Imagine if someone of similar ilk to what you're saying, got in a position of great power.
Hang on! There already has been.
Do you refer to the Pope and his ban on the use of condoms?
There have been so many horrid religious regimes through out history Jan it is hard to know which one you mean...but what I suggest is really not in the same catagory you suggest. All I seek is that folk be educated on what they are signing up for...you know have them read the fine print of a contract. .. I mean they join in on the basis that God is love and everything is nice but that is not what is in the fine print is it....
What would be so terrible to have folk read their bibles cover to cover apart from perhaps many realising that they are required to kill folk they find working on the day of rest and that slavery has Gods stamp of approval.
It must have been a worry for the church when the bible became available to everyone and in a language other than Latin such that what horrors it contained could be revealed.
Where in this thread have any theist alluded to that expression?
I did not indicate I found such lies in this thread.
And to be honest my belief that such lies are told comes only from impressions formed by watching that atheist show hosted by Matt Delahunty because of comments theists callers make about atheists and claiming that is what they have been told.
Not really good evidence I suppose but as we are discussing religion I feel evidence is not really necessary...Let me put it this way..I am certain that I am right and I am prepared to go with my feeling on this one.
What next? Concentration camps? Murder biblical teachers, and scholars? Burn down places of worship?
You have to stop reading that old testament Jan we dont do it that way anymore.
But certainly it is worth drawing attention to the cruel and nasty stuff in the bible...and that is really what I am driving at when I suggest these believers actually should read their bible to find out what they are signing up for...I think not many believers realise that as part of their faith they are required to kill so many people for so many different sins nor would most tealise that their good book is somewhat immoral as evidenced by clear rules as to slave ownership which don't prohibit slave ownershio but regards slaves ownership as entirely moral.
Really how many folk are aware of the bibles position on slavery...Not one believers that I have met and asked...and they are just so shocked..as they should be...slavery is immoral and wrong but here it is in the bible presented as entirely acceptable...the fruit has a rotten patch and you can not deny that..eat around the rotten part if you want but for me I would throw it out and get something fresh with no rotting bits.
I just wonder how many believers would stay with the program if they were to read their bible cover to cover.
There is no sidestepping the fact that the bible is really not a good place to seek decent morals which is funny given most believers are convinced their decent morality comes from a flawless God inspired book..one good read will show any reader the reality that the bible is full of terrible instruction to kill others, how to manage your slaves, how to oppress women and mostly full of made up stories to explain a mysterious world to bronze age people who did not know where the Sun went at night.
Reading the bible will cast doubt on the proposition that is the word of a perfect God and show it to be made up stories from the bronze age with no relevance to our modern era.
What surprises me Jan is your uptake to suggest a next step of murder and concentration camps..that may be your way but atheists are peaceful rational people who find that approach sickening...we dont want to revisit the witch hunts or the inquisition or any of the various horror approaches believers employ against the gentle peaceful bible reading atheist.
You're a dangerous man, Alex.
Jan you wont sway me with flattery.
Through out history it has been those who think about the stupidity and inequity of the prevailing system and point out flaws who are branded dangerous by those who seek to dupe the inoccent and manipulate the powerful to drive a religious agenda to control wealth and nations.
Why would you call me dangerous?
All I would like to see is that religious organisations pay tax and that children are not terrorised into belief by threat of hell.
Both of these ideas would seem progressive and beneficial to the community.
Alex
