Protestantism

» pink101 - Secular vs Sectarian

In response to Sudan posted by BrianTubbs:
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I am surprised there is not more of an out cry regarding the situation in which the school teacher who was tried and found guilty of blasphemy for having allowed her elementary school students to name their class teddy bear, Mohamed.
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This is a point of concern about Muslim law for which the world representatives of a "christian" nation like America should speak up. That's the cheap kind of B.S. religionism brings on in a sectarian society. Thankfully, we are a secular society--at least we are so far.
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Similarity

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Could there be a similarity between the religiosity of the Fundamentalist Shiis that cling so tightly to radical Sharia and our problems with scandals and corruption such as is uncovered in the Oral Roberts University thread here?
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It almost looks as though our rush to judgment regarding such "sins" as dancing, premarital sex, and social drinking, combined with the idea that ALL sins are equally worthy of eternal damnation in the eyes of God leads us to some serious problem thinking in our otherwise advanced civilization.
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When premarital sex is as reprehensible as murder and other crimes our secular society adjudicates, there is a heavy blanket of guilt put on the person who even thinks about "going all the way" in the heat of adolescent passions.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Dancing

In response to Similarity posted by pink101:

I think I've told you this one, before, Pink, but....

Do you know why fundamentalist Baptists are opposed to premarital sex?

Answer: Because it might lead to dancing.

:-)

» Brian Tubbs - On a serious note...

In response to Similarity posted by pink101:

I don't think fundamentalist or evangelical Christians (in any sizable number) view premarital sex as being "as reprehensible as murder." The Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage is a sin, to be sure. But look at how Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery.

» pink101 - On a serious note...

In response to On a serious note... posted by BrianTubbs:
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I don't think fundamentalist or evangelical Christians (in any sizable number) view premarital sex as being "as reprehensible as murder."
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No, I don't suppose they do--except for the nut cases. But, the message that comes through loud and clear is that God hates all sin equally and mandates eternal damnation as the penalty. If you've ever danced, you are as deserving of Hell as Adolph Hitler. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to such guilt trips.
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I think my point is more about the person that is influenced by that message. Once they break the sin barrier and begin to dance, all sorts of sinfulness follows. And, if the individual is such a guilty sinner, they have little to keep them from "going all the way" in whatever is at stake.
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Is that what we mean when we use the term, tipping point--over the edge?
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It's nothing against Fundamental or Evangelical Christians so much so that it is against the general population for going along with it.
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Sex education should be considered as a required subject in public schools.
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I've never seen or heard of any church group that decided the subject was worthy of consideration as an issue for gaining understanding. Do you know of any? Usually it is considered a slippery slope that should be avoided.
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I have a shirt tail relative who, when she was a budding teenager, was assaulted on the streets of an Iranian city for daring to be dressed in western garb. She lost a tooth in the situation. The men were grown adult males.
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Rather than pussy footing around with all this toleration stuff, maybe we should be putting the issue on the table where we can see it for what it is worth.
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I believe we should require critical study of world religions in our public school systems. Let the chips fall where they might. We might consider exposing fool headedness for what it is.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Religious Studies

In response to On a serious note... posted by pink101:

I agree that public schools should teach a survey course on world religions. In today's day and age, we HAVE to do that. So many global challenges pertain (either directly or indirectly) to religious influences. This HAS to be a part of the educational curriculum for any enlightened, civilized nation.

I know some will cry "Separation of Church and State" and others will worry that their religion will be misconstrued. I think there are ways to deal with these concerns. And that's what we need to do - address those concerns. Because the need for this is great.

» Brian Tubbs - Sin

In response to On a serious note... posted by pink101:

I know what you're saying, Pink. I've heard the doctrine of sin explained pretty clumsily and harshly over the years.

I know PaperTurtle suggests I qualify my statements with "In my opinion..." or "Based on how I see it....," etc., but that just comes off as weak. I'll put it this way...

I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it teaches that all sins are the same - and anyone who describes the doctrine of sin by saying something like a dancer is as worthy of hell as Adolf Hitler is...well...they have issues. (And I'm not even getting into the dancing argument. But, for the record, I don't think dancing is inherently wrong).

What I see in the Bible is that all human beings are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Frankly, I don't understand how anyone can read the Bible (especially Paul's writings) and NOT see that.

The solution to that problem of sin, though, ain't priests and rules. The solution is Christ.

» pink101 - Sin

In response to Sin posted by BrianTubbs:

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So, let me ask this simple question, then.
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What about those people who never do anything untoward? Are they sinners worthy to be swept into Hell?
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Religious Studies

In response to Religious Studies posted by BrianTubbs:
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Serious study always leads to critical thinking.
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Religion could use some criticism in the public arena.
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I wonder if you agree on that.
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We're getting a little of it here in this thread.
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Islam and it's stinking Sharia is a scourge on the Middle East. We cannot allow it here in our society. THAT is what is GOOD about SECULARISM. Each one of us should be thankful for the BLESSINGS OF SECULARISM. Instead, we smell the fowl and sour odor of sectarianism wafting about from all sides.
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Sin

In response to Sin posted by BrianTubbs:
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I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it teaches that all sins are the same ...
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The Catholic Church acknowledged sin differences, and resolved it with 'mortal' and 'venial' classifications and penalties.
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An aside:
If dancing is a sin, then many Pentecostal or charismatic churches are encouraging and committing sin.
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But the Bible says:
"Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp" (Psalm 149:3) and "Praise him with tambourine and dancing.." (Psalm 150:4).
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"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ... a time to mourn and a time to dance" (Eccl 3:1 & 4).
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Wouldn't Jesus and his disciples have drank the wine and danced at the traditional Jewish wedding they attended?
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Did the apostles dance? In the apocryphal "Acts of John", ch 94 - before Jesus goes to die, he gathered his apostles in a circle, and while they held hands and danced around him, he sang a hymn (the 'Hymn of Jesus') to his Father.
Part of the long hymn:
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Now answer to My dancing!
See thyself in Me who speak;
And seeing what I do,
Keep silence on My Mysteries.
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Understand by dancing, what I do;
For thine is the Passion of Man
That I am to suffer."
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-- posted by Migisi