Bible passages for the Right-wing religious wackos

[MadisonProgressive]

I am not a bible scholar, but I'm sure there are people here that can contribute. What bible passages can we find that basically bolsters our values and flies in the face of the RW religious wackos 'values'?

[xfundy]

1. go here

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com

Actually they focus on the weirdest ones, but good stuff there.

[Oreo]

30. Great Site!

Who would have thought the secret of the radical right has been in the Bible all along!

If you are to be a good Christian you must try to know nothing.
1 Corinthians 2:2-5

I guess shrub takes that verse very literally!

[AuntiBush]

2. The meaning of the word "HAUGHTY"

"As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty... They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share."
~1 TIMOTHY 6:17-18

[0007]

25. junior hates the poor and loves the rich!

junior is scornfully and condescendingly proud and vainglorious

[texastoast]

3. The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes. It also contains the Lord’s Prayer; the Golden Rule (“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”); the commandments to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and cast not pearls before swine; the image of false prophets as wolves in sheep’s clothing; and many other well-known teachings, including: “Ye are the salt of the Earth,” “Love your enemies,” “Consider the lilies of the field,” “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” “Ask, and it shall be given you,” and “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

I can find no other passage that so definitively points out how very unChristian George Bush is. Jesus warned us about people like him.

He truly is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[MemphisTiger]

11. There is no "commandment"about turning the other cheek, etc.

I would suggest not arguing something you know very little about. If you use the wrong terminology just once, you will be exposed trying to know something you don't. If you are going to argue these "teachings", you should also learn their context. That is where the power lies.

[texastoast]

12. Excusez-moi?

Umm, I didn't say there was a Commandment. I believe "Bible passages" were asked for. I pay a lot more attention to what Jesus said than to the Old Testament. I work hard to understand the context of what is written. I read and judge for myself.


"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."


Matthew 5.38-41

[Der Blaue Engel]

28. And I do believe anything Jesus tells them to do trumps the OT

You know, like stoning. ("Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.")

These ARE Jesus' commandments (e.g., "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, that your joy may be full."), and they are to be followed over any Mosaic Law or 10 Commandments.

There are many verses in the New Testament that instruct Christians to reject such obsolete laws as the Levitican "abominations," and to follow instead the commandments of Jesus Christ. That's why they call themselves Christians, is it not?

It's amazing that most of Christ's followers seem to have missed this.

[texastoast]

32. Thank you

I don't feel so "exposed" anymore. ;-)

[Der Blaue Engel]

35. It's okay

I think that any strictures on exposing oneself went out with the OT too. ;)

[MemphisTiger]

37. I disagree respectfully

The Old Testament is God's word. Jesus came to fulfill God's word. Therefore, the New Testament is God's word as well as the OT. This view depends on how you view scripture. Some believe it some don't. I think Catholics disregard the OT for the most part. Some other may be more informed here on that than I am.

[texastoast]

38. So you think Leviticus is still applicable?

I don't. I think the book contains laws which served the culture as interpreted by the men of the time. Much of it is in direct contravention to what Jesus said.

The Ten Commandments are still very applicable because they are universal rules that help life work among people.

Jesus manifested God on earth. Peter conveyed what he believed Jesus would have thought about things, but, for example, I can't believe Jesus would have gotten onto a woman for cutting her hair (especially if she had lice--ewwww).

Read the red words. All the rest is interpretation.

[ProfessorGAC]

39. Then Why Isn't Everyone Still Jewish

Your statement fails the logic test. If the teachings of Christ don't supercede what came before, then there is no value in following Christ as a Christian. It would simply be a modestly different version of Judaism, nor a separate religious structure.

It doesn't matter whether we're talking Catholic, Baptist, or Coptic. They're ALL Christians, which be definition is followers of the teachings of, and believers in the divinity of Christ. If Christ is divine, HE'S GOD! So, anything he says is the word of GOD!

You can't have it both ways, unless logic doesn't matter to you.
The Professor

[MemphisTiger]

36. That refers to personal relationships

That is part of the context of the whole chapter

It does not refer to nations if that was where you were going with that passage.

[texastoast]

41. Can you point out

where Jesus says nations are exempt--anywhere in the Sermon? I mean, nations are made of people, who have personal relationships. Point out exactly where you think Jesus quantified that nations are exempt. Jesus was a pretty inclusive kind of guy. His teachings remain breathtakingly simple if you just take him at his word and not try to find some wiggle room like the "God-talks-to-ME" shrubito idiot.

