prayer in the garden. Jesus says these words to His disciples, and it's as if they are saying, "Look what we have with us, Lord. Two guns!" Jesus responds, "It is enough."

If you read commentaries on this passage, there are a number of questions which are not clearly answered. There are questions about the applicability of this passage, of the intent of Jesus, of the meaning of His response.

Wh**ever your interpretation of this passage, there are a few broad-stroke observations we can make about this passage.

1. Jesus expected them to have swords and anticipated a time when those without swords would need to acquire them.
2. Among eleven disciples, they did have two swords--in almost a 1:5 ratio.
3. Jesus expected them to carry the swords on their person as they traveled from the city to the garden prayer meeting.

It is difficult to make absolute claims beyond these observations, but the observations themselves have significance. Namely, among those closest to Jesus, some carried personal weapons in His presence with His consent to communion and to prayer meetings. We cannot make absolute claims as to the reasons, right or, wrong, for the carriage of these weapons. Perhaps it was in anticipation of trouble from the Jewish leadership. Perhaps it was protection against mere robbers.

Paul in 2 Cor. 11:26 cites the "perils of robbers". Though there are questions we can't answer, we do know they possessed these weapons, that they carried these weapons, and that Jesus knew and consented. Furthermore, Jesus spoke of some time, present or future, when disciples would need to acquire personal weapons, even more urgently than garments.

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

Sounds like a Biblical sanction for open-carry in churches to me. Go for it!

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

O.K. I was half way to wanting to not say anything, but....

No one alive today has much to say about what is or is not in the Bible. It is a record of history and of teachings and of what most would call, the word of God.

One of the elements that surface from rules or policies that originated from the Bible, are the laws we have today. Laws such as it is NOT legal to murder or to steal.....etc.

Now I am so very certain that some minor number of citizens in the United States would wish they could rob a bank without having to go to jail over it, wish the law was different. It is NOT different, however now is it?

YOU are a Q***R. That is what YOU decide, not me, not the Bible, nor anyone else...just...YOU. The same as the person whom decides they want to rob a bank...or k**l a baby...or so anything else...that is what THEY decided to do. The Bible did not make them do it...they did all on their own.

So now...it may be really difficult for you to understand, but you are not of the "norm" if you were normal....(i.e. NOT Q***R) you would understand....but as you and a small number of people alive today desire to be Q***R don't blame the world for your problems.....you are no different than a person whom wants to be outside the "norm" that could come out to the public and say they LOVE to eat s**t and the hotter the better. There are some un-normal people that relish doing that...do you? NO? Geez, so you gonna tell them anything that they do is not right? Maybe they need to not be telling anyone else they love to eat s**t???? Those that do such are very much a small segment of humans...just as YOU are a very small segment of the human race.

I would tend to think it should be easy for you to understand why God may not think highly of your homosexuality. It goes against Nature...(if this was not true EVERYONE would be GAY)...it does not promote anything positive in a person's life....and if God has created this earth, the last thing he would desire to see anyone have to do is to be a wreck......and the GAY community is just that...a wreck. If this was not true you would NOT see gay p***e marches and all the bulls**t behind the issues and problems GAY brings with it.

You don't see hetero sexual marches....you don't see STRAIGHT people demanding rights over and above the rights everyone already have.....nope. No BAND WAGONS coming out of the woodwork and why? NO one wants to be labeled to bring the spotlight on how they are NORMAL....we don't need it. YOU are NOT normal and have a problem with life. Fix the problem and you can fit right in like everyone else. Until then, you have to justify murder and rape and every other "ACT" that is not normal to continue to justify your ACT.

I don't care if the Bible offends you or not. Don't care if you agree to what it says or not. don't know you, won't know you and now that you have openly stated you are Q***R...I can not even now feel sorry for you. Go stand in front of a big fast heavy train and stay there for impact. It solves all your GAY problems instantly. Wham.....splat done.

Btfkr Loc: just outside the Mile High City

It is certainly not worth picking apart everything you wrote in your lovely little rant. Your mind is obviously closed like a steel trap. Therefore suffice it to say you are a full of s**t as a holiday goose. America Only, home of the free with liberty and justice for all as long as they think and act just as you want them to. Have a lovely day. Oh, and next time you are halfway not wanting to say anything, do everybody a favor and don't :thumbup: :thumbup: :P wham splat kaput.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

Sadly, you sodomites feel that only other sodomites who get erections at the smell of a mixture of human feces and KY Jelly are "open minded".

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

I have to say Trooper, some of what you write truly amazes me. Where on earth do you get your information? Im starting to feel as though it comes form the bottom of a Pabst Blue Ribbon can.
Have you ever actually known any gay people besides me?

Btfkr Loc: just outside the Mile High City

Sadly, you have absolutely no idea wtf you are talking about, Pooper. Perhaps you are another that just should keep his flap trapped if you know nothing of which you speak, hmmm? Thank you in advance :thumbup:

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

As btfkr so clearly said, it isn't really worth the time to pick apart your little rant. But I do have to say I feel sorry for you in your closed, safe little world where you've allowed others to tell you what to think and feel. At least have the balls to say the opinions are your own based on your experience and research, and not hide behind the extraordinary arrogance of announcing that you know the mind of God! It's unattractive and cowardly.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

Hell, I don't know you! As far as other gay people, I ran into a few while stationed in CA.

Back in the 60s, you could hitch-hike on the East coast, ... no problems, ... but in CA, time you got in the car, you were asked "Are you open minded." I usually made it about 2 blocks before being dropped.

Seems I just wasn't "open minded" enough for a free ride from the sodomites. Actually, I really don't think it was my mind they wanted to open.

Btfkr Loc: just outside the Mile High City

It's like my Mom told my bigoted Uncle many years ago when he came up with the same story you just told. She said, "Don't flatter yourself. You aren't all that great." :thumbup: :thumbup: :P