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How America’s Biblical ignorance enables the Christian right
Salon/Alternet ^ | 7/10/14

Posted on 07/10/2014 4:08:45 PM PDT by Faith Presses On

The Bible doesn’t mention anything about contraception or abortion, but this hasn’t stopped 89 million American evangelicals acting as if “thou shall not consume a pregnancy pill” were one of the Ten Commandments. For the benefit of my mostly American audience, it’s not. In fact, the first four of the Hebrew God’s Decalogue amount to nothing more than “maniacal throat clearing,” to steal a phrase from the late Christopher Hitchens.

The decision of the five conservative justices to rule in favor of Hobby Lobby, thus granting religious personhood to 90 percent of U.S. corporations, which means that certain for-profit companies may refuse to cover forms of birth control they find morally objectionable, has been debated from every angle except one: the theological perspective.

An overwhelming majority of hyper-religious Americans, and Americans in general, are incapable of debating the theological aspect of their faith. Not only do a staggering majority of Americans have no idea what is or isn’t written in the Bible, they have not a morsel of knowledge as it pertains to just about all aspects of historical context and biblical scholarship.

(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...


TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: religiousleft
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To: Ingtar

This is a good one:

The following describes John the Baptist, who is still in his mother’s womb, leaping for joy at the presence of Jesus, who is still in his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:39-45

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.


41 posted on 07/10/2014 6:04:52 PM PDT by donna (Pray for revival.)
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To: DManA

BTTT!


42 posted on 07/10/2014 6:08:49 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Faith Presses On

” On hot-button social issues, from same-sex marriage to abortion, biblical passages are invoked without any real understanding of the context or true meaning.”

Here we go. Historical context...like the Constitution?

I’ll tell you about Biblical historical context. Abortion is modern day child sacrifice which was described as “passing through the fire” back then. Do the research.

” it’s important to understand how social conservatives have morphed Jesus into a muscular, masculine warrior as a means of combating what they see as the modernization of society.”

Watch out, bro, Jesus is no longer the servant but will be returning as the Jewish Messiah Warrior King who believes in the if-you-are-not-for-me-then-you-are-against-me Rules of Engagement.

As for cherry-picking, I am looking forward to reading about which laws in the First Covenant Jesus will be implementing during His rule of PEACE. I doubt it will be any of those referring to Himself, since they are fulfilled, but the others I am not sure about. Ruling with a rod of iron in true justice (try getting away with anything with 2/3 of the angels on patrol along with those who are participants in the first resurrection) is what I want to study. Have to break the habit of visiting here so often.


43 posted on 07/10/2014 6:10:27 PM PDT by huldah1776
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To: Faith Presses On
In fact, the first four of the Hebrew God’s Decalogue amount to nothing more than “maniacal throat clearing,” to steal a phrase from the late Christopher Hitchens.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me...

The late Christopher Hitchens is burning in hell as we speak. There is no "free beer" in hell to "cool his tongue" as the rich man found in Luke 16:

"Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame."

After Christ's return (2nd coming) and at the end of the mentioned "1000 years" when Satan is released from the pit as God is preparing to resurrect the dead before he creates a new earth and new heaven, God casts Satan into the lake of fire (Revelation 21) where the beast and his false prophet "are." (Rev 20:10) They weren't consumed. Hell's torment lasts forever.

All the dead in hell are now given resurrected bodies and are judged at the Great White Throne (Rev 21:12ff). Having been given a respite from hell's torment and possibly the false sense that their suffering is over, they discover to their horror that they were mistaken. They are cast bodily into the lake of fire where the smoke of their torment will rise forever (Rev 14:11).

They did not have to go to hell. They were given a chance to receive forgiveness of sin and receive eternal life, but chose instead to be judged by their works. ("For whosoever shall keep the whole law, yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10) This is what Christopher Hitchens now knows. But it is too late for him. He may express the same remorse as the rich man.

I pray thee therefore, father [Abraham], that thou wouldest send him to my father's house. For I have five brothren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Luke 16:27,28)
But Abraham answers that "If they hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
44 posted on 07/10/2014 7:25:19 PM PDT by nonsporting
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To: Faith Presses On

I would think that Genesis 9:7 would be enough of a commandment, as long as we’re looking for commandments. This is in fact, IMO, the basis for the judgment against Onan, notwithstanding Mark Twain’s remark, “ ... and the Lord slew Onan, for the Lord never could stand indelicacy.”


45 posted on 07/10/2014 8:17:22 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: Bryan24

Salon.com??


46 posted on 07/10/2014 8:22:59 PM PDT by Kackikat (ELECTED officials took an OATH...get off your cowardly a$ses and be A PATRIOT now!)
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To: Faith Presses On
The decision of the five conservative justices to rule in favor of Hobby Lobby

....

47 posted on 07/10/2014 8:28:42 PM PDT by SwankyC (Democrats and Republicans agree, govt coercion is OK if it fits your idea of whats OK)
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To: Faith Presses On
Having people ignorant of the Bible is what would DELIGHT the atheist/humanist elites that presume to control the world. Abortion and abortion-inducing drugs are prohibited by the commandment, “Thou shalt not murder.”. Another one that could potentially eliminate the “need” for either is, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”, which includes fornication. I doubt even non-Christians don't know those two “biggies”. It is just that they have allowed secular, anti-God forces to diminish and pervert what God has said so that everyone just does what is right in his own eyes - a prescription for societal suicide.
48 posted on 07/10/2014 8:34:01 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: Faith Presses On
This hysterical protesting by women that "It's not my boss's business.." concerning birth control, omits that they ARE asking the "boss" to pay for their birth control and abortions. Shouldn't that then entitle them to decide if they want to do that? When I was working for a major corporation, if you wanted either, YOU paid for it yourself. Nothing is preventing these women from getting these services if they want them, just that expecting the business to pay for it, too, is unreasonable. We aren't talking about blood pressure pills or diabetes meds!
49 posted on 07/10/2014 8:39:56 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: Fuzz

That wasn’t a poll of bible knowledge or of Christian knowledge.


50 posted on 07/10/2014 10:06:55 PM PDT by ansel12 (LEGAL immigrants, 30 million 1980-2012, continues to remake the nation's electorate for democrats)
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To: Faith Presses On

I know what the opposite of “Choose life” is.


51 posted on 07/11/2014 6:36:42 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: Faith Presses On
Not only do a staggering majority of Americans have no idea what is or isn’t written in the Bible, they have not a morsel of knowledge as it pertains to just about all aspects of historical context and biblical scholarship.

Translation: Most stupid Americans don't know that Genesis 1-11 is mythology.

52 posted on 07/11/2014 7:08:48 AM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Throne and Altar! [In Jerusalem!!!])
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