[VTMechEngr]

50. The Turn the cheek passage has a deeper meaning...

In those times, a man would strike a subordinate with the back of his hand. If you turned your head, he would then strike you in the other cheek with his palm, which was dishonorable. It is a sign of passive Resistance.

The extra mile is the Same. Roman law required a Jew to carry a romans cloak for a mile. By going the extra mile, you were providing a bit of passive Resistance to their laws.

Christ really started the whole liberal Resistance movement. Makes you rethink this doesn't it. The turning the cheek is still a defiance of violence, but it also had the honor issue attached. Many people think you should stand still and be beaten, but the actual meaning was to dishonor your opponent with his own vile acts. MLK knew this meaning very well when people saw blacks being hosed down and beaten. They may never have had to fight the whites in the south, but they let them dishonor themselves and move the civil rights movement along.

[0007]

21. “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”

I believe that came from a Chinaman name Confucius

[mongo]

God hates shrimp

Leviticus 11:9-12 says:
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Kind of puts a wrench into their "we take the Bible as the literal word of god, doesn't it.

[AuntiBush]

5. Oh, yes!

Isn't shelled seafood of any form (crab, shrimp, etc.) referred to as "crustasions," and the reason it's such a sinful, immoral act is "crustasios eat flesh, and raw filth."

Just remembered: "Curstasions are the scavengers of the sea." If I find the passage I'll add it later.

[texastoast]

6. That was Leviticus

Have you read the "Dr. Laura" letter about Leviticus? It is hysterical. For you:

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

[AuntiBush]

7. LOLOL!!!

Oh jeez!!!!! I can't stop laughing! LOLOL :) :) :) LOLOL!!! Can I print it out, and hang it by the TV when our wonderfully unbias newscasters appear? LOLOL Thank you, TexasToast! I needed that one.

[texastoast]

10. Sure.

I just love reading it again from time to time. :hi:

[Nothing Without Hope]

22. Here's a version of the Dr. Laura letter with the bible verses included

For the original version of the "Open Letter To Dr. Laura," including the full biblical verses referred to (in two different translations, yet) PLUS the successful search for the Letter's original author, see this link:

http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/laura.htm

As explained at the linked site, the original author of the Open Letter To Dr. Laura was J. Kent Ashcraft. Whatever he does ordinarily, in this piece he achieved pure genius. His Letter should be kept handy at all times by progressives as defense against obnoxious sermonizing wingnuts as well as worried people who have been troubled by what these poisonmongers say. I've passed it on to several young homosexual people, for example, who have been tramatized by being told that the bible labels them abominations.

Truly, this is better than any scholarly exposition at puncturing the false posturing windbags that try to bend the bible to their own sick hatreds.

As Mark Twain said,
"Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense."

My personal favorite, by the way, is the one about owning Canadians.

[ProfessorGAC]

40. My Friend Received A Newsletter With That In It

Just last week. It's a hoot! Also, your version is missing the end of letter "e". The original states "Am i morally obligated to kill him myself, or should i ask the police to do it?"
The Professor

[AuntiBush]

4. GREEY, COVET, HYPOCRITE

Greediness: This is defined basically as "wanting more, more, more," as in "never having enough," and doing anything that's evil to get "it." One greed’s for many things, not necessarily money though not excluded, such as "power," or "covetousness," to name just a few. Interestingly, the word "covetousness" is the practice of "covet" meaning "a strong desire to want something, in a very wrongful manner," or "with an evil intent and purpose."

Covet: Relating to the above word "Greediness" was and certainly is still considered "sinful behavior" that "angers God." (Jos. 7) Mark, in the New Testament refers to the word "greed" as "avarice," or "one of the evils that defiles a man." (Mark 7:22). Pretty powerful words there, huh.

Hypocrite: "If one refers to Mt. 6:2, 5, 16, 7:5, 15:7 and in Lk 10:15 you'll find the definition as "one who performs;" "one who puts on a show for religious and/or in a ritualistic manner;" "to practice a form known as pastoral, or preaching."

Jesus, when describing the Pharisees and scribes he did so as "one who follows the law to the letter, but was blind to living its intention."
That's what a true "hypocrite" is.

Source: Me

[Canuckistanian]

47. A hypocrite is one who prays in public

Instead of privately, behind closed doors, clearly implying that those who do pray in public are only doing it for show.

[deutsey]

8. Matthew 25: 31-46

Especially the latter verses where the false followers of Christ are chastised for not caring for the "least of these".

