Post #117,313
9/10/03 7:59:28 AM
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A question
Am I the only non-Baptist who wants to know why Baptists insist on hanging the Ten Commandments everywhere? Do they really need to remind themselves that often not to sin?
lincoln
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Post #117,317
9/10/03 8:08:41 AM
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Hell, yes.
Peter
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Post #117,320
9/10/03 8:21:01 AM
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Appropos, perhaps.
[link|http://slate.msn.com/id/2087621/|Christopher Hitchens] commentary about it at MSN. The row over the boulder-sized version of the so-called "Ten Commandments," and as to whether they should be exhibited in such massive shape on public property, misses the opportunity to consider these top-10 divine ordinances and their relationship to original intent. Recall that Hitchens is an atheist. If you're easily offended, don't read it. You've been warned... Cheers, Scott.
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Post #117,343
9/10/03 11:37:32 AM
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Interesting question
Since our Texas state leg instated mandatory daily pledges of allegiance and minute of silence last summer (your kid can get out of it if you file a "my child is traitorous, irreligious, and ungrateful" letter with the principal's office), I have wondered about a similar thing.
What is it about a solemn, open-ended pledge, voluntarily stated in front of witnesses, that makes it no good after 24 hours? I can't help but feel that there's an implicit message that even in the eyes of the highest civic authorities, the pledge of allegiance isn't worth the airwaves it's spoken on. Why are we so proud of this?
I'm not a complete idiot -- some parts are missing
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Post #117,348
9/10/03 1:07:43 PM
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Something to consider...
the history of public education in this country begins with
[link|http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/deluder.html|http://personal.pitn...rces/deluder.html]
The subjugation of the mythos for the ethos came about predominately post WWII with the "hidden agenda" of creating an "informed electorate" capable of functioning in a democratic society.
Ashton (perhaps frothing at this point and waiting to pounce)...
informed electorate? Natch... F+
Funny how some things are even more hilarious when the history is considered.
The "separation of church and state" came about as a result of the founders of this country coming from feudal Europe where the church was the state. These pilgrims all had competing agendas of "whose God was bigger" and didn't want the state to sanction any "one" church. Atheism was not a problem as they still banished or killed folks like that. Big distinction.
Back to the matters at hand in 2003... Does anyone in this country think that there is a lack of places for worship? Such a critical lack that we need to put religious icons in public places? Flip side of the coin... Do I really care if someone puts a big rock up in a park or a courthouse if it is not paid for by me - the taxpayer? Probably not... Much ado about nothing.
The real problem with these events is when they start getting legs - the big mo (as in momentum). If we let them put the big rock in the park, then they'll want to put it on street signs and eventually in my backyard. Etc... Not worth the risk.
If we go after tobacco companies for not taking responsibility for our own actions, it won't be long before we will go after fast food restaurants and motorcycle manufacturers. We take no personal responsibillity for our own actions - we want the state to step in - why shouldn't we expect them to provide our morality for us too? Why should we expect it won't be more of the same?
Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion...
Just a few thoughts,
Screamer
But take your time, think a lot,
Why, think of everything you've got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.
Y. Islam - Father and Son
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Post #117,397
9/10/03 9:11:15 PM
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Huh? wouldn't change a word, smartass.. :-\ufffd
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Post #117,610
9/12/03 9:32:18 AM
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If I could take this sideways a little...
I was raised in a Baptist church and never saw the behaviour you described, so I'm tempted to say it's a pecularity of the US Baptist church. Or at least some parts of it. But some things start as a neat idea, then they become a habit and over time turn into customs and then traditions.
Wade.
Is it enough to love
Is it enough to breathe
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed
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Is it enough to die
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be Anything but Ordinary
Please
| -- "Anything but Ordinary" by Avril Lavigne. |
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Post #117,658
9/12/03 4:00:33 PM
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I think.. you just neatly summarized
why the observation,
"All Religions [should] come with an expiration date."
..is neither cruel nor even areligious (certainly not 'aspiritual')
Homo-saps ARE That Way, and so - - -
Work! Reinvent your own,
or celebrate infinite gossip :-\ufffd
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Post #117,917
9/16/03 8:05:31 AM
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Another way to put it:
"All who ignore history are doomed to repeat it." :-)
I don't think churches pay anywhere near enough attention to church history.
Wade.
Is it enough to love
Is it enough to breathe
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed
| |
Is it enough to die
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be Anything but Ordinary
Please
| -- "Anything but Ordinary" by Avril Lavigne. |
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Post #118,083
9/18/03 7:08:01 AM
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Re: If I could take this sideways a little...
Yes - Southerners and rural Midwesterners (the Bible Belt). It's part of the total rejection of science and any other kind of rational inquiry in these places. You really can't understand how deep the anti-intellectual bias goes here, without living here. Also, the religious experience of these people is rather tawdry and unspiritual, "dimestore salvation" in the words of a Catholic friend. Along with this sort of trumpeting goes hatred of Blacks, Catholics, Jews, etc. and in general anyone who "ain't from here". My gut feeling is that all this stems back to the fact that the prime of Southern manhood was lost in our Civil War, leaving the dregs to repopulate the society. Because Baptists are locally autonomous, this means the loudest, vilest sinner in the 'hood (think Jimmy Swaggart) often sets the tone for the chruch and community.
Now, the odd thing is, the "true South" is far better represented by Methodists, who are very self-contained and unassuming.
-drl
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Post #118,188
9/19/03 8:16:24 AM
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I remember a song by Steve Taylor.
It's called "Guilty by Association" and in the notes for his Best Of album he says "...if you've never heard of the Christian Yellow Pages then proceed to the next song because this is too hard to explain."
Steve Taylor is a satirical Christian singer/song-writer. He pulls absolutely no punches.
Wade.
Is it enough to love
Is it enough to breathe
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed
| |
Is it enough to die
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be Anything but Ordinary
Please
| -- "Anything but Ordinary" by Avril Lavigne. |
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