Is Christianity Good for the World?

It is the same as saying that Christianity is good because it takes away the need to think for oneself. A majority of people obviously prefer to be sheep instead of free thinkers.

hmm it’s something to do with how it’s supposed to be better to be a slave and having faith in god while having a miserable existance than being free of both serving others and serving god. it’s all about character building i suppose. the more miserable someone is, the more likely they are to turn to god! saying it’s wrong to wear clothing of mixed fabrics is ridiculous.

hmm now i’m tempted to go into a big rant about religion!! ah well, i’ll try and contain myself :p *random*

It seems to me that this argument falls flat becuase no document can be expected to cover all possibilities. I don’t think the bible specifically mentions the evils of ivory trading for instance, or pollution, though they are almost universally accepted as “bad”. The bible does ostensibly promote a “love thy neighbour” philosophy, which could be extended to include potential slaves however.

On the other hand, I don’t see why atheism can’t provide a moral code. As an atheist, I find the assertion that I am automatically amoral, insulting. Surely reliance on a moral code, now centuries old, is not good for a dynamic society. Isn’t an interpretation of the moral code outlined in the Koran, at least partly responsible for some recent terrorist atrocities?

Define slavery.

God, should he/she/it exist, didn’t write the Bible. People did, and I’m sure they took quite a lot of liberties with it. I personally don’t take the Bible too seriously. Though I always find it rather disheartening that a person would need a religion’s fixed standard to dictate to them what is right and wrong, instead of knowing for themselves based on fundamental compassion.

http://www.amazon.com/RELIGION-ETIOLOGY-ILLNESS-Henry-Jones/dp/0615138446/ref=sr_1_1/002-1713590-8236821?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178965227&sr=1-1

Notliberal, are you seriously trying to suggest that there is some definition of slavery that doesn’t involve human rights abuse? Or that the type of slavery endorsed (or at least not condemned) within the bible is OK?

slavery… the institution where one person is owned by another person as property.

“It seems to me that this argument falls flat becuase no document can be expected to cover all possibilities.” I disagree. I’m not saying in this entry, “the bible doesn’t condemn this one thing that I’ve thought of…therefore x” I’m arguing that the person who thinks they get their fixed morals from the Bible must not be all that concerned with slavery.

I’m not saying in this entry, “the bible doesn’t condemn this one thing that I’ve thought of…therefore x” I thought you were saying, the bible doesn’t condemn slavery (x), therefore people who use the bible as a strict moral code don’t care about slavery. I still say that, unless the bible is considered a definitive and comprehensive set of moral standards, the argument fails.

As I said, the bible doesn’t condemn ivory trading (as far as I know), but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Christians don’t care about the evils of the ivory trade does it?

” but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Christians don’t care about the evils of the ivory trade does it? ” No, of course not. Which is my point. Christians have moral outrage over tons of issues that aren’t mentioned as “morally outrageous” in the Bible. So those Christians, who want to simultaneously say that they get their morals from the Bible are wrong.

I’m thinking that perhaps turning the nile to blood, killing first born egyptians, general nasty plauge stuff when the pharoh wouldn’t let the hebrew slaves go was pretty much an indication that god was none to keen on the whole slave buisness. But, I think arguing the bible as proof of anything pro or con is a fools endeavor.

As far as the clothing buisness that you don’t want to get into, but mention in three out of six sentences, most christians don’t seem to take much stock in any such restrictions (e.g. not eating unclean meat, keeping the sabbath holy {let alone knowing which day it is})However, orthodox Jews, who tend to read the thing seriously in the original text, do tend to be “bound” by law.

Out of curiousity why do you leave Jews out of your anti-religious rants? Anti-semetism or fear of being viewed as anti-semetic? I mean any criticism of the bible in its entirity should include the Jews as well. As much as Judeo-christian belief is a nice little phrase, they are not really all that similiar, as evidenced,in your be;ief at least, for instance, in your binding clothing statement.

You forgot to mention bible literalists using it to justify slavery.

I think that slavery issue is covered under the covenant of marriage. Your body is not your own but the husbands. 🙂 Just kidding! The issue is covered not neceessarily in the condemnation of slavery but rather the witness of those who are enslaved which would go against the grain of society. It would tell the slave to do his work heartily unto the Lord. Is this acceptance. No, it is the

realization of the practice of slavery. One could say that working for wages is slavery is a sense. I know I have little choice but to keep my job or suffer the consequences. Nonetheless, the Bible does not deal with each and every issue of sin but it does give us a pattern and the Holy Spirit to determine what is sin in our conscience.

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (Romans 2:15 KJV) It does cover some issues such as a person who was once enslaved to sin who is now a slave unto righteousness and thus that person is not his own anymore. Believers are called servants/slaves of God etc.

I believe this deals with a heart conviction that eventually leads to action with our hands and feet. Where much is given much is required. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9 KJV)

Almost forgot to mention that the Bible while it certainly does deal witht moral issues that are present in this age is not primarily concerned with mans life here on earth but with his eternal soul.

slavery back then was a choice, in order to be housed, clothed and fed.

“slavery back then was a choice, in order to be housed, clothed and fed.” – Christian Hope I’m glad you recognize that the Bible never condemns slavery.