[deutsey]

13. I'd also send the parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37

You should put this story in context by saying that Jesus says you should love God with all your might and your neighbor as yourself. When he's asked who is our neighbor, Jesus uses the parable of the Samaritan to illustrate who he means.

Samaritans were reviled by many of the Jews of Jesus' time and were considered outsiders and heretical. For Jesus to cite a Samaritan as an example of someone doing God's will by loving one's neighbor would have been quite shocking to his listeners.

Perhaps akin to someone today telling a Christian evangelical audience a story about a Muslim being a better example of someone loving his neighbor than a Republican or an Evangelical.

[Squeech]

42. Yay!

I want a bumper sticker that just reads "MATTHEW 25:40"

[Sandpiper]

9. Anti War/Pacifist verses

Matthew 5:

38 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.



43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;


Matthew 26:

51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

[Chi]

14. These might apply

I'm not well read on the bible, I am just repeating what I've heard.

'It is easier to thread a camel through the eye of a needle, than it is to get a rich man in the Kingdom of Heaven'

'thou shalt not make a parade out of thy piety, though shall pray in a closet'

[Der Blaue Engel]

15. How about Jesus on separation of church and state?

"Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Matthew 22:21

Note: The problem you will have with these people is that they have preprogrammed answers for all of this. I've been them. There's no arguing with them, because to listen to you means to doubt what they have been told is God's Word. "Him who hath ears to hear, let him hear." Well, they don't have any. Sad, but true.

[Cats Against Frist]

43. That's what I was going to say -- they'll just "revise" it to mean

something else. Like the eye of the needle is a "small door," and that "meek" means you like drive an SUV and you don't take no shit from A-rabs.

They just make the shit up as they go along.

[silverlib]

16. Try this link from the religion forum

http://www.yuricareport.com/Religion/TheBloodGuiltyChurches.html

A ton of good stuff (very long; 58 pages)

<snip> The situation so closely resembles an event recorded in the Bible I was stunned by what I read. The churches need to recall an ancient “election”—the first of its kind in Israel’s history, which dramatically reveals God’s dedication to the concept of free-will as expressed in the people’s choice. Had God been inclined to set aside public opinion and the preference of the people for a king, Saul would not have been “chosen by the people” to replace God’s man, Samuel.<5>

The significant thing about Samuel’s defeat is that it marked the end of a highly advanced if decentralized system of jurisprudence in Israel, where learned men sat as judges and interpreted and enunciated the laws of the nation. Samuel’s defeat marked a landmark change in Israel; it ended the rule of law, which was replaced by the spurious rule of men to the utter peril of the people.

As we shall see, the ascension of George W. Bush to the seat of power in America has brought its own challenge to the American system of jurisprudence.

Samuel’s disappointment was evident and God responded with words that are applicable to the churches today. Addressing Samuel, God said:

“They have not rejected you—they have rejected Me that I should not be King over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7 Amplified Version.)

Like the people living in Samuel’s time, this essay will reveal that the churches of America today have rejected the words of God in the Bible to follow and idolatrize sinners.

We must not forget that the people who chose Saul over Samuel paid a terrible price. It’s worth a review of the scriptures to read the warning Samuel delivered to the people. It makes one feel as if we are reliving a page in ancient history. God instructed Samuel to warn the people of exactly what would happen to them if they insisted on choosing the handsome, charming Saul<6> over God’s man. The biblical passage paraphrased says:

1) This leader “…will take your sons and appoint them to” various positions in his army;

2) He will make some “commanders,” and require others to make “his instruments of war and equipment”;

3) He will redistribute the wealth of the nation: he will confiscate your property and give it to his favorite followers; he will take your daughters to be cooks and bakers and he will take your servants for his own service; he will take a tenth of your grain and vineyards and give it to his officers; he will take a tenth of your flocks “and you shall be his slaves”;

4) When you cry out against his doings—God will not hear you—for you chose the man for yourselves! (Derived from 1 Samuel 8:11-18 Amplified Version.)

Had we been able to recognize and extrapolate the truth from the past we might have seen that the scripture passage accurately warned us what would happen if a man with the characteristics of George W. Bush ever seized the White House.

[RUDUing2]

17. Chaper 2 of the Book of James

James Chapter 2

2:1My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. 2:2For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in; 2:3and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;" 2:4haven't you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him? 2:6But you have dishonored the poor man. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? 2:7Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? 2:8However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. 2:9But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 2:10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all. 2:11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 2:12So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom. 2:13For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2:14What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? 2:15And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, 2:16and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it? 2:17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. 2:18Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

2:19You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. 2:20But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? 2:21Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 2:22You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 2:23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. 2:24You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. 2:25In like manner wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 2:26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. Well, this isn't a bible passage

but I created this little 'holy' card based on the part where Jesus said, no one can come to the father except through me. I've just printed up a bunch to put on fundie cars.

