According to the Bible..

[malakadang]

First sentence: But by saying that they're being "herded like sheep" isn't it implying that there is no choice on the part of the [as you described them] 'followers'?

I never said they're herded like sheep, but merely followers. Withstanding that; no. Unless coercion plays apart in it, which I wish religion wouldn't employ, the answer is no it does not imply the lack of choice.

I couldn't accept that people don't make choices which contribute, if not wholly, to a result, state of affairs or consequence. Also just out of curiosity would you say that 'meaning' and 'understanding' [in the context of what you said] are synonymous with each other?

I don't mind, depends how you use it, however, I don't want to get into an argument about the meaning of life, I didn't intend for that to be portrayed if is perceived that way.

Second sentence: I have two questions. How is the world crumbling as a direct result of religion? How would it crumble without religion?

Religion is the root cause of many of societies modern day issues, and consequently religion has caused many issues throughout society.

Be it during the time of Ancient Egypt, or the Popes disregard to the efficacy of condoms in countries where AIDS runs rampant. Religion is like brainwashing. Clearly condoms are an effective method of reducing the chance of pregnancy. Why then do so many religious followers believe otherwise disregarding empirical evidence?

How it would crumble without religion is more hypothetical.
But lets use an analogy.

Over 80% of the people in the world are religious to an extent. (hopefully we can agree)

The world consists of approximately 70% water.

Imagine that removed.

In the grand scheme of things, man kind is consistent of predominately followers, and poverty struck people with nothing in life. Religion gives these people a sense of hope, regardless whether this hope has consequential caveats on the end of it, hope nonetheless.

 

[Jimmy]

In response to those who claim that the laws to execute homosexuals don't apply to Christians because they are present in the Old Testament, I submit to you that:

Christ himself did not wish to abolish the law of the Old Testament.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

St. Paul reaffirmed various Old Testament laws as being worthy of death (including homosexuality).

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Christ reaffirmed the importance of the Old Testament Mosaic Law, and according to St. Paul, homosexuality is a "vile affection" comparable to fornication, murder, deceit, and disobedience to parents (all capital crimes under the Old Testament theocracy). He goes on to reiterate the teaching of the Old Testament that all who commit these acts are "worthy of death."

While certain restrictions clearly no longer apply to Christians (ex. Christ specifically condemned the practice of killing those who break the Sabbath, and St. Paul never reaffirms the importance of this day; neither man reiterates the importance of any dietary restrictions), even St. Paul, the "Apostle to the Gentiles," listed homosexuals, fornicators, and those who disobey their parents as being capital offenders.

So to those of you who claim homosexuality isn't worth of death according to the Bible, I'm calling bullshit.

 

[Rsaccounttrader]

Hi Jimmy, remember me
While I am an atheist, I believe that the backwards thoughts in religious texts written thousands of years ago should not be taken at face value. I think that not only should believers in the religion be wary in following these passages, but critics of the religion should be wary in using the passages to discredit the religious work.

 

[Jimmy]

Hi Jimmy, remember me
While I am an atheist, I believe that the backwards thoughts in religious texts written thousands of years ago should not be taken at face value. I think that not only should believers in the religion be wary in following these passages, but critics of the religion should be wary in using the passages to discredit the religious work.

Yes, I do remember you.

While your initial point about believers not taking the teachings of their holy books seriously is quite valid (I can only imagine how awful it would be should people actually follow the teachings of these works!), I'm a bit confused as to why you think these horrible teachings shouldn't be used to discredit the work.

 

[ShockWaveee]

Yes, I do remember you.

While your initial point about believers not taking the teachings of their holy books seriously is quite valid (I can only imagine how awful it would be should people actually follow the teachings of these works!), I'm a bit confused as to why you think these horrible teachings shouldn't be used to discredit the work.

He is referring to using them out of context to make it appear worse than it is. However, I find it hard to stomach it when the Bible is quoted as saying gays deserve to be put to death. I don't see any other meaning you could possibly associate with that type of verse.

Not bible bashing.. just using an example.

 

[CashMan]

Some guy thinks he interpreted the Bible and it says the world will end on saturday. He also spent his life savings promoting it too.

I'm going to laugh really hard when Sunday comes and he has no more money

Another funny thing is, he chooses to let his life revolve around something which, if it did go his way, nobody would ever know and be able to give him credit for it. The other outcome is he was wrong, has no money, and faces the humiliation of living his life knowing he wasted his life on.. yeah, you get me

 

[oblivion9032]

Another funny thing is, he chooses to let his life revolve around something which, if it did go his way, nobody would ever know and be able to give him credit for it.

Lol I never thought of it like that

 

[Sartana]

Some guy thinks he interpreted the Bible and it says the world will end on saturday. He also spent his life savings promoting it too.

I'm going to laugh really hard when Sunday comes and he has no more money

I lol'd at people who actually believed in that old geezer... whats sad is hes not even apologizing on what he did.

 

[elvy]

the bible also says to kill gays and to practice "an eye for an eye"

The bible mentions "eye for an eye" in the old testament, which is Judaism.

 

[HealthyHabits]

Bro u had the wrong idea
That was human interputation
The bible says no man kno the day nor the hour.

 

[Chiilii8]

It's wrong... It's human interpretations.

 

[Tckr]

The bible mentions "eye for an eye" in the old testament, which is Judaism.

The old testament is believed by Christians too.

 

[Trinity19]

He is referring to using them out of context to make it appear worse than it is. However, I find it hard to stomach it when the Bible is quoted as saying gays deserve to be put to death. I don't see any other meaning you could possibly associate with that type of verse.

Not bible bashing.. just using an example.

I'm not pro-gay bashing or anything but when I can support a side if I think it's right then I'll help it out.

The bible in its context gives the idea that being gay is a crime, with death being the punishment for the crime. Which is different than saying kill all gays because we hate them.

 

[McCartney]

By the way you're wrong. Some crazy fucker made up this so called prophecy and claimed they were biblical calculations. The christian bible did not in fact state that judgement day would be on may 21st.

 

[Trinity19]

By the way you're wrong. Some crazy fucker made up this so called prophecy and claimed they were biblical calculations. The christian bible did not in fact state that judgement day would be on may 21st.

Obviously? He just threw a bunch of useless calculations in the air hell the catholic church even said they didn't agree with him because well....the catholic religion doesn't believe in the rapture lol. The protestants came up with the rapture, Christians believe in the return of Jesus and the last judgment not the rapture.

 

[T0x1cHax0rz]

who wrote the bible? people. different people write different versions. even if the bible did come from god which i doubt, people keep re-writing it. you cant make certain anything in it is true. Saturday came and went like any other day except for the people who really thought it was the end. just like all other doomsday predictions which i don't know if they did or did not come from the bible. you cant know for sure anything you know about god if people told you about it.

 

[Trinity19]

who wrote the bible? people. different people write different versions. even if the bible did come from god which i doubt, people keep re-writing it. you cant make certain anything in it is true. Saturday came and went like any other day except for the people who really thought it was the end. just like all other doomsday predictions which i don't know if they did or did not come from the bible. you cant know for sure anything you know about god if people told you about it.

You don't even need to go into that length of explaining it, they use the bible to prove the bible, you can't do that. It's like me using the book "the cat in the hat" to prove the cat in the hat exists. It makes no sense.