[TWiley]

19. Galatians Chapter 5

Verse 1 to 21 describes the common repuke or fundamentalist, verse 22 to the end describes the common liberal.

[Lerkfish]

20. matthew 7:1

Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged.

this is the single most ignored passage by fundies....EVER.

[TWiley]

24. Galations 5 describes the spirit of the wicked,

and the spirit of the blessed. They obviously fall into the first group.

The only time that fundies use Mathew 7:1 is when someone judges THEM. They never use it when they dish out the grief on others.

[Totally Committed]

23. And, The Regressive Wingnut Bushies Have them All...

Proverbs 6:16-18

There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

TC

[RUDUing2]

26. website for you

http://www.liberalslikechrist.org/index.htm

[merh]

27. The book of Matthew

Matthew 6
Prayer
5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

It is by love that all men will know us as Christians. It is by our actions and our lifes, not just by our words. If my words are inopposite to my actions, if I cannot repect the wishes of another, then my words are empty and useless. If my prayers offend others and show them that I do not respect them, then my words have offended them and I have gone against the wishes of my God. If I love my brother as myself, then I will not do something that offends them. If public prayer is offensive to another, it not only goes against Jesus' teaching as found in Matthew 6, it also goes against the teachings of Christ, to love my neighbor as myself. It is through my respect for others that they will know me as a child of God. To love my enemies and to pray for them, to love those who have a different belief system or a different understanding than my own, to respect them as children of God, despite our differences, that is what God wants and what Jesus taught us.

Matthew
The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

[RUDUing2]

29. here is an OT one...since they seem to focus on the OT so much..

Isaiah
Chapter 58

Like a nation that has done what is just and not abandoned the law of their God; They ask me to declare what is due them, pleased to gain access to God.
3
"Why do we fast, and you do not see it? afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?" Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers.
4
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high!
5
Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: That a man bow his head like a reed, and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
6
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke;
7
Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.
8
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
10
If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday;

[merh]

44. They shouldn't focus on the old testament! That would make them

pre-christians! Christians are supposed to be obeying the teachings of Christ and living their live in his example. When asked about the old testament "law" he said the he did not come to change it, but to fulfill it.

The old testament was about everything that happened in anticipation of the COMING OF THE SON OF GOD! Since he came and his life and words are memoralized in the New Testament, it would only seem appropriate that "CHRISTIANS" focus on the New Testament.

Ask them why they ignore the teachings of Christ, they generally don't have an answer.

[theresistance]

31. Anything from the four gospels!

I think the preaching of Jesus has been twisted and actually ignored by the Reich wing religious extremists. For example, he actually preached peace, turning the other cheek etc...Religious fanatics are quick to quote the Old Testament for things like "an eye for an eye". They seem to forget that the teaching of Jesus supersedes the Old Testament. Even in Australia, our PM Howard said on radio that the Bible justifies a "just war" (to justify the Iraq war). That is absolute garbage - where did Jesus say this?

[walkbyfaith7]

33. Matthew 23

“Conservative” Christians are modern-day Pharisees, blind leaders of the blind. (Matthew 23) They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for men to see. They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in church. They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them Father, Pastor, Prophet, Bishop, Evangelist, and Apostle, although we only have one Master and we all are brothers. They are hypocrites who shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; they, themselves, do not enter, nor will they let those enter who are trying to. They travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, they make him twice as much a son of hell as they are. They are blind guides who preach against gay marriage and abortion, but neglect the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. They strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. They clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. They are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. On the outside they appear to people as righteous but on the inside they are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. They build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and say, “If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” By doing so they testify against themselves that they are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. They are snakes! They are a brood of vipers! How will they escape being condemned to hell? They stood up in their pulpits this election season and essentially said, “A vote against the GOP candidate is a vote against God,” blasheming the very name of God among unbelievers (Romans 2:24). The very fact that they endorsed a political candidate from a religious forum makes them lawbreakers at best. (Religious organizations are prohibited from engaging in political activities if they claim to operate under rules governing religious nonprofits.) By their conduct, they place themselves in the same category as those they claim to despise, those mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2-5: “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers . . . unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (without self-control), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” From such, America, turn away.

[Sandpiper]

34. For the Money-grubbing, Capitalism Worshippers: 1 Timothy 6:10

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

[Aristus]

45. If you want an earful of the filthiest blasphemy in history,

check out how my wife's fundy church interprets "Peace on Earth": There is a gap between God and humans, and Jesus helps to close that gap, and when it is closed, there is peace on Earth.

Twisting and turning that would be the envy of a circus contortionist all in order to get around the simple concept that God wants peace, and not war, on Earth.
I don't think I need to point out that this fundy church is rock-solid behind the war, supporting it all the way. Those fundy creeps will say ANYTHING to justify Baby Bush's Boondoggle, even, or especially if it contradicts the Bible.

I was aghast when I heard the pastor say that, as you might imagine. :grr::mad::grr:

The sick irony of all this is that they are supposedly "fundamentalist", which means you aren't allowed to interpret the Bible. "Peace on Earth" ought to mean "Peace on Earth".

[txaslftist]

46. Man did this post degenerate in a hurry..

I'll pull some for you in a minute.

[txaslftist]

48. Here's some good ones.

"Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."

"And when thou prayest, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men."

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break in and steal:"

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

"But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."

That's a quick starter. I know quite a few fundies who would take issue with me for 'taking things out of context' but if you read the actual passages in their context, they can hardly be misconstrued. I've heard it posited that the 'rich man' was a person who was not 'rich' money wise, but rich in sin; horse-pucky. Read the whole passage and it's clear Christ is talking about money.

[MsAnthropy]

49. Here's some

From an email entitled "Dear Dr. Laura:"

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of
getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

[never cry wolf]

51. Here's a long email I prepared for a RW friend

She wanted to know why I supported social services for the poor.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)


The "right" chokes on the beatitudes

--------------------
If the right-wingers really studied the matter, they'd find they have more in common with Muhammad than with Jesus. Muhammad was a merchant, a businessman and entrepreneur - a capitalist. Before Jesus walked off his job, he was a carpenter, a common laborer - and with his talk of brotherhood, no doubt would have been a union man.

He hung out with the dregs of society: the poor, prostitutes, tax collectors, and finally thieves. Not exactly the kind of person to whom you would entrust your most precious and eternal possession: your stock portfolio.

Jesus revealed his anti-business agenda as soon as he threw the money-changers out of the temple. To the orthodox for whom taxation is government organized theft, Jesus' clear advocacy of paying taxes by "rendering unto Caesar" is a complete abomination. Scholars are still divided over whether the raising of Lazarus was to escape the death tax or an intent to pay it twice.

--------------------

Jesus mollycoddled the poor and went out of his way to condemn the rich. His warning that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy man to get into heaven was typical socialist blather. The affluent have had to devote themselves to breeding smaller camels and building larger needles ever since.

------------------
Jesus' purpose in life was to do the will of His heavenly Father. Wherever He went, He brought goodness. He never hurt or injured anyone, although He did get angry at others who did wrong. He called self-righteous church-going people vipers and once turned over tables in the temple where money-changers were taking advantage of the people.

Jesus was friends with the outcast of society—sinners. He reached out to the publicans, thieves, prostitutes. He never scorned anyone. He knew what was in the heart of a man (or woman). Just because they were religious did not mean that they knew God.

----------------------

Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ purity system by almost everything he did. It’s no coincidence that there are so many stories about Jesus getting into the everyday dirt and grit of life. Touching lepers, being touched by a hemorrhaging woman. Forgiving an adulteress. Going into an unclean graveyard to cast out demons and send them into a herd of unclean pigs. Eating with outcasts like tax collectors and prostitutes, and drunkards — all of those people at the very bottom of the Who’s Who of the Impure.

So Jesus came to confront the heart of this system — the temple — by driving out the money-changers and the sacrificial animal dealers; by exposing the profits and the kickbacks that the temple elite received “under the table” when he said that the temple authorities had turned his Father’s house into a “den of robbers,” as it’s recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

----------------------

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments'" (Matthew 22:37-40, emphasis mine).

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

The counterfeit Christ and his followers have long lists of "do's and don't's" that are preached as "Gospel." And everyone who doesn't subscribe to their legalistic list are condemned. We see them protesting with signs that read "God hates fags," "God hates baby-killers," and "God hates !"

But the genuine Jesus has just two laws: love God and love people. True followers of Jesus may not agree with the lifestyles and opinions of everyone (in fact, they shouldn't), but they will be the first to show compassion to those they disagree with. That's why Jesus hung out with drunks, prostitutes, "tax collectors," and "sinners." He loved people. He didn't love all their actions--and didn't join them in all their behaviors--but He showed them that he loved them. True followers of Jesus are not preaching against people with addictions; they are volunteering at rehabilitation programs at local shelters. They're not bombing abortion clinics; they're working in the pro-life Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

--------------------------

Jesus also had withering words for the wealthy who oppressed--or simply ignored --the poor.

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort" (Luke 6:20, 24).

Genuine followers of Jesus have a sense of joy and satisfaction in who they are--at whatever "level" on the social or ecclesiastical ladder they may find themselves.

Jesus said, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11).

----------------------------

5. His earthly father was a carpenter, a humble hewer of wood with whom He lived and laboured, conforming to our human ways of life, custom, language and living that He might understand and love us better and communicate with us on the lowly level of our own limited human understanding!--He learned to LOVE Mankind. He saw their suffering and had great compassion on them, longing to not only heal their sick and broken bodies, but also to save their immortal spirits!

6. When the time came and He began his life's work, He went about everywhere doing good.--Helping people, loving children, healing heartaches, strengthening tired bodies, saving whom He could. He not PREACHED His message, but He LIVED it amongst us. He not only ministered to their spiritual needs, but He spent a great deal of time ministering to their physical and material needs, miraculously healing them when they were sick, feeding them when they were hungry and sharing His life and His Love!

7. He was so simple and His religion was so simple that He said you must become as a little CHILD to receive it! He didn't preach Temple worship, He didn't preach going to synagogue nor going to church, He didn't preach any complicated ceremonies or difficult rules.--All he did was preach LOVE and show Love, as He strove to lead God's children into the True Kingdom of God, whose only laws are to "love the Lord with all thy heart" and "love thy neighbour as thyself".

8. He had very little to do with the high-fallutin', rich-robed, churchy scribes, pharisees and hypocrites--the religious leaders of that day--except when they insisted on annoying Him with their critical questions. Then He would sock it to them, publicly exposing them as the "blind leaders of the blind" that they were, even telling them that they were like white-washed SEPULCHRES, which indeed appear beautiful, clean and holy on the OUTSIDE, but WITHIN are full of rottenness, corruption and stinking dead men's bones!

9. He was not a mere religious reformer, He was a REVOLUTIONARY! He refused to compromise with the false religious system, but rather worked totally OUTSIDE of it, reaching and sharing His Love with the poor and common folk who had long ago abandoned and been abandoned by organised religion. He never went into any bar with whip in hand, breaking up the bottles and throwing out the bartender. Nor did He ever enter any brothel, beating up the poor girls, overturning their beds and throwing the men out the window.--But He DID make a whip, go into their big beautiful religious Temple, overturn the tables, spill out the money and drive the money-mad money-changers out of the church, condemning them for turning what was supposed to be a house of prayer into a den of thieves!

10. He made Himself of no reputation, and was a companion of drunks and prostitutes, publicans and sinners, the outcasts and downtrodden of society. He even told them that they would enter the Kingdom of Heaven before the so-called "good" people, the self-righteous and religious leaders who re jected Him and His simple Message of Love. The power of His Love and of His appeal was so great and gave such great faith to the sincere truth-seekers that they didn't hesitate to drop everything they had and forsake all immediately to become His full-time followers!

----------------------------

From Matthew 25:

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for
you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are
cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to
eternal life."

------------------------------------------------------------

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked
it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the
envelope again.
There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address.
She read the letter:

Dear Ruth:

I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon
and I'd like to stop by for a visit.

Love Always, Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the
table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.
"Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have
to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least."
She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.

A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey,
and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.

"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even
noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman,
both of them dressed in little more than rags

"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have
been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold
and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady,
we'd really appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.

"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have
is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest
for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."

"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."

The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned
and headed back into the alley.

As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.

"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out
something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.

"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"

"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here,
why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped
it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked
back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her
guest.

"Thank you lady!"

"Thank you very much!"

Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to
offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as
she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.

"That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."
She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

Dear Ruth:

It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.

Love Always Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
noticed.

[journalist3072]

52. My Scripture References to Give to the Freepers

Matthew 7: 21-23

"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Matthew 25:34-40:

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:


35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:


36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.


37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?


38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?


39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?


40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

[VOX]

53. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."

From Jesus' Sermon on the Mount -- you rarely hear freepers invoke the Beatitudes -- they just don't jibe with all the fire and brimstone